Normally, the artist is not identified on the film poster, and in many cases, the artist is anonymous. However, several artists have become well known because of their outstanding illustrations on film posters. Some artists, such as Drew Struzan, often sign their poster artwork and the signature is included on distributed posters.
Here you will find some of the classic illustrations from these great artists. The list if not exhaustive and is based entirely upon my own personal preferences of movie poster design. If you want to skip to a specific artist just click their name below –
- Drew Struzan
- Tom Jung
- Richard Amsel
- John Alvin
- Tom Chantrell
- Bill Gold
- Saul Bass
- Reynold Brown
- Renato Casaro
- Jack Davis
- Frank Frazetta
- Boris Grinsson
- Al Hirschfeld
- Mitchell Hooks
- The Hildebrandt Brothers
- Burt Kleeger
- Mort Künstler
- Frank McCarthy
- Robert McGinnis
- Bob Peak
- Enzo Sciotti
- John Solie
- Howard Terpning
- Boris Vallejo
Drew Struzan
Drew Struzan was born on 14th May 1947 and is an artist known for his movie poster artwork, which includes all the films in the Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, and Star Wars series. He also completed work on others such as Big Trouble in Little China, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Blade Runner, The Thing, Cannonball Run and Jurassic Park. In his early career also painted album covers for many well-known artists and later in his career moved into collectables and book covers. Read more…
Big Trouble in Little China
Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade
Back to the Future
Revenge of the Jedi
Tom Jung
Thomas Jung (known as Tom Jung) was born on 13th February 1942 and is an advertising art director, graphic designer and illustrator who is best known for his movie poster artwork and his work as a motion picture storyboard artist. Tom has worked on movie poster artwork for films such as Doctor Zhivago, Grand Prix, Le Mans, Star Wars, The Dogs of War, The Empire Strikes Back and Once Upon a Time in America. Read more…
The Day of the Dolphin
The Man Who Would Be King
Papillion
Empire Strikes Back R82
Richard Amsel
Richard Amsel was born on 4th December 1947 and passed away on 17th November 1985. He was an illustrator and graphic designer. Unfortunately, his career was brief after being struck down with illness but stunningly successful, entailing a wide variety of commercial illustration work including album and magazine covers, it is perhaps Richard Amsel’s movie posters artwork that remains the most popular. His portrait of comedian Lily Tomlin for the cover of Time Magazine is now part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. He also was associated with TV Guide for thirteen years. Read more…
Flash Gordon
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Death on the Nile
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
John Alvin
Blade Runner, The Lion King, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Gremlins
Gremlins
Blade Runner
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
The Lion King
Tom Chantrell
Star Wars, Prisoners of the Lost Universe, Zulu Dawn, The Land That Time Forgot
Star Wars “Style C”
When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth
Prisoners of the Lost Universe
The Land That Time Forgot
Bill Gold
Dirty Harry, Casablanca, A Clockwork Orange, For Your Eyes Only
Dirty Harry
Convoy
For Your Eyes Only
Platoon
Saul Bass
Vertigo, The Shining, The Man with the Golden Arm, Bird Man of Alcatraz, Love in the Afternoon
Vertigo
The Man with the Golden Arm
Bird Man of Alcatraz
The Shining
Reynold Brown
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Incredible Shrinking Man, The Time Machine
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
The Incredible Shrinking Man
Creature from the Black Lagoon
How The West Was Won
Renato Casaro
The Postman Always Rings Twice, Conan the Barbarian, Never Say Never Again, Opera
Cliffhanger
Rambo: First Blood
Escape from New York
The Running Man
Jack Davis
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Viva Max!, Kelly’s Heroes
Kelly’s Heroes
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Happy Birthday Gemini
Viva Max!
Frank Frazetta
The Fearless Vampire Killers, The Gauntlet, Fire and Ice, What’s New Pussycat?
The Gauntlet[
The Fearless Vampire Killers
Fire and Ice
Yours, Mine and Ours
Boris Grinsson
Blue Max, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, The Seven Year Itch, Proud & Profane
Blue Max
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
The Seven Year Itch
Proud & Profane
Al Hirschfeld
The Sunshine Boys, Noises Off, The Ultimate Solution of Grace Quigley, At the Circus
At the Circus
The Ultimate Solution of Grace Quigley
The Sunshine Boys
Noises Off
Mitchell Hooks
Dr. No, The Sand Pebbles, El Dorado
Dr. No
For A Few Dollars More
A Fistful of Dollars
Two for the Seesaw
The Hildebrandt Brothers
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (“Style B” re-release), The Secret of NIMH, Clash of the Titans
Star Wars R92 Killian
Clash of the Titans
The Secret of NIMH
Clash of the Titans
Burt Kleeger
Interiors, Manhattan, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Shadows and Fog
The French Connection
Manhattan
Shadows & Fog
Mighty Aphrodite
Mort Künstler
The Poseidon Adventure, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), The Hindenburg
Breakheart Pass
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
The Poseidon Adventure
Beyond The Poseidon Adventure
Frank McCarthy
The Ten Commandments, The Train, The Dirty Dozen, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Thunderball
The Great Escape
You Only Live Twice
Once Upon a Time in the West
Robert McGinnis
Casino Royale (1967), Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Diamonds Are Forever
Casino Royale (1967)
Barbarella
Bob Peak
Our Man Flint, Camelot, Apocalypse Now, The Spy Who Loved Me
Rollerball
The Spy Who Loved Me
Superman
Star Trek
Enzo Sciotti
The Beyond, Phenomena, Demons, The Blood of Heroes
The Blood of Heroes
National Lampoon’s European Vacation
Domino
Demons
John Solie
Shaft’s Big Score, Capone
Grand Theft Auto
Capone
Shaft’s Big Score
Smokey and the Bandit
Howard Terpning
The Guns of Navarone, Cleopatra, The Sound of Music
Cleopatra
Doctor Zhivago
Gone with the Wind
Sound of Music
Boris Vallejo
National Lampoon’s Vacation, Q, Barbarella, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters
Barbarella
Barbarian Queen
National Lampoon’s Vacation
Q
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