The 40 Coolest Movie Posters Ever (Part II)
Rock 'N' Roll High School (1979)
Sure, it kind of copied the American Graffiti poster from six years previous but we prefer the mania of this little-known cult hit's artwork. The movie went for the familiar kids-versus-adults plot in the spirit of the Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Pop and this poster reflects the anarchic fun of the punk-rock teen movie that worships the band.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
The artwork for Francis Ford Coppola’s trippy adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness doesn’t give much away. But then imagine how awful this poster would have been if they’d put a synopsis on there. Just like the film, this poster isn’t about the plot – it’s about the general feeling of the journey up the jungle river. It’s a feverish, sinister enigma and you can really feel that heat.
Barry Lyndon (1975)
Stanley Kubrick’s first film since he released, and subsequently banned, A Clockwork Orange, this 18th Century cautionary tale had a tough act to follow. That wasn’t a problem for the beautiful film though – as the poster says, it won four Oscars. The artwork is stripped-down, yet elegant enough to do justice to this artful adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s novel.
Manhattan (1979)
There’s a whole lot of white space on this poster, but the Oscar-winning romantic comedy has the cast list to pull it off. Definitely in the running as Woody Allen’s best film, the excellent actors and actresses that lend the film its magic are given the space they deserve. Combined with a captivating urban photograph and that instantly recognisable lettering, this artwork is a monochrome classic.
The Fan (1981)
Okay so no-one you know has probably seen the film (which tells of a crazed stalker obsessed with a movie star played by Lauren Bacall) but the poster is a work of design genius. Taking a relatively generic subgenre and lifting it out of the gutter, this stark, brutal image might well be the best part of the film. Okay so we haven't seen it but we're pretty sure about this.
The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter's ultra-violent remake of the unintentionally hilarious 50s sci-fi film updated everything to the far crueller 80s, adding in blood, guts and head-spiders where there was originally a vegetable-like man in a suit. The one retro touch was this old school poster that combines an art deco style with a chilling image, suggesting that no-one can be trusted.
Blade Runner (1982)
Striking just the right balance between the enigmatic aesthetics of neo-noir and the futurist elements of science fiction, the poster reflects the film perfectly. As Deckard, Harrison Ford looks just about as cool as ever with his pistol raised and Sean Young’s cigarette provides the obligatory smoke to give this poster its mystique. Also, you can't beat a flying car.
Scarface (1983)
Befitting Al Pacino’s most definitive role since The Godfather, this movie artwork puts his name in big letters – red, to signify the blood the film delivers by the bucket load. And then you have that image of the man himself, which instantly became a pop culture classic and has adorned the T-shirts of film buffs ever since. We’re not sure whether it’s the stark monochrome styling or the sheer malevolence that Pacino exudes here, but it’s definitely an image that sticks in your mind.
Rocketeer (1991)
If a jetpack really had been developed in the 1930s, the helmet issued with it almost certainly would not have looked as cool at this one. The space-bug stylings of the rocketeer outfit came from Dave Stevens, the creator of the original graphic novel the film was based upon. They go towards making this a great poster in no small way. The notion of speed encapsulated in the image is awesome, too. Very striking.
Boogie Nights (1997)
Considering it’s a promotion for the tale of a young man’s tumultuous rise through the adult film industry, this poster is pretty tame, keeping any reference to the porn business to a minimum. The decade it’s set in couldn’t be much clearer though – disco is generously slathered onto this poster, from the film’s title to the shameful Seventies haircuts on display.
Out Of Sight (1998)
A great image of Jennifer Lopez aiming a shotgun superimposed onto George Clooney’s penetrating gaze, all in a highly-stylised colour palette of reds and yellows – a decidedly cool poster, but it doesn’t tell you anything about what sort of film this is. But when you're Steven Soderbergh, you can get away with keeping your cards close to your chest.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Taking a rather simple concept (extended family portrait) and turning it into a hipster masterpiece, it’s the little details in this photograph that reveal the film’s nuanced sense of humour. It’s an effortlessly funny poster, from the bizarre presence of a hawk to those phenomenal tracksuits, and the tagline gives an accurate impression of the film’s dry, pessimistic wit.
Secretary (2002)
Perfectly setting up the tired ‘sexy-secretary’ stereotype that Maggie Gyllenhaal goes on to subvert in this twisted romantic comedy, this image almost makes you feel guilty for looking. It’s not exactly subtle, but that unnatural looking pose and the sleazy tagline suggest the power struggles that are the basis for a romantic comedy with something to say.
The Notorious Bettie Page (2006)
As with the suggestive poster for Secretary, this teaser for the pin-up girl biopic shows rather little but does rather a lot with it. Gretchen Mol's tour de force turn as Bettie Page is hinted with just a glimpse of the star while the dual taglines manage to be provocative and rhyming. Quite an achievement.
Black Snake Moan (2007)
A hark back to 70s blaxploitation films, this stylised poster pushes the film's controversial premise right to the forefront, wearing it proudly. Yes, it's a film where Samuel L Jackson chains up a sex-obsessed Christina Ricci. While it might not reveal that the film is actually a rather touching update on My Fair Lady, it more than makes up for its slight dishonesty with gallons of cool.
Zodiac (2007)
David Fincher's cruelly underrated thriller, which garnered zero Oscar nominations, started its campaign with this beautifully sinister poster, which marries a stunningly creepy image with a brilliant tagline (There's more then one way to lose your life to a killer). While the eventual poster might have been a bit 'floating heads' for our liking, this first offering was the most haunting.
The Dark Knight (2008)
When it comes to the marketing campaign for The Dark Knight, pretty much every element was perfectly planned. From the intricate viral network of a fake online Gotham to a selection of awe-inspiring posters, Nolan's superhero epic was as classy as they come. This one-sheet was a true breath-taker, with the caped cruasder looking out onto the city he aims to protect, all beautifully coloured with a neo-noir palette.
Moon (2009)
Duncan Jones's breakout sci-fi film boasted a poster that was just as coolly realised as the movie it was advertising. Sam Rockwell's tragic astronaut is trapped in a mind-melting cymbal-like shape that might give you a slight headache the deeper you stare. Coupled with the retro title treatment, it's a visual treat and one of the few contemporary posters that will age gracefully.
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