“Used Cars” / 「ユーズド・カー」, Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1980, Robert Zemeckis / Kurt Russell / Steven Spielberg, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) E281

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for Used Cars / 「ユーズド・カー」, printed for the film’s original Japanese release in 1980.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, produced by Bob Gale, and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Used Cars is a fast, cynical, and anarchic American comedy starring Kurt Russell, Gerrit Graham, Frank McRae, Deborah Harmon, and Jack Warden.

Film background
Used Cars is a darkly comic satire of rival used-car dealerships, centred on a ruthless and charismatic salesman who will do almost anything to outsell the competition across the street.

The film was Zemeckis’s second feature and already shows many of the qualities that would define his later work: speed, visual invention, comic escalation, and a sharp instinct for American pop-culture absurdity. Although not a major box-office hit on release, it developed a strong cult reputation and is now admired as one of the director’s funniest and most biting early films.

Poster design
This Japanese B2 poster is a superbly irreverent piece of early-1980s comedy advertising. The background is based on the American flag, immediately establishing the film’s target: American salesmanship, excess, competition, and commercial chaos.

The design is dominated by a striking central figure: a woman in denim hot pants and a cropped “TRUST US” T-shirt, posed above a chaotic hand-painted landscape of cars, shouting salesmen, crashes, and roadside mayhem. The image is deliberately brash, comic, and provocative, perfectly matching the film’s satirical tone.

At lower right, the English title Used Cars appears inside a yellow circular emblem, while the Japanese title 「ユーズド・カー」 is printed in bold black at upper left. The Japanese promotional copy highlights the connection to Spielberg:

「あのスピルバーグがまたしても!! オール・サット・クレージー・コメディ!!」
roughly, “That Spielberg is at it again! An all-out crazy comedy!”

This is a classic example of how Japanese distributors marketed imported American comedies: bold imagery, energetic illustration, and a strong emphasis on recognisable creative names.

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

This is an original 1980 Japanese theatrical B2 poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is over 40 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.