The man behind some of the 20th century's most iconic movie posters

Long before movie posters were just stills from the film, they were works of art in their own right.

Some of the artists gained name recognition outside the niche industry (think Drew Struzan, who has created iconic images for franchises such as Star Wars, Back to the Future, and more, and is still working today). But the majority flew under the radar, no matter how iconic their work became.

John Alvin is one such artist.

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"He was more interested in doing a great job and moving on to the next assignment than whether he got his original art back or if his name was on it," Alvin's widow, Andrea, said in an interview with Titan Books. "He would say, 'Those who need to know, will know who did it.'"

Alvin created the artwork for 135 film campaigns, including Blazing Saddles, E.T., Gremlins, Blade Runner, Jurassic Park, the Tim Burton Batman films, and more.

Now, in the new book, The Art of John Alvin (Titan Books), which is out this month, we can see for ourselves the initial drawings, mock-ups, comprehensive studies, and finalized works. Check out a selection of Alvin's fascinating work, including some of the posters that could have been, below.