Creative Review recently wrote an article celebrating the iconic poster artwork from the cult film Trainspotting, adapted from the Irvine Welsh novel of the same name and arguably one of the 90’s seminal pieces of cinema. 

Highlighting the film’s longevity on the 15^th anniversary of its release (yes, that makes us feel old too), the article praised the striking design of the film’s poster campaign, with the stark black and white imagery of the movie’s key characters punctuated by a burst of bright orange typography.

Movie posters are a perfect combination of three of our favourite creative mediums: graphic design, advertising and cinema, and we couldn’t resist pulling together a list of our own personal favourites.

A good movie poster has impact, capturing the very essence of a film and enticing the viewer into wanting to watch it for themselves.  Some are informative, others are intriguing and allusive, but whether meriting a mention simply because of a nostalgic recollection from childhood, or based entirely on their esoteric, creative and affective qualities, all of the posters featured on our list have qualities that really sets them apart.

This is – of course – a totally subjective and fun list and we’re sure that your own picks would be completed different to our own, so please feel free to leave a comment, let us know what oversights we’ve made and which posters you’d have included in the list.

Click on the name of the film to see the full-size poster and happy viewing!

1: Silence of the Lambs (1991)
This is a stylish and symbolic poster, bringing the viewer’s attention to the death’s head moth; a crucial plot device but one that isn’t revealed until quite late in the film.  The emotionless look in Jodie Foster’s eyes creates a haunting and sinister feeling which perfectly reflects the feel of the movie.

2: Star Wars (1977)
A poster that has been reproduced countless times on T-shirts, lunchboxes and a myriad of other merchandise, the visuals are truly representative of other film posters of the time.  Despite this, however, the poster really stands the test of time, not looking as dated as a lot of other products from a similar era. 

The look and feel here is classic ‘matinee’, announcing the arrival of a big movie on an epic scale, with many of the main elements and characters from the film brought together in one place. 

3: Attack of the 50ft Woman (1958)
As a piece of advertising this poster is almost unparalleled, making you feel like you really want to watch it.  This is a classic B-Movie and is a genuinely brilliant representative of the true art behind movie posters.  Having been produced at the end of the ‘50s, it is sexual without being over the top and has a real sense of the ‘pulp’ style of the era.

4: Alien (1979)
One of Ridley Scott’s finest and the first true example of the science fiction/horror crossover, the poster for Alien is simple and evocative, with a simple strap line and H.R Geiger’s alien ‘egg’ providing the promise of something to come.  Up to this point, sci-fi movies tended to use the big, epic designs of the kind seen on Star Wars – crammed with characters and action – and this provides a real antithesis.

5: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Wes Craven pulls no punches with the poster to his teen shocker, providing a haunting and terrifying image of a not-quite-there Freddy Krueger, hovering between a wide-eyed and catatonic Nancy and below the film’s tagline.  This poster is macabre, giving away nothing of the film’s supernatural ubervillain other than the bladed glove.  Disturbing and forthright, this poster leaves you under no illusion of the tone and pace of the movie and is a perfect example of the 1980s’ more relaxed attitude towards horror and gore.

6: Buried (2010)
This poster is outstanding because it manages to convey a huge amount without actually saying anything at all.  The negative space in the top three quarters of the poster draws you down to the small, side-on image of Ryan Reynolds, trapped in a makeshift coffin, with nothing more than the film’s web address underneath. 

7: A Clockwork Orange (1971)
This is an image that I think everyone must have seen: the image of a cold-eyed and unhinged Malcolm McDowell leaning out of the double-chevrons – a device used by the White Stripes in their video for Seven Nation Army – brandishing a knife offers a hint of the brooding violence that sets the film’s tone. 

8: Enter the Dragon (1973)
Very much in the same vein as Star Wars, Enter the Dragon is another product of the 1970s, when without the Internet or mass media to market films, they relied heavily on their posters to convey the content to an audience.  This poster definitely gives you an understanding of what you’re going to see, with elements from throughout the movie set around the now-classic image of Bruce Lee.  While this isn’t a sophisticated poster, it speaks volumes and is massively iconic.

9: Ghostbusters (1986)
Without a doubt, Ghostbusters was a serious force in helping to define the 1980’s obsession with the logo.  The familiar ghost-and-strike-through motif has been reproduced throughout the entire franchise (including lunchboxes, pencil cases and the cartoon series), creating instant brand recognition.  This is a fantastic logo as it conveys the films’ comedic element and light-hearted nature: it tells you that this is not a standard horror, even if you’re not aware that in terms of casting this features Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis!

10: Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Anyone familiar with Guillermo del Toro’s trademark gothic fantasy style will instantly recognise all of the usual elements in this poster.  With big-budget blockbuster hits like Hellboy already under his belt, this is a step back to del Toro’s indie roots, as conveyed through the dark, claustrophobic and intricate detail of the poster.  The little girl heading towards the twisted and cloven tree alludes to the film’s fairy-tale content, albeit presented in del Toro’s inimitable style.