One sheet (film)

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Richard Amsel's iconic poster for Raiders of the Lost Ark

The term "one sheet" refers to a specific size of advertising created to promote a film in the United States, currently 27 x 40 inches, displayed in a portrait format primarily at cinemas. It is what is commonly referred to as a "movie poster" or "film poster". Prior to the 1980s, American movie posters were one inch (27 x 41) larger. In comparison, a "24 sheet" is what is known as a billboard.

As a one sheet is used in the official advertising for films, they are prized by both collectors of memorabilia for specific films and of film posters themselves. Film posters sold in general retailing are in "poster size" which is 24 x 36 inches. Most prized are posters which have been rolled and shipped in tubes versus those which are folded. Currently most posters are sent to cinemas rolled, for aesthetic reasons.

As the one sheet precedes even a film's teaser trailer, it is the first impression the public has of a film, and much attention is devoted to creating them. Some artists have such distinctive styles, especially in relation to particular film genres, that they become much sought after by studios eager to recruit fans of that genre. An example is Richard Amsel who created iconic images for such diverse films as Chinatown, Murder on the Orient Express and Raiders of the Lost Ark).