What do movie theaters do with posters after the movie leaves their theater? Could I get one for free?

Question

I really want the movie poster for The Golden Compass, which will be in theaters December 7th of this year. What do most movie theaters do with their posters after the movies run their course? Would they let me have one? What about the big displays (cardboard people, banners, etc.)? Could I get those?

Answer 1

Sometimes they have to give them back to the movie studios, the posters are actually plastic to facilitate lighting them. When they don't have to return them, managers and employees get first dibs on the posters, first come first serve. I would ask a manager at your local theater if it would be possible that you could get the poster, given that they don't have to return it and no employees have already "reserved" the poster.

It's the same with the cardboard standees, just about. Most often, they are thrown away, though pieces may be kept for employees. I kept the tagline for the Clerks II standee, "With No Power Comes No Responsibility." Most often, I see the standees thrown away. Some have to be returned to the studio. We had a life-sized standee of the Silver Surfer for the new Fantastic Four movie that had to be sent back. Once again, ask a manager to find out if you could possibly keep the standee.

Answer 2

Movie Theatre Posters

Answer 3

Depends really on the theater and employees. More often than not, managers and employees get the posters on a first-come, first-serve basis. (Although certain studios are REALLY stingy about giving away old posters, so some must be returned.) But you might be able to talk a theater manager into giving you a poster if they have extras and you're a regular/very nice. Just know that if it's a big movie, all of the posters will likely have been claimed ahead of time by employees (who generally have first-dibs, and rightfully so because they work there and serve guests all day long), so you might not be able to get one. You're more likely going to find extra posters for smaller films. (Ex. You're almost certainly not going to get a poster for "Avengers: Age of Ultron" or "Star Wars", but you might be able to sweet-talk your way into getting one for "Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" or "Get Hard.")

Answer 4

Watch Free Movies Online

Answer 5

Well i have a friend who wanted the giant poster at a movie theatre and she just asked the head guy there, and he gave it to her for free. But she always goes to that theatre to see movies so i think they know eachother but all you have to do is ask. They might give you the regular sized ones for free but the larger ones you will have to pay. The cardboard pieces are sometimes auctioned off within the staff at the movie theatre. I hope this helped a little.

Answer 6

Well i worked at a movie theater for a week so i should know best. they just had all the old movie **** in a small storage room so i'm sure you can just ask for it when they aren't busy and you can get it.
if the manager won't let you have it just offer to pay one of the popcorn monkeys an extra 5 or ten bucks to steal it for you.

Answer 7

i used to work for AMC way in the day. and most of the poster they give to staff or raffle them off at like a christmas party. and then there are some that must be returned along with the film or disk. 9 out of 10 chances will won't be able to get it unless you are friends with the staff or management or you will to pay a price to get it. or you could lie and claim to be raffling items off for charity.

Answer 8

Great question...
I wish I knew...
I would like anything from Pirates of the Caribbean...
Maybe a life size Johnny Depp...
MMMMMMMMM.......
Let me know if you find out anything...

Answer 9

i wish i could get sin city, charlie's angels poster..