The Man Who Illustrated Our Entire Childhood: A Tribute to the Brilliant Drew Struzan

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John Summers • Contributor
Aug 4, 2024 12:00 AM EDT

This listicle features some the most timeless and iconic movie posters in movie history, and they were all illustrated by one man - Drew Struzan. Now, I'll be honest with you, I never actually given any real thought as to who actually made all these movie posters, simply because I took them for granted. It made sense that awesome movies have awesome posters. I guess I just figured that the studios reach out to several different artists and end up picking the best one and that there was an agreed upon "look" for the Blockbuster Poster.

Little did I know that there was actually one brilliant artist behind all of these posters and that he single handedly defined the look of the blockbuster Poster. Star Wars, The Goonies, Back to the Future, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, E.T - all of these, and so many more were designed and illustrated by Drew Struzan. So let's take a moment to appreciate this brilliant artist

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  • 01

    The Goonies (1985)

    They call themselves "The Goonies."" The secret caves. The old lighthouse. The lost map. The treacherous traps. The hidden treasure. And Sloth... Join the adventure. THE STEVEN SPIELBERG Presents "GOONIES A RICHARD DONNER Film "THE GOONIES" Story STEVEN SPIELBERG Screenplay CHRIS COLUMBUS Executive Music DAVE GRUSIN STEVEN SPIELBERG FRANK MARSHALL KATHLEEN KENNEDY Produced RICHARD DONNER and HARVEY BERNHARD Directed RICHARD DONNER READ THE WARNER PAPERBACK DDOLBY STEREO Original Soundtrack Album
    via NicholasFargher
  • 02

    E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

    mes AP 9/20
    via NicholasFargher
  • 03

    Blade Runner (1982)

    MAN HAS MADE HIS MATCH ...NOW IT'S HIS PROBLEM HARRISON FORD. BLADE RUNNER JERRY PERENCHIO AND BUD YORKIN PRESENT A MICHAEL DEELEY-RIDLEY SCOTT PRODUCTION STARRING HARRISON FORD IN BLADE RUNNER WITH RUTGER HAUER SEAN YOUNG EDWARD JAMES OLMOS SCREENPLAY BY HAMPTON FANCHER AND DAVID PEOPLES EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS BRIAN KELLY AND HAMPTON FANCHER VISUAL EFFECTS BY DOUGLAS TRUMBULL ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED BY VANGELIS ASSOCIATE PRODUCER IVOR POWELL PRODUCED BY MICHAEL DEELEY DIRECTED BY RIDLEY SCOTT ORIG
    via NicholasFargher
  • 04

    The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

    TIM ROBBINS MORGAN FREEMAN THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION 10TH ANNIVERSARY CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT TIM ROBBINS MORGAN FREEMAN "THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION" BOB GUNTON WILLIAM SADLER CLANCY BROWN GIL BELLOWS AND JAMES WHITMORE AS "BROOKS THOMAS NEWMAN DROGER DEAKINS, B.S.C. LIZ GLOTZER AND DAVID LESTER FRANK DARABONTNIKI MARVIN RESTRICTED TERENCE MARSH RICHARD FRANCIS-BRUCE Rainworth and Show RedSTEPHEN KING FRANK DARABONT CASTLE ROCK SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE ON EPIC SOUNDTRAX WARNER BROS PICTURES D
    via NicholasFargher
  • 05

    Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

    INDIANA and the JONES TEMPLE OF DOOM If adventure has a name, it must be Indiana Jones. PARAMOUNT PICTURES PRESENTS A LUCASFILM LTD. PRODUCTION A STEVEN SPIELBERG FILM HARRISON FORD "INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM" KATE CAPSHAW-AMRISH PURI-ROSHAN SETH-PHILIP STONE KE HUY QUAN GEORGE LUCAS FRANK MARSHALL KATHLEEN KENNEDY JOHN WILLIAMS play by WILLARD HUYCK & GLORIA KATZ by GEORGE LUCAS Produd by ROBERT WATTS Died by STEVEN SPIELBERG Novelization from Bali Boksal Sondack on POLYDOR Records a
    via NicholasFargher
  • 06

    Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

    HAVE THE ADVENTURE OF YOUR LIFE KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES. INDIANA JONES the LAST CRUSADE JOHN WILLIAMS PG-13 PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED PARAMOUNT PICTURES PRESENTS A LUCASFILM LTD. PRODUCTION A STEVEN SPIELBERG FILM HARRISON FORD INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE DENHOLM ELLIOTT ALISON DOODY and Starring SEAN CONNERY as PROFESSOR JONES DOUGLAS SLOCOMBE MICHAEL KAHN, A.C.E. ANTHONY POWELL JOHN RHYS-DAVIES JULIAN GLOVER ELLIOT SCOTT GEORGE LUCAS and FRANK MARSHALL GEORGE LUCAS and MENNO MEYJES
    via NicholasFargher
  • 07

    Coming to America (1988)

    EDDIE MURPHY This summer, Prince Akeem discovers America. COMING TO AMERICA PARAMOUNT PICTURES PRESENTS AN EDDIE MURPHY PRODUCTION ALANDIS/FOLSEY FILM EDDIE MURPHY COMING TO AMERICA ARSENIO HALL JAMES EARL JONES JOHN AMOS-MADGE SINCLAIR SHARI HEADLEY Music Score by NILE RODGERS Production Designer RICHARD MACDONALD Executive Producers LESLIE BELZBERG and MARK LIPSKY Story by EDDIE MURPHY Sereenplay by DAVID SHEFFIELD & BARRY W. BLAUSTEIN Produced by ROBERT D.WACHS and GEORGE FOLSEY, JR. Original
    via NicholasFargher
  • 08

    Better Off Dead (1985)

    You've blown up your neighbor's mom. Your seven-year-old brother has better luck with women than you do. Your girlfriend has a new boyfriend. Relax, you're never... BETTER OFF DEAD PRODUCTIONS Prevs An &83 Plans PAGE STEVE HOLLAND BETTER OFF DEAD JOHN CUSACK DAVID OGDEN STIERS DIANE FRANKLIN KIM DARBY Original Sobre by RUPERT HINE Executive Producers GIL FRIESEN and ANDREW MEYER Produced by MICHAEL JAFFE PG PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED Written and Directed by SAVAGE STEVE HOLLAND DISTRIBUTED BY W
    via NicholasFargher
  • 09

    Back to the Future (1985)

    STEVEN SPIELBERG Presents BACK TOFUTUR A ROBERT ZEMECKIS Film He was never in time for his classes... He wasn't in time for his dinner... Then one day... he wasn't in his time at all. Drew "BACK TO THE FUTURE" Star CHRISTOPHER LLOYD LEA THOMPSON Written ROBERT ZEMECKIS & BOB GALE MALAN SILVESTRI Produced BOB GALE Producers MICHAEL J. FOX CRISPIN GLOVER NEIL CANTON FRANK MARSHALL Executive STEVEN SPIELBERG KATHLEEN KENNEDY AMBLIN Directed ROBERT ZEMECKIS DODOLBY STERED ENTERTAINMENT A UNIVERSAL P
    via NicholasFargher
  • 10

    Back to the Future II (1989)

    STEVEN SPIELBERG Presents BACK TOFUTURE I ROBERT ZEMECKIS.FM MICHAEL J. FOX CHRISTOPHER LLOYD Getting back was only the beginning. MICHAEL J. FOX DIRECTOR OF CHRISTOPHER LLOYD BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II LEA THOMPSON THOMAS F. WILSON MUSALAN SILVESTRI EDITED ARTHUR SCHMIDT HARRY KERAMIDAS PRETORICK CARTER GRAP DEAN CUNDEY, ASC PRODUCERS STEVEN SPIELBERG FRANK MARSHALL KATHLEEN KENNEDY SCREENPLAY BOB GALE STORY ROBERT ZEMECKIS. BOB GALE PRODUCE BOB GALE AND NEIL CANTON Special Vowa Efect By INDUST
    via NicholasFargher
  • 11

    The Empire Strikes Back (1980; special edition released 1997)

    VERSION C SPECIAL EDITION JUCASFIN THEI EMPIRE STRIKES BACK "THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK" STARRING MARK HAMILL HARRISON FORD CARRIE FISHER BILLY DEE WILLIAMS ANTHONY DANIELSP CO-STARRING DAVID PROWSE AS DARTH VADER KENNY BAKER AS R2-02 PETER MAYHEW AS CHEWBACCA FRANK OZ AS VODA SCREENPLAY DRECTED IRVIN KERSHNER GARY KURTZ LEIGH BRACKETT AND LAWRENCE KASDAN GEORGE LUCAS PC GEORGE LUCAS JOHN WILLIAMS EXECUTIVE A LUCASFUM LTD. PRODUCTION-A TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX RELEASE PANAMISION COLOR BY RANK FILM LAB
    via NicholasFargher
  • 12

    Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

    EVERY SAGA HAS A BEGINNING STAR WARS. EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE. STAR WARS Starring LIAM NEESON EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE EWAN MCGREGOR Cesaring ANTHONY DANIELS LUCASFILM PORWAY NATALIE PORTMAN JAKE LLOYD KENNY BAKER PERNILLA AUGUST FRANK OZ Music by JOHN WILLIAMS Produced by RICK MCCALLUM Written and Directed by GEORGE LUCAS Special Vials and Anication by INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC A LUCASFILM LTD Production-A TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX Soundtrack table SONY CLASSICAL Read the Novel from DEL REY
    via NicholasFargher
  • 13

    Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

    dear. STAR WARS EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH STAR WARS EPISODE LIT REVENGE OF THE SITH Stain EWAN MCGREGOR NATALIE PORTMAN HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN IAN MCDIARMID CHRISTOPHER LEE KENNY BAKER FRANK OZ by RICK MCCALLUM SAMUEL L ANTHONY DANIELS JACKSON Music by JOHN WILLIAMS JUCASFILM dis Written and Directed by GEORGE LUCAS Special Viul Ecs and Amation by INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC A LUCASFILM LTD Predation-A TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX Release Soundtrack Avalon SONY CLASSICAL www.starwars.com SODS THX
    via NicholasFargher
  • 14

    Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

    每 LET THE MAGIC BEGIN Hanky Potter AND THE SORCERER'S STONE WARNER BROS. PICTURES PRESENTS A HEYDAY FILMS/1492 PICTURES/DUNCAN HENDERSON PRODUCTION A CHRIS COLUMBUS FILM "HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE" DANIEL RADCLIFFE RUPERT GRINT EMMA WATSON STARRING JOHN CLEESE ROBBIE COLTRANE WARWICK DAVIS RICHARD GRIFFITHS RICHARD HARRIS IAN HART JOHN HURT ALAN RICKMAN FIONA SHAW MAGGIE SMITH JULIE WALTERS PG PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED Some Scary Moments and Mild Language JOHN WILLIAMS RICHARD FRAN
    via NicholasFargher
  • 15

    Hook (1991)

    DUSTIN ROBIN JULIA BOB HOFFMAN WILLIAMS ROBERTS HOSKINS STEVEN SPIELBERGALM Hook TRISTAR PICTURES PEERS AN AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION ASTEVEN SPIELBERGALM DUSTIN HOFFMAN ROBIN WILLIAMS JULIA ROBERTS BOB HOSKINS "HOOK" MAGGIE SMITH CHARLIE NORSMO NORMAN GARWOOD HART ANTHONY POWELL JOHN WILLIAMS JOHN NAPIER MICHAEL KAHNACE DEAN CUNDEL ALGARY ADELSON CRAIG BAUMGARTEN IM HARTE NICK CASTLE JIM HART WOMALIA SCOTCH MARMO WEN KATHLEEN KENNEDY-FRANK MARGHALL-GERALD R.MOLEN STEVEN SPIELBERG SPECIAL G
    via NicholasFargher
  • 16

    Adventures in Babysitting (1987)

    ADVENTURES BABYSITTING RIC WAITE AS. Written by DAVID SIMKINS Produced by DEBRA HILL and LANDA 0961 Directed by CHRIS COLUMBUS PG-13 PARENTS STRONGLY CLE LIDE THE MIGHTY THERMARA ENTERTAIMENT GROUP NC ALL BEHIS RESERVED Distributed by BLEND-VISTA PICTURES DISTANSHI Waste B DDOLIY STEREO
    via NicholasFargher
  • 17

    Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

    Some people pick the damndest places to start a fight! BIG TROUBLE LITTLE CHINA TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX Presents A TAFT/BARISH/MONASH Production "BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA" KURT RUSSELL KIM CATTRALL DENNIS DUN Music by JOHN CARPENTER in association with ALAN HOWARTH Visual Effects by RICHARD EDLUND Executive Producers PAUL MONASH and KEITH BARISH Written by GARY GOLDMAN & DAVID Z. WEINSTEIN Adaptation by W. D. RICHTER Produced by LARRY J. FRANCO Directed by JOHN CARPENTER 20 AT DODOLBY STEREO IN
    via NicholasFargher
  • 18

    Hocus Pocus (1993)

    WALT DISNEY PICTURES PRESENTS BETTE MIDLER SARAH JESSICA PARKER KATHY NAJIMY Hocus Pocus WALT DISNEY PICTURES SENTS BETTE MIDLER 'HOCUS POCUS" DAVID KIRSCHNER/STEVEN HAFT OCTON KENNY ORTEGA FL SARAH JESSICA PARKER KATHY NAJIMY OMRI KATZ THORA BIRCH VINESSA SHAW JOHN DEBNEY EDITOR PETER E. BERGER, ACE PRODUCTION WILLIAM SANDELL HIRO NARITA RALPH WINTER DAVID KIRSCHNERD MICK GARRIS SCENT MICK GARRIS AND NEIL CUTHBERT DAVID KIRSCHNER AND STEVEN HAFT TE KENNY ORTEGA DESIGNER PG PARENTAL CARDANCE SUG
    via NicholasFargher
  • 19

    Dreamscape (1984)

    Enter a world beyond your wildest imagination where anything can happen. draw DREAMSCAPE Close your eyes and the adventure begins. BRUCE COHN CURTIS Presents DENNIS QUAID MAX VON SYDOW CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER EDDIE ALBERT and KATE CAPSHAW "DREAMSCAPE" Co-Starring DAVID PATRICK KELLY Music by MAURICE JARRE Director of Photography BRIAN TUFANO Edited by RICHARD HALSEY Executive Producers STANLEY R. ZUPNIK and TOM CURTIS Co-Produced by JERRY TOKOFSKY Screenplay by DAVID LOUGHERY, CHUCK RUSSELL, JOSEPH
    via NicholasFargher
  • 20

    Cannonball Run (1981)

    Burt Reynolds Roger Moore Farrah Fawcett Dom DeLuise Dean Martin Sammy Davis, Jr. Adrienne Barbeau Jamie Farr Terry Bradshaw Mel Tillis MAXIMU SPEED 55 You'll root for them all... but you'll never guess who wins. THE CANNONBALL RUN GOLDEN HARVEST PRESENTS AN ALBERT S. RUDDY PRODUCTION A HAL NEEDHAM FILM "THE CANNONBALL RUN" Co-Starring JACKIE CHAN MICHAEL HUI- Executive Producer RAYMOND CHOW Produced by ALBERT S. RUDDY PG PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED SOME MATERIAL MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN
    via NicholasFargher
  • 21

    Mallrats (1995)

    #1 OCTOBER For Mature or Troubled Audiences GRAMERCY MALLTAGS Superhero Anatomy! Topless Fortune Telling! Bunny Bashing! And More! MALL GRAMERCY PICTURES SENTS AN ALPHAVILLE P ASSOCI alphaville In this STAN "the man" LEE EMY LONDON JASON LE CLAIRE FORLANI WITH PRISCILLA BARNES AND MICHAEL ROOKER THE IRA NEWBORN TO EENLEE PAUL DIXONACE DINA LIPTON DAVID KLEIN RESTRICTED RDER 17 REQUIRES ACCOMPANYING PARENT OR ADULT GUARDIAN JAMES JACKS SEAN DANIEL SCOTT MOSIER 1985 INVERSAL DAY STANIS NC. SOUNDTR
    via NicholasFargher
  • 22

    The Thing (1982)

    The ultimate in alien terror. JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING A TURMAN-FOSTER COMPANY PRODUCTION JOHN CARPENTER'S "THE THING” SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS BY KURT RUSSELL BILL LANCASTER ALBERT WHITLOCK ROB BOTTIN ENNIO MORRICONE DEAN CUNDEY LARRY FRANCO RESTRICTED+ RRTING EXECUTIVE PRODUCER WILBUR STARK STUART COHEN DAVID FOSTER & LAWRENCE TURMAN JOHN CARPENTER A UNIVERSAL PICTURE SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE ON MCA RECORDS&TAPES BASED ON THE STORY WHO GOES THEREY BY JOHN W. CAMPBELL, JR. READ THE BANTAM BOOK PANA
    via NicholasFargher
  • 23

    First Blood (1982)

    STALLONE This time he's fighting for his life. FIRST BLOOD MARIO KASSAR and ANDREW VAJNA Present A TED KOTCHEFE Film SYLVESTER STALLONE FIRST BLOOD RICHARD CRENNA Starring BRIAN DENNERY Music by JERRY GOLDSMITH Director of Photography ANDREW LASZLO Executive Producers MARIO KASSAR and ANDREW VAJNA Co-Executive Producer HERB NANAS Produced by BUZZ FEITSHANS Screenplay by MICHAEL KOZOLL & WILLIAM SACKHEIM and SYLVESTER STALLONE RESTRICTED UNDER 17 REQUIRES ACCOMPANYING PARENT ADULT GUARDIAN Based
    via NicholasFargher
  • 24

    Here's a photo of Drew Struzan in front of "Hook" movie poster artwork.

    Cheezburger Image 10384177920
    via NicholasFargher

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