Movie posters, whether early teasers or the final design, have one main purpose: to convince people to see the film. Some studios try to achieve this by simply listing as many famous actors as possible, hoping name recognition will be enough. However, the most effective posters grab attention with a clear, memorable idea. This could be a striking image or a bold color scheme that hints at the story. For example, the original Ghostbusters poster only needed the team’s logo, Jaws relied on the contrast between the shark and a swimmer, and Back to the Future simply showed Marty McFly alongside fiery tire tracks. These simple concepts are what truly sell a movie.
These posters were also successful in their marketing efforts, but they all came out within the last twenty-five years.
*One entry below references both sexual assault and self-harm.
10) Promising Young Woman
The poster for Promising Young Woman is quite simple: Carey Mulligan, as Cassie Thomas, stands before a misty mirror and uses lipstick to write the movie’s title directly onto the glass.
Okay, so this film really works on a couple of levels, both stemming from how the story unfolds. We’re watching Thomas systematically get revenge on the men who assaulted her best friend, tragically leading to the friend’s suicide. A key part of her plan is that these guys simply don’t recognize her, and the film visually reinforces that anonymity with a hazy, almost dreamlike quality. But it’s not just about hiding in plain sight. She also strategically uses her own sexuality to infiltrate their lives and get close enough to carry out her plan, and honestly, the film’s poster perfectly captures that calculated approach. It’s a striking image, and it really stays with you thanks to its bold and vivid style.
Stream Promising Young Woman for free with ads on Prime Video.
9) Casino Royale
The poster for Casino Royale immediately suggests a more realistic and serious approach to the James Bond franchise. Its subdued colors signal a clear departure from the over-the-top action and increasingly outlandish plots that plagued the later Pierce Brosnan films, like The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.
The only thing we see is the new James Bond at a poker table. He’s glancing around, looking both wary of someone potentially betraying him and protective of his cards from other players.
Stream Casino Royale on Prime Video.
8) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
The three Lord of the Rings posters are arguably the most unremarkable of the bunch. They all feature a similar composition – simply a group of characters crowded together.
The large number of posters was necessary given the extensive cast list. However, none of the posters feel cluttered. They also beautifully capture the natural, grounded look of the films, making them visually captivating.
Stream The Lord of the Rings Trilogy on HBO Max.
7) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Most Marvel Cinematic Universe posters aren’t very memorable. They resemble the posters for The Lord of the Rings, but with so many characters crammed together, they feel cluttered. They lack a strong focal point and tend to blend into one another – a criticism some also level at the movies themselves.
James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy films always manage to feel a little different, and the teaser poster for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a great example of that. While all three Guardians movie posters are bright and memorable, they tend to feel a bit cluttered. The Vol. 2 teaser poster, however, stands out. It’s a simple black-and-white image of the main characters casually leaning against a wall, looking like cool rebels or even suspects in a police lineup – a look that perfectly fits their personalities. It’s a surprisingly effective and often overlooked Marvel advertisement.
Stream Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on Disney+.
6) Get Out
The movie Get Out explores modern racism, and this theme is reflected in its poster. The design is split evenly between black and white, with a screaming man positioned in the center. This creates mystery – to find out why he’s screaming, you have to see the film.
He’s sitting rigidly in the chair, clutching the arms as if his life is at stake, and looking upwards – raising questions about the story’s central conflict, hinted at in the movie poster. These questions can only be answered by watching the film. The Get Out poster perfectly embodies effective marketing through its simple, minimalist design.
Stream Get Out on HBO Max.
5) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Drew Struzan was a uniquely talented artist, famous for his incredibly realistic movie posters. He had a gift for capturing the likenesses of actors and using colors that perfectly reflected the feel of the films. His posters for iconic franchises like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Back to the Future were simply unmatched.
Please add his poster for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or Philosopher’s Stone, depending on your location) to the collection. It’s a really strong piece of his work, and it’s a shame the movie series later moved away from illustrated posters in favor of photographic ones.
Stream Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on HBO Max.
4) Spider-Man
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films had some fantastic posters. Whether it was the one shown here, the image of Spider-Man swinging between buildings, or the memorable poster featuring him looking towards the World Trade Center (which was later removed), they all effectively achieved the same thing.
The movie really captures the feeling that Spider-Man rules the city. We see everything from street level, while he’s soaring high above, swinging between buildings almost like Tarzan in a concrete jungle.
Stream Spider-Man on Disney+.
3) Star Wars: The Force Awakens
This is our last Drew Struzan poster. He retired in 2008 after creating the artwork for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – a poster many consider better than the film itself. However, he made an exception and came out of retirement to create a poster for one more movie: Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
This proved to be Drew Struzan’s final piece before his death in October 2025. The artwork is stunning, beautifully capturing the film’s grand scale with his signature vibrant colors and meticulous detail. It felt fitting that Struzan, who originally illustrated the posters for the first trilogy, returned to introduce these characters again. The Force Awakens was a major event, and the poster perfectly conveys that excitement even before the movie starts.
Stream Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Disney+.
2) The Social Network
Neil Kellerhouse’s initial poster for The Social Network perfectly captures the film’s central theme. Or rather, themes – the movie explores not only the story of Mark Zuckerberg, but also the conflicts and rivalries he created along the way.
The tagline is thought-provoking: “You don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies.” It makes you wonder what truly defines a friend. When you have so many connections – 500 million – are they genuine friendships, or just simple clicks? And for someone with such a massive platform, did achieving that success mean losing meaningful relationships along the way? The poster’s image seems to portray a man grappling with that very question.
Stream The Social Network on The Criterion Channel.
1) The Dark Knight
I noticed some cool posters for The Dark Knight. One featured the Joker with his back to us, standing on a Gotham street. Another showed Batman in front of a building with a burning bat signal. A third had the Joker front and center, holding a machine gun amidst flying debris. They all looked great and really captured the movie’s distinctive, dark blue aesthetic.
The best of the promotional posters is the one featuring the Joker writing “Why so serious?” on foggy glass. It doesn’t fully reveal his face, only offering a glimpse, which perfectly captures the character’s enigmatic nature. Plus, it’s a brilliant slogan! While people were familiar with the Joker, this subtle approach effectively establishes this new version as a genuinely frightening villain.
Stream The Dark Knight on HBO Max.
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2025-11-22 01:14