"Scanners (スキャナーズ)", Original Japanese Movie Poster 1981, First Release, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) N180

This is an original Japanese B2 poster printed in 1981 for the first theatrical release of Scanners (スキャナーズ), directed by David Cronenberg and distributed in Japan by Towa. First release Cronenberg posters are highly collectible, and Scanners remains one of his most infamous works, known for its groundbreaking special effects and shocking imagery.

This poster is rare and hard to find even in Japan!

Film background
Scanners tells the story of individuals with terrifying telepathic and telekinetic powers, known as “scanners,” who can destroy others with their minds alone. A shadowy corporation seeks to exploit them, leading to a war between rival factions. The film became a cult classic, in large part due to its legendary “exploding head” scene, which stunned audiences and cemented Cronenberg’s reputation as the master of body horror. The movie also served as a breakthrough for Cronenberg internationally, setting the stage for later classics such as Videodrome (1983), The Fly (1986), and Crash (1996).

Poster design
The Japanese B2 poster features vivid painted artwork that emphasizes the grotesque intensity of the film. At its center, a man writhes in agony as psychic energy rips through his body, veins glowing purple, eyes bulging white, and power radiating into chaos around him. Explosions, lab figures in hazmat suits, and victims consumed by fire fill the margins, echoing the film’s most disturbing visuals. The bold 3D-styled katakana title “スキャナーズ” slashes across the top, anchoring one of the most striking horror/sci-fi poster designs of the early 1980s.

This poster is in very good condition (please refer to imagery, both front and back, of the exact poster for sale).

It is over 40 years old.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.