The Many Beautiful Posters of STAR WARS
Six Star Wars films have been released so far, but there are dozens and dozens of posters for those films. Between teasers, theatrical releases, re-releases, and international versions, its easy to focus your collection on the film posters and only the film posters. Actually, easy isnt the right word to use. Tracking down posters and making sure they arent fakes is tricky, and then theres the challenge of storage. Unless you have a giant mansion with empty wall space, youll have to come up with a system of flat files, racks, or portfolios. Fun, right? Thats why I like to enjoy the many posters of Star Wars virtually. Here are some of my favorites from each film:
A New Hope
This poster by Tom Jung is likely the most recognizable one of them all. Its very space opera-y (technical term). Luke and Leia dont look like Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher , but that doesnt bother me. I love the layout, the way the X-wings are angled towards the Death Star, all of it.
This poster released in 1978 in Japan mixes a variety of elements including art from other posters and photos. The X-wing formation is similar to the Jung poster, for example. The Death Star is upside down, but hey, maybe they were just alluding to the fact that the Empire was going to lose.
The Empire Strikes Back
The Gone with the Wind style poster done poster done by Roger Kastel is my absolute favorite Star Wars poster of them all. Partially because a tauntaun is front and center.
Yeah, I really like Tom Jungs posters. Other than the weird placement of Vaders leg, I love the shape and lines of this poster. The lens flare on the Stormtroopers armor makes me particularly happy.
The Return of the Jedi
Poland pretty much nailed it with this Return of the Jedi poster by Witold Dybowski. Released in 1984, it features Darth Vaders exploding head. Its not subtle.
The teaser poster for Jedi was made before the final title was announced so, Revenge of the Jedi it is. The illustration was done by Drew Struzan, and it does a nice job of communicating Vaders presence. Its simple but not simple if that makes sense.
The Phantom Menace
This teaser poster for The Phantom Menace featuring young Anakin with the shadow of Darth Vader gets me right in the feels. And I dont even like young Anakin Skywalker that much. This might be the most poignant poster of them all.
This gorgeous, rich poster can be summed up with a few words: Struzan is a frakking genius. Having Darth Mauls eyes looming over the entire cast is so chilling and so good.
Attack of the Clones
Struzan infused his Attack of the Clones poster with emotion. Anakin and Padm seem like a team here in a way they never did in the films, and I like seeing the peek of the clone army in action.
The prequel trilogys teaser posters were rather striking. They dont have a ton of imagery and certainly cant hold a candle to the masterpieces painted by Struzan, but they have their worth and make an impression.
Revenge of the Sith
Revenge of the Sith only gets a single poster on this list. Struzans work is incomparable, and I dont hold any of the other posters on the same level. The storytelling is particularly strong in this illustration and so is the use of light. Im completely taken with it.
Which posters do you like best?
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I missed putting this up on Star Wars Day, but for the true devotees to the franchise every day is Star Wars Day
Enjoy
Glad you liked them
It's weird, but Star Wars is one of those iconic movies that become more than a movie, they become a movementall their own. I can vividly remember whenStar Warsfirst came out, the commercials, the excitement, the posters...The movie experience itself was mesmerizing, and...well...outta this world! Loved it and still do!
So yeah, the first Jung is still my favorite.
Larry
Thanks for the feedback and perspective
Yeah the early movies certainly set the town and the furor that was stirred up back then has not died down over the decades since.
I loved Star Wars movies, my kids loved Star Wars movies and now my grandkids love Star Wars movies and I expect that a great grandchild (with God's blessing) will eventually love them too.
Thanks for posting the posters of Star Wars RIO. Just a great series of movies and the posters are so cool.
RIO, I have 11 great grandkids...And their all star wars fans.
Rachael Welch at 73...
RIO, I know she isn't in the Star Wars series, but man oh man, at 73 she is beyond hot.
I wonder if they could add her to the Star Wars series. Perhaps as Ms. Vader.
Forgive me for the off topic, but you can well understand after seeing her, nothing else mattered.
It lass through the years I see and not just in my family
Kavika
A clear illustration that beauty can endure through the years
And who knows perhaps there is a Star Wars movie in her future