A Star Wars painting by illustrator Tom Jung, used as the original half-sheet poster for *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope* (1977), sold for $3.88 million at a Heritage Auctions sale of Hollywood memorabilia in Dallas. Consigned by the family of film producer Gary Kurtz, the work first appeared in national newspapers on May 13, 1977, and later became the film’s official promotional image. The sale broke the previous record for a Star Wars object, surpassing the $3.6 million paid for Darth Vader’s lightsaber prop.
The record-breaking price underscores the booming market for pop culture collectibles and original movie artwork, with Heritage’s Charles Epting calling it a landmark moment for the entire field. The sale also eclipsed the previous record for movie poster art, set earlier in 2023 by Bob Peak’s *Apocalypse Now* artwork at $687,500, highlighting the growing financial and cultural value placed on iconic film imagery.