post movie posters done in a busy/claustrophobic caricature style from the 70s and 80s

like these:

http://i.imgur.com/S2B1s74.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/NQGmxtu.jpg

http://images.moviepostershop.com/cannonball-run-2-movie-poster-1984-1020248508.jpg

http://www.impawards.com/1982/posters/best_little_whorehouse_in_texas_xlg.jpg

http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/48575.1020.A.jpg

http://www.americanartarchives.com/davis,j_mad_world1963.jpg

sorry, I missed the '70s/'80s part

The Long Goodbye one is in the tradition of this, I guess, or of Mad magazine: (x-post, speaking of!)

http://images.wikia.com/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad/images/1/1f/It

Double x-post, yikes!

Are there any posters in the last 15 years that are a throwback to this style?

http://meansheets.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/a-house-1-copy-enlarge.jpg

machete kills has a poster like this.

(in this tradition, that is)

Are there any posters in the last 15 years that are a throwback to this style?

― obie stompin' moby (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, October 25, 2013 12:15 PM (1 minute ago)

detroit rock city?

xp no caricatures though nm

detroit rock city?

― ᶓ͠סּᴥ͠סּᶔ ᶓͼ᷆ₓͼ᷇ᶔ (gr8080), Friday, October 25, 2013 1:18 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

!!! yes

and Mallrats!

FYI this movie owns:

http://i.imgur.com/DXdVv3Q.jpg

http://assets.fontsinuse.com/static/use-media-items/14/13101/full-972x1440/51e16f50/wet_hot_american_summer.jpeg

woah japanese take on this style:

http://i.imgur.com/yW1UCNL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Kzo3Ryg.jpg

http://meansheets.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/american-graffiti.jpg?w=584

http://images.moviefanatic.com/iu/t_full/v1364991767/the-fish-that-saved-pittsburgh-poster.jpg

http://wrongsideoftheart.com/wp-content/gallery/posters-c/cooley_high_poster_02.jpg

http://wrongsideoftheart.com/wp-content/gallery/posters-s/slaughters_big_rip_off_poster_01.jpg

http://wrongsideoftheart.com/wp-content/gallery/posters-b/bamboo_gods_and_iron_men_poster_01.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/XacS5Ol.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/uSJJJqa.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ek6HzV8.jpg

pretty much half of all 70's movie posters.

http://i.imgur.com/Mnz5Z7Y.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/3lIx48u.jpg

http://adammcdaniel.com/RichardAmsel2.htm

http://i.imgur.com/Zo51FL9.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/9CXyAxn.jpg

http://www.filmonpaper.com/site/media/2011/05/ConquestofthePlanetoftheApes_B2_Japan-1-500x703.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/dDoCZ0T.jpg

I've never seen that Nashville poster upthread before! Altman's preferred poster artwork ended up on the soundtrack instead:

http://www.interviewmagazine.com/files/2009/08/04/img-nashville_105700420061.jpg

Came up on my Nashville image search:

http://attackofthekillerlibrarian.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/barrylyndon2.jpg?w=449&h=640

http://i.imgur.com/G70HDmh.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8d/California_split.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/yOdPW08.jpg

Every Bond movie of that period to thread...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/36/Live_and_Let_Die-_UK_cinema_poster.jpg

http://wpc.556e.edgecastcdn.net/80556E/img.news/NExYbO1rjwxqAF_1_1.jpg

http://www.impawards.com/1978/posters/california_suite.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0c/The_Man_with_the_Golden_Gun_-_UK_cinema_poster.jpg
Wikipedia's alt text:
A man in a dinner jacket holding a pistol is in the centre of the picture. Various scenes and images surround him, including two women in bikinis, a midget with a pistol, a car stunt and explosions. At the bottom right, oversized and pointing towards the man in the dinner jacket, is a golden gun, with a hand holding a bullet, about to load the gun. The top of the picture has the words "ROGER MOORE as JAMES BOND 007". At the bottom are the words "THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN"

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lschmxxO8P1r13zreo1_400.jpg

Charltonem Hestonem

http://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/11/MPW-5611

http://www.filmbrain.com/photos/uncategorized/crackers2.jpg

http://blogintomystery.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/heavymetalmoebiusb.jpg?w=367&h=500

http://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/77/MPW-38847

http://www.authortonypiazza.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Freebie-Poster.jpg

distant memories of resenting that that movie was rated R, preventing this young Mad Magazine fan from partaking.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTNkNzdjYWUtNjgxYy00MmU1LWJjYTEtMjVmNTE4MjU3N2I2XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg

Going Berzerk (1983)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZjA1YzJmZWYtOWU3YS00MjUyLThkMjAtMDgzZGE0OTM0N2Q2XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg

Basic Training (1985)

Basic Training (a.k.a. Up the Military) is a 1985 sex comedy film by Andrew Sugerman. It is often considered to be one of the worst films of 1985.

A Jack Davis that I don't think has been posted here:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BM2RiYTQ5YzgtMzEyMC00NWI0LWI1NTctOWM3YmJkNDdjMmMyXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg

Crime Busters (1977)

AKA Crimebusters

https://rarefilm.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Freddie-of-the-Jungle-217x300.jpg

Freddie of the Jungle (aka Gorilas a todo ritmo) (1981)

https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/108167835-17515709602025-07-03t192339z_1153882299_rc22ffaq2e89_rtrmadp_0_usa-congress-tax.jpeg?v=1751570984&w=1480&h=833&ffmt=webp&vtcrop=y

I thought this had a little bit of the screwball comedy poster vibe

very uncomedic otherwise, unfortunately

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZjNkNDE0MGItZGUwYy00MjczLWJmNTItMTRjNzA0NmQ0MDY4XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (1982)

Less busy but interesting

https://i.imgur.com/GTdPGGL.jpeg

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/9/7/1/2/5/97125-alexandria-again-and-forever-0-1000-0-1500-crop.jpg?v=c42758cdd7

Alexandria: Again and Forever, 1989

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjc1MWNjODktOTM1Ni00NjAyLTkwZGItZDkxMTFiOTM0ZTA3XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg

Happy Birthday, Gemini (1980)

There is a Jack Davis poster for this movie that has been here before... here's the VHS cover.

unquestionably a step down, but glad some other kinda MAD-ish artist got the work.

It's always interesting seeing what went onto the video covers. I get that the composition of an illustration meant for a movie poster might not work when shrunk down into the shape of a vhs box, but sometimes the replacement covers seem random. And they had to pay someone to paint a new picture!

^^It might have been a rejected pitch, or art used in other territories.

a collage rather than illustration (and not comedic) but this caught my eye for the device of everything spilling from the book.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzU2MzQyNTEtNWUxMy00Y2M3LWJhMTktZjk0NjNmYjAwN2RlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjI4MjA5MzA@._V1_.jpg

The New Centurions (1972)

It belongs here I think. Book concept is gold.

https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/9/6/1/5/9/6/961596-the-fantastic-funnies-0-2000-0-3000-crop.jpg?v=a61b9b9549

The Fantastic Funnies, 1980.

https://cdn.posteritati.com/posters/000/000/056/302/stingray-md-web.jpg

Stingray, 1978

I'm not good at embedding images anymore, but have we done Dirty Tricks?

It was posted upthread... image is broken now.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzEwOGY2OWQtNmUzMy00MWJlLTlkNDktYjNlMjM3N2Q3YThhXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg

Bonus vhs cover

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZmU5M2ZjNjgtNDU5My00NDE2LWI3N2QtM2Q0NThmZjMzN2IyXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg

Probably safe to say that any movie Rich Little was in probably had one of these posters.

See also: DeLuise, Dom

Rich Little as Brennan

yeah, it's almost like you're a guest star rather than part of the ensemble

with Rich Little, that's probably the case anyway

Exclusive Alamo Drafthouse poster for Honey Don't

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNeUoaHtEg6/

The Fall Guy's poster was a kind of tip of the cap to this style:

https://www.comingsoon.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/the-fall-guy-imax-poster.png?resize=819

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTY5ZTQyYTYtZDVlMS00Zjk3LTkyMTgtNjA5ODViODgwOGMxXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg

Uphill All the Way (1986)

Caught Stealing has kind of a fun variation on this.

The whole city’s coming after him.#CaughtStealingMovie – Sneak Peeks August 23, in theatres everywhere August 29. Get tickets. https://t.co/u9yioQH4US

Poster Artwork by Ise Ananphada pic.twitter.com/RaYzuYb9s5

— Caught Stealing Movie (@StealingMovie) August 20, 2025

Oh and lol "MEL TILLIS as BOOGER"

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMDNlNWRmZjMtZWJmYS00MDllLWFhODEtYjFhNzcxOWRlYWNjXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg

The Monitors (1969)

this seems familiar but i couldn't find it here...
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNmIxMmViZTItYzVhNS00NThiLWJiY2MtODBjNjU1MGQ2OWI1XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg

Bury Me an Angel (1971)

what a tagline

non-comedic but busy enough.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMmQ4YmRhZDktMDhjMS00ZGQ1LWE1M2ItNWE2MDY3ZWIzN2VmXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg

Velvet Smooth (1976)

the best version of this i could find
https://i.ibb.co/ymMcwGGg/bad-manners-blu.webp

Bad Manners (1984)

It's relatively mild, but Take This Job and Shove It (1981) - the first monster truck comedy! - has a busy poster:
https://alchetron.com/cdn/take-this-job-and-shove-it-film-16e74ed2-deda-405a-b23d-6cfbe902686-resize-750.jpg

Why was I reading about that film? It was the first film financed by Cinema Group Ventures, whose next film was Walter Hill's Southern Comfort. The company seems to have bimbled along without attracting enough attention for a Wikipedia page. Their next film after that was Hysterical, which is one of those not-quite-the-80s comedies from the late-70s/early-80s that has dropped off the face of the Earth, although it also has a busy poster:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/Hysterical_1983_poster.jpg

It's so obscure that the official trailer appears to be a VHS rip. It has 1970s icon Richard Kiel! But in 1983. That's like having Blondie and The Muppets, but in 1983. It feels weird.

The company went on to produce Best Defense, the rotten Dudley Moore film that had Eddie Murphy in a kind of tacked-on cameo. It opened at number two on the same weekend as Ghostbusters because Eddie Murphy was so hot back then. Imagine if he had been in Ghostbusters. The film would have made infinite money. But it would have been a completely different film - or at least the second half would have been completely different - because there's no way they would have given Eddie Murphy as little to do as they gave Ernie Hudson.

Does Velvet Smooth really have a guest star called Emerson Boozer? It seems so. He was an actual person:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerson_Boozer

And he still is, because he's still alive. But he was as well.

Shove It dates from the tiny, tiny window of time when it seemed that Robert Hays might go on to be a major comedy star. And for a brief moment he was, because next year he was in Airplane II, which at least made a profit if not very much money. And then, oblivion.

Noticing the name on the truck there, leading me to interesting details in Wikipedia articles

"The original Bigfoot appears in the 1981 film Take This Job and Shove It, where it appears as the main character's personal truck. This was the first appearance of a monster truck in film. A virtual Bigfoot is used by the character Aech inside the virtual reality universe OASIS in the 2018 film Ready Player One. Other appearances by Bigfoot trucks in film include Cannonball Run 2, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, Road House, Police Academy 6: City Under Siege, Tango & Cash, and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle."

I don't think I heard about monster trucks until the 90s, but that wasn't my mien at the time.

Well, you must have missed out on Bigfoot and the Muscle Machines!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNVIKxMJEyk

Afraid I did miss out! But maybe I did hear about monster trucks in the eighties? Like wrestling, which seemed to be getting big in the eighties, but became such a phenomenon in the next decade it eclipsed its earlier pop culture status.

feel like this one was probably here before but it didn't come up in a quick search:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNjdlMDljZjctNDVhMi00NmRkLWFmZDQtZGRlOTE5MDc3OWU4XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg

Meatballs III: Summer Job (1986)

The ghost of a dead porn star comes to Earth to help a nerd with his sex life.

It is.

verging on straight illustration but plenty busy... fantastic poster for a (iirc) great movie:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYmY1MzhhN2QtMzdjMC00MDU2LWI3YmEtZjY0MzkxYzRlOTI3XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg

Busting (1974)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjUwMDc5OTgtMjJmMS00NTY1LTg1MGMtY2NmYTU0OTUyZTU5XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg

Odd Jobs (1986)

I sometimes wonder how godawful some of these films have to be that I, obsessive 80’s/90s-era patron of video stores and watcher of cable TV, and of comedies in particular, haven’t heard of them.

https://www.movieposters.com/cdn/shop/products/1fb2f41117088c5795781da9e68ae4d8_96cb1691-0651-4490-8f99-9d9f05969478_1024x1024.jpg?v=1762516033

War, Italian Style (1965)

^^^ elder abuse: the movie

non-comedy but plenty busy... really nice poster
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWM1ZDhiYmEtNTM3Mi00NmMzLTg3MTYtYzBhNGFhZmMzNDk4XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg

The Human Factor (1976)

So there were two movies called The Human Factor in the '70s? The other is Otto Preminger's final film, which had a decidedly non-claustrophobic poster.