Vintage Movie Posters in movies

When movie posters display in movies

Sometimes movie posters are used as accessories in movies itselves. Whether choosen carefully or randomly by the director, their presence is always facinating for movie lovers and collectors.

Here are some interesting examples listed for you by Mauvais-Genres.com

 

Pulp Fiction (1994, Quentin Tarantino)

Pulp fiction posters in filmPulp fiction Machine Gun Kelly poster

Being a great movie lover, Quentin Tarantino never misses an opportunity to pay tribute to his favourite movies. Several movie posters are displayed in this cult scene of Pulp Fiction, among them the movie poster of Machine Gun Kelly (1958), Sorority Girl (1957), Rock All Night (1957), Motorcycle Gang (1957) and of the Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958).

Useful links: Pulp Fiction movie posters for sale - Quentin Tarantino movie posters for sale

 

Demolition Man (1993, Marco Brambilla)

Demolition man lethal weapon poster

In this scene from the movie Demolition Man, we notice behind Officer Alfredo Garcia / Benjamin Bratt that the American poster of Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) decorates the office of Lieutenant Lenina Huxley / Sandra Bullock. The choice of the poster is coherent since Lenina Huxley / Sandra Bullock is fascinated by the end of the 20th century and by the muscular methods of the police of that time (the action takes place in 2032 in a future where violence is totally prohibited ), but we can also note that both films Demolition Man and Lethal Weapon 3 are produced by Warner.

Useful links : Lethal Weapon posters - Demolition Man posters

  

Danger planétaire / The Blob (1958, Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.)

The Blob scene with Daughter of Horror posterThe Blob scene with Forbidden planet poster

While young Steve (Steve McQueen) is watching people running from the Movie Theatre, several movie posters are displayed on the wall, among them the posters of Daughter of Horror (1955) and Forbidden Planet (1956).

Useful Links : Horror movie posters of the 50's in catalogueAll available Horror movie postersSci-fi movie posters of the 50's  - All available Sci-fi movie posters - Steve McQueen movie posters

 

Beverly Hill Cop II (1987, Tony Scott)

Le Flic de Bevery Hills affiche Cobra

Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is looking at a poster of Cobra, an action movie with Sylvester Stallone. Maybe an allusion to the fact that Stallone was the original choice to play Axel Foley.

Liens utiles : Eddie Murphy movie posters - Sylvester Stallone movie posters

 

Argo (2012, Ben Affleck)

Argo affiche star warsArgo affiche planete des singes

Behind Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), you can notice the US posters of Star Wars and of the Valley of Gwangi. John Chambers' (John Goodman) office is decorated with the US posters of Planet of the Apes and of Moon Zero Two.

Useful links : Star Wars movie posters - Planet of the Apes movie posters

 

Ready Player One (2018, Steven Spielberg) 

Ready Player One

In this sequence, Steven Spielberg throws the characters into the universe of The Shining by Stanley Kubrick. The famous yellow Shining US movie poster by Saul Bass is all over the movie theatre.

Useful links : Stanley Kubrick movie posters for sale - Ready Player One movie posters

  

La La Land (2016, Damien Chazelle)

La la land scene avec poster James Dean

In this scene, Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is waiting for Mia (Emma Stone) at the former Rialto theatre of Pasadena, Los Angeles (closed in 2007). Several posters are displayed : Rebel Without a Cause (1956), Radio Patrol (1932) and A Farewell to Arms (1932).

Useful Links : James Dean movie posters in catalogueDamien Chazelle movie posters – Ryan Gosling movie posters - Emma Stone movie posters

 

The Night Caller (1975, Henri Verneuil) 

Peur sur la Ville

When the policeman Letellier (Jean-Paul Belmondo) is chasing Minos in the streets of Paris, we can clearly see at the right a huge French Billboard of William Friedkin's The Exorcist.

Useful Links : Jean-Paul Belmondo movie posters for sale  - The Exorcist movie posters - William Friedkin movie posters - Henri Verneuil movie posters for sale

  

The Mist (2007, Franck Darabont)

 Drew Struzan dans The Mist

In the opening scene of The Mist, the paintings that are displayed in the studio are Drew Struzan's original paintings ! (see the 2013 documentary Drew: The Man behind the Poster). On the left side of the character, you can admire the real paintings used to create movie posters of Pan's Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro (the visual was refused by movie production), The Thing by John Carpenter, and Stephen King's The Dark Tower.

Useful links :  Movie posters of The Mist for sale - Drew Struzan movie posters for saleMovie posters and stills of films inspired from Stephen King's novels

 

Blow out (1981, Brian de Palma)

blow out scene avec affichesblow out scene avec affiche

In this scenes taking place in the production company where is working Jack Terry / John Travolta, you can notice many horror and adult movie posters on the walls, like Lure of the Triangle (1977), Empire of the Ants (1977), The Food of Gods (1976), Squirm (1976), The Boogey Man (1980) that also appears in the corridor scene with the poster of Without Warning (1980), Fantasex (1976) and Blood Beach (1980).

Useful links:  Without Warning movie posters for sale - Blood Beach movie posters for saleBrian de Palma movie posters for sale - Blow out movie posters for saleHorror movie posters of the 70's in catalogue - Horror movie posters of the 80's in catalogue

 

Violent Saturday (1955, Richard Fleischer)

Les Tueurs dans la ville - Shock Poster

In this scene, while the respectable bank manager Harry Reeves discreetly watches the beautiful Elsie, you can notice several movie posters on the fence, one of which is the movie poster of Shock by Alfred Werker (1946), a film noir contemporary of Violent Saturday.

Useful Links : Richard Fleischer movie posters

 

Kung Fu Jungle / Kung Fu Killer (2014, Teddy Chan)

Kung Fu Killer - Big Boss Poster

In this action scene of Kung Fu Killer, a beautiful Hong-Kong movie poster of Big Boss is framed on the wall, which is the first major movie of Bruce Lee. Indeed, Bruce Lee is often quoted as a model by Donnie Yen, the lead actor of Kung Fu Killer.

Useful Links : Bruce Lee movie posters and collectibles for sale

 

Taxi Driver (1976, Martin Scorsese)

Taxi Driver movie scene with poster 

In this scene of Taxi Driver, Travis (Robert de Niro) has the bad idea of inviting Betsy to see an "adult" movie, Sometime Sweet Susan (1975). The movie theatre is covered with suggestive movie posters and stills. 

Useful links: Taxi Driver movie posters for sale - Adult-oriented movie posters

 

Donnie Darko (2001, Richard Kelly)

donnie darko scene de film avec affiche

Evil Dead posters are displayed in the movie theatre lobby where Donnie is heading.

Useful links: Evil Dead movie posters for sale - Donnie Darko movie posters for sale

 

Poltergeist (1982, Tobe Hooper)

Poltergeist movie scene with posters

In Robbie's bedroom, you can see the posters of Alien, and especially of Star Wars which was produced by George Lucas, a good friend of Steven Spielberg, who was the producer and co-screenwriter of Poltergeist.

Useful links: Alien movie posters for sale - Star Wars movie posters for sale - Tobe Hooper movie posters for sale 

  

Gremlins (1984, Joe Dante)

Gremlins movie scene with poster 

In this scene of Gremlins, where Gizmo is watching To Please a Lady (1950) on TV, you can notice the original US movie poser of Mad Max - The Road Warrior (1981). 

Useful links: Mad Max movie posters for sale - Gremlins movie posters for sale
 

Le Mépris (1963, Jean-Luc Godard)

Le mepris, scene avec affiche de vivre sa vie

Two posters are displayed in the background : the poster of Hatari ! and, what's most important, the italian poster of Vivre Sa Vie, another film directed by Godard. 

Useful links:  Jean-Luc Godard movie posters for sale - Brigitte Bardot movie posters for sale

 

Pierrot le Fou (1965, Jean-Luc Godard)

pierrot le fou scene de film avec affiche

On the right side, you can notice the poster of Le Petit Soldat, a 1960 movie which was also directed by Godard.

Useful links: Jean-Luc Godard movie posters for sale

 

Play It Again, Sam (1972, Herbert Ross)

Play it again affiche Casablanca

Behind Woody Allen, you can clearly see the poster of Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart, which is not a coincidence since the character played by Woody Allen is receiving dating advices from the ghost of Bogart along the movie.

Useful links: Woody Allen movie posters for sale  

 

Rabid (1977, David Cronenberg)

rage scene de film avec affiche

In this scene, as Rose / Marilyn Chambers is walking down a street, we can see the poster of De Palma's Carrie displayed in a movie theatre lobby. Maybe a reference to Sissy Spacek, who was Cronenberg's first choice for Rabid leading character.

Useful links: Carrie movie posters for sale Brian de Palma movie posters for sale - Rabid original movie posters and stills for sale - David Cronenberg movie posters for sale

 

The Spies / Spione (1928, Fritz Lang)

les espions scene de film avec affiche

On the wall in background, there are several posters of Metropolis, a major film also directed by Fritz Lang. Collectors will sigh, knowing that the original german poster of Metropolis is not only beautiful, but also the world's most expensive movie poster ! See our page on Most expensive movie posters. 

Useful links:  Fritz Lang movie posters for sale - Read our page about Most Expensive movie posters

 

Mulholland Drive (2001, David Lynch)

mulholland drive scene de film avec affiche

In this scene, Betty discovers an amnesic stranger in her aunt's appartment. She asks for her name. The woman is confused and answers "Rita" after staring at a movie poster of Gilda with Rita Hayworth.

Useful links: David Lynch movie posters for sale

  

Clockwork Orange (1971, Stanley Kubrick)

clockwork orange movie scene with poster

Between the characters, you can clearly see 2001 a Space Odyssey, the cult scifi 1968 movie also directed by Stanley Kubrick. This is, in fact, not a movie poster but a LP, but we could'nt resist to show you this new example of auto-reference.

Useful links:  2001 a Space Odyssey movie posters for sale - Stanley Kubrick movie posters for sale

 

Cinema Paradiso (1989, Giuseppe Tornatore)

cinema paradiso movie scene with poster

In this scene of Cinema Paradiso, the poster of Casablanca is displayed in background.

Useful links: Cinéma Paradiso movie posters for sale 

 

La Dénonciation (1962, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze)

La denonciation movie scene with poster

You can clearly see the poster of La Pyramide humaine by Jean Rouch (1961), a movie produced by Pierre Braunberger, who is also the producer of La Dénonciation.

 

Saturday Night Fever (1978, John Badham)

saturday night fever movie scene with posterssaturday night fever movie scene with posters

The posters of Serpico and Rocky are decorating the walls of Tony / John Travolta's bedroom. They are not only a clue about Tony's personality. They seem to be also a reference to the team's filmography : the movie script, Norman Wexler, was also the movie script of Serpico. And the Rocky poster could be a reference to Rocky's director John G. Avildsen : Avildsen was the original director for both Saturday Night Fever and Serpico, but was fired both times over disputes with producers.

Useful links: Rocky movie posters for sale - Al Pacino movie posters for sale - John Badham movie posters

 

The Hills Have Eyes (1977, Wes Craven)

The hills have eyes movie scene with poster

In this scene, there is a ripped poster of Steven Spielberg's Jaws. A tribute, or is it on the contrary suggesting that Craven's movie is more horryfing than a giant shark ? 

Useful links: Jaws movie posters for sale - Steven Spielberg movie posters for sale

 

Evil Dead (1981, Sam Raimi)

Evil dead movie scene with poster

In this scene of Evil Dead, you will notice a ripped poster of The Hills Have Eyes by Wes Craven. A direct reference to the scene in The Hills Have Eyes with the ripped poster of Jaws ? (see above) Sam Raimi would have confirmed it in the TV documentary Stephen King's World of Horror (1986). 

Useful links: Evil Dead movie posters for sale - Wes Craven movie posters for sale

 

The Player (1992, Robert Altman)

The Player movie scene with posters

The evocative movie posters of Prison Break (1938) and Murder in the Big House (1942) are surrounding Tim Robbins.

Useful links: Robert Altman movie posters for sale 

 

The Fisher King (1991, Terry Gilliam)

The Fisher King movie scene with poster

In this scene of the Fisher King, you can clearly see the movie poster of Brazil, a cult sci-fi movie also directed by Terry Gilliam.

Useful links: Brazil movie posters for sale - Terry Gilliam movie posters for sale 

 

Irréversible (2002, Gaspar Noé)

Irreversible movie scene with posterIrreversible movie scene with posterIrreversible movie scene with poster

In the first picture, there is a poster of 2001 a Space Odyssey, a cult movie to the director Gaspar Noé : "Je me souviens, ça m’a fait flasher comme si j’avais pris de la drogue." / "I remember, it made me hallucinate as if i was on drugs" (source : Métropolis on Arte French TV).

In the two other pictures, you will notice the poster of The Killing (1956), another Stanley Kubrick movie, and the poster of Jason and the Argonauts (1963).

Useful links:  2001 a Space Odyssey movie posters for sale - Stanley Kubrick movie posters for sale 

 

Pusher (1996, Nicolas Winding Refn)

Pusher movie scene with posterPusher movie scene with poster

Pusher is directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, who is well known to be a great original movie posters lover (see the amazing Pusher's making-off). In these two pictures, you will notice the french posters of The Way of the Dragon (1972, with Bruce Lee), and of Mad Max.

Useful links: Bruce Lee movie posters for sale - Mad Max movie posters for sale  

 

Jay & Bob Strikes Back (2001, Kevin Smith)

Jay and Bob strikes back movie scene with posterJay and Bob strikes back movie scene with poster 

In Jay & Bob strikes back, you can see the movie posters of Air Bud (1997) and Jackie Brown (1997).

Useful links: Quentin Tarantino movie posters for sale

 

Vanilla -Sky (2002, Cameron Crowe)

Vanilla sky movie scene with poster

In this scene, you can see the french film poster of Jules et Jim by François Truffaut. 

Useful links: François Truffaut movie posters for sale

 

Sex Tape (2014, Jake Kasdan)

Sex Tape movie scene with poster

Behind Jay / Jason Segel, you can see the very beautiful US film posters of My Sister Eileen (1955), Prison Warden (1949) and Beauty on Parade (1950).

 

While We're Young (2014, Noah Baumbach)

While we re young movie scene with poster

In this scene, Josh / Ben Stiller notices a poster of Rocky III on the left of his "friend" Jamie / Adam Driver, a detail that gives him a clue about what is really happening.

Useful links: Rocky movie posters and collectors for sale

 

... 

 

Many other films use original movie posters as accessories, with or without a hidden message of the director. Therefore, please feel free to contact us in order to complete this page with other examples of Movie posters in the movies, if possible with anecdotes related to the use of this precise movie poster in this specific film. Thank you in advance ! And thanks to our sources : contributors (Fred, Ash), forums allposterforum.com and madmovies, Arte French TV, Refn's Pusher making-of, www.tarantino.info, documentary Drew: The Man behind the Poster

 

Best Regards,

Mauvais Genres.