From Hollywood's golden age to the dawn of sci-fi epics, vintage movie posters have become some of the most coveted collectibles in the world.
These valuable movie posters are more than just marketing tools; they are now revered as historical artifacts, fine art, and nostalgic treasures.
Whether featuring the haunting eyes of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, or showcasing the epic scale of Fritz Lang's Metropolis, these cinematic relics can command hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.
We’ve also put together a list of the most expensive movie props ever sold!
Why Do People Collect Movie Posters?
For some, collecting movie posters is about nostalgia, a way to relive the magic of films that shaped their lives. For others, it's an investment in original artwork with historical and cultural significance.
With only a small handful of certain posters ever surviving their theatrical run, each one becomes a snapshot of a moment in the motion picture arts.
What makes a movie poster valuable? Age, rarity, iconic imagery, condition, and whether it features original artwork or a unique style all play a role. Especially prized are posters from horror films, film noir, early sci-fi, and anything tied to stars like Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, or Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
The 17 Most Valuable Movie Posters of All Time
The Phantom of the Opera (Universal, 1925)
Sold for: USD 203,150
Lon Chaney’s chilling transformation in this silent-era horror film still echoes through cinematic history. This original poster is one of only four known to exist, and the only version that features a full image of Chaney in his terrifying Phantom makeup.
Once owned by Nicolas Cage, this vintage movie poster sold at Heritage Auctions in 2014, cementing its place among the most sought-after posters ever sold.
Metropolis (UFA, 1927)
Sold for: USD 357,750
A landmark in both science fiction and silent cinema, Metropolis has also made its mark in the world of valuable movie posters. The German three-sheet created for the film’s 1927 domestic release is nothing short of a visual marvel, featuring the robotic figure of Maria set against a soaring Art Deco cityscape.
Only a few of these original posters are known to exist today. Two reside in the collections of major institutions (New York’s Museum of Modern Art and the Austrian National Library). Another is rumoured to belong to none other than Leonardo DiCaprio.
When a rare surviving copy finally appeared at a Sotheby’s auction in 2000, it drew serious attention and fetched a hefty $357,750. For collectors, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own what’s widely considered one of the greatest movie posters ever designed.
Metropolis International Poster (UFA, 1927)
Sold for: USD 690,000
This international version, which omits the German credits, is nearly identical in design to the domestic poster, but is even rarer. Only four are known to exist. Sold by London’s Reel Poster Gallery in 2005 to a U.S. collector for $690,000, it remains the most expensive movie poster ever sold individually.
Years later, it was auctioned again in a bankruptcy court case, this time as part of a group lot that fetched $1.2 million.
London After Midnight (MGM, 1927)
Sold for: USD 478,000
London After Midnight is one of Hollywood’s most infamous lost films. Starring Lon Chaney as a detective who disguises himself as a vampire, and directed by horror pioneer Todd Browning (Dracula, Freaks), the 1927 silent thriller vanished forever when the last known print was destroyed in a 1967 MGM vault fire.
Its legend lives on today through still photos, the screenplay, and an incredibly rare U.S. theatrical poster. In 2014, this poster fetched $478,000 at Heritage Auctions, setting a record at the time for the most expensive American movie poster ever sold.
The Public Enemy (Warner Brothers, 1931)
Sold for: USD 167,300
James Cagney’s gangster film helped define a genre, as did this ultra-rare style-A poster.
Discovered in Pennsylvania, where it had been used as insulation, it was painstakingly restored before selling for $167,300 in 2016. It’s the only known copy and an iconic piece of vintage movie history.
Frankenstein (Universal, 1931)
Sold for: USD 358,000
This style-C three-sheet was used repeatedly for the film’s re-releases throughout the 1930s and 40s until it was eventually boarded up in an old theater’s projection booth.
Discovered in the 1970s and later restored, it sold at Heritage Auctions in 2015 for $358,000, becoming the most valuable Frankenstein poster ever sold.
Dracula (Universal, 1931)
Sold for: USD 525,800
This style-A Dracula poster features Bela Lugosi, an icon of the silver screen, in one of his most well-known roles. It is one of only two known examples. Hidden away in a private collection for decades, it surfaced in 2017 and blew past estimates to sell for $525,800.
It’s considered one of the most desirable horror film posters of all time.
The Mummy (Universal, 1932)
Sold for: USD 435,000
The Mummy became another Universal horror hit starring Frankenstein's Boris Karloff.
The film was another big success for the studio, but Karloff later described the experience as one of the most challenging of his career. The makeup process to become the ancient Egyptian priest Imhotep took a gruelling eight hours to complete.
This original style-A poster, one of only two known to survive, sold for $435,000 at Sotheby’s in 1999, making it one of the most expensive posters ever sold.
King Kong (RKO, 1933)
Sold for: USD 388,375
This style-B three-sheet features the towering beast in all his glory. Found in a Swiss collection in the 1980s, the poster sold at Heritage Auctions in 2012 for nearly $400K.
It’s considered one of the greatest films ever made, and this poster is one of the rarest tied to the title.
The Invisible Man (Universal, 1933)
Sold for: USD 274,800
Before the official release, Universal printed a teaser poster of The Invisible Man to spark buzz.
A true rarity, its existence was unknown to most collectors until it emerged in 2017 and triggered a bidding war at Heritage Auctions. With only a small handful likely made, it fetched $274,800.
Flying Down to Rio (RKO, 1933)
Sold for: USD 239,000
Featuring the first on-screen pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, this film effectively helped RKO to stay afloat.
The colourful poster also depicts one of the most remarkable dance numbers ever filmed: an army of dancing girls strapped to the wings of aeroplanes.
A rare find, it sold for $239,000 in 2008 and is beloved by fans of musical classics.
The Black Cat (Universal, 1934)
Sold for: USD 334,600
This surreal horror tale starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi may not be as well-known today, but its poster is legendary.
For more than 70 years, the only record of this dramatic style-B poster was a small black and white illustration in the film's original 1934 press book. That is until a rare style-B version appeared at auction in 2009, fully intact and in original condition.
It sold for $334,600, proving its place among horror’s most valuable movie posters.
Bride of Frankenstein (Universal, 1935)
Sold for: USD 334,600
This highly stylized style-D poster was discovered in 2007 after decades in a private collection.
Universal’s follow-up to Frankenstein was a critical and commercial hit, and this original poster is a fitting tribute.
It matched The Black Cat’s auction record with a $334,600 sale.
The Maltese Falcon (Warner Brothers, 1941)
Sold for: USD 191,200
Based on Dashiell Hammett's classic novel, the film marked John Huston's directorial debut and gave Humphrey Bogart his breakthrough role as iconic detective Sam Spade.
This six-sheet poster (more than six feet wide) is the only known version of its kind and celebrates one of film noir’s greatest achievements.
It sold at auction in 2015 for $191,200 and remains one of the most unique finds from Warner Bros' classic catalogue.
Casablanca (Warner Brothers, 1942)
Sold for: USD 191,200
In 1942, shortly after the success of The Maltese Falcon, Humphrey Bogart then starred in the timeless classic Casablanca, widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.
Printed as an "insert" for display in theater lobbies, this compact version features striking imagery of Bogart and his co-star Ingrid Bergman. This poster’s rarity and condition helped it achieve $191,200 at auction in 2012.
Casablanca (Warner Brothers, 1946)
Sold for: USD 478,000
Designed for the film’s first Italian release after WWII, this 4-fogli poster features art by Luigi Martinati.
It is the only known surviving copy, making it a priceless gem for collectors. In 2017, it sold for $478,000, tying the previous record for the highest price paid for a Casablanca poster.
Casablanca (Warner Brothers, R-1953)
Sold for: USD 203,150
This gorgeous Italian re-release poster features another illustration by Martinati. Created for the film’s re-release as European theaters reopened in the 1950s, it’s widely considered one of the most beautiful Casablanca posters ever made.
It sold at auction in 2016 for $203,150.
Explore More with Spin Genie
Whether lost in vaults, preserved in private collections, or rescued from obscurity, these posters represent the enduring power of film. From horror legends like Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi to art-deco futurism and noir cool, these posters are more than paper; they’re iconic fragments of cinematic history.
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