The history of film posters is the story of cinema itself, told in colour, design, and imagination. From their earliest days, posters have been more than advertisements—they have been windows into new worlds, capturing the mood, promise, and drama of films before audiences ever entered the theatre.

▼At the turn of the 20th century, posters.... CLICK TO READ MORE

At the turn of the 20th century, posters were simple notices announcing moving pictures. These early designs borrowed from theatrical playbills, relying on text and basic illustrations to attract audiences. Yet even in these modest beginnings, the potential of the poster to spark curiosity was evident.

By the 1920s and 1930s, film posters had become richly illustrated works of art. Artists painted sweeping faces, dramatic scenes, and fantastical landscapes in bold, vivid colours. Posters for films like Metropolis or Casablanca did more than advertise—they set the tone for the story, capturing its essence in a single image. For example, in Orson & Welles’ collection features a wonderful 1936 Belgian poster for A Night at the Opera, showcasing hand-painted comedic energy and musical spectacle, reflecting the illustrative style that defined this era. Naturally any remaining posters for films such as these command high prices, with, for example, the rare 1927 Metropolis International poster, with only four known copies in existence, selling for a whopping $690,000 back in 2005.

The decades after World War II brought innovation in style and design. In the 1950s and 1960s, designers like Saul Bass introduced minimalist, conceptual approaches, conveying emotion and narrative through shapes, colours, and symbolism. Internationally, posters became highly expressive. Such as our 1968 UK Quad poster for Yellow Submarine, which demonstrates the psychedelic art style of the era, blending bold colours with graphic design to capture the film’s whimsical spirit. Around the world, distinct national styles emerged. A nice example being the 1963 French petite poster for Dr. No by Boris Grinsson illustrates the James Bond franchise in a uniquely French aesthetic. It would also be amiss to not highlight the Polish School of Poster which emerged during this period blending avant-garde art with commercial design. Known for its bold colours, expressive typography, and surreal or symbolic imagery, it transformed movie, theatre, and cultural posters into works of art in their own right.

The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of the blockbuster and the hand-painted poster. Artists such as Drew Struzan produced detailed, cinematic imagery for films like Star Wars and Goonies., blending realism with dramatic flair. These posters became iconic, often remembered as fondly as the films themselves.

Today, film posters continue to evolve, blending traditional illustration with digital techniques. Limited-edition prints and creative reinterpretations have revived interest in poster art, while online platforms allow posters to exist not just on walls but as animated or interactive digital works. Across more than a century, film posters have grown from simple announcements to expressive works of visual storytelling. They remain one of cinema’s most enduring forms of communication, capturing a film’s spirit and inviting audiences into the story in a single glance.

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