Overview On Movie Art Online at All Movie Replicas

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What Is Considered Movie Art?

When we line up for our ticket at the movie theatre, we usually look around at the walls in the lobby at the posters of the feature or features which are currently currently playing or which are coming soon. Some movie theaters display these posters in glass surrounded by marquee style lights. Baby boomers or older movie-goers may remember seeing some smaller "cards" or odd-sized posters lined along the walls of the lobby. Many of you may also remember passing a store on your way to the theatre and seeing smaller versions of the "posters" in storefront windows. Younger movie-goers may have noticed mini posters, stand-ups, counter displays or mobiles, or you may have seen advertisements in the movie section of your newspaper. All of these items fall into the category of movie art.

Since posters and related movie art materials are used as advertising tools by major studios to lure prospective moviegoers to their particular films, movie posters are designed specifically to get your attention and to promote the film in the most favourable light. While the beauty and aesthetic value of posters vary from studio to studio, they all have one basic purpose-to promote box-office sales and to get you into the theatre.

Note: The movie posters and other advertising materials that are used by theatres should not be confused with posters that can be purchased from stores or discount chains. The posters found in retail outlets are printed on a commercial basis in large numbers and generally should not be taken into consideration when discussing collectible movie art.

Who Collects Movie Art?

Up until the 1970s, movie art collectors were relatively small in number and the members of this elite group set the standards for the entire movie art industry. While the reasons for movie art collecting vary with each individual, most people believe that the first collectors did so strictly out of love and enjoyment of a movie, or a star, or the movie industry in general. It is hard to fathom that anyone could have foreseen that these materials, which were intended solely as disposable advertising materials, would some day be in such demand. But, for whatever reasons, these pioneers possessed the "collector's spirit" and saw the value of these posters as pieces of movie history.

As the years passed, more and more of these materials were destroyed, either intentionally or with age, and more and more collectors joined the ranks in an attempt to salvage these pieces of art. Today, there are literally thousands of serious collectors, and this number is expected to continue to climb. There are also a great deal of "not so serious" collectors who enjoy collecting their favorite movie materials, regardless of their value. Regardless of the underlying reason, movie poster collecting is on the verge of enjoying widespread appeal.

How Does Movie Art Compare with Other Collectibles?

There are literally thousands of items that can be classified as "collectibles." The more popular collectibles include baseball cards, football cards, comic books, stamps, and rarer items such as porcelain pieces, art, and the like. But these collectibles have several disadvantages. Because of the popularity of sports cards, they can be found in discount chains, neighborhood convenience stores and grocery stores. They are produced in such large numbers that rarity is practically nonexistent. Of course, there are the rarer baseball and football cards from earlier decades, but the prices on these cards are very costly, and it is very difficult for first-time collectors to get a good start.

The same holds true for comic books. Costs of old and rare comic books are high. The newer comic books are printed in such mass that their value as a collectible is diminished. Other collectibles are very costly and it is extremely hard for new collectors to get started. So how does movie art collecting differ? There are a number of reasons why movie art stands apart from all other collectibles.

Popularity of Movies
Not Made for Public Sale
Works of Art
Can Be Started with Little Money

Popularity of Movies
It is safe to assume that most people, at some point in their lives, have seen a motion picture. It is also safe to assume that everyone has seen at least one motion picture or one movie star or personality that he or she truly loved. The real truth is that millions of people have seen and see movies every day, and there are literally millions of movie fans worldwide.

Movie art collecting offers the avid movie fan an opportunity to possess something tangible from their favorite movie or star. They can own a piece of the movie, as the movie advertising items are as much a part of the whole movie process as are the scripts, the stars, the directors, and the cast. Through movie art collecting, movie fans can own and display some special limited quantity memento of their favorite motion picture.

It is a safe bet that the love affair between movies and the public will continue. And as more and more moviegoers discover movie art collecting, the more the demand for these materials will grow. As the demand increases, value increases, thereby creating the possibility of turning a very enjoyable hobby into a future investment.

Not for Public Sale
As in any industry, advertising plays a key role in the movie-making business. There are literally hundreds of movies released every year, and the studios are vying for public interest in their particular projects. To help the theatres in promoting the various releases, the movie studios produce and provide materials that are designed by their advertising departments to assist theatres in putting on a successful movie campaign. These materials are not released to the public. As such, they are printed in limited numbers-only enough to accommodate the local theatres. They are strictly advertising materials and are meant to be discarded after the movie's run.

Of all the reasons why people collect movie art, none seems to compare to the very basic instinct in all of us that we would like to have something that most other people will never have. Because of the limited numbers produced; because of the number of them destroyed, either intentionally or through age; because they are not meant for public sale; and because they can only be acquired through limited avenues, movie art offers rarity in a world of mass production.

Note: For clarification purposes, we are addressing legitimate theatre advertising materials and not commercially produced posters and the like.

Works of Art
Many of the advertising materials produced for motion pictures are truly "works of art." In fact, many studios contract with well-known artists to produce the artwork used in the advertising materials. Some of the better known artists of today are Amsel, Peak, Drew and the Hildebrandt brothers. Even the legendary Norman Rockwell has lent his talents to movie art.

Framed and mounted, some movie posters will compete aesthetically with any legitimate piece of art. Many favorites come from the sci-fi and horror categories which feature outstanding and sometimes breathtaking graphic artwork. Many posters from little known hits are true collector's items just because of their beauty. In many cases, posters from better known movies cannot compete with those of the genre known as "B" movies. Of course, this is understandable since producers of some of the better known movies do not have to overcome public uncertainty when they boast celebrity stars. The lesser known movies depend entirely on their advertising materials to make or break the movie. In any case, movie art offers an alternative to mainstream artwork at prices that are much more in line with the average person's budget.

Little Money Required
Since movie art collecting has existed in an elite circle of collectors, they have basically set the guidelines for determining a poster's value. In the past, the focus of these collectors has been on horror films from the 1930s and movie classics from the golden era (such as Gone with the Wind). As such, the prices of these posters have gone through the roof, while other films' posters from the same era have enjoyed only a fractional increase in value. Recently, movie art collectors have turned their attention to certain horror movies of the 1950s, causing prices on such notable films as Forbidden Planet and The Day the Earth Stood Still to skyrocket. The secret for those just entering the market is to take advantage of these "sleepers" now, before they become sought-after materials.

Posters of more currently released movies can have an almost instantaneous impact on collectors. Star Wars material is always wanted by collectors. Blade Runner, E.T and a host of other movie favorites from the 1970s and 1980s have already moved to the level of "preferred collectibles." Walt Disney introduced a special numbered edition poster of the Rocketeer in 1990, which was produced in limited quantities and similarly in 1991, Walt Disney released a special edition poster of Beauty and the Beast, the animated film. Less than one year after the poster's debut, it had already enjoyed an increase of over 500 percent in value.

Movie art collecting offers a wide selection of low, medium or high priced materials for the first time collectors. Whether you have lots or just a little to start your collection, there are excellent opportunities for all.

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