“Raging Bull” / 「レイジング・ブル」, Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1981, Martin Scorsese / Robert De Niro / Cathy Moriarty / Joe Pesci, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) D297
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for Raging Bull / 「レイジング・ブル」, printed for the film’s 1981 Japanese theatrical release.
This is a rare alternate Japanese design and the first time we have had this variant in our gallery.
Film background
Directed by Martin Scorsese, Raging Bull is the uncompromising biographical drama of middleweight boxer Jake LaMotta, adapted from LaMotta’s memoir. The film follows his rise, violence, jealousy, self-destruction, and emotional collapse, presenting boxing not as glamour, but as punishment, obsession, and inner damage.
The film stars Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, and Joe Pesci. De Niro’s performance remains one of the most celebrated in American cinema, earning him the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film is also renowned for Michael Chapman’s black-and-white cinematography, Scorsese’s ferocious direction, and its devastating portrait of masculinity, fame, violence, and regret.
Today, Raging Bull is widely regarded as one of Scorsese’s masterpieces and one of the greatest American films of the late 20th century.
Poster design
This Japanese B2 poster is a striking monochrome composition. The background is dominated by a massive close-up of Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta, battered and staring directly outward, his face covered in sweat and shadow. The image is confrontational, intimate, and severe — perfectly aligned with the film’s emotional and physical brutality.
At the top, the Japanese title 「レイジング・ブル」 appears in vivid red, with 「ロバート・デ・ニーロ」 printed beneath in bold white. Along the left side, a vertical yellow quote identifies the film as:
「本年最高のアメリカ映画」
“The best American film of the year”
— attributed to Newsweek.
The lower section adds further montage elements: De Niro in a suit speaking into a microphone, a glamorous portrait of Cathy Moriarty, and a subtle New York skyline backdrop. At the bottom, the English text ROBERT DE NIRO “RAGING BULL” appears in large red lettering, giving the poster a strong final graphic anchor.
The result is a superb Japanese release design: stark, graphic, emotionally charged, and visually distinct from the more commonly seen Raging Bull poster variants.
Release identification
This poster should be catalogued as an original 1981 Japanese theatrical B2 poster for Raging Bull.
Although the film was released in the United States in 1980, this poster belongs to the film’s Japanese theatrical release campaign. The United Artists logo and Japanese release typography confirm it as an original period cinema poster, not a later reproduction or decorative print.
Condition
Excellent condition. Please review the photographs carefully, as they show the exact poster for sale.
The poster presents beautifully, with strong black-and-white contrast, vivid red title lettering, crisp typography, and excellent overall display impact. Only light signs of age, storage, or handling are visible, consistent with careful preservation of an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster from the early 1980s.
This is an original 1981 Japanese theatrical B2 poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is over 40 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
