There is nothing quite like the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise in the modern superhero landscape. James Gunn's unique filmmaking sensibilities have created something equally exciting, enthralling, and engaging in the weirdest possible way -- and fans have clearly fallen in love with it. Of course, aside from the amazing visuals and character moments, one of the most important aspects of Guardians' success is its use of iconic music. On that note, there's arguably no prop from the film more popular than Peter Quill's beloved Walkman, and now it appears that real life sales (and prices) of the dated music player have surged since the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 last weekend.
Reports indicate that eBay has seen a massive uptick in Walkman sales since the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. A Sony model known as the TPS-L2, the Walkman has become a hot collector's item, and online prices for used versions of the music player have ranged from the hundreds to thousands of dollars in online communities. Some of the models currently for sale don't even work anymore; they're simply a means to own a piece of Guardians history. It's also worth noting (for those of you who are completionists) that sets of Star-Lord's orange headphones have apparently not been found for sale on their own; per THR, you will need to find them separately if you want a full set.
This is far from the first instance where the popularity of a film or TV show has led to a significant surge in nostalgia among fans -- particularly for products produced during the 1980s. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has allowed the Walkman to make a huge comeback, but the situation feels strikingly similar to the impact of Stranger Things on our culture last year. After The Duffer Brothers' hit Netflix series debuted last year, fans of the show went crazy for its depiction of Snack Pack pudding in metal cans. As a result of that overwhelming enthusiasm, Snack Pack actually announced that it would release nostalgic cans of the classic chocolate snack. Sony has not revealed whether or not it intends to start producing a Guardians of the Galaxy-inspired Walkman for modern consumers, but it seems to be yet another example of pop culture's influence on our own affinity for the past.
Given the continued success of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, it stands to reason that James Gunn will likely continue to double down on the importance of music in his corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Peter Quill receives a massive upgrade to his music listening abilities in the final minutes of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, so Infinity War and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will almost certainly include even more classic music. It goes without saying, but we will say it anyway: we seriously cannot wait.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is now in theaters. Peter Quill and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy will return when the intergalactic Marvel heroes return for The Avengers: Infinity War next year on May 4, 2018.
