Movie Posters Art Meet Commerce

Off the top of my head, the Titanic posters are the most beautiful. I also like Midnight Cowboy, although they didn't use the best shot in the movie for their posters. There is a frame where Jon Voigt is walking down a street amidst a sea of people in soft focus, with only his head and cowboy hat in focus above the crowd. Whenever I've had the opportunity to buy a movie poster, I've passed it up, and I always regret it. If I only had more walls.

I agree with you on Apocalypse Now.

I like both of your choices. I especially like Midnight cowboys use of a candid street shot. Gritty and realistic. They are staring at you almost daring you to look away.

Drew Struzan is the man when it comes to movie posters. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Tarzan, The Thing -- he created some of the most iconic movie posters ever.

http://www.drewstruzan.com/illustrated/

There is an excellent documentary out on Drew and his work:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1486843/


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

I love Drew's work. The Thing is my favorite of his. I also have the rare Revenge of the Jedi poster he did, as well as the Ladyhawke poster that was not released. He has an iconic style that is probably the most recognizable in movie posters.

Saul Bass is another iconic artist that I like. The Shining, West Side Story, Vertigo. Amazing artist

Great news! Drew has come out of retirement - meaning, he's been temporarily released from the Phantom Zone - and was hired by Disney to create one-sheet artwork for all the new Star Wars films.

I am also reminded of the enormous contributions made by John Alvin - one sheets such as, Blade Runner and The Princess Bride, as well as the iconic image for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Here's my own one-sheet re-imagining of a John Wayne movie poster for Paradise Canyon (1935), directed by my great-uncle, Carl F. Pierson:

Great work Patrick. I love when artist re-imagine movie posters. Saul Bass did one for Schindler's list that is amazing ! Glad to see Drew is back in the game for the new Star Wars films. I cant wait to see them. The posters , I mean.

Lets not forget our own Hal Shull, who has created numerous movie posters.

Of coarse not ....

One of my favorite recent posters is the pre-release for Django Unchained. A powerful image of a broken chain with the two character in silouette underneath it. It reminds me of the Jaws poster in its simplicity and power. Great art and great advertising.