Nov 9, 2011
10 movie poster cliches (with plenty of examples)
If you’ve ever felt like movie posters are all the same, you now have proof that your hunch is right, thanks to these compilations by Christophe Courtois…
(You can click on the images to enlarge them.)
1. Big heads in the sky over tiny people on a beach
2. From the back (often with weaponry)
3. Big text on faces
4. Back to back
5. In bed
6. Through the legs
7. Big eye
8. Blue
9. Running for their lives
10. Cute red dress
Update: Here are 5 more.
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Awesome!!!
This is all very interesting ! I think that they’ve realized what covers are the most eye catching and have reinvented the same outlines over the years.
his is all very exciting ! I think that they have noticed what protects are the most eye capturing and have reinvented the same describes over the decades. watch more Bollywood latest Movies
This is great. Apparently, the cute red dress is incredibly popular and nothing screams “rom-com” more than two beautiful people standing back to back.
But, Abraham, you’ve committed a classic blunder – nope, not a land war in Asia nor going in against a Sicilian when death is on the line. You’ve written “you now have proof that you’re hunch is right”. You’re hunch? Oh dear…
Oops. Fixed.
That is by far my favorite mistake to make when I’m blogging.
Ohhhh that reference just made my day… :D
This is by far the best spelling correction I have ever read. Thanks for posting a reference that made me smile! :p
Heh heh, you made me smile.
I spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocane powder.
i guess the only kind of legs people want to see are women’s legs. at least thats what sells anyway.
As well as only women’s cute red dresses.
(Seriously though, the legs thing is a good point. I just couldn’t resist.)
except dustin hoffman in ‘tootsie’ :-)
Completely agreed on “Tootsie” — I was even looking for it. Maybe I’m just blind, but I don’t see the “Tootsie” movie cover pictured here… Can anyone else?
It is there, second row from the top 6 boxes from the left.
Watch trailer all types…….and share it with your fraind
Bit late here… but isn’t kinky boots male legs dressed up?
Actually, the “Kinky Boots” cover is a guy wearing those boots. That’s the whole premise of the film. :) So at least ONE pair of NOT-woman legs in the boot category.
Is the cliche all that bad when it comes to movie posters? It tells you exactly what kind of movie you’re seeing, which is a good thing, right?
Your common sense approach takes much from the intended irony. Way to ruin a good thing :(
lol! Common sense ruins everything ;D
The cliche also is Hollywood’s way of saying, “we’ll keep spewing out the same stories over and over again, and you’ll keep making us wealthy over and over again. Why should we be bothered with coming up with anything new, when you keep eating the same drivel? THANKS!!”
But there is nothing new.
Which was exactly what Steve just said…
Did you just invent “That’s what Steve said”? It doesn’t sound that fun, but it’s worth a shot I guess.
That’s what Steve said. (Darn thread ran out before I could properly execute my own setup. This is a reply to my other comment. *mischievous glare*)
I love that the Puss and Boots poster is an obvious nod to Unforgiven. Would have never realized it had it not been for that mosaic. Kinda cool.
Excellent! I guess the idea is go with what works!!
Thanks! Now I know!
Shot from the back = like.
Tiny beaches = avoid.
Although, after surveying the posters again, I don’t think I’ve seen any of the tiny beaches movies. Maybe that’s how I knew to avoid them in the first place? Thank you, non-original movie poster designers.
Surly there have been enough films made to make a similar collage of anything you could think of? I’m not sure this proves they are a cliche….we must be able to find 50 films where the poster is…?….a baby crawling?!
Missed Mr & Mrs Smith for number 4, back to back. :)
Brilliant. Thank you, whoever did the research on this one.
Also, for the ‘Running for their lives’ type- the posters all seem to have a blue-ish cast and sometimes big red typography.
You could do a set for superhero movies with just the logo on the field…
Don’t forget comedies using white background with red text and close up of the actors. Just look at the DVD covers for Dinner for Schmucks, The Dilemma, Little Fockers, etc…
I really hate when they photoshop all the cast into one poster. Really? The entire time you were filming the movie you couldn’t get the cast together for a promo photos? And yes, I realize when they film a movie the whole cast isn’t always on set, just the actors filming scenes that day.
Then why did ou ask?
Quit trollin
Hey, we could take this joke one step further and have the next trend of posters be “People standing”. Seems way too vague and just an attempt to be cynical about movie advertising…I mean, “blue”? Come on now, that’s weak. Cracked has a delightful article that is…similar.
Woah. This must have taken some time to put together! Amazing. These could make for fascinating wallpaper of sorts. Maybe. Interesting article!
Nice call out. It just goes to show the lack of creativity and imagination that these companies have. For shame.
You’ve got the “Blue” based posters, but don’t forget Blue and ORANGE:
http://seistudios.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/orange+blue1.jpg
…My copy of “V for Vendetta” doesn’t look like that. It would fall under “Big Heads in the Sky over Tiny People” LOL
That was amazing and awesome. I like the Red Dress. So perfect. But the little people on the beach is good too. LOL!
Now do one with all the blue/orange combinations.
Two people with red dresses standing back to back on a beach seen from behind through the legs of an unidentified figure, with a blue background and text slapped on top of that.
Someone make that.
Enjoy!
(Yes, you can marry me, but only in 12 US states, Canada, and the EU).
You guys forgot about big red letters in bold
You can’t say blue is a cliche’, how else would you design a poster for a sea based movie without using blue.
Some of these are a tad unfair when you call them cliches. Some of the ones you mention were rather original when released (ie Unforgiven)
Great work!!!! I like to collect movie posters and I have some of these ones you posted here. I must say that one of my favourites is the one about Bionic Woman. Thanks for posting.
Very nice. The only one missing is the when the movie title is inside of a white block in the middle, characters at the top and a landscape/cityscape at the bottom
I love how you all call the covers cliche and shame them, but when was the last time you watched a movie with a unique story line. Almost any movie you watch has been done at least a million times in one way or another. Nothing is original anymore, so I think the covers are the least of concern.
Just because you fall for the the same movie over and over again, doesn’t mean that we all do. Watched Young Adult last night, name a couple of the million times that “movie has been done.”
you also forgot that matthew mcconahey (or however it’s spelt)can’t stand up
Wow, that is amazing. A lot of really good work here that really opens your eyes. Thanks for contributing it.
That’s so funny! I never even noticed before..
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A great set of films! I like it.
EL RHAZI Otmane.
What?! No “The Fugitive” for number 9? :)
I don’t think “blue” is really a theme.
Usefull info. thanks
At first glance all look alike. By gathering all the pictures you have surprised me.
Thanks.
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwww! That’s amazing. I was shocked.
I do not see the similarities.
no idea to make poster!!!
The point is good. Whenever I watch a dvd at home and I’m in the mood for the 7 or 8 trailers, but then that low announcer voice dude comes in with; “In a place…” that automatically axes that trailer for me. The recurrence of that format ie the low ominous announcer voice and identical pacing between statements, is parallel to this page. Hollywood repeats itself at all levels. Massively.
Great collection of movie posters
I think it should be noted that some of these posters may have been the first to use their trope, that some may have been using them in a tongue-in-cheek way, or as an homage, and that not all of these movies were made in hollywood.
Also, the “Blue” one, that’s just stupid. That’s a color, you don’t get to say colors are cliches.
wow….
Fair play! Now to go about making an original blockbuster, avoiding all the above..
i don’t really think the Thor posters really qualify as “big” text over faces.
Thanks for this cute collection.. I like it all.
you forgot, fired up, hanna, mr. and mrs smith, killers and the body guard
very inspiring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXXr_V_r64A
Please do watch this trailer..
the most movie in the world…i love hollywood !
Great Article!! LOL, cant stop laughing. Movie covers are so repetitive!! haha
I´m not sure why I find this upsetting…
LOL but on big eye you forgot The Grudge. ;)
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Wow that looks awesome. Made me laugh at how many similar covers there are.
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Not only do they keep reusing the same designs, they keep reusing them for the same genres as well. Back to back is for romantic comedies, between the legs for teen comedies, big heads in the sky for dramas and so on. I can’t believe I didn’t see the pattern until I read this post.
Not to mention that most of those movies have the same plot.
Back in the day of video stores I’d perused the aisles and lined up the video cases by the cover art style, just like this! It’s fun to see what style is chosen. A couple other very common cover genres are the 5-pack of faces and the shattered mirror or glass. This was really fun to look at. Loved the red dress category. Who knew there were so many!
They missed ‘Big gun pointing to viewer’.
Great catagorization, collection and imagination. Good work. Keep it up.
Interesting. Great compilation.
thanks for sharing…very informative!!
Very interesting examples of similyr Movie Posters!
It was fun to watch.
How ever did you leave E.T. out of the “Blue” category?
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.movieposterdb.com/posters/08_07/1982/83866/l_83866_bdc9f4c5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.movieposterdb.com/poster/bdc9f4c5/&h=451&w=300&sz=27&tbnid=K21qQMnRaGrhlM:&tbnh=99&tbnw=66&zoom=1&usg=__vm4A-plCGM3BXBqls-YOWKmjryc=&docid=wvVkASKqkcAUnM&sa=X&ei=LksuULmHHqO5ywGb6YAI&ved=0CHYQ9QEwBQ&dur=453
Hahah… they really are the same … anws check the top 20 movies of 2012 with their posters on http://www.katagogi.com/aida584590_1112229873_108568 … Some of the posters match some of your themes maybe you can add them …:P
Woah. This must have taken some time to put together! Amazing. These could make for fascinating wallpaper of sorts. Maybe. Interesting article!
Pretty cool compilation here!
Interesting and fun compilation.
I guess they know what works and stick to it.
Note that these are all contemporary movies; there was a greater variety in posters for classic films (take it from a collector of classic films).
superb collection.i guess hollywood is lacking new ideas.
I would love to see a collection of all of Kevin Bacon’s movie posters! Six degrees?
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Haha….hilarious.THX for the compilations.
Very nice!
Yes
The Sexdrives are the best
I have some of them already.
But there are many more out there:)
Great work , i can only imagine how many time it took.
I am amazed.
thanks i using this for my site videoteka.me
You left out the shrug. My most hated movie poster pose is the shrug.
is it just me or the Red dress idea is by far the most used?
That would answer alot of questions….
Never would thought about this! What a time requiring work!
It would be good to see new films start to buck this trend…
Where’s the most famous “leg” poster of all: The Graduate?
i love the legs
very very love it