11 Movie Posters That Really Know How To Sell A Film
1. The Empire Strikes Back
Over the course of two Star Wars trilogies there have been some amazing posters. Picking the best one is a tough choice. Everything from the teaser poster for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (Jake Lloyd's young Anakin Skywalker casting a shadow of Darth Vader) to the dramatic original poster for Star Wars: A New Hope. With the X Wings rising like a fanfare towards the Death Star, Darth Vader's ominous mask in the background, a triumphant Luke Skywalker - lightsaber held a loft, Princes Leia's gun drawn and the lovable droids R2D2 and C3P0 at their side, it certainly makes an impact. Except of course that Luke is a little too ripped and Princes Leia is sexier here than their film counterparts. (Luke wouldn't get some decent lightsaber action until the next film and Leia would really show her sex appeal in the third) As cool as it is, looking back at the poster having watched the film, its a little too exaggerated.
The above poster for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is quite simply my favourite Star Wars poster and stands as one of the best film posters of all time. It is staggeringly epic, capturing the wonder, the action and the romance of the sequel. I love the contrast of light and darkness - the white shards of ice form Hoth rising from beneath, Dark Vader's ominous mask once again filling the background and watching like a portent of doom over our heroes.
All the good guys audiences have come to love from the first Star Wars film are here. Chewie, R2D2 abd C3P0 make their mark. Luke riding the tauntun is a striking image that captures the alien-ness of the Star Wars universe. But it is Princess Leia, held in Han Solo's embrace that is the strongest image.
The poster wisely chooses not to reveal the AT-AT walkers from the battle of Hoth, the mighty Imperial Starfleet or Luke's confrontation with Darth Vader in the final act. But by showing the great romance between the two leads that is at the heart of the film, it tells the audience that this is a more mature, in depth film that the (admittedly great) crowd-pleasing action sequences from its predecessor.
This is a poster that truly sells the magnificence of what was still to come. It's as awe inspiring as the film itself.
Do you agree with my choices? Are there other movie posters you want to put up for consideration? Feel free to make your comments below!