About Movie Merch – Official Film & TV Collectibles Since 1993

At Movie Merch, our story goes back over 30 years—long before streaming and online shopping. Founder Neil began trading at film fairs in the late 1980s and early 1990s, where he developed a deep expertise in movie posters, film magazines, and cinema memorabilia. A lifelong movie fan, Neil used these early days to turn his passion for film into a business—just as the world was waking up to collecting film and TV merchandise.

After years of success on the fair circuit, it became clear that Neil needed a permanent base. Film fairs were irregular, and stock could quickly become outdated. The answer? A shop where movie lovers, TV collectors, and pop culture enthusiasts could browse year-round. In 1993, The Cinema Store opened in London’s Covent Garden, just a short walk from Leicester Square—the heart of the UK’s film scene.

From the start, The Cinema Store became known for its curated selection of official movie merchandise, including toys, collectibles, soundtracks, and behind-the-scenes books. It was also one of the UK’s first specialist retailers in LaserDiscs—a now-vintage format that, in the ’90s, offered the best picture and sound quality available for home viewing.

LaserDiscs (LDs)—the size of vinyl records—were a game-changer. They offered widescreen presentations, lossless audio, and special features like director’s commentaries, making-of documentaries, and deleted scenes—all of which became standard on DVDs later on. This added-value content helped define The Cinema Store and built its loyal base of collectors and fans.

As cinema entered a golden era in the mid-’90s—with iconic films like Pulp Fiction, Trainspotting, Fight Club, and Léon—so too did The Cinema Store thrive. Within two years, it expanded into a larger, two-storey space on Upper St. Martin’s Lane. It became a central hub for collectors, cinephiles, and tourists alike, offering a comprehensive range of rare movie memorabilia and exclusive film collectibles from around the world.

At a time when high-street retailers only stocked UK-released products, The Cinema Store carved out a niche by offering imports, limited editions, and hard-to-find releases—often titles never released on VHS in the UK. For collectors, this was revolutionary.

By the late 1990s, DVD was on the rise, and The Cinema Store was once again at the forefront—providing early access to US imports, Criterion Collection editions, and out-of-print classics. A second store opened nearby, specialising in film books and soundtracks, and the shop became a hotspot for in-store signings with film legends like Christopher Lee, William Peter Blatty, Terry Gilliam, and John Landis. The store wasn’t just popular with fans—filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Asia Argento were known to stop by while in London.

However, by the mid-2010s, the landscape had changed. Physical media sales declined as streaming grew and supermarkets undercut prices. Even major chains struggled. In 2016, The Cinema Store closed its doors, but its spirit lives on in Movie Merch—online and across the UK’s film and comic convention scene.

Today, Movie Merch continues to supply the best in officially licensed film and TV merchandise, from action figures, collectible toys, and limited edition books to retail-exclusive memorabilia and more. Whether you’re a die-hard collector or a casual fan, we’ve got something for you.

Why Shop with Movie Merch?

When you browse Movie Merch, you’re not just shopping—you’re stepping into a world built by lifelong fans of film and television. This isn’t just a business. It’s a passion project that’s evolved over decades.

We carefully curate every product on this site to reflect our love for movies and TV. Many of our items are rare, import-only, or exclusive to us in the UK like our ever-expanding range of popcorn buckets. Everything we sell is 100% official and fully licensed. No bootlegs. No knock offs. Ever.

We also take pride in how we pack and ship your items—because we’re collectors too. We treat your order with the same care and attention we’d want for our own.

Thank you for visiting Movie Merch. We’re proud to serve a global community of film fans and collectors—and we hope you become part of our ever-growing story.