One of the most fascinating varieties of advertisement is the ever-popular movie poster. Contained in 27x40 inch dimensions are memorable windows into films people cherish deeply.
Every decade has had its own take on the art style and components of this staple of propaganda. The 1980s saw iconic posters for Airplane, The Evil Dead, and The Thing, while subsequent years have shown that posters are a key facet of entertainment. The 2010s brought outstanding films to the industry and even more iconic, artistic, and sometimes mind-boggling posters.
The Conjuring (2013)
Among recent and visionary horror films is perhaps one of the best in decades, The Conjuring. With an eerie color palette and portrait of the house where horrors take place, the poster set the tone for the movie and has become a genre-defining portrait.
The shadow of a woman hanging from the noose is a subtle hint at the house's history and the way things will unfold. Perhaps one of the scariest and chill-bringing parts of this poster are the words written under the title: "Based on the true case files of the Warrens."
Ant-Man (2015)
Before the Avenger-spoofing posters with the tag lines "No shield. No Hammer. No Problem," the first poster for Ant-Man showed just how tiny the latest Marvel hero would be. Taking up a life-sized portion of the poster (probably no more than an inch) leaves most of the poster as blank space.
At the start of Marvel's heyday, they made a bold decision in depicting only the main character in a marketing ploy that usually informs fans of much more about a forthcoming film. It seemed to be a success, as the Ant-Man 2 used the same formula again successfully.
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
As a bloodied John Wick stands among an unending number of enemies, this poster alludes to the idea that John Wick: Chapter 2 will chronicle how he might have bitten off more than he could chew.
Something about the centrality of the film's anti-protagonist surrounded by every small gun imaginable (including a sawed-off shotgun) shows that the sophomore installment of an emotional, gritty film will not disappoint.
Moonlight (2016)
One of the best low-budget award-winning films was accompanied by a poster that could not be a more fitting visualization of its story. Moonlight follows one main character in his journey of self-discovery. The film splits his life experience into three chapters, which is where the poster can be realized as a stroke of artistic genius.
In one figure, the poster foreshadows what the film's main character will experience giving three different, darkening shades to his face. It also shows the age gaps between each stage of life in the film, a subtle hint at the trajectory of the plot.
Parasite (2019)
A breakout foreign film and the first to win an Oscar for Best Picture, Parasite is a Shakespearian-style story that follows one family's opportunity to have the finer things in life at the expense of their new friends.
The poster contains so many tenuous references to the film's plot, such as Ki-Woo's obsession with a perceived sacred rock. Right under a supposedly dead body is a clever tagline that fans would come to appreciate after seeing the film: "Act like you own the place."
Cabin In The Woods (2012)
The poster for Cabin In The Woods is more elusive than it may seem, yet it is another spectacular contribution to the horror genre. The three-sectioned floating house hints at the film's outlandish plot, which directors Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon intended to be a critique of the horror genre itself.
The film drops Easter eggs and references to many horror films, but the poster seems just as much a legitimate and serious one as any other.
Inception (2010)
One of Christopher Nolan's most iconic and confusing films has a somewhat normal poster. An expectedly bleak color scheme with the red title hovering over the film's main characters is nothing of major note. The memorable part of this poster is found in the background of the scene.
Instead of the road and cityscape disappearing out of sight, it folds up and fills the back of the poster, informing the viewer of the dreamscapes that Inception's main characters will navigate.
The Avengers (2012)
Perhaps the inspiration of many subsequent superhero movie posters, The Avengers offers an epic glimpse at the film's most crucial moments. Not only is Iron Man's trademark stance on full display, but the embers behind the credits add more color and texture to a massive battle scene that fans were aching to see.
The Avengers is considered one of the best films in the Marvel franchise. As the golden standard of superhero films, its poster is as iconic as earth's mightiest heroes themselves.
The Hunger Games (2012)
Among the most iconic and quoted movies is The Hunger Games. Not many posters sum up the film's staple characteristics as well as the simple, yet elegant Mockingjay pin poster. The only image of this poster is Katniss Everdeen's pin and the quote, "may the odds be ever in your favor."
Not only is this something Katniss holds dear in the first film, but it also sets up its significance in the resistance against Snow throughout the rest of the series. This is a poster that takes an iconic quote and symbol and puts them on full display.
IT (2017)
Out of two cinematic adaptations of Stephen King's IT, both had iconic opening scenes, and the second film (released in 2017) had a particularly haunting and impressionable poster. It depicts Pennywise offering Georgie, in his yellow raincoat, a perfect red balloon.
The way Pennywise holds the balloon is particularly frightening. He seems ready to truly give it to Georgie, though viewers know the tragedy that will occur if he takes it. Fans can almost see the details of Pennywise's face through the red balloon, and see enough to know his intentions with Georgie.