The most iconic props in the history of cinema

'Star Wars' rocked the film world in 1977 when it kicked off its saga with incredible effects and an exceptional story. In this world of science fiction, the weapons carried by the Jedi knights - light sabres - were born. Set designer Roger Christian came across some photographic flash handles in his quest to create the ultimate weapons. From there, they went on to become one of the most iconic objects in film history.

There was one thing that led billionaire John Hammond to resurrect dinosaurs in 'Jurassic Park' (1993): amber. It had mosquitoes trapped inside containing the blood of a number of different prehistoric species. Amber is so important in the film that it becomes a genuinely iconic and recognizable object. So much so that it is the decorative element of Hammond's own walking stick.

In 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, based on the work of J.R.R. Tolkien and directed by Peter Jackson, there is one object which is pretty much the backbone of the whole story: the One Ring. It is a ring that was forged in secret by the Dark Lord Sauron to control the other 'Rings of Power' and enslave the Free People of Middle-earth: "One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them."

More than one scare has been given to us when we saw this mask that reminds us of Munch's 'The Scream'. The film was released in 1996 and, although it is no masterpiece, it became a successful horror film of the nineties, with most people remembering the figure of the killer and this iconic mask. It was chosen after a long search. It was found in a box in a garage and, after paying the Fantastic Faces company for the rights to use it, they turned it into a very recognizable and widely-used trademark.

The totem or spinning top in the film 'Inception' (2010) is a fundamental object in the plot starring Leonardo DiCaprio under the direction of Christopher Nolan. It is an object that constantly rotates in a fictional world and stops in the real world, as perpetual motion is not possible due to the principles of thermodynamics. It is the lead character's way of knowing which world he is in, the fictional or the real one. Most of the time, it is hard, even for the audience, to tell.

Many will recognize this object: the jewel that Rose wore around her neck in 'Titanic' (1997). The great iconic gem from James Cameron's film that many people gasped at when the older version of the lead character ends up throwing it into the sea at the end of the film, sinking forever. After filming, it was acquired by an anonymous buyer who paid 1.4 million euros on the condition that the singer Celine Dion would wear it at the 1998 Oscar gala.

The red and blue pills that Morpheus offers Neo in 'The Matrix' (1999) and then seen again in the 'Resurrections' installment. A real philosophical dilemma to open the doors to a new reality or to let him continue with his monotonous life...

We can't imagine the image of Indiana Jones without his hat, his jacket, and his whip, the three most iconic objects belonging to Harrison Ford's character and the film. The Fedora hats he wears were made for various installments by designers Herbert Johnson, Eddy Baron, and Steven Delk. In addition, more than 30 whips were used, all handmade by David Morgan.

The box containing the board of the world's most incredible game is also one of cinema's iconic objects. It is more than just a polychrome wooden box: the outside reflects its inner fantasy world, with the name 'Jumanji' in large print. It shows the images of the jungle, a monkey, an elephant, a rhinoceros, and the hunter Van Pelt, just a few examples of all the critters that will test Alan Parrish, Sarah Whittle and Judy, and Peter Shepherd.

The Men in Black used the neuralyser to erase the memories of poor, ordinary human beings who, by a twist of fate, witnessed the alien presence on our planet. Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) use it quite often, giving a flash to more than one poor bystander.

The DMC DeLorean was a sports car manufactured by DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) between 1981 and 1982, the only model, in fact, that the company produced. A car that has gone down in history for becoming the time machine created by Dr. Emmett Brown. Together with Marty McFly, he made his incredible journeys in the 'Back to the Future' trilogy. The car is the true icon of the film... along with Marty's skateboard, jacket, and trainers, of course.

'Ghostbusters' (1984) also had a pretty good car, just like 'Back to the Future'. It also had some impressive mythical brown monkeys. So it was hard to choose one iconic object. In this case, we have gone with the ghost trap the Ghostbusters used to trap said monkeys. A mysterious device that comes attached to busters by a cable. They manage to force the ghosts in by putting them under pressure with the beams of their guns.

The ruby shoes worn by Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939) are probably the most famous shoes in the history of cinema. With her feet firmly snug inside, she walked the yellow brick road to the Wizard of Oz's castle, marking the beginning and the end of the magical land of Oz, where she has great adventures with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.

After the 'Scream' mask, we had to make room for another mask on the list. In this case, we are talking about the muzzle placed on Hannibal Lecter in 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991). A sinister element that gives a glimpse of the mouth of the most famous cannibal in cinema. It is, of course, widely used to add fear to any Halloween party...

We will finish with masks on the list with the one from 'V for Vendetta', which represents the Catholic conspirator Guy Fawkes. He was a member of what is known as the 'Gunpowder Plot', a group of men who tried to blow up the House of Lords in 1605. In the film, it is a symbol of dissent and revolution, characteristics of the main character.

The 'Harry Potter' saga is surrounded by symbolism. The different objects, the Horcruxes, the costumes of the different Hogwarts houses... but if we want to stop at one particular object and name it the icon, we will do so with Harry's wand. A "beautiful and flexible" wand, 28 centimeters in length, made of holly, with a phoenix feather in its central part (which was donated by Fawkes, Albus Dumbledore's pet).

To be honest, the spoon that Amélie Poulain is holding in this frame is not particularly very important in the story. But this image does show an iconic moment of the film. It appears at the precise moment when Audrey Tautou, the star of this film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet in 2001, talks to us about the small pleasures of life for her, such as breaking the burnt caramel of the crème brûlée with a spoon...

The pie from 'American Pie', the saga of teen comedy films that began in 1999, not only gives the film its name but is also the most iconic symbol of the characters' impassioned minds. Young people unleashed, with their hormones out of control. Jim Levenstein's scene with the pie is, well... you name it.

Kryptonite is that luminous green material from the planet Krypton that brings poor Superman to his knees thanks to a type of radiation. It is, in fact, the only thing that weakens the man of steel. A lethal object for Clark Kent, but a symbol of the saga and the comics from which it comes.

In the medium of animation, we find films that we remember for one or objects that have also become iconic. If we think of 'Beauty and the Beast' (1991), one of the Disney factory's cartoon gems, two of the things that come to mind first are probably the rose that marks the spell's deadline and the magic mirror that shows what you want to see.

Again from Disney, we have the magic lamp from 'Aladdin' (1992). The lamp that, just by rubbing it, makes the genie appear who grants three wishes. But let's not forget the carpet which, with a mind of its own, was a show-stealer.