BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) Movie Poster, Original US One Sheet
Condition Very Fine / Near Mint (9.0)
Size US One Sheet Post '85 (27" x 40")
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) Movie Poster, Original Vintage US One Sheet, Starring Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, Directed by John Carpenter is in Very Fine/Near Mint Condition. ...
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) Movie Poster, Original Vintage US One Sheet, Starring Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, Directed by John Carpenter is in Very Fine/Near Mint Condition.
Movie Poster and Condition.
This Original, Vintage, Unrestored US One Sheet Movie Poster presents in Very Fine/Near Mint condition, folded as issued, minor handling/fold/edge wear, very small cross fold separation at bottom fold (very common on folded posters from the 80’s), excellent unused example. This poster is currently stored folded and will be shipped in an acid free archival polyproplene bag with acid free archival backing board. This authentic 1986 US one sheet movie poster is a highly collectible piece of cult classic 80’s cinema memorabilia. Original theatrical posters from this era are increasingly scarce in such well-preserved condition, making this an excellent investment piece for fans of John Carpenter films and vintage action-fantasy artwork.
Movie Synopsis
Big Trouble in Little China (1986) is a wildly inventive blend of action, fantasy, martial arts and comedy from acclaimed director John Carpenter. Known for genre-defining films, Carpenter delivered something entirely unique with this colourful supernatural adventure set in San Francisco’s Chinatown. The film stars Kurt Russell as Jack Burton, a wisecracking truck driver who finds himself caught in an ancient mystical battle far beyond his understanding.
The story begins when Jack accompanies his friend Wang Chi, played by Dennis Dun, to the airport to collect Wang’s fiancée, Miao Yin. When she is kidnapped by a Chinese street gang, the search leads Jack deep beneath Chinatown into a hidden world of sorcerers, ancient curses and centuries-old rivalries. At the centre of it all is the villainous Lo Pan, portrayed memorably by James Hong, an ancient warlord trapped in a cursed spirit form who seeks to regain his physical body.
As the adventure escalates, Jack teams up with Wang, lawyer Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall) and a host of eccentric allies. The film cleverly subverts traditional action hero tropes, presenting Jack Burton as loud and confident but frequently out of his depth. Meanwhile, Wang emerges as the true hero, skilled in martial arts and driven by honour. This inversion of expectations has helped cement the film’s reputation as a cult classic action fantasy.
Produced during the golden era of 1980s genre filmmaking, the movie is celebrated for its practical effects, imaginative production design and fast-paced script written by Gary Goldman and David Z. Weinstein. Though it was not a major box office success upon release, Big Trouble in Little China found a devoted audience through home video and television, eventually achieving legendary status among fans of 80’s cult cinema. Its quotable dialogue, elaborate creature effects and genre-blending storytelling continue to influence filmmakers and entertain new generations.
Kurt Russell’s charismatic performance remains one of his most beloved roles, combining humour with action in a way that perfectly complements Carpenter’s stylised direction. The film’s bold poster artwork captures the supernatural chaos and larger-than-life energy that defines the movie, making this original 1986 US one sheet poster a standout display item for collectors.
For enthusiasts of vintage movie memorabilia, fans of Kurt Russell, or admirers of John Carpenter’s filmography, this poster represents an essential addition to any serious collection of original theatrical posters.
To find out more about Big Trouble in Little China (1986) click here to go to IMDB.com.
Special Notes.
Images may have a small 'MPA' digital watermark and this does not appear on the poster. Posters are being held by magnets in the corners to take photographs, so you may see some magnet and shadows from the magnets in these areas. The magnets are not included in the sale of the item.
Postage, Insurance & Your Country Taxes
Postage costs are quoted for this item, include insurance up to AUD$100, but if you reside outside of Australia, the price does not include any import taxes/fees that you may be required to pay when the item reaches your borders. Please check with your local authorities for any additional taxes or fees. If you would like full insurance coverage for your purchase, please message me and I would be happy to quote the additional cost (estimate is AUD$2.50 p/AUD$100 or 2.5% of the item value, up to a maximum item value of AUD$5,000).
FAQ
At Movie Posters Australia, the love and conservation of movie posters comes first, and we like to share this passion. Our commitment to quality means we will provide high quality memorabilia to our customers. Posters are carefully chosen and authenticated to ensure originality and value. We want our customers to trust MPA, so we always try to be as open and transparent as we can, provide detailed condition information and images, to ensure customers are comfortable and confident in their purchase.
While the industry does have a few condition rating standards, there is no movie poster condition rating system that has become the accepted standard world wide. This unfortunately makes condition terms vary from movie poster dealer to movie poster dealer. Terms like Mint, Near Mint, Very Fine, Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, seem to be universal to most condition rating standards, but most standards still lack definition about what and how many flaws/defects/damage defines a specific condition level. For more information on how Movie Posters Australia grades the condition of its movie posters, daybills, lobby cards and other ephemera please see out Movie Poster Condition and Grading page.
In the early days of cinema, posters were primarily hand-drawn and printed in various sizes, often tailored to fit the available space in theaters or promotional areas. In the United States, the "One Sheet" size (some times called '1 Sheet' or '1SH' approximately 27" x 41", became the standard during the 1930s. This size was manageable for theater display and suited the needs of a growing film industry.
Different countries developed their own poster sizes and styles, which also changed sometimes over the decades, and were influenced by local preferences and practical considerations, like available paper sheet sizes and how many posters could be printed on one sheet.
In Australia, the most popular size, the Daybill, has evolved over the decades. Australian Daybills sizes in chronological order are:
- Long Daybills (15" x 40"), from 1920's to pre-WW2 or pre-1941, were printed two to a sheet, longer than current Daybill versions. There were size variances in width from 14.5" to 15" and in height from 39.5" to 40".
- War Time Daybill (10" x 30"), during WW2, for a short time to conserve paper during a war time shortage, four Daybills were printed on one sheet. Information from Press Sheets also referred to these War-Time sizes as "New Size Daybills".
- Post-War Daybill (13" x 30"), this 13" x 30" Post-War size carried through until the 1980's, but also varied in size from 13"-14" x 29.75"-30.25".
- Post-80's Daybill (33cm x 66cm, or 13" x 26"), over a few years in the late 80's, the size changed again to a metric 33cm x 66cm, although these have also varied from 32-33cm x 64.5-66cm. New sizes from the late 80's were created, sometimes called a Mini Daybill or Mini Poster, in 9" x 12", 11" x 17" and 13" x 20".
In the UK, the somewhat unique 'Quad' poster, measuring 30" x 40", became popular, offering a larger landscape format that allowed for more elaborate designs.
In Japan, movie poster sizes were smaller, such as the "B2" (20" x 28"), which suited the more compact living environment of larger cities, smaller advertising spaces, and unique aesthetic sensibilities.
The 1970s and 1980s, witnessed the rise of the "six-sheet" (81" x 81") format, reflecting a trend towards larger and more visually impactful advertising.
Overall, the variation in movie poster sizes across different countries and decades highlights the interplay between technological printing advancements, paper resource availability, paper sheet size changes, cultural preferences, and the evolving nature of movie marketing.
At Movie Posters Australia we tag each poster we sell with a 'size' and 'condition' description at the very top of the page for our customers to easily see. There may however be some slight variations to sizes by up one inch due to variations in production and guillotine methods by printers over the decades.