03 Sep

Why You Need a Framed Film Poster in Your Life

September is upon us. Soon a gaggle of fresh faced young adults will move into their student halls of residence. Among them could well be one of those creatures you often see on campus – the film buff.

Cheesy photos won’t grace their walls, no. But a tasty, framed original and limited edition promotional poster from an art-house, Scandinavian indie film, that is only available on limited release in the UK. You won’t understand the poster, or the film buff. But deep down, you know he’s cooler than you.

Joking aside, framed film posters are a good alternative to expensive artwork for people of any age. You can pick them up cheaply if you stay away from collectibles. If you’re a fan of good design, film posters tick a lot of boxes. And it’s quite nice to gaze on your favourite actor’s face when you’re munching on your cornflakes.

Why frame it?

A frame protects your poster. Blue-tac, sellotape and pins are the alternative and they WILL damage it – and possibly your walls too.

If the poster is cheap, framing it makes it appear more valuable, turning it into a work of art. Good film posters are works of art, so showcase them.

A frame makes a feature out of whatever you’re framing.

If your poster is rare, signed, collectible, or has sentimental value, framing it will preserve the condition and the value.

Adding a mount to your framed poster can enhance the appearance and perception of value.

What are the standard measurements of film posters?

If you are purchasing a poster from overseas, sizes do vary. European sizes are metric, whereas in the UK and US, we still use inches (24” x 36”).

There is no standard size for film posters, in a nutshell.

Between 1940 and 1985, studios made film posters in lots of sizes. When multiplex cinemas came in (mid 80s), the studios phased out many of the older sized posters because more screens meant less advertising space for films. The ‘One Sheet’ was the most common movie poster size according to posterartmovies.com and other film websites. It measured 27” x 41” until the mid 1980s, when it changed to 27” x 40”.

British movie poster sizes

Wikipedia has the best summary of British poster sizes (in inches), which are:

Quad – 30” x 40” (762x1020mm), landscape
Double crown – 20” x 30” (508x762mm), portrait
One-sheet – 27” x 40” (686x1020mm), portrait (most common film poster size)
Three sheet – 40” x 81” (1020x2060mm), portrait (bus stop poster)

US poster sizes

The US sizes are slightly different according to standardpostersizes.com, which provides this summary:

Small – 11” x 17”
Medium – 18” x 24”
Large – 24” x 36” (Most common movie sized poster. Portrait)
Largest – 40” x 60” (Think bus stop poster.)

Posters are also available in A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 sizes.

Choosing the right sized frame for your film poster

Picture Frames Express creates tailored frames to a size you specify.

To specify a frame size in millimetres (mm), centimetres (cm) or inches:

Select a frame you like
Select “Custom Size” and then specify the metric.
You can specify exact measurements if you have them.

To select a frame for A0, A1 and A2, etc:

Select a frame you like
Click on “Standard Size”, click “Next”
Tick the A measurement box
Then make your selection (A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, etc).

*Remember to allow room for your mount around the image.

Vintage film posters

Prior to the 1990s, illustrations instead of photos were far more common. Simondwyer.com has a good selection of original, vintage film posters for sale.

If you really want to blow the budget and have a movie star bank balance, check out this gallery of rare vintage film posters, including purchases by Nick Cage and Leonardo Di Caprio.

Care instructions

Treasure your favourite film posters. Frame them, keep them dry and keep them out of direct heat and direct sunlight.

Whatever you’re into, you’ll find a film poster that suits your taste and personality.

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