Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro sold the first part of his macabre collection, known as "Bleak House," through Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, for a total of $1.65 million. The trove included art, props, and rare objects amassed over decades, with highlights such as H. R. Giger's painting for the unrealized project *The Tourist* (which set an auction record at $325,000), Mike Mignola's original *Hellboy* illustration, Bernie Wrightson's album cover for Meat Loaf, and props from del Toro's own films like *The Shape of Water* and *Pacific Rim*.
The sale matters because it offers a rare glimpse into the personal collection of a major cinematic visionary, blending fine art, comic art, and film memorabilia into a single market event. The strong bidding response—including record prices for Giger and high demand for movie props—underscores the growing crossover between the art market and pop culture collecting, while the remaining two parts of the collection, to be sold in 2026, will continue to draw attention from both art and film enthusiasts.