50 Greatest Movie Lobby Cards

Xanadu (1980)

The Card: Camp as Christmas, just like Olivia Newton-John’s movie.

Why It's So Cool: You can’t deny it’s got a retro allure – must be something to do with those revealing tops.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

The Card: The French lobby card for Kubrick’s bombtastic war movie.

Why It's So Cool:
It reminds us of that pulse-quickening scene when the soldiers are making their way through the bombed, flaming building site.

Planet Of The Apes (1968)

The Card: Giving next to nothing away about the futuristic sci-fi. Clever, that.

Why It's So Cool: It’s fittingly creepy – just what is with those skinned monkeys?

Lolita (1962)

The Card: Shoving the titular character of Kubrick’s flick up front and centre.

Why It's So Cool:
It’s sexy, sultry and artistic all in one. We’d put this over the fireplace if we were allowed.

Scarface (1983)

The Card: A snapshot from the ‘80s remake, before all the blood and stuff kicks off.

Why It's So Cool: Uh, because it’s Scarface .

The Godfather (1972)

The Card: Unveiling Brando as the titular godfather, resplendent in his Sunday best.

Why It's So Cool: We want to know what’s being whispered in Brando’s ear.

King Kong (1933)

The Card: A melodramatic composition befitting of the ‘strangest story ever conceived by man’.

Why It's So Cool: It was clearly printed black-and-white and then painted over. Ah, those were the days.

Rumble Fish (1983)

The Card: Focusing on Rusty James (Matt Dillon). Sort of like a character headshot.

Why It's So Cool: Matt Dillon in a headband and a wifebeater = cool.

The Godfather Part II (1974)

The Card: A murky, stylish offering for the high-class sequel.

Why It's So Cool: It’s shadowy and delicious. And Al Pacino’s in it.

GoodFellas (1980)

The Card: A snapshot from Martin Scorsese’s definitive gangster film.

Why It’s So Cool: Three names. Joe Pesci. Ray Liotta. Robert De Niro.


What’s your favourite movie lobby card? Big thanks to the awesome Lobby Cards tumblr .

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.