Just like they do with everything else in a modern-day movie industry, they exploit movie posters a lot. Overexposing is definitely a trend now… On, let’s say, a Monday, an attention-grabbing poster for a film like Spring Breakers surfaces online and gives off that iconic feeling of old; on that following Thursday, though, two new alternate one-sheets premiere on various blogs and instantly dilute the initial poster’s impact.
But if you think of the good old days of the Hollywood’s Golden Era, there was a simpler approach: create one truly unforgettable image that captured the film’s spirit while also generating excitement at just a glance. Movie posters were not mere commercial gimmicks but were more like pieces of art.
Will anyone remember the countless individual character sheets for this weekend’s The Great Gatsby? Don’t count on it. For better or worse, the wall space reserved for the 75 most iconic movie posters of all time shall remain undisturbed.
SCREAM (1996) – Art Director: David Lubin
KIDS (1995) – Art Directors: Jennifer Alex Nickason and Michael Preston
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981) – Art Director: Chris Horner
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952) – Art Directors: Randall Duell and Cedric Gibbons
THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010) – Art Directors: Curt Beech and Keith P. Cunningham
THE MALTESE FALCON (1941) – Art Director: Robert Haas
FORREST GUMP (1994) – Art Directors: Leslie McDonald and William James Teegarden
DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) – Art Directors: Hans Dreier and Hal Pereira
THE KID (1921) – Artist: Unknown
CASABLANCA (1942) – Artist: Bill Gold
WEST SIDE STORY (1961) – Artist: Saul Bass
MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975) – Artist: Terry Gilliam
BLAZING SADDLES (1974) – Artist: John Alvin
COOL HAND LUKE (1967) – Artist: Bill Gold
