Your favorite movie posters

Thumbs up on Back To The Future poster, one of my favorite movies and a great poster. If you are a Back To The Future fan, I think Back To The Future 2 has the best poster from the trilogy. Its the same basic layout as the first movie but you get the doc and marty next to the car instead of just marty. Another plus is Back To the Future 2 was made after double sided posters starting becoming common. I have a double sided version in one of my light boxes and it looks great all lit up.

24x36 posters are all repros. A real one is 27x41, but that may not make a difference for your needs. It would look small to me.

The other thing is quality and price. IMHO, the repros in this size are usually made by printing from digital images. The details tend to become fuzzy, especially the small print. OTOH, a genuine BTTF-1 one sheet goes for $150 these days. I know as I have one on my walls (didn't pay that though)

Lots of sources.

For the newer stuff, look into the local Craigslist. The posters come from theaters and are often given out as perks to the employees. They in turn go sell them for a few bucks each on craigslist. You can also try and negotiate with the theater manager himself. I know several folks who do this.

There are also a few reputable dealers on ebay who specialize in newer material. Need to be careful there as there are lots of fakes out there, and dealers who will rip you off. DDILTS399 is a reputable dealer, while tloce is a known seller of fakes.

Best bet on the newer stuff is to stick with double sided posters as they are more difficult to fake, so the pirates don't bother.

If you were looking for something older, I would be going to the auction sites and practicing some patience:
www.emovieposter.com
www.movieposterbid.com
movieposters.ha.com

The fastest and most expensive way is to go to the dealers: Kirby McDaniels in Austin, cinemasterpieces, etc.

We collectors tend to gather on a site called www.allposter.com. Wealth of info there.

I think I only paid about $40-$50 for my BTTF2 double sided on ebay about 2 years ago. I've got 4 DIY lighted poster boxes that I rotate new poster in every now and then.

Lately I've been seeing movie posters as a reward item on the disney movie rewards website. So far most of the recent posters they have listed as originsal theatrical have all been double sided. I've gotten tron, pirates 4, wall-e, and muppets from them. You accumulate points there everytime you buy a disney bluray/dvd or you can also get points whenever you see a disney movie. I use the points to get posters.

Yeah, should have mentioned that. There are actually several BTTF-2 posters out there.

The "synchronize your watches" and "getting back was only the beginning" ones go for $40-70

The regular one you mention is often available around $20 or so.

BTTF-3 is even cheaper, a $10 poster.

To make it more complicated, the BTTF-1 poster comes in 2 variations. One is a folded one with NSS numbers and the other is a rolled studio issued one without NSS numbers. The NSS one is more valuable

I feel that posters are an important part of any HT, low end or high end. I got my posters at AllPosters.com and they were 27x40.. The frames were purchased at my local IKEA. they include: The Dark Knight (Joker Face). Die Hard, Ghostbusters, The Matrix, The Terminator, Return of the Jedi and Pirates of Carribean "Dead Mans Chest". How often does everyone change their posters? Lots of new ones out there like the Hunger Games and Wrath of the Titans..good thread!!

Here is an update to original posters. Man arrested for selling fake posters on E bay to collectors. Prices ranged from $500 to $5,000.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/m...exA3VsJRgZ7uHI

allposters.com sells mostly reprints, which could be just fine for decor.

There was a change in poster sizes that occurred in the early '90s (92-94). One sheet posters lost an inch in length. Earlier posters are 27x41 and later posters are 27x40. These days, the mass market dealers, such as Ikea or Michaels or Hobby Lobby only sell the cheaper 27x40 frames.

BTW, the NY Post article is a good one. The collectors have been going after this guy for 6 years now, but the justice is sweet. Note that Haggard had a very elaborate operation going where he bleached images off old lobby cards, and then printed images of more valuable Universal Horror cards on the stock. Fooled a lot of people for awhile.

I began picking up some double sided posters for a future theater. They're mostly some of my favorites. I like them because I either like the look of the poster and/or I really, really enjoyed the movie and had fond memories. Typically it's because I really enjoyed the film, the memories that go with the film as well as the film may be mostly recognizable historically.

I do have some single sided posters, but I'll omit them and just recognize some of my favorite double sided.

I have a question for you people.

If you collect double sided posters, how do you recognize a knock off vs. an original? I have purchased some on ebay and I'm always looking at ebay feedback and if something looks a little fish, I'll google the person. I've already blacklisted one seller due to google results.

Aside from ebay/google feedback, is there anything else to look for or is it just something you learn? I recently purchased a Matrix poster from ebay, paid a decent sum for it and the seller has perfect feedback (100.0%). The poster looks pristine. It's double sided and all. But is there anything else to consider or do you just kind of see it over time with experience?

Tough question, Adam.

Reproductions are out there, and often less than honest dealers will try to pass them off as originals at higher prices. There are a few rules that really increase your chances of getting authentic stuff.

1. Stick to double sided posters at first. It is a lot more difficult to reproduce them.
2. Double sided posters tend to be a bit lighter on the back side to allow more light through. Look for a difference in color balance and saturation of the back side.
3. Stay with reputable dealers. The all poster forum has a section that contains good info on good and bad dealers here: http://www.allposterforum.com/index.php/board,40.0.html
4. Try to buy directly from the theater, or if that isn't possible develop a relationship with one of the employees. Posters are often given to the employees as perks, and they in turn will sell them on places like the local craigslist. If you develop a relationship, you can get first shot and also be able to request stuff while it is still on the walls.

eBay feedback is a joke. Often the seller will do anything to avoid a negative. This includes slandering the buyer as non-paying. As a last resot, they will sometimes refund money to an experienced collector so they can keep selling fakes to the inexperienced. A dealer named tloce is notorious for this, but he isn't alone.

There are other auction sites, particularly emovieposter.com, movieposterbid.com and heritage auctions that are reputable. They will research for you, and will generally refund if a mistake is made.

Thanks, Jayn_j. I'll be extremely cautious moving forward.

The seller had a detailed description, a nice picture, not a single negative mark and the poster arrived in great shape with impeccable packaging. I may have overpaid for this, but I really wanted one and the last two times I bid $100 on one of these I didn't get it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150792300769...#ht_500wt_1010

The Matrix is one of few where double sided fakes have appeared. I should have added that there are authentication sites out there that will help spot fakes. Here are some of the pointers for this poster:

http://www.onesheetindex.com/movie_p...ix_1_7176.html

http://www.moviepostercollectors.com...atrix_Int.html

In general, try typing "movie poster authentication

Whew! I'm gonna sleep better tonight.

Thanks again. I really appreciate your help.

My HT is still in construction mode. But I have all ready picked up my 6 favorite posters already. ( no particular order )

1. Transformers
2. Shawshank Redemption
3. Goonies ( for the wife )
4. Cars ( kids )
5. Spiderman ( kids )
6. The Notebook ( the wife & I )

I have my family room wallpapered with posters. Personally, I don't collect much beyond the early '80s. I rotate stuff often, but here is what I currently have hanging:

3 Sheet (41x81)
Thunder Over Arizona (stone litho western) (Was Kiss Me Kate until recently)

1 sheets (27x41)
Young Frankenstein
Back to the Future
Star Wars, style D
Zorro's Black Whip - Chapter 1
Thunder in the City (a wonderful Edward G Robinson stone litho)
Damn Yankees
The Glorious Fool (a 1927 Richard Dix lost picture)
Rescue Squad (another lost picture)
Top Hat (Danish poster)
Cotton Club (international)

Half Sheets (22x28)
101 Dalmations
Easter Parade
Road to Zanzibar
The Bandwagon
The Sting
The Wackiest Ship in the Army
Bomber B-52

Inserts (14x36)
Rails Into Laramie
Risky Business
Cabaret
The Stuntman
Battle in Outer Space
Cannery Row

Lobby cards - too many to list

Pictures posted on request.

I'd love to see some pictures.

Thanks for the info Jay, so far, but I am still kind of confused on where to buy. You stated ebay, but to watch out and you gave one dealer. So if I am looking to get some double sided posters, some re-prints for the not so important kids ones and some originals for the more important ones (i.e. mine) any suggestions? Or do I just go to the one ebay dealer you listed?

Thanks!!!

I don't buy a lot off eBay, so it is tough for me to give specific recommendations. That's why I provided the pointer to the threads on good/bad dealers. These are being reported by folks who do purchase new posters.

When I do buy on eBay, I find I need to be more careful, even from the dealers I use. Small pictures can hide a lot of issues. I will often ask for a better picture before bidding. And I still sometimes get burned. I purchased a pair of lobby cards from "It Happened One Night" about a year ago, and when received I discovered that there was a large scratch across Colbert's face in the better card. Didn't see it on the ebay pic, although if you looked carefully, it was there.

As for pics, here are a couple that actually hang in my theater. As you can see, I prefer the bolder style of the classic posters:

OK. Thanks jayn_j

I just couldn't find, or don't know if they are even on ebay, from that thread. Was having a hard time finding them. I will keep looking through that thread.

Thanks again!

Batman Begins is a great poster.

I have it in a backlit box in my living room theater.

My favorite poster is my Revenge of the Jedi. Sadly (or not) it is matted and framed so it cannot be displayed in the upcoming light box I will be building. BUT, when designing the theater and the electrical, I purposely placed one electrical location for an "art light" and my Revenge poster will be the only one inside the theater room itself.

A couple of things to note here. None of the original Star Wars series was double sided, so they are not candidates for lightboxes. Episodes 1-3 are double sided however.

When they matted the poster, they most likely dry mounted it as well. Unfortunately, dry mounting will kill any resale value on a poster. I agree that it is somewhat stupid, but it is the reality. A $200 poster will generally sell for under $50 if it has been dry mounted. Makes no difference if you never plan on selling it.

The acceptable way of backing a movie poster is with coarse linen, bound to the poster with a pH neutral wheat paste. Even this is controversial, and you would never recover the cost of linenbacking on a resale. Linenbacking runs around $150 without any restoration on a 1 sheet poster.

My own philosophy is as follows. I never sell posters, so I am less concerned with resale value. I view them as a slice of history though, and am only holding them for a period of time. As I am now in my '60s, that may not be long. Posters were/are commercial advertising. I also don't restore them because each pinhole and tear is a battle scar from their intended use. My posters wear them proudly as part of their history.

The good thing that my poster was matted using museum quality archival processes. Did I watch them do it? No, but for $450 just to frame mount and matte, it was to be done using archival papers, mattes and backing. It will 1) never be sold and 2) never removed from the frame!

Just got the Avengers poster, can't wait to see the film!!