Classic Horror Movie Posters Up for Auction This Halloween
British auction house Ewbank’s will host a thrilling Halloween auction on Thursday, October 31, featuring a collection of classic horror movie posters. The sale highlights iconic titles like Dracula A.D. and A Nightmare on Elm Street and is expected to draw interest from horror enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Key Posters and Price Estimates
The showcase item is a 30×40-inch British quad poster for the 1972 Hammer production Dracula A.D., crafted by renowned artist Tom Chantrell. This poster, featuring the late Christopher Lee in his iconic role as Count Dracula, carries a price estimate of £900–£1,200. Additionally, a quad poster for Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970), also starring Lee, is estimated at £600–£1,200, reflecting the strong demand for posters from Lee’s celebrated Dracula films.
Andrew Ewbank, auctioneer and partner at Ewbank’s, shared insights on the appeal of horror posters. “There are people that collect just that genre,” he explained, noting how these vintage posters evoke nostalgia and “tell the story of the films that people used to watch in their youth.”
A Nightmare on Elm Street Turns 40
Another sought-after item is a 1984 British quad poster for the cult classic A Nightmare on Elm Street, estimated to fetch between £600 and £800. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the movie, which introduced audiences to Freddy Krueger, the menacing, clawed character who haunts teenagers’ dreams. Played by actor Robert Englund, Krueger’s character achieved enduring fame, influencing pop culture through references on The Simpsons, Rick and Morty, and even songs by Will Smith. Reflecting on Krueger’s impact, Englund remarked, “You realise you’ve entered the popular culture as an expression.”
Additional Highlights from the Horror Collection
Among other notable items are posters for The Wicker Man (1973), which also starred Christopher Lee, with an estimate of £200–£300, and Friday the 13th (1980), priced between £150 and £250. These posters, with their bold and chilling imagery, serve as both valuable collectibles and lasting tributes to classic horror cinema.
For collectors and fans of the horror genre, this auction offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of film history that has shaped the world of horror for generations.