12 Stupid Film Posters That Totally Spoiled The Movie

3. Rocky IV

United Artists / MGM

The dogged boxer, Rocky, who made a star of his creator Sylvester Stallone, always gets his man in a fight, though obviously he lost his first one. The purpose of being charged up to watch the latest instalment is to witness Rocky through endless montages, getting a second act knock back, before taking home the title at the end of the film - that's the familiar and not unsuccessful model that the films adopted after the original.

So, it€™'s fair to say the element of surprise is sapped from a franchise that€™'d never let its hero lose (again). But who€™'s to say that'€™s the case? There€™'s infinite story tangents the fourth in the series could have woven in - resulting in Rocky moping after losing the final match, because away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, champions do lose.

But any semblance of that idea was immediately retired with the production of the poster promoting the then-upcoming movie, since it featured the image of Rocky, adorned with the American flag in and obviously victorious pose. He was obviously going to win.

Contributor
Contributor

Gem is a freelance writer, musician and librarian. Her hobbies include: recreating movie death scenes from LEGO, concocting new types of bird suet cakes, walking on fresh snow and playing the glockenspiel - all at the same time.