For the first time ever, the personal archive of legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick will be offered at auction, giving fans unprecedented access to artifacts from some of the most influential films ever made.

The collection, drawn directly from the Stanley Kubrick Film Archives, includes original props, annotated scripts, production materials, filmmaking equipment, awards, and personal possessions accumulated throughout the director’s remarkable career.

The auction will be conducted by Bonhams in London, with highlights from the collection touring New York, Los Angeles, and Paris during late 2026 before the complete archive reunites in London for a final public exhibition beginning January 18, 2027. The live auction is scheduled for February 3, 2027, followed by an online sale ending the following day.

Few filmmakers have left a greater mark on cinema than Kubrick, whose groundbreaking filmography includes Spartacus, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut. His meticulous approach to filmmaking became so influential that the term “Kubrickian” entered popular culture as shorthand for extraordinary visual precision, technical mastery, and obsessive attention to detail.

The Million-Dollar “Star Child”

The centerpiece of the sale is expected to be the iconic “Star Child” prop from 2001: A Space Odyssey. The original prop, which appears in the film’s famous final scene, carries an estimate of £600,000 to £800,000, or approximately $800,000 to $1.1 million.

Claire Tole-Moir, Bonhams’ Head of Popular Culture, described the prop as “the final, enigmatic image of one of cinema’s most influential science fiction films,” adding that it represents “evolution, new beginnings, naivety and ambiguity.”

Released in 1968, 2001: A Space Odyssey remains one of the most influential science-fiction films ever made and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Its groundbreaking imagery and technical innovations continue to influence filmmakers nearly six decades later.

Jack Torrance’s Axe Returns to the Spotlight

Horror fans may be most interested in a notorious weapon from The Shining.

The special-effects axe wielded by Jack Nicholson during one of the film’s most unforgettable sequences is expected to sell for between £30,000 and £50,000, roughly $40,000 to $66,000.

The axe was used during the terrifying climax in which Nicholson’s increasingly deranged Jack Torrance relentlessly pursues his terrified wife Wendy, played by Shelley Duvall, through the cavernous halls of the Overlook Hotel. After chasing her through the haunted resort, Jack corners Wendy inside a bathroom where she has barricaded herself behind a locked door. Armed with the fire axe, he begins smashing through the wood paneling as Wendy screams in terror from the other side.

As the hole grows larger, Nicholson thrusts his face through the shattered opening, flashes a maniacal grin, and delivers one of the most famous lines in movie history: “Here’s Johnny!” Moments later, Wendy fights back and slashes Jack’s hand with a knife. The sequence has become one of the defining scenes in horror cinema and remains instantly recognizable more than four decades after the film’s release.

While the prop looks like a standard fire axe on screen, it was actually engineered specifically for the production. The version being auctioned was used during the murder scene involving Scatman Crothers’ character Dick Hallorann. The axe features specially designed metal bolts rather than a traditional blade, allowing it to rupture concealed blood packs while protecting the actor during filming. Only three such effects axes were reportedly created for the production.

Collectors should not underestimate its value. Another axe from The Shining sold for more than $200,000 in 2019—four times its pre-sale estimate.

Did You Know?

Although Stephen King’s novel was inspired by Colorado’s historic Stanley Hotel, Kubrick’s film was shot primarily in England. Exterior shots of the Overlook Hotel were filmed at Oregon’s Timberline Lodge, which has since become a pilgrimage destination for horror fans.

A Rare Glimpse Into Kubrick’s Creative Mind

Among the most historically significant items in the collection are Kubrick’s heavily annotated scripts from films including Spartacus, Lolita, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, and Eyes Wide Shut. The documents contain handwritten notes, revisions, sketches, and alternative scenes that reveal how the famously meticulous director developed his films.

“His scripts are incredibly special,” Tole-Moir said, noting that they provide unique insight into Kubrick’s creative journey.

One particularly notable item is Kubrick’s personal script from the 1960 epic Spartacus, a film that helped establish him as one of Hollywood’s most ambitious young directors.

Personal Treasures from a Cinema Legend

The auction also includes several items that offer a more personal look at the filmmaker behind the camera.

Kubrick’s longtime director’s chair, used throughout much of his career, is estimated to bring between £8,000 and £12,000 (approximately $10,500 to $16,000).

Also available is his personal chess set. Kubrick was an accomplished chess player who frequently challenged cast and crew members during production breaks. According to Bonhams, he valued the game for its strategy, patience, discipline, and intellectual rigor—qualities many observers believe were reflected in his filmmaking style.

Interestingly, before becoming a filmmaker, Kubrick earned money playing chess in New York City parks while pursuing his early creative ambitions.

Another fascinating piece of trivia involves Kubrick’s beginnings. Long before directing movies, he worked as a staff photographer for Look magazine at age 17, developing the visual instincts that would later define his cinematic style.

A Legacy That Continues to Inspire

Kubrick’s influence on modern filmmaking cannot be overstated. Directors including Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, and Denis Villeneuve have all cited his work as a major influence. His films continue to be studied in film schools around the world, while his visual innovations remain embedded in contemporary cinema.

Katharina Kubrick, the director’s stepdaughter, expressed hope that the collection’s future owners will preserve its legacy for generations to come.

“We are proud to be able to share with you some of the items from this unique collection,” she said. “We hope [they] will find new homes and be cherished until it is time to pass them on to the next generation of film lovers.”

For collectors, the auction represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity. For movie fans, it serves as a reminder of the enduring power of a filmmaker whose work continues to shape cinema nearly three decades after his death.

Whether it’s the Star Child from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Jack Torrance’s axe from The Shining, or one of Kubrick’s handwritten scripts, these artifacts offer a direct connection to one of Hollywood’s greatest creative minds.