A poster is a flexible mode of visual communication and a powerful promotional tool. The movie industry has always been aware of the advertising power of this inexpensive medium of communication. Movie posters are designed by studios to build awareness about a film by exploiting the visual reach and appeal of this dynamic medium. Individual pieces conveying the essence of a movie, through pictorial depiction in a sheet of paper, have found immense popularity among the masses. It is difficult for even the most cynical to deny that movie posters belong to an entirely different genre of art.

Movie posters have long been in demand by collectors. Since the popularity of the 1970s vintage poster market in France, this hobby has caught up to the masses across various countries.

Moulin Rouge created history when it was auctioned for $220,000 at a fine art poster exhibition. Deciding on what is a collectible poster is a subjective decision. However, there are a few standard and obvious parameters that most collectors apply while considering a poster as a collectible. A particular poster has to be in demand, it has to be in good physical state, and the rarity of the poster plays an important role in such decisions.

There are different forms of movie posters. Advance movie posters, anniversary issues, award issues, combos, regional, premium, holograms and road shows are a few of the movie poster categories. Most movie posters are distributed by studios for promotional purposes.

A movie poster collector can keep track of the various auctions, exhibitions and museum collections and movie poster dealers with sources like Movie Poster Price Almanac magazine, Jon Warrens price guide and other collectors magazines. There are many online collector guides as well, like Jon Warrens online guide. Most collectors vie for the authentic and rare studio-produced posters, and vintage, heritage and anniversary issues. The non-collectible posters are also desirable options for many. They are the reprints of video, cable and TV posters, and special promotional posters. Limited editions are also very much in demand.

There are many online movie poster dealers and distributors as well. www.nostaligic.com is one of the oldest websites on movie posters. It provides both original and illustrated versions of movie posters. www.learnaboutmovieposter.com provides all information about movie posters.

Movie posters are not just a collectors delight. Many individuals consider them a visual treat and adorn walls and doors with posters of favorite stars and youth icons. Not all movie posters are expensive. The market abounds in many cheap options.