A movie poster should make a bold statement about what the movie’s about, but to go further: should instantly grab you. Here I have included posters that are either: weird, beautiful, eye-catching, ‘in-yer-face’, iconic, or just sell the movie for what it is.
In no particular order…
1) Attack of the 50ft Woman (1958)
Attack if the 50ft Woman
50s B-Movies are often very interesting to look at, they often sell the pitch of their movies with something very eye-catching. This one particularly stands out to me.
2) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
It’s damned beautiful to look at, and it’s completely different and original compared to most movie posters. Plus, the tag-line some up the movie perfectly: “the ultimate trip”.
3) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Grabs you like a leather glove or a serial killer who’s about to chop off your leg and eat you…in other words: it’s damned iconic and you can’t ignore it.
4) The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather (1972)
The epitomy of the ‘iconic movie poster’. You may not have seen the 1970 classic, but you’ve definitely seen the poster. (I hope).
5) Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Essentially a parody of the poster for The Titanic, therefore meaning that the poster itself gives off the message that it doesn’t and shouldn’t matter if you’re different.
Oh, and for just if you don’t know (God knows how not), Titanic‘s being re-released in 3D…yay for James Cameron.
6) The Human Centipede (2009)
The Human Centipede (2009)
The movie may be vomit-inducingly disgusting, but you can’t deny how errr…’eye-catching’ the poster is.
7) The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs
As chillingly creepy as the film itself: the lack of humanity in the face, the red eyes, and (if you look closely) the skull on the moth’s face.
Simple + subtle = effective + iconic
8) Straw Dogs (1971)
Straw Dogs (1971)
The broken glasses almost mirrors the disturbingly brutal nature of the film. So much so, that does this poster transcend itself and become not just a poster, but a work of art?
9) Star Wars (1977)
Star Wars (1977)
Is it the most beautiful movie poster ever made?…
10) King Kong (1933)
King Kong (1933)
Utterly iconic. It captures a moment from the movie in a striking detail.
11) Metropolis (1927)
Metropolis (1927)
Is it the most visually impressive poster ever? Does it count as a work of art rather than advertisement? Either way, it’s damned expensive. An original was sold for $690’000…rumour has it, that the buyer was Leonardo DiCaprio…
12) Blame (2011)
Blame (2011)
If anything…it’s eye-catching.
13) A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (2011)
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (2011)
Instantly sells the raunchy concept of the movie with some casual light-hearted tongue-in-cheek humour. Plus, the tag-lines brilliant: “A comedy about old friends in new positions.”
14) The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight (2008)
I don’t think I need to explain why this is a good movie poster.
15) Dr Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
A personal favourite poster (and movie)…captures the tone of the piece entirely, it’s about war (planes flying overhead), and it’s an acidically mocking satire (the cartoonish feel of the piece). Brilliant movie. Brilliant poster.
16) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc (1981)
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc (1981)
We don’t even need to look at the title, and we already know that it’s Indiana Jones! The posters iconic, as is the font for the words “Indiana Jones”.
17) Pulp Fiction (1994)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
The poster’s become so iconic and recognisable that it’s been used to mock Sarah Palin and John McCain…
18) Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971)
Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971)
How very 70s…
19) The Happening (2008)
The Happening (2008)
Simply stunning…
20) Perfume (2006)
Perfume (2006)
Certainly impactful and pleasing to the eye, the poster for this film could be considered a work of art. Weird though…
Star Reviews 
The Straw Dogs poster is brill – as is the Dr Strangelove one (what a film!)…all interesting to see.
Indeed, Dr Strangelove is rather epic…the trailer for it is brilliant as well 😀
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