American artist and illustrator Drew Struzan, who passed away last fall, left an indelible imprint on popular culture, thanks to the many memorable movie posters he created. I could list so many of them as favorites—The Thing (1982), Back to the Future (1985), Big Trouble in Little China (1986)—but my artistic and sentimental favorite* has always been his poster for the eighties comedy classic Adventures in Babysitting (1987). It so perfectly captures the adventurous spirit of a movie about a kickass babysitter—Don’t fuck with Elisabeth Shue!—trying to survive a wild night in the city and keep the kids she’s responsible for safe. Struzan, as always, nailed the likenesses. The Chicago skyline looks majestic and the fifties-style type treatment lets you know you’re in for an adventure worthy of the film’s title. It’s simply magnificent, all the way around.
*The sentimental reason likely has more than a little to do with my childhood crush on Elisabeth Shue, which I am proud to admit has not diminished one single bit in the forty-odd years since it began.
The Starfire Lounge 
Adventures in Babysitting holds a special place in my heart because my mom is in the movie. Though I do love the rest of the movie as well. The poster has always filled me with nostalgia.
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That’s awesome. Who is your mom in the movie?
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Thanks! If you remember the “Babysitting Blues” scene, my mom is the woman in the sparkly blue dress that they cut back to multiple times. She’s the first person to smile when they start singing.
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Very cool!
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