In 1954, Universal Studios gave horror fans one of the most iconic drive-in monster movies of all time; The Creature from the Black Lagoon. While many do combine Creature with the golden age monster movies, this movie did come out during the blossoming sci-fi drive-in movie era. Still, Creature is one of the most iconic monsters of horror, and has amassed a large following -- including myself! The Creature is my favorite monster, and as a result, I have a large Creature collection of my own.
Bally's Creature from the Black Lagoon Pinball
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I've written about this machine before, but it bears repeating; this is one of the best pinball machines ever made. My very real bias aside, Bally went to the gills with this machine. While these machines are easier to find, you'll be paying a lot. A Creature in original condition will cost between $6K - $9K, while a fully restored one can go for over $11K. By comparison, a brand new Stern pinball machine starts at $6999 for a pro, $9699 for a premium, and $12999 for a limited edition. The Creature seems to always be in high demand, and if you can find a working one at a steal, it's worth investing in.
The Creature from the Black Lagoon Posters
Golden age movie posters are highly collectible -- especially horror ones. With three movies in the Creature franchise, collectors and investors have their work cut out for them. These posters fetch thousands of dollars and are considered scarce. In November of 2021, Heritage sold several Creature posters ranging in size and condition.
A one-sheet linen poster in Very Fine condition, with extremely minor restoration, sold for $15k. The same poster in similar condition (as well as minor restoration) sold for $21,2500 just a mere two weeks prior. A Creature poster insert (14" x 36") in VF condition sold for $7,200, and a half-sheet Creature poster with extremely minor restoration sold for $6,250.
A Japanese B2 version of the poster -- which is even rarer than the American counterparts -- sold for $13,200. This poster was in Very Fine condition, and seldom, if ever, comes up for auction. The sequel posters also command heavy prices, but none can compare to the first movie!
Saucony x Super 7 Universal Monster Shoes
In 2021, Super7 and Saucony announced their line of Universal Monster shoes. As many of you probably know, shoes can go for insane amounts of money. Despite having three computers -- and three different people -- on the Super7 website when these dropped, we lost out to bots. While I did pay for a pair on eBay, this shoe line has remained a popular item with collectors.
Prices for this shoe have not changed since the initial drop ended, and have held steady at an average of $130. Of course, demand for this line will ebb and flow, but given enough time could become a solid investor piece. If you're a collector you can still find these online.
Hasbro's Creature from the Black Lagoon Board Game
In 1963, Hasbro released The Creature from the Black Lagoon family board game. Despite being based on the movie, nothing says family fun like the threat of being dragged into a lagoon by a human-sized Gill-man.
This game is extremely rare -- and extremely expensive. In October of 2022, a complete game in what appears to be Very Fine condition sold for $2,560. Prior to that, one sold on Hakes for $677 in August 2006. If you find one of these in the wild, buy it. This game will only become more valuable as the years go on.
Of course, there are countless more items related to Creature. Want to see more? Let us know in the comments below!
