Back to the Future III Poster by Drew Struzan (Feb. 1990) ~ The First Version
Artist: Drew Struzan (All)
43 Comments - 3,090 Views - 34 Likes
Additional Images:
Close-Up of Clint Eastwood
Close-Up of Doc Brown
Close-Up of The Delorean
Framed
Bottleneck Poster
Step-By-Step Graphics Magazine 1994 Article
Artwork Details
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DescriptionThis is heavy.What you're looking at is the first finished painting Drew Struzan submitted for the Back to the Future Part III movie poster. Not a prelim or an alternate, but the finished painting meant to be used in theaters. Let that sink in. The greatest movie poster artist of all-time, at the peak of his powers, working on the finale of his greatest film series, with one of the most iconic poses in cinema history, and this is what he submitted. It’s absolutely amazing!!! By every possible level of measurement this is a masterpiece, and it's clear Drew had a lot of fun painting it. The Bobs (Zemekis and Gale) were undecided and asked for so many changes - day to night, Marty's costume (twice), flame trails - that Drew decided to paint a second piece. That piece added Mary Steenburgen at the last minute and became the poster everyone knows. This version stayed untouched. And now I own it?? 'Surreal' is not a strong enough word. This is the kinda art that exists beyond reality, like wanting to collect Mount Rushmore or Vermont. The kinda art George Lucas and Steven Spielberg hang at their space ranches. Like Rockwell in the 40s-50s and Frazetta in the 60s-70s, Drew Struzan was my generation's 80s-90s pop culture god of painting. Artistically, this is instantly the best thing I own; not by a little, but by a lot. Words fail at trying to describe seeing this in person, on par with the best things in museums, or even life. This is up there with "I know", 1980s Phoebe Cates, and UUDDLRLRBA. This is just that good. Drew listed this decades ago, pricing it to match the three published paintings. Ever so slowly it went from 'ludicrously out-of-reach' to 'tantalizingly out-of-reach' to now, finally, 'Great Scott! It's mine!!' 20 years later. Like I've always said, if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything! ---------------------------------------- Acrylic & Prisma on Illustration Board, 30" x 40" (22" x 34") Stamped Feb 5, 1990 on back. (I would have been 13!) ---------------------------------------- Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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The Gweese 2
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 6/22/2021
WOWZA! Congrats man, absolutely incredible painting. Staring at something like this just leaves you speechless. I hope to one day add a struzan painting to the collection as well!
Marcus Wai 
Member Since 2005
2 - Posted on 6/22/2021
Flex capacitor on overdrive! You may have to check if your name was on the back of this all along. It was just density that you'd have this. I've had enough practical jokes for one evening. Good night , future boy!
Bob Kopman
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 6/22/2021
Amazing piece of art and a great a great story to go along with it. Thanks for sharing.
Malcolm Bourne
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 6/22/2021
This is instantly one of the most amazing pieces of art on the entire CAF site. Mazaltov & congratulations!!!! I hate to think what you had to give up but your house is now a museum. Wonderful!!!
Canada Jones
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 6/22/2021
Truly Amazing piece of Artwork here Jason!! Very glad you finally pulled this one off!!
Peter Marino
Member Since 2010
1 - Posted on 6/22/2021
Congratulations on adding a true crown jewel to your great collection.
Monty B
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 6/22/2021
WOW WOW WOW!!! Congrats on this stupendous acquisition...
Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 6/22/2021
Congratulations on scoring an iconic piece of pop culture history.
J C
Member Since 2012
1 - Posted on 6/22/2021
The historic label is apt here. Love seeing the ragged color edges vs the standard cropping. Cheers.
kent mansley
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 6/22/2021
Well, this is jaw dropping! I can only imagine what it feels like to own a piece like this and the giant smile you must have had on your face since it arrived. I'm so very happy for you!
Rabid Ferret
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 6/22/2021
kent mansley wrote:
Well, this is jaw dropping! I can only imagine what it feels like to own a piece like this and the giant smile you must have had on your face since it arrived. I'm so very happy for you!
Thank you! I've been grinning ear-to-ear since it arrived:) But in all honesty, it's overwhelming! It was so overpowering when it first arrived that I had to lock it in the closet for a few days to let myself calm down!!!
James Henderson
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 6/23/2021
You asked "How it was possible to own this gem?". My theory is that you have your own personal DeLorean and went back to the 90s to purchase it at a much cheaper price than what you would expect to pay today.
Rabid Ferret
Member Since 2005
Posted on 6/23/2021
James Henderson wrote:
You asked "How it was possible to own this gem?". My theory is that you have your own personal DeLorean and went back to the 90s to purchase it at a much cheaper price than what you would expect to pay today.
I will neither confirm nor deny this theory:)
Johnny M
Member Since 2014
Forum Moderator
1 - Posted on 6/23/2021
You are correct, it is absolutely incredible to own such a piece as this. Take good care of it :)
E DLS
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 6/23/2021
Wow! Thanks for showing me to never give up. I've wanted a Struzan for years. If you can make it happen, maybe it can for me one day. In the meantime, I will enjoy admiring this beauty. Congratulations!
Jason Hussa
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 6/23/2021
This is absolutely ASTONISHING, RF, and completely worthy of the wonderful write-up you graced this with. 30x40?!!? Unbelievable! Sincere and heartfelt congratulations. Mr. Struzan is, of course, the master, and it's fun to see some of the "tricks of the trade" he employs here to create beautiful art that just as gracefully fulfills the requirements of a movie poster: the Delorean's burst of steam that puts a white cloud/background behind Marty and the Doc (so the main characters are more easily seen than if they were on the light blue sky background), the lighting source coming from the open Delorean door, the textured desert foreground that the credits can display over without blocking any "important" image... And then the artistry of the character and vehicle likenesses (to say nothing of the landscaping details and that incredible swirling sand)... Dizzying how he ties the 'practical' and 'artistic expression' elements together into the whole nostaglic A-Bomb of a package.
EPIC piece, RF! Just like Marcus said, it is your density.
Rabid Ferret
Member Since 2005
2 - Posted on 6/23/2021
Jason Hussa wrote:
This is absolutely ASTONISHING, RF, and completely worthy of the wonderful write-up you graced this with. 30x40?!!? Unbelievable! Sincere and heartfelt congratulations. Mr. Struzan is, of course, the master, and it's fun to see some of the "tricks of the trade" he employs here to create beautiful art that just as gracefully fulfills the requirements of a movie poster: the Delorean's burst of steam that puts a white cloud/background behind Marty and the Doc (so the main characters are more easily seen than if they were on the light blue sky background), the lighting source coming from the open Delorean door, the textured desert foreground that the credits can display over without blocking any "important" image... And then the artistry of the character and vehicle likenesses (to say nothing of the landscaping details and that incredible swirling sand)... Dizzying how he ties the 'practical' and 'artistic expression' elements together into the whole nostaglic A-Bomb of a package.
EPIC piece, RF! Just like Marcus said, it is your density.
This is one of the most thorough and awesome comments I've ever seen:) Thank you! I'm so happy to hear it strikes so many of the same chords with you as it did with me:)
Johnny M
Member Since 2014
Forum Moderator
2 - Posted on 6/24/2021
I like this one better than the 'dark' version :)
Comicart Collector
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 6/24/2021
An outstanding Struzan example! I can't stop staring! Congratulations!
Matt Dicke
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 6/24/2021
Congrats and you are totally right this is Rockwell /Frazetta level masterwork. It is a museum level piece. I have only see a few Drew pieces in person but what always amazes me are the layers, colors and all that colored pencil work that is fanstic up close, and just disappears when shrunken down. Those detail shots are a perfect example of those layers. Thanks for sharing.
Jyrki Vainio
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 6/25/2021
What has already been said: an iconic piece of pop culture history. The Norman Rockwell for our generation.
How did Spielberg or Lucas let this one slip past! Huge congrats on being able to get this.
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 6/28/2021
Awesome Back the the Future poster! Even if it wasn't used, it's still totally stunning!
D C
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 7/2/2021
A legendary piece by a legendary artist....outstanding!!
Mark Warunek
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 8/22/2021
Fantastic piece of art and that frame is perfect. Congrats!
K Gearon
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 9/29/2021
Oh man! Can't believe I missed this. Perfect mix of art and nostalgia. Wow. Must be a true SIGHT in person. Love these films. Huge congrats, Rabid!
W. A.
Member Since 2021
1 - Posted on 1/2/2022
1 Struzan is never enough even if this one is a Masterpiece. I love all the attention to details and the way everything looks like a pure and simple photograph of a intensely prepped setting. Lucky guy :)
Peter Sullivan
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 1/9/2022
I read your description. No need for profanities, merely because you are an overexcited, rabid ferret. Lol. It would be acceptable for me to make wall space to hang this. Thats the best compliment you can pay art!
Alex Johnson
Member Since 2006
Forum Moderator
1 - Posted on 1/11/2022
VERY cool! Congrats my rabid art fan!
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