Top 10 Star Wars Movie Posters
by Larson Hill

In the past thirty-one years since Star Wars hit theaters, there have been many posters created for each film in the franchise. From A New Hope to Revenge of the Sith, the artistic styles have varied due to several factors, including generational changes in pop-culture, changing styles in the art world, and the many advances in computer technology that have helped to create a new feel for the franchise. Although we've seen some Star Wars posters a thousand times over, others didn't become as mainstream.

Now that the live action saga is on long-term hiatus from the big screen and the franchise looks ahead to a future on television, it's doubtful we'll see new Star Wars movie posters for a while. With the The Clone Wars about to settle on the small-screen, here's a look at the "Top 10 Star Wars Movie Posters" from days gone by.

#10. Episode IV: A New Hope - 1976 Pre-Production Poster

Although it's been thirty-two years since it was created by artist, Howard Chaykin, this is one of the rarest of all Star Wars posters since it was the first released for promo before the A New Hope hit theaters. If you remember this one passing through your hands when you were a kid, you might want to run down to your basement and start unpacking those old boxes you haven't checked for years. If you come by this one and it's all in one piece, you're one of a select few who own one.

#9. The Clone Wars - 2008 Yoda Poster

There's no doubt that any poster that features Yoda wielding a lightsaber with a bad-ass look on his face makes for an awesome accessory for you bedroom. We all know Yoda is the franchise's most timeless character, but now that we'll see him live on in animated form after the recent Clone Wars movie and new TV series, this will probably be the first of many. Although it's probably a good idea if you flip it over when your girlfriend comes to visit, one look at this instills a certain sense of confidence needed to do battle in the real world.

#8. The Empire Strikes Back - 1980 International Poster

Looking back now at the posters for Empire, most of them aren't that great. Given the film's opening sequences on Hoth, with the snowspeeders, Ton Tons, and the At Walkers, there was more than enough coolness to work from in creating a kick-ass poster depicting the action on the ice planet. However, unlike the mixed domestic posters, the international poster has a bit of everything, including the Walkers, a prominent Lando Calrissian, Boba Fett in the background, and the overarching presence of Darth Vader. Of all the posters for The Empire Strikes Back, this paints the best picture to convey exactly what the film is about.

#7. Return of the Jedi - 1983 U.S. One Sheet

Sometimes less is more when it comes to Star Wars posters and there's nothing better to get fans pumped than a lightsaber. Reminiscent of the original poster for A New Hope with Luke Skywalker holding a lightsaber high above his head, this one profoundly conveys "Jedi" with its simplicity. Unlike other posters that crammed a lot of characters and images into one space, you could spot this one a mile away and instantly know what you're looking at.

#6. Episode IV: A New Hope - 1977 One Sheet

Unlike some of the original posters for A New Hope, this one has more of a traditional '70s sci-fi feel with a tone and artistic style similar to Flash Gordon. Although other posters in the franchise featured Darth Vader looming over the characters, this one puts Vader into the mix with the others while the image of Ben Kenobi is separate, projecting strength on the side of the Force in a subtle manner. The fact that the poster includes the Jawas and Luke's landspeeder with Chewie taking in the action from the corner only helps to make the one sheet one of the more unique posters for A New Hope that you don't usually see.

#5. The Empire Strikes Back - 1983 Radio Poster

Except for the title colors and text, which clearly date the poster to the early '80s and the post Disco-Flashdance era, the Moses-like image of Yoda hiding out on Dagobah is one you don't often see. While die-hard Star Wars fans know that the franchise wasn't just confined to the big screen, some might not be aware that the original trilogy was also featured as a multi-part radio series that also ran on NPR. In this version of The Empire Strikes back, Yoda is voiced by John Lithgow.

#4. Episode IV: A New Hope - 1977 One Sheet

Arguably the most popular Star Wars poster of all time, the original one sheet embodies the magic and innovative qualities that revolutionized the sci-fi genre in 1977. Although the official poster, with Leia at Luke's feet, has an epic Heavy Metal-like feel to it, this one tells you exactly what type of ride you're in for. Not only does it feature all of the main and supporting players involved, but it clearly shows the action packed battle between good and evil, the Force and the Dark Side. The poster left such a lasting legacy, it was even used as the template for the 2007 Family Guy Blue Harvest episode.

#3. Return of the Jedi - 1983 Japanese Poster

A departure from the artistic style of the domestic posters, the otherworldly, space age feel of R2-D2 and C-3PO underneath a rain of fiery Nebula goodness alongside two lightsabers is one of the most vibrant and visually compelling Star Wars posters ever. Although it didn't appear on a wide scale in all Japanese theaters, Noriyoshi Ohrai's poster is one of the most memorable of all time given its visual intensity and how it shows that the true force of Star Wars is the galaxy itself.

#2. Attack of the Clones - 2002 Imax Poster

What could possibly be better to accompany Attack of the Clones to the Imax screen than a poster of the franchise's smallest character standing larger than life over the various Imax cities? It's a poster that also conveys a strong visual message to kids that empowers them with the Force even though they might be small like Yoda. Although there's another adult oriented tongue-in-cheek message about the poster that young kids wouldn't get until they hit their teens and meet their first girlfriend, it's one of the first posters of the franchise that didn't take itself too seriously. It's one of the first where George Lucas and crew had some fun on a variety of levels.

#1. Revenge of the Sith - 2005 "Who's Your Daddy?" Poster

Whoever had the original idea for this poster is a marketing genius. Not only did it tie in the complex relationship between Luke and Vader from the original trilogy, it was also a commemorative poster that tied into Father's Day 2005, which made Revenge of the Sith a movie that fathers and sons could see together. It personalized the father and son dynamic, which carried over to its audience. As well, it took a popular catch-phrase of the day and made a humorous statement that made logical sense as soon as you saw it. The "Who's Your Daddy?" line was also a bold and provoking question that piqued your curiosity about Anakin's turn to Darth Vader. Adding to the layers, it had an edgy, contemporary feel that showed Darth Vader in a humorous light, urging fans to loosen up and not take everything so seriously.