When it comes old movie posters, this one is a classic. The original Raiders of the Lost Ark vintage film poster stands out amongst the Film/Art Gallery collection as the first in famous Indiana Jones film franchise. Harrison Ford is depicted in his iconic role in this vintage movie poster original as the world renowned archaeologist and treasure hunter, complete with whip and fedora. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Dr. Jones comes up against bloodthirsty Nazis who are searching for the mystical Ark of the Covenant, which they hope will make their armies invincible. Karen Allen stars opposite Harrison Ford as Indiana’s former lover, while British theatre actor John Rhys-Davies makes his debut as Indiana’s iconic sidekick Sallah. 

The Steven Spielberg film (which was based on a story by George Lucas) was released in 1981 and was an instant hit with audiences and critics alike who praised its combination of action and humour. It became the top grossing film of the year and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won for Best Art Direction, Film Editing, Sound and Visual Effects, along with a special award for Sound Effects Editing. The film was inducted into the U.S. Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 1999 and sparked two sequels and a television series, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

This Raiders of the Lost Ark poster original was created by one of the most popular illustrators of the 70s and 80s, Richard Amsel, who was famous for his designs that combined strong outlines and the swirling curves of art nouveau. His other original poster designs include, The Long Goodbye, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Chinatown and The Dark Crystal. FilmArt Gallery’s collection includes a variety of movie poster styles for Raiders of the Lost Ark, such as US 1 Sheets, French 1-panel and the British Quad.