Star Wars Trilogy re-releases (1997)
Struzan’s triptych for the 1997 trilogy re-releases has a kinetic quality that almost begs you to forgive George Lucas for his "added scenes" and "enhanced special effects." Seriously, Han shot first. (Expand the gallery to widescreen for larger images.) Drew Struzan
Star Wars Trilogy re-releases (1997)
Struzan’s triptych for the 1997 trilogy re-releases has a kinetic quality that almost begs you to forgive George Lucas for his "added scenes" and "enhanced special effects." Seriously, Han shot first. (Expand the gallery to widescreen for larger images.)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Of the four Indy posters Struzan ended up painting, he says this one is his favorite. Personally, even today when I think of Harrison Ford, this is the image that comes to mind. Drew Struzan
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Of the four Indy posters Struzan ended up painting, he says this one is his favorite. Personally, even today when I think of Harrison Ford, this is the image that comes to mind.
First Blood (1982)
This became the template for pretty much every '80s action movie poster. Echoes of Struzan’s Musclebound Hero Holding Oversized Gun can be seen in everything from Predator to Cobra. Drew Struzan
First Blood (1982)
This became the template for pretty much every '80s action movie poster. Echoes of Struzan’s Musclebound Hero Holding Oversized Gun can be seen in everything from Predator to Cobra.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Struzan did a ton of work for Spielberg during the '80s, including this artist proof for E.T. Fellow one-sheet wonder John Alvin ended up doing the original theatrical poster, however. Drew Struzan
Struzan did a ton of work for Spielberg during the '80s, including this artist proof for E.T. Fellow one-sheet wonder John Alvin ended up doing the original theatrical poster, however.
Back to the Future Trilogy (1985 - 1990)
Back to the Future was the highest grossing movie of 1985, and I’d guess this now-classic poster did its part in keeping theater seats full that summer. It was so good that Struzan was tapped to do artwork for the two sequels (and basically just clone the Marty McFly pose). Drew Struzan
Back to the Future Trilogy (1985 - 1990)
Back to the Future was the highest grossing movie of 1985, and I’d guess this now-classic poster did its part in keeping theater seats full that summer. It was so good that Struzan was tapped to do artwork for the two sequels (and basically just clone the Marty McFly pose).
Drew Struzan
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Struzan still thinks the composition is "a little busy," but frankly so is the plot of this John Carpenter cult classic. Also, who wouldn’t go see a movie starring a badass-looking Kurt Russell holding a machine gun with giant shit-eating grin? Drew Struzan
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Struzan still thinks the composition is "a little busy," but frankly so is the plot of this John Carpenter cult classic. Also, who wouldn’t go see a movie starring a badass-looking Kurt Russell holding a machine gun with giant shit-eating grin?
Blade Runner, 25th Anniversary Edition (2007)
The studio used John Alvin’s image for the original Blade Runner theatrical release poster, but Ridley Scott chose Struzan’s artwork, orginally commissioned back in ’82, for the 25th Anniversary Edition. Drew Struzan
The studio used John Alvin’s image for the original Blade Runner theatrical release poster, but Ridley Scott chose Struzan’s artwork, orginally commissioned back in ’82, for the 25th Anniversary Edition.
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Struzan’s first trip to New York City was to work on the The Muppet Movie poster with Frank Oz. After it was done, Jim Henson decreed that only Struzan would be allowed to paint the Muppets while he was alive thanks to his ability to make them "look like real people." Drew Struzan
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Struzan’s first trip to New York City was to work on the The Muppet Movie poster with Frank Oz. After it was done, Jim Henson decreed that only Struzan would be allowed to paint the Muppets while he was alive thanks to his ability to make them "look like real people."
The Thing (1982)
It’s amazing to think this poster was created in less than 24 hours. It’s even more amazing to realize Struzan didn’t have a script, stills, or even a list of actors when he was asked to do it. For Carpenter fans, this image today is inseparable from the film. Drew Struzan
The Thing (1982)
It’s amazing to think this poster was created in less than 24 hours. It’s even more amazing to realize Struzan didn’t have a script, stills, or even a list of actors when he was asked to do it. For Carpenter fans, this image today is inseparable from the film.
Hellboy (2003)
Even though Guillermo Del Toro fought fiercely for it, none of Struzan’s work for the Hellboy movies (or anything else del Toro directed) was chosen by the studio. Instead, moviegoers were subjected to this boring piece of Photoshop. Drew Struzan
Even though Guillermo Del Toro fought fiercely for it, none of Struzan’s work for the Hellboy movies (or anything else del Toro directed) was chosen by the studio. Instead, moviegoers were subjected to this boring piece of Photoshop.
The Goonies (1985)
Struzan went to lunch with a Goonies art director, who drew him a picture on a napkin. He took it home and this is the resulting poster. Drew Struzan
The Goonies (1985)
Struzan went to lunch with a Goonies art director, who drew him a picture on a napkin. He took it home and this is the resulting poster.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, foreign)
The U.S. got Richard Amsel’s poster, and the rest of the world saw Struzan’s version. Drew Struzan
The U.S. got Richard Amsel’s poster, and the rest of the world saw Struzan’s version.
Star Wars (1977)
This is supposedly George Lucas’s favorite piece of art from the Star Wars franchise. The style D "circus" poster was a collaboration between Struzan and airbrush Jedi Charles White III and was used for the theatrical re-release of Star Wars in 1978. Drew Struzan
Star Wars (1977)
This is supposedly George Lucas’s favorite piece of art from the Star Wars franchise. The style D "circus" poster was a collaboration between Struzan and airbrush Jedi Charles White III and was used for the theatrical re-release of Star Wars in 1978.
Revenge of the Jedi (1983)
Whether it was 20th Century Fox jumping the promotional gun, or the fact revenge is not a Jedi concept, the result was the same: Struzan’s original teaser poster had to be pulled last minute. Thank goodness they kept the artwork. As for those incorrect lightsaber colors, Struzan chose them because there were "pretty." Drew Struzan
Revenge of the Jedi (1983)
Whether it was 20th Century Fox jumping the promotional gun, or the fact revenge is not a Jedi concept, the result was the same: Struzan’s original teaser poster had to be pulled last minute. Thank goodness they kept the artwork. As for those incorrect lightsaber colors, Struzan chose them because there were "pretty."
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Once again, Guillermo del Toro commissioned Struzan to create artwork for his 2006 film, and once again the studio didn’t use it. Del Toro still has the original. Drew Struzan
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Once again, Guillermo del Toro commissioned Struzan to create artwork for his 2006 film, and once again the studio didn’t use it. Del Toro still has the original.
You may not recognize his name, but if you’ve seen a movie poster in the last 40 years you almost certainly know Drew Struzan’s work.
The 67-year-old artist didn’t just create some of the most iconic one-sheets in cinema history. He’s also very likely the guy responsible for the image in your head when you think of a beloved movie or actor from the ’80s and ’90s (particularly if the latter is Harrison Ford). This is true for a ridiculous number of films, from Star Wars and Blade Runner, to Big Trouble in Little China, the Back to the Future trilogy, and The Thing.
As Struzan acolytes like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Frank Darabont, and Guillermo del Toro have pointed out, he has an uncanny ability to capture both the spirit and mood of a film in one static image. Indeed, it’s not uncommon for his posters to surpass the source material. “I had to almost live up to the art that we were later going to ask Drew to create for the poster,” admits Spielberg in the 2013 Struzan documentary, Drew: The Man Behind the Poster .
Like a lot of other movie geeks, my first exposure to his work was through Star Wars—specifically, the “Revenge of the Jedi” teaser posters I became infatuated with as a teenager. More than their rarity or the the story behind their last-minute pulling, it was the image that really stuck in my mind. It still seems a near perfect distillation of the movie—to hell with the fact the lightsabers for Luke and Darth are the wrong color.
When I found out the same artist drew nearly all of my childhood movie experiences, I was hooked. It was actually through Struzan that I discovered other masters of the genre, artists like Bob Peak, Richard Amsel, and Roger Kastel.
Struzan officially retired from poster work in 2008, but that retirement has been spotty at best. Over the past six years, he’s continued to produce occasional work for television and movies like The Walking Dead and Cowboys & Aliens. Most recently, he created a pro-bono poster for director Dana Nachman’s Batkid Begins.
Of course, the thing that has everyone’s midi-chlorians strirring is the possibility he’ll come back to work on the next batch of Star Wars films. J.J. Abrams supposedly wants it to happen. And in previous interviews Struzan has more or less promised to do them if asked. So while we wait for official confirmation, here’s a look back at the vast cinematic worlds he managed to capture one image at a time.
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