Greatest Hand-Drawn Movie Posters

by Helen Earnshaw | 28 September 2014

Over the years, we have been treated to some spectacular movie artwork, and yet it is the hand-drawn posters that have always been my favourite.

The hand-drawn posters have always had real charm about them and there really have been some standout pieces from some of the most iconic films. We take a look at some of the best hand-drawn posters from a range of different film genres.

- Raiders of the Lost Ark

You can’t talk about hand-drawn posters without giving a little mention to the Indiana Jones franchise, as so many of them were designed in this way - not only are they terrific, but they really are iconic film posters.

While there are plenty to choose from, however, the original theatrical poster by Richard Amsel is my personal favourite. The poster was re-designed for the 1982 re-release, which showed off a more swashbuckling Indy that this one.

However, there is a certain amount of mystery to the Indy we see in this poster, as we are introduced to a brand new film character. Moreover, the character of Indiana Jones does not see himself as a swashbuckling hero; he is just a professor who has a very interesting second line of work.

- The Goonies

In my humble opinion, The Goonies is one of the best kid’s movies of all time. This is a movie that I grew up watching and it will always have a very special place in my heart - on top of that, it is an exciting and action packed film.

Drew Struzan was behind this terrific poster for the film, which really does capture the danger and the adventure that the kids face from the start of this movie to the end.

The Goonies is a movie that is not driven by CGI and is told with a lot of heart and excitement - they really don’t make movies like this anymore, which is a real shame!!!

- E.T.

We have already taken a closer look at E.T as we have explored some of film’s best posters, but it makes a second appearance with this beautiful piece of artwork.

The finger-to-finger image is one of the most iconic in film history, and is one of things that you most associate with this movie. In such a simple way, John Alvin has shown off the bond between the alien and the young boy - which is really what this movie is all about.

E.T. is a film that has friendship at its heart, E.T. and Elliot may not be the same species, but they are willing to see past those differences to form one of the best ever film friendships. The poster captures this message perfectly.

- Breakfast At Tiffany’s

Audrey Hepburn is one of the greatest actresses of all time and Breakfast of Tiffany’s and Holly Golightly is one of her best-known films and characters. Hepburn in her little black dress is one of cinema’s most enduring images.

The movie hit the big screen back in 1961, and it was Robert McGinnis who was behind the design for this terrific poster. The movie puts Hepburn front and centre stage in the iconic little black dress, which was to become to synonymous with this role.

While there are a string of posters for the release of this movie, this hand-drawn effort has always been my favourite and one of the most popular.

- King Kong

Much like ET, King Kong is a movie poster that we have already heaped praise on, but it is making a second appearance, as it is a terrific hand-drawn poster.

Designed and drawn by Keye Luke, this poster captures the most famous and iconic moment from King Kong - on top of a skyscraper doing battle with military biplanes, while trying to project Ann Darrow.

This is one of the most action packed of the posters that we are heaping praise on today - we have seen several King Kong movies over the years, but this really does remain the best piece of artwork.

- Back To The Future

We have already looked at one Drew Struzan poster with The Goonies, but Back To The Future is another of his well-known works. Back to the Future is one of the most iconic and much loved sci-fi franchises of all time, and the first film hit the big screen back in 1985.

This remains one of Michael J Fox’s greatest roles and it is right that he takes centre stage in this first poster for the franchise.

Struzan would go on to change the poster design for the second film - adding in Christopher Lloyd’s Doc - but there is no doubt that the first poster if the most well-known of the film series.

- Paperman

Over the years, we have seen some terrific hand-drawn Disney posters - Aladdin and The Little Mermaid by John Alvin are the two that always spring to mind. They returned to this with the artwork for the fantastic short film Paperman.

Paperman was a beautiful black and white short film that was released back in 2012, and Jeff Turley captured that design and look into this wonderful hand-drawn poster.

This poster really does nod back to the great Disney posters of old, and I would love to see more Disney posters delivered in this way - they are an animation film company after all!!