Film Poster Auctions – Original Movie Posters

Few things capture the excitement of going to the cinema quite like an original film poster.

At Excalibur Auctions, our film poster auctions feature original cinema posters from classic and contemporary films, including British, American and international releases.

We regularly offer UK Quad posters, UK One Sheets, international posters, lobby cards and other original film advertising, covering everything from Hollywood blockbusters and British classics to horror, science fiction, James Bond and cult cinema.

For collectors, an original cinema poster isn't simply a picture of a favourite film. It is a piece of the film's original advertising history.

UK Quad Film Posters

The British Quad is one of the most distinctive and collectable film poster formats.

Measuring approximately 30 x 40 inches, UK Quads were traditionally produced for display in British cinemas.

Original Quads from important films, particularly those with striking artwork or desirable subject matter, can attract considerable collector interest.

We regularly sell Quads covering:

• James Bond
• Star Wars
• Horror
• Science fiction
• Action films
• Classic Hollywood
• British cinema
• Cult films
• Comedy
• Children's films

Condition, artwork, rarity and the popularity of the film can all have a significant effect on value.

UK One Sheet Film Posters

The UK One Sheet is another important British cinema poster format.

Smaller than a Quad, One Sheets were used to advertise films in cinemas and are particularly popular with collectors interested in specific films, actors and genres.

We consider original One Sheets from a wide range of films, including classic cinema, horror, science fiction, action and popular franchises.

James Bond Film Posters

James Bond is one of the most consistently popular areas of film poster collecting.

Our auctions have included original posters for films from across the Bond series, including Dr. No, Thunderball and You Only Live Twice, alongside later Bond releases.

Original British Quads can be particularly desirable, especially where the artwork is iconic and the poster survives in good condition.

Recent Excalibur results include:

• Dr. No UK Quad – £4,000
• Thunderball UK Quad – £2,500
• You Only Live Twice UK Quad – £2,200

These demonstrate the potential of desirable original Bond posters, although individual values vary considerably.

Star Wars Film Posters

Star Wars changed cinema in 1977 and created an equally enduring collecting market around its original advertising.

We sell original Star Wars film posters, including UK Quads and other formats from the original trilogy and later films.

A particularly interesting example sold through Excalibur was a Star Wars UK Quad produced before the Academy Awards, which achieved £1,300.

Another Star Wars UK Quad achieved £2,800.

Originality, release period, artwork, condition and rarity all contribute to the value of Star Wars posters.

Horror & Cult Film Posters

Horror and cult cinema has a particularly enthusiastic poster collecting community.

Original posters for classic horror films, science fiction, exploitation cinema and cult favourites can be highly collectable, particularly where the artwork is unusual or the film has developed a strong following over time.

We are interested in original cinema advertising from both well-known and more obscure films.

Classic & British Cinema Posters

British cinema and classic Hollywood provide a huge range of collectable film posters.

Our auctions can include posters associated with:

• Classic British films
• Hammer Horror
• Ealing comedies
• Hollywood classics
• War films
• Musicals
• Adventure films
• Crime films
• Comedy
• Romance
• Westerns

Original cinema advertising can provide a fascinating snapshot of how films were marketed to audiences at the time of their release.

International Film Posters

Our film poster auctions aren't limited to British formats.

We also consider international movie posters, including US, European and other overseas releases.

Different countries often produced their own artwork and advertising campaigns for the same film, making international posters particularly interesting to collectors who want something different from the familiar British release.

How Much Are Film Posters Worth?

The value of an original film poster depends on a combination of factors.

These can include:

• The film
• Rarity
• Poster format
• Country of origin
• Release date
• Artwork
• Condition
• Size
• Whether it is an original or reproduction
• Star or director
• Current collector demand

An obscure film can sometimes have a highly desirable poster, while a famous film may have numerous common reproductions with relatively little value.

Originality matters. Modern reproduction posters can look convincing, so specialist assessment is particularly useful when determining whether an apparently old poster is genuine.

Selling Film Posters at Auction

If you have original film posters to sell, Excalibur Auctions can help.

We consider:

• UK Quads
• UK One Sheets
• International posters
• Lobby cards
• Film advertising
• Horror posters
• Science fiction posters
• James Bond posters
• Star Wars posters
• Classic cinema
• Cult films
• British films
• Hollywood films

We can advise on whether posters should be sold individually or grouped appropriately.

Collections are particularly welcome, whether assembled by a long-term collector or inherited as part of an estate.

Free Film Poster Valuations

If you've inherited a collection of film posters, have posters you've collected over the years or have discovered something in an attic or old cinema collection, contact Tom for a free, no-obligation valuation.

Send us photographs of the front and back of the poster where possible, together with any information you have about its history.

Call 020 3633 0913 or use our online valuation form.

For larger collections, we can also discuss our collection service.

Previous Film Poster Auction Results

Our auction results demonstrate the range of film posters we handle.

Recent Excalibur results include:

• Dr. No UK Quad – £4,000
• Star Wars UK Quad – £2,800
• Thunderball UK Quad – £2,500
• You Only Live Twice UK Quad – £2,200
• Star Wars UK Quad, pre-Oscars – £1,300

These are examples of prices achieved at auction rather than valuations for other posters. The exact release, artwork, condition, rarity and provenance can make a substantial difference.