Revolutionary War fever is in the air. 2026 will see the 250th birthday of the United States, as well as the anniversaries of the 1776 New York Campaign and Washington’s crossing of the Delaware.
Ken Burns’ The American Revolution will be released in November 2025, creating widespread anticipation. It will likely be in the style of his acclaimed Civil War documentary series and will feature narration from Tom Hanks and Morgan Freeman.
Many films are set during the Revolution, from classics like Drums Along the Mohawk starring Henry Fonda to modern, action-heavy epics such as The Patriot starring Mel Gibson. Love it or hate it, there was also the 1985 film Revolution starring Al Pacino (the film that temporarily destroyed Pacino’s career). Several TV movies and series, including The Crossing and Turn: Washington’s Spies, also won critical acclaim, making the movie and TV landscape a fertile ground for Revolutionary War aficionados.
Props and Costumes
Some of the most expensive items in this field are original props and costumes. A non-firing musket replica used on The Patriot sold for $1500 a few years back, though it did include signed photos of Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger. The antagonist of the movie is Colonel Tavington (played by Jason Isaacs). A cavalry saber prop used in the film by one of his Loyalist dragoons sold for $510 in 2020. A pair of boots worn by Gibson in his role as protagonist Benjamin Martin sold for $2000 in 2023. A well-made British officer’s uniform from the film reached $600 in 2023. The value of many of these props will likely have increased, especially as we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Though not specifically about the war, the Disney film National Treasure starring Nicholas Cage included scenes depicting frozen soldiers from the Revolution. One such costume was particularly well-made and sold for $400 in 2021.
When made to high standards, even generic Hollywood prop costumes that cannot be linked to a specific production can be worth hundreds of dollars. One such piece, based on a British grenadier uniform, sold for $338 in 2023.
Movie Posters
Movie posters can wildly fluctuate in price based on age and rarity. Any original poster bearing the signature of the main actor in a production will naturally increase in price. For example, a 27 x 40 size movie poster of The Patriot signed by actor Mel Gibson sold for $900 in 2022. With modern posters, it is autographs that make all the difference. A similar-sized poster in equally good condition but not bearing Gibson’s signature only fetched $14 in 2025. Posters for the Al Pacino film Revolution can be picked up cheaply. An equally sized 27 x 40 poster sold in 2024 for a paltry $15.
If a poster is original, in very fine condition, and from the golden age of Hollywood, it can be worth lots of money on its own. Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) starred a young Henry Fonda, and a particularly striking original poster of the movie sold for $1680 in 2022 despite the fact that it bore no famous signatures.
Autographs
If you are interested only in the autograph of a principal actor, several opportunities exist at reasonable prices. Mel Gibson, for example, who starred as the main character in The Patriot, is a prolific signer of autographs. Signed photographs can be picked up for under $100 as of 2025.
During Hollywood’s golden age, it was common for movie fans to request autographs by mail order. Stars like Henry Fonda regularly signed press and publicity photos. These can be picked up relatively cheaply. In 2024, a well-worn publicity card that was graded sold for only $70.
Al Pacino’s autograph sells for high amounts, reflecting the actor’s enduring popularity with moviegoers. In 2025, a hand-signed movie still from Revolution (1985) sold recently for $350.
Final Thoughts
Several documentaries, films, and shows about the Revolutionary War will be released over the next decade, sparking renewed interest in movie and TV collectibles. While Hollywood may have taken several liberties with historical accuracy—The Patriot being a prime example—that does nothing to diminish the value of props, posters, and autographs.
Due to their age and relative scarcity, “Golden Age” Hollywood items are the most collectible. The autographs of famous actors, especially Pacino and Gibson, are also valuable and will hold value over time.
Matthew Doherty is a writer, editor, and teacher specializing in all things history-related. His work has been published in the UK Defence Journal, the Small Wars Journal, and The Collector. He holds an MSc from the University of Edinburgh and a BA from the University of Leeds. In his spare time, he also writes science fiction stories.
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