In the time since movies began, a lot has changed about the industry. From the technology involved in making them to the content of the films and the ways that they have been viewed, almost every aspect of the industry is different now. The iconic movie poster, however, continues to advertise movies, although these days they are likely to be seen on a larger scale and in some more high-profile spaces.
This is a list of the top 5 most iconic movie posters of all time.
King Kong (1933)
This cartoon poster was created to promote the original version of the film, released in 1933, and features a picture of the title character crushing an aeroplane in one paw while holding a woman in the other. He stands at the top of a skyscraper, with the rest of the city in the background him. The poster is bright and eye-catching.
A yellow background with the title splashed across in bright red and the mighty, oversized ape in the centre, it certainly would have drawn a few gazes in the 1930s, and they have been known to fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars in auction houses in recent years.
The Birds (1963)
Thirty years after King Kong, Alfred Hitchcock was terrifying audiences with his now-iconic take on Daphne du Maurier’s popular story. The stark, white background features a terrified-looking Tippi Hedren, trying to flap away the circling, ominous, shadowy birds.
This poster also features a quote from the maker, who proclaims it, “It could be the most terrifying motion picture I have ever made.” This quote sits alongside a small portrait of Hitchcock.
Jaws
Made in 1975, this is one of the most famous movie posters ever made and is still widely recognised today. A simple background of sky and sea is interrupted only by a woman swimming on the partition between the two, and under the surface, heading her way, a massive shark, teeth pointed towards you.
It’s a simple but terrifying image. The impact of it is stark, as the woman’s lack of awareness sinks in. Along the top, in big, bold, blood-red lettering, is simply the title, “JAWS”.
Star Wars (1977)
This poster is iconic because it features one of the most easily recognisable movie casts in history, along with everything else that is commonly associated with the movies. From Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Princess Leia to C3PO, R2D2, Chewbacca and the light sabres, this is every sci-fi fan’s dream piece.
The dark background is perfect to show off the bright light sabres, and showing the many different settings used in the film was enough to lure huge crowds at the time.
These movie posters were all made decades ago, but even without the titles, it’s likely you would recognise them for what they are. From character references to scenes and even just straight-up gruesomeness, these all had a way of catching our attention and keeping it. Some of these films have even had remakes, with their own promotional images, but these have outlasted even their successors, making them truly iconic.
