“Raising Arizona” / 「赤ちゃん泥棒」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1987, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) ZA947

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for Raising Arizona, released in Japan under the title 「赤ちゃん泥棒」 / Akachan Dorobō — “The Baby Thief.” Directed by Joel Coen and written by Joel and Ethan Coen, the film stars Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, and Trey Wilson.

A wonderfully bold and playful Japanese design, this poster captures the anarchic comic spirit of one of the Coen Brothers’ defining early films. This example is in excellent condition and displays beautifully.

Film background
Released in 1987, Raising Arizona follows H.I. McDunnough, an ex-convict, and Edwina, a former police officer, who marry but discover they cannot have children. When a wealthy Arizona businessman becomes the father of quintuplets, the desperate couple decide that taking just one baby might somehow balance the scales.

The result is one of the great American cult comedies of the 1980s: fast, eccentric, visually inventive, and filled with the Coen Brothers’ unmistakable blend of absurdity, sincerity, and screwball crime energy. The film remains beloved for Nicolas Cage’s manic performance, Holly Hunter’s emotional precision, and its surreal, cartoon-like rhythm.

Poster design
The Japanese poster is exceptionally memorable. At the centre is a giant illustrated baby in sunglasses and a diaper, shown upside down in a comic headstand. Above, a photograph shows the famous quintuplets lined up in a crib, with their names displayed above them. At lower right, a small cut-out of Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter relaxing in deck chairs adds another humorous visual note.

The top tagline reads:

「赤ちゃんが欲しい！5人もいるなら、ひとりくらい…。」
“I want a baby! If there are five of them, surely just one…”

The right-side copy reads:

「子供ができない女房の望みをかなえてやるのが男の仕事。」
“A man’s job is to fulfil the wish of his wife who cannot have children.”

A particularly charming detail is the green text on the baby’s diaper:

「FOX赤ちゃんシリーズ第2弾！」
“Fox Baby Series — Part 2!”

The bottom title treatment is bold and graphic, with 「赤ちゃん」 in sweeping red script and 「泥棒」 in deep blue block lettering. The original English title RAISING ARIZONA appears at lower left.

The overall design is bright, mischievous, and unmistakably late-1980s, perfectly matching the film’s manic comic tone.

Release note
This poster was printed for the film’s Japanese theatrical release campaign.

It is an original period Japanese cinema poster, not a later reproduction or commercial reprint.

Condition
Excellent condition. A highly attractive example, with strong colour, clean imagery, sharp typography, and excellent overall display impact.

Please review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.

This is an original Japanese theatrical poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is now over 35 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.