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What are Movie Posters?

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

Movie posters are promotional items created by film studios to advertise feature films. The theaters currently screening the movie use oversized posters on outside marquees to attract customers, while smaller posters are placed outside each showing room. After the commercial run of the movie is over, movie posters are often reproduced for consumers and the originals become highly collectible.

The earliest movie posters relied heavily on the same advertising principles as the legitimate stage productions of the time. Because there were few motion picture 'superstars' as such, early promotional posters often featured a still from the film which represented the entire cast or a particularly meaningful scene. Advertising copy tended to be understated by today's standards. The title of the film would appear prominently, followed by a short description of the plot. The name of the studio or the director may appear in smaller letters: "Maxfield Studios presents H.B Dunwoody's CRY OF THE WILDEBEAST, a gripping tale of life and death in the Alaskan Wilderness!"

Movie theaters use oversized posters on outside marquees to attract customers.
Movie theaters use oversized posters on outside marquees to attract customers.

As more and more actors became household names and studios competed for business, movie posters often featured portraits of the lead performers. Supporting roles and special musical numbers might also be included directly on the promotional posters and lobby cards. Movie studios also understood the power of movie posters, so information about the producers and directors might also appear. Movie posters from the 1930s and 1940s are often filled with exciting advertising copy and multiple scenes from the movie.

Movie posters might try to capture an emotional moment from the film.
Movie posters might try to capture an emotional moment from the film.

By the 1950s, movie posters were recognized as a form of art in themselves. Exploitation and low-budget horror films would often use lurid images and overheated copy to build up anticipation for the product. Even the more artistic cinemas would use abstract or conceptual art to draw more attention to their offerings. Typical movie poster copy from the 1950s would encourage potential moviegoers to "SEE the unbridled passion! FEEL the undeniable attraction! FEAR the power of GORGON, the Monster From BEYOND the EARTH!"

Movie posters often highlight a film's stars.
Movie posters often highlight a film's stars.

Eventually movie posters, along with the movies they promoted, became less bombastic and more artistic in their approach. Modern posters may contain one iconic image which defines the underlying theme of the film, such as the Death Star from the Star Wars series or the stylized bat symbol from the Batman franchise. Lead actors may appear in studio photographs to emphasize the relationship of the characters, not actual scenes from the film itself. The titles may also be transformed into distinctive fonts which create a specific mood. Instead of exaggerated copy designed to overwhelm the viewer, modern movie posters may only contain one key line from the film: "In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream." Modern movie posters often become just as recognized as the films they promote.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular MusicalExpert contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular MusicalExpert contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Hazali

In my opinion, some people can get a little too creative with their posters. Has anyone seen a yellow poster for X-Men Days of Future Past? It's a little too artistic, and very creepy.

Viranty

@RoyalSpyder - I definitely agree with you. When it comes to movies, between the trailers, posters, and even the movie itself, they help to solidify the experience.

Separately, they don't accomplish much, but they're essential parts of a whole. The posters set the mood and tone for what's coming soon, the trailers sell the movie, and the films themselves are the icing on the cake.

RoyalSpyder

Though it seems like a lot of people don't pay attention to movie posters, what they don't realize is that it's just as important as the movie itself, if not even more so. For example, whenever you walk into a movie theater, have you ever seen some unattractive posters, and decided that the movie looked unappealing? Well, that's certainly been the case for me, even if it isn't often.

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    • Movie theaters use oversized posters on outside marquees to attract customers.
      By: serdarerenlere
      Movie theaters use oversized posters on outside marquees to attract customers.
    • Movie posters might try to capture an emotional moment from the film.
      By: Astrid Gast
      Movie posters might try to capture an emotional moment from the film.
    • Movie posters often highlight a film's stars.
      By: unpict
      Movie posters often highlight a film's stars.
    • The tone of a film is usually captured in a movie poster.
      By: vgstudio
      The tone of a film is usually captured in a movie poster.
    • Movie posters may be displayed at a theater to feature upcoming films.
      By: gstockstudio
      Movie posters may be displayed at a theater to feature upcoming films.