Gorgeous Hand-Painted Movie Posters by Ghanian Artists Give Iconic Films a Surreal and Unhinged Twist

Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor

Jan 9, 2025 7:00 PM EST

Welcome, movie buffs and cinema connoisseurs. Back in the 80s, mobile cinemas in Ghana started popping up. Groups of movie buffs would go from village to village with a TV, generator, and VCR, bringing international cinema to the masses. Local African artists hand-painted colorful movie posters with exaggerated details in order to draw audiences. After the 2000s, with the emergence of movie streaming services, many of the original movie poster artists retired. However, many still take commissions to this day!

A new generation of Ghanian illustrators have also taken up the tradition, building on the genre with unique depictions of modern cinema. Below is just the tip of the iceberg of Ghanian movie posters. From strange, surreal Star Wars posters prominently featuring background characters to violent interpretations of the events of Paddington, enjoy this collection of unique movie posters that will have you wondering if you misremembered some key scenes.

01
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

via Farkira
02
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

via Mr. Brew
03
Alien (1979)

via Magasco
04
Paddington (2014)

via Mr. Nana Agyq
Originally, the exaggerated carnage was meant to draw audiences to the mobile cinema. However, these modern takes on the 80s tradition are even more gruesome to attract international attention. It’s totally working on me because I want that Paddington poster so bad.
05
Black Swan (2010)

via Heavy J
06
Blade Runner (1982)

via Stoger
07
Blue Velvet (1986)

via Heavy J
08
Dracula

via Leonardo
09
Dumb and Dumber (1994)

via Stoger
10
Dune (1984)

via Heavy J
11
E.T. (1982)

via Heavy J
12
Star Wars

via Magasco
13
Elf (2003)

via Salvation
14
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

via Salvation
15
Godzilla

via Stoger
16
Midsommar (2019)

via Magasco
It is so interesting to see what imagery each artist found compelling enough to feature on each poster. Modern movie posters are pretty predictable. Usually, they are just photoshopped collages of the cast on a background of the main setting. However, these posters feature details from the movies that might have been fleeting or easily overlooked. Others have seemingly random items or symbols that relate to the theme but were not visually in the film itself, such as the animals in the Midsommar poster.
17
Robocop (1987)

via Magasco
18
Shrek (2001)

via Heavy J
19

via Stoger
20
Stand by Me (1986)

via Bright Obeng
21
Star Wars

via Mathias
22
Tampopo (1985)

via Heavy J
23
The Craft (1996)

via Leonardo
24
The Dark Crystal (1982)

via Stoger
25
The Fly (1986)

via Magasco
26
The Seventh Seal (1957)

via Magasco
27
Vertigo (1958)

via Heavy J