“Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol” (ポリスアカデミー4／市民パトロール), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1987, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) E289

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster produced for the first Japanese cinema release of Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (ポリスアカデミー4／市民パトロール), the fourth instalment in the hugely popular Police Academy comedy series. The film opened theatrically in Japan on 13 June 1987, distributed domestically by Warner Bros.

Directed by Jim Drake, the film reunites Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, David Graf, Leslie Easterbrook, Marion Ramsey, G. W. Bailey and George Gaynes, with Sharon Stone also joining the cast. The story follows Commandant Lassard’s plan to recruit ordinary citizens into a community policing programme, inevitably creating another wave of spectacular chaos.

Poster design
A wonderfully energetic Japanese design dominated by a huge orange-and-red hot-air balloon carrying the entire Police Academy ensemble high above a brilliant blue sky. The basket is packed with the film’s familiar characters, weapons, megaphones and exaggerated expressions, while birds, falling ammunition and the dramatic aerial setting turn the image into a perfect visual summary of the series’ anarchic comedy.

Across the upper section, the Japanese campaign copy enthusiastically calls on citizens to “arm yourselves!”, playing directly on the film’s Citizens on Patrol premise, while the enormous red-and-yellow ポリスアカデミー4 title anchors the lower half. The subtitle 市民パトロール — “Citizens on Patrol” appears beneath it in bold yellow lettering.

The bright colour palette, star-pattern border and densely illustrated ensemble composition make this a superb example of late-1980s Japanese Hollywood comedy advertising.

It is over 39 years old!

Condition
Excellent. The poster retains superb colour saturation, with the bright blue sky, vivid orange balloon and bold red-and-yellow typography remaining exceptionally fresh. There are only very minor signs of age and handling, with no significant condition issues affecting the central artwork or typography. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.