Grab your Wolverine claw or Jedi lightsaber and tune into ‘Mad Props,’ a documentary exploring the world of collecting movie memorabilia.

By Dana Barbuto/Boston Movie News

A machete wielded by Quint (Robert Shaw) in Steven Spielberg’s iconic shark thriller “Jaws,” famously shot on Martha’s Vineyard, is one of the items featured in “Mad Props,” an engaging new documentary by writer-director Juan Pablo Reinoso spotlighting the world of collecting screen-used movie memorabilia.

Once dismissed as studio garbage, movie props are now prized artifacts of Hollywood lore. Recently, the wooden door that saved Rose (Kate Winslet) in “Titanic” fetched a staggering $718,750 at auction, while one of Indiana Jones’ signature bullwhips sold for $525,000. From costumes and swords to intricate set pieces, these items represent the craftsmanship of painters, sculptors, seamstresses, and woodworkers. You can still see the splatter of fake blood on Quint’s machete, a reminder of its cinematic journey.

Reinoso’s lens turns to the passionate collectors who seek out these treasures, beginning with Tom Biolchini, an affable lawyer-turned-banker from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Biolchini becomes our guide through this sometimes wacky world of prop collecting, taking us to the London Prop Store, where treasures like the red, white, and blue shield that Sudbury’s Chris Evans carries on screen as Captain America and Freddy Krueger’s glove reside. Robert Englund even makes a cameo in the documentary. Reinoso also interviewed Mickey Rourke (“Iron Man 2”) and Lance Henriksen (“Aliens”). 

Additionally, the film introduces us to an array of collectors, proudly showcasing items like Wolverine’s claws, an original Gremlin, poker chips from “Casino,” and the Wilson volleyball from “Castaway.”

The action-fantasy hits and horror classics of the ’80s and ’90s fill up much of the inventory: “Star Wars,” “RoboCop,” “Star Trek,” “Braveheart,” “Batman,” and “Jurassic Park.” Biolchini is on the hunt for the Holy Grail cup from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and the sports almanac used in “Back to the Future.” As cool as Marty McFly was, Biolchini also knows a true cinematic treasure when he sees it, and stumbling upon the VistaVision camera that Hitchcock used to film “Vertigo!” in the basement of a small French museum is worth geeking out over. Ditto for the Andy’s (Tim Robbins) bible from “Shawshank Redemption,” of which only one was made. 

The documentary delves into the emotional connection fans feel with movie props. Whether it’s Jango Fett’s blaster, Darth Vader’s gloves, or Zorro’s mask, owning these items allows fans to relive cherished memories and feel closer to the cinematic worlds they adore.

Plus, there’s an undeniable thrill in owning a piece of Hollywood history. 

Back on Biolchini’s home turf in Tulsa, The Outsiders House Museum is the ultimate movie prop. Danny Boy O’Connor, formerly of the hip-hop group House of Pain, dressed and decorated the modest white bungalow to look like it did in 1983 when Francis Ford Coppola shot “The Outsiders.” Thousands of visitors each year come through to take selfies in the spot where Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell) stood. Stay gold.  

‘Mad Props’

Rating: Not rated

Cast: Tom Biolchini, Lance Henriksen, Robert Englund, Mickey Rourke

Director/Writer: Juan Pablo Reinoso

Running time: 90 minutes

Where to watch:  Streaming on Prime, Apple, Vudu, YouTube, and Google Play

Grade: B