A Collector’s Guide to Star Wars Original UK Film Posters
Few film posters capture the imagination of collectors quite like those produced for the 1977 release of Star Wars, later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. The original UK British Quad (30 x 40 inches) is one of the most iconic and collectible poster formats in cinema history. For collectors, the three key variants associated with the first UK release represent not only different artistic interpretations but also the evolving marketing strategy behind what would become one of the most influential film franchises ever created.
This guide explores the three principal UK Quad poster variants: the Hildebrandt artwork, the Tom Chantrell Pre-Oscars Quad, and the Regular Tom Chantrell Quad.
The Cultural Impact of Star Wars
When George Lucas released Star Wars in 1977, few could have predicted the cultural phenomenon it would become. The film revolutionised blockbuster cinema with groundbreaking special effects, mythic storytelling, and unforgettable characters such as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader.
Beyond the cinema, Star Wars helped redefine film merchandising and fan culture. Posters, toys, books, and comics became essential parts of the experience, helping the film maintain its presence in popular culture for decades. The franchise remains one of the most recognisable entertainment brands in the world, with its imagery and characters still embedded in global pop culture nearly half a century after its debut.
Original cinema posters from the first release are therefore more than promotional material—they are historical artefacts from the birth of modern blockbuster marketing.
The Three Key UK Quad Variants
1. The Hildebrandt Brothers Quad (Style B)
The earliest UK poster design for Star Wars was created by the celebrated fantasy artists Greg Hildebrandt and Tim Hildebrandt.
This striking artwork emphasised the fantasy aspects of the film, featuring heroic poses, glowing lightsabers and dramatic space imagery. The style was bold and painterly, strongly influenced by fantasy illustration and comic book art. Based on the Tom Jung Style A US half sheet artwork, the Hildebrandt version featured the heroic main characters in a similar pose but added the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO to fill some empty space to the right. The Tom Jung version later added the same characters to that finished artwork.
However, the poster’s stylised characters did not closely resemble the actors appearing in the film. As Star Wars gained momentum and the characters became instantly recognisable, the studio decided a more realistic depiction would better promote the film and its expanding merchandise range including Kenner toys. The Hildebrandt design was therefore replaced only weeks after the UK release, making surviving examples extremely rare today.
Because of its brief usage—primarily in major London cinemas and transport advertising—the Hildebrandt Quad is often considered the holy grail of Star Wars poster collecting.
Collector notes
- Artist: Greg & Tim Hildebrandt
- Style: Highly stylised fantasy illustration
- Usage: Early UK advertising before replacement
- Rarity: Extremely scarce due to limited distribution
2. The Tom Chantrell Pre-Oscars Quad (Style C – Early Version)
Following the decision to replace the Hildebrandt artwork, the studio commissioned British poster artist Tom Chantrell to produce a new design.
Chantrell’s artwork dramatically shifted the visual direction of the campaign. His poster presented clearer and more recognisable likenesses of the actors, prominently featuring Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and the looming helmet of Darth Vader. This composition emphasised the heroic adventure elements of the film and instantly connected audiences with the characters. The art composition has been compared to "The Dirty Dozen" featuring a group of people pointing out towards the audience.
The earliest version of this poster is known as the Pre-Oscars Quad. Printed before the film’s Academy Award success was announced, it lacks the later award-nomination text that appeared on subsequent printings. Because the film’s UK rollout expanded rapidly after the awards buzz, only a limited number of cinemas used this early version.
As a result, the Pre-Oscars Chantrell Quad is considerably rarer than the later regular version.
Collector notes
- Artist: Tom Chantrell
- Key feature: No reference to Academy Awards
- Distribution: Early UK cinema screenings
- Rarity: Very scarce and highly sought after
3. The Regular Tom Chantrell Quad (Oscars Version)
Once Star Wars began sweeping the Academy Awards, new printings of the Chantrell poster were produced to capitalise on the film’s critical success.
These later posters included additional text highlighting the film’s award recognition. Visually, the artwork remained largely the same, but the added Oscars reference helped reinforce the film’s prestige and encouraged wider audiences to see what had quickly become a cultural phenomenon.
Because this version was printed in larger numbers for the nationwide release, it is more common than the earlier Pre-Oscars version—though still highly desirable among collectors due to the iconic artwork.
Collector notes
- Artist: Tom Chantrell
- Key feature: Added Oscars nomination or award text
- Distribution: Wider national cinema rollout
- Rarity: More common but still extremely collectible
Posters and the Rise of Star Wars Merchandising
One of the most interesting aspects of the UK poster evolution is how closely it reflects the rise of Star Wars merchandising.
Early marketing for the film was modest, but as its popularity exploded, licensing deals expanded rapidly—including the hugely successful toy line produced by Kenner Products.
The shift from the stylised Hildebrandt artwork to the more realistic Chantrell design aligned perfectly with this strategy. Posters that featured stronger likenesses of the actors helped reinforce character recognition—crucial for selling action figures, playsets, and other merchandise tied to the film’s heroes and villains.
In this way, the Chantrell Quad does more than promote a film—it represents the moment when Star Wars became a fully fledged multimedia franchise.
Why These Posters Matter to Collectors
For collectors of original film posters, the 1977 UK Quad series tells the story of Star Wars as it transformed from an ambitious science-fiction film into a cultural phenomenon with legs.
Each version reflects a different moment in that journey:
Hildebrandt Quad – early experimental marketing
Chantrell Pre-Oscars Quad – the film’s initial breakout success
Regular Chantrell Quad – the worldwide phenomenon
Together they form one of the most fascinating poster lineages in cinema history—and remain essential pieces for serious Star Wars collectors.
How to tell if a film poster is an original
The original British Quad for Star Wars was printed in England by W. E. Berry Ltd of Bradford and includes the printers credit in the bottom right corner of the poster. The printing of this must be clear and easy to read - copies often have blurred printing. There is also a copyright wording on the bottom left which should also be clear. The poster must measure 30 x 40 inches. The paper is regular 1977 paper and copies are often shinier at the front and usually also on the rear too. The colours on the best condition posters should be deep and clear. Posters that have been in the sun are subject to fading particularly with the red colour on the lightsaber flare. Most British Quads are folded as the printing process had a folding machine at the end and in order to find a rolled condition film poster it would have to have been removed from the process prior to the folding machine. It was common for the film to be in the tin and the posters folded. It is also important for the collector to remember that the film poster has had a life of many decades and the passage of time will be a factor in the physical condition of the poster and must be taken into account as this will affect the value financially - but Star Wars is such a phenomena that the emotions will understand and compensate for many physical factors!
✅ Collector Tip:
When purchasing an original UK Quad, always check size (30 x 40 inches), printing details, and fold patterns typical of cinema-issued posters of the era.