Many people collect movie posters because they increase in value each year. Such posters are rare because they are usually destroyed when there is no longer any need to promote that particular movie. Cinema posters are printed primarily as advertising material and are not meant to be kept by the public.
Motion picture theaters are usually required to return the posters to the poster company or to the film distributor. These posters were then destroyed or just stored in distributor buildings, poster warehouses, and theater basements. Somehow, some collectors were able to purchase these posters.
Movie posters are also important because they represent a piece of the past and people can compare contemporary trends with those of decades ago. Posters for popular and classic films also increase in value as fans of these movies look for them. They are also valuable for people who are fans of certain actors or actresses. Other people also consider these cinema posters as a form of art. And like other pieces of art, posters increase in value as they become rarer or when the artist who made them gains popularity.
There are various kinds of movie posters. There are USA international posters, foreign or non-USA posters, teaser posters, double-sided posters, and reprints. Collectors have to be cautious because reprints are becoming more and more common. Reprints are not considered to be collectibles but some are being sold as if they were the originals. Meanwhile, special types of movie posters have recently appeared. These are the mylar posters, lenticular posters, promo posters, and commercial movie posters.
