Movie studios have used posters to market movies since the first movie was released. Prior to television or even radio, movie marketing centered around a descriptive poster. The more prized posters among collectors are the actual movie posters used in theaters when the movie was released. According to the website www.learnaboutmovieposters.com, the way to tell if a poster is a genuine movie poster is to look at the bottom left-hand corner for the National Screen Service number. If the poster has that number stamped on it, then it is a poster that was used in movie theaters and is a valuable promotional item.
Releasing movies in 3-D was very popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. By the beginning of the 2000s, the advanced digital filming and projecting technology has not only brought 3-D back to movie theaters, but it could be the way that all movies are shot in the future. One of the marketing devices that some movie studios use to promote their movies include special 3-D glasses to be used when watching the movie.
Merchandising is a popular way for movie studios to cash in on the success of a movie for years after the movie is released. But, in those first few months of release there are sometimes action figures and collectibles sold through various fast food chains that collectors look for. It has become more common for movie studios to team up with large national fast food chains to promote their movie and add some excitement by allowing the restaurants to sell promotional items while the movie is running in theaters.