Kathy Bates screen-worn Annie Wilkes movie costume from Misery on display...

If you think that fandom has become too toxic these days, then you need to meet 'Annie Wilkes', who really lives up to the idea of a "number one fan". In Director Rob Reiner's 1990 adaptation of Stephen King's 1987 bestselling novel, Misery, Kathy Bates plays the obsessed fan of James Caan's author 'Paul Sheldon' and his fictional character 'Misery Chastain'. In the psychological horror thriller after a snowy car crash the famous author is rescued by Annie who turns out to be a crazed fan. When she reads his latest Victorian romance manuscript and discovers he's killed off her favourite character, his care and recuperation turns into a nightmare of captivity and abuse until he delivers a satisfactory new novel.

Annie Wilkes movie costume worn by Kathy Bates

and special effect bust used in Misery

These screen-used treasures were photographed on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 4, 2026.

Gloria Gresham is the Costume Designer on this big screen Stephen King adaptation, with Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger for KNB EFX Group responsible for Special Effects Makeup on the movie.

Fans of the movie can also check out this prosthetic dummy and hobbling sledgehammer from Misery previously on display at the Planet Hollywood Cafe in Las Vegas.

Misery movie poster

Kathy Bates prosthetic dummy and hobbling sledgehammer prop from Misery...

In 1990's movie adaptation of Stephen King's 1987 novel, Misery, Kathy Bates stars as the obsessed 'number one fan' who discovers the injured author (played by James Caan) of her favourite novel heroine 'Misery Chastain'.

Prosthetic dummy of Kathy Bates used in Misery

In his latest book, Misery was killed off by the famous writer and now 'Annie Wilkes' holds him hostage whilst he brings the character back to life in a new installment. She even goes so far as to 'hobble' the writer, breaking his ankles with a sledgehammer, to keep him confined to his bed and completing the book to her satisfaction.

Misery movie poster

'Paul Sheldon' has to use his author's imagination to concoct a plan to escape from his psychotic captor and I assume this prosthetic dummy of Kathy Bates was used in his final battle with the madwoman.

Original sledgehammer movie prop featured in Misery

This fantastic life-size prosthetic and the pivotal weapon prop from the wonderfully acted movie was photographed on display at the Planet Hollywood Cafe in Las Vegas on April 7, 2011.