“The ’Burbs” (メイフィールドの怪人たち), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1989, Tom Hanks / Carrie Fisher, B2 Size (c. 51 × 73 cm) — T70
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for the 1989 first Japanese release of The ’Burbs, released in Japan as メイフィールドの怪人たち (Meifīrudo no Kaijin-tachi). Opening on 22 July 1989, Joe Dante’s suburban comedy received a colourful Japanese campaign combining domestic absurdity with the imagery of a haunted-house film.
Directed by Joe Dante, the film stars Tom Hanks as Ray Peterson, whose plans for a quiet holiday at home unravel when he becomes suspicious of his secretive new neighbours. Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern, Rick Ducommun, Corey Feldman and Wendy Schaal complete the principal ensemble. As the residents’ amateur investigation escalates, ordinary neighbourhood curiosity develops into collective paranoia, giving Dante ample scope to combine suspense, slapstick and suburban satire.
The composition centres on Hanks standing barefoot in a pale blue dressing gown and patterned pyjama trousers, holding a garden hose and a spatula. Behind him, the dilapidated Klopek house looms beneath a stormy sky and a flash of lightning. A dog stands beside a mass of skulls and skeletal remains, adding an exaggerated macabre touch to the otherwise familiar suburban setting.
Character photographs crowd the surrounding edges: Bruce Dern in military clothing at the upper left, the unsettling Klopeks above their house, and Carrie Fisher and Corey Feldman at the upper right. Wendy Schaal’s bikini-clad character and Rick Ducommun appear down the right side. A large illustrated curl across the upper section gives the montage the playful appearance of a poster peeling away to reveal another scene.
The prominent red headline reads:
「真夏の夜のファンタジー！」
“A Midsummer Night’s Fantasy!”
Below Hanks, his name appears in large pale lettering above the jagged red Japanese title, set against a deep purple background. The lower-right credits explicitly identify Dante as the director of Gremlins, reinforcing the campaign’s blend of comedy and menace.
The busy ensemble montage and theatrical horror imagery make this an appealing example for collectors of Joe Dante, Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher and 1980s horror-comedy cinema.
Condition: Excellent.
Please review all photographs, including the front and reverse, as they show the exact poster for sale.
Japanese B2 format: approximately 51 × 73 cm.
Stock code: T70.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
About Japanese B2 posters
Japanese B2 posters typically measure approximately 51 × 73 cm and were produced for theatrical display. Their distinctive combinations of photography, illustration, typography and promotional copy offer a fascinating record of how films were presented to Japanese audiences.
