Dear Poster Fans!
We have compiled the second category in our list of the best movie posters of all-time. As is our custom, we judge posters from all over the world and even compared initial and re-release posters as well as alternative styles to come up with this list of the 25 greatest rock movie musical posters of all-time. Internally, there were many debates and this final list is somewhat controversial among Limited Runs staffers, but we hope you enjoy.
25. Don’t Knock The Rock (One Sheet) (Columbia Pictures, 1956)
Bill Haley & His Comets, Little Richard
24. Rock Around the World (One Sheet) (American International, 1957)
Tommy Steele, The Steelmen, Humphrey Lyttleton and His Band, Charles McDevitt Skiffle Group
23. Fillmore (Half Sheet) (20th Century Fox, 1972)
Artwork by David Byrd
Elvin Bishop, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Quicksilver Messenger Service, New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Grateful Dead, Hot Tuna, Boz Scaggs
22. Viva Las Vegas (French Grande) (MGM, 1964)
Elvis Presley
Artwork by Roger Soubie
21. The Kids Are Alright (Australian One Sheet) New World, 1979)
The Who
20. Wattstax (Half Sheet) (Columbia Pictures, 1973)
Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, The Dramatics, The Staple Singers, Kim Weston
19. Purple Rain (One Sheet) (Warner Brothers, 1984)
Prince
18. A Hard Day’s Night (One Sheet) (United Artists, 1964)
The Beatles
17. D.O.A. (Poster) (High Times Film, 1980)
The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Dead Boys, Generation X, Iggy Pop, X-Ray Specs, Sham 69
Poster designer: Soyka
16. Jailhouse Rock (Half Sheet, Style B) (MGM, 1957)
Elvis Presley
15. Tommy (One Sheet) (Columbia Pictures, 1975)
The Who, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner
14. HELP! (French Petite) (United Artists, 1965)
The Beatles
Artwork by Jean-Etienne Siry
Whimsical poster art for the Beatles second film release in France.
13. The Harder They Come (British Quad) (Lagoon Associates, R-1977)
Jimmy Cliff
12. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (One Sheet, Style A) (20th Century Fox, 1975)
11. Gimme Shelter (One Sheet) (20th Century Fox, 1970)
Rolling Stones
The film chronicles the last weeks of the Rolling Stones’ 1969 US tour which culminated in the disastrous Altamont Free Concert which ended in the tragic murder of an audience member by the Hell’s Angels.
10. Walk The Line (Advance One Sheet, Style A) (20th Century Fox, 2005)
Johnny Cash
One of today’s best known and most influential street artist, #Shepard Fairey (who first became known for his “Andre the Giant OBEY sticker campaign) was hired by 20th Century Fox to create this iconic one sheet for the Johnny Cash bio pic WALK THE LINE, which starred Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. Fairey became widely known during the 2008 U.S. presidential election for his Barack Obama “Hope” poster.
9. Monterey Pop (One Sheet) (Leaco*ck-Pennebaker, 1968)
Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Mamas and Papas, Canned Heat, Simon and Garfunkel, Hugh Masekela, Scott McKenzie, Jefferson Airplane, Eric Burdon, the Animals, The Who, Country Joe and the Fish, Otis Redding, Ravi Shankar, Booker T. and the M.G.
Poster Designed by Tomi Ungerer
8. The Song Remains The Same (One Sheet) (Warner Brothers, 1976)
Led Zeppelin
7. Woodstock (German A2) (Warner Brothers, 1970)
Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, The Who, Sha-Na-Na, Joe co*cker, Country Joe and the Fish, Arlo Guthrie, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Ten Years After, John Sebastian, Santana, Sly & the Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, Ritchie Havens
Artwork by Richard Amsel
6. Quadrophenia (French Grande) (Parafrance, 1979)
The Who
Artwork by Kalki
5. The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle (British Quad) (Virgin Films, 1980)
Sex Pistols
Artwork by M. Hirsch
4. Love Me Tender (British Quad, Style A) (20th Century Fox, 1956)
Elvis Presley
3. Yellow Submarine (British Quad) (United Artists, 1968)
The Beatles
Artwork by Heinz Edelmann
2. Heavy Metal (One Sheet) (Columbia Pictures, 1981)
Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Devo, Cheap Trick, Journey, Sammy Hagar, Grand Funk Railroad, Stevie Nicks, Nazareth
Artwork by Chris Achilleos
1. 200 Motels (One Sheet) (United Artists, 1971)
Frank Zappa
Sign-up for ournewsletterand getnews, updates and special offers
See all our list of the best movie posters of all-time:
The Top 50 Greatest Western Movie Posters Of All-Time
The Top 50 Greatest Film Noir Movie Posters Of All-Time
The Top 25 Greatest Prison Movie Posters Of All-Time
The Top 50 Greatest Horror Movie Posters Of All-Time
The Top 24 Best Political Movie Posters Of All-Time
For collectors of Vintage Posters, Photography and Art — Limited Runs!
Limited Runs, the premier destination for discovering and buying the best in original vintage posters, print art and fine art photography, continues to add new items to the site every day and each week we feature some of our latest additions of original vintage film, advertising and rock posters, art prints and photography.
Follow Limited Runs on:
