The clever Imgur user Lamirisirimal has turned an analytic eye to the posters of thousands of films to show us just how overused certain shots, techniques, and stances are.
The result?
Well, not only have we been looking at variations on the same poster for decades, but that all these things are actually revealing a lot more than we realize about the movie in question.
“Do the main roles have a hate/love relationship and are forced to work together to get the job done? Show them off with backs against each other.”
“One eye looking eerily to the public. Probably a horror movie, but human nature will be a theme.”
“A bright yellow poster is probably an independent movie but with mainstream enough script so it is accessible for the main public.”
“Big heads over small people, the beach or a desert. Silhouette at the ocean and pastel colours, bring your tissues because tears will flow with this emotional drama…”
“Feel the drama while looking over the shoulder of our hero, he/she is most likely holding a weapon.”
“Main characters in a bed (often frowning to each other) indicates that the problems are just there, in the bedroom.”
“Movies revolving around animals are most likely with blue posters and white letters, add a big moon for drama.”
“Black and white face and background with coloured flames, this will be a packed action movie.”
“He’s running! But where? A thriller, the blue adds to the suspense as the main lead is unwillingly pulled into a drama in which he needs to discover something.”
Simple enough:
“A woman in a red dress, it’s a rom-com!”
“This movie poster signals the movie is about sex, nothing more nothing less.”
“This movie will be about the hero fighting for justice, not only with his fists but up against the bureaucracy/government.”
“A picture which looks from a booth with the name pasted on it, probably a remarkable non-traditional hero.”
“Face made up from several object or pictures. A troubled hero or hero who struggles with his world/principles.”
“It just makes people look tougher doesn’t it? No general movie type, just overly used.”
“A woman looking over her shoulder, this movie will have a tough/intelligent chick as lead or main role.”
“When the main characters are on a bench, the movie will be bout eccentric people. They have a problem but it can be solved with a positive attitude.”
“The lead can be tough funny or clumsy, again no real genre but overly used.”
Well, he just really looks good in profile shots, doesn’t he?