10 Worst Movie Posters Ever Made

Shonky film ads to cover your eyes for...



6. Meet The Fockers (2004)

Why it’s bad: It fails to offer even one single reason why we might want to comply with the film title’s pushy demand.

Surely they’re not seriously suggesting that the only remarkable thing about this family – or indeed this film – is the fact that they’ve got a slightly rude name? Oh, wait... that IS it?

What could improve it: A slightly less aggressive application of the ‘positive use of negative space’ theory, for one.

It looks like the greenscreen broke at the start of the photoshoot, and they didn’t have the budget (or, more likely, the enthusiasm for the project) to
reschedule.

5. Don’t Look Now (1973)


Why it’s bad: The most violently unattractive colour scheme imaginable compounds the use of the least realistic-looking bloodstain, the most gormless-looking photo of the stars, and the most irritatingly mismatched fonts available at the time.

It’s like they’re actively trying to discourage you.

What could improve it: Not making it look like you’re about to see A Nightmare On The Antiques Roadshow would be a start.

Failing that, how about a tagline that makes some kind of proper English sense? What warning? Why are we passing it? Why do we care?

Come on, guys! We know it’s only three words, but there are still several legitimate combinations available.

Comments

    • scarter2000

      Apr 21st 2009, 22:17

      Disagree with Wanted. I really like it. And your comment about Ange. Erm... There is nothing wrong with her head/limb positioning. If it was her right arm in the pic, then yeh. But no. Epic fail. Also,the Star Wars poster is iconic and amazing. You could have chosen some s****y poster like Basic Instinct 2 or Big Mommas House 2.

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    • alowe

      Apr 22nd 2009, 8:42

      Wanted arm wrangle aside, it's still pap. And BI2/Big Momma's House 2 are easy 'cos they're rubbish films. Star Wars poster is ridiculous - it only feels iconic because it's familiar. Art though, innit? :)

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    • digger

      Apr 22nd 2009, 9:12

      Guys, can we just take a moment here to think about Bangkok Dangerous, where Nicolas Cage's hand grips nothing...surely that must be in the top 10 somewhere

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    • mattburgess

      Apr 22nd 2009, 11:06

      Nobody ever told me that The Hottie and the Nottie features Paris Hilton rooming with a zombie...

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    • ThrashGordon

      Apr 22nd 2009, 11:49

      hahaha awesome guys, loved the Green Mile comments. Also, too right at Star Wars; Mark Hamill with a six-pack?? :D The Wanted poster is rubbish, I agree with the limb deformity thing... looks like an arm is growing out of her neck! Scary stuff! lol I'm surprised there was no comment on the fact that the poster for 'the hottie & the nottie' ( :/ ) the 'hot' and not so hot girl are labelled for the audience's benefit!! We do have eyes you know. lmao

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    • MarkPowell

      Apr 22nd 2009, 12:08

      @digger - haha, yeah that glorious flub was definitely overlooked. Well reminded! @scarter2000 - you don't think it looks as though Jolie's collarbone and/or spinal column must be about four centimetres long? Hm. Maybe it's just me then...I am, admittedly, not a doctor. ;) (Either way, I still can't stand the poster. Biology aside, one word: GOOOOOOOOOOLD.)

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    • Padman

      Apr 22nd 2009, 12:35

      I'm only on the first page, but I feel I have to say that in my opinion the Breakfast at Tiffany's poster, while a boring movie poster, is always a nice, clean classy looking one on a magnolia living room wall, and as such is fairly classic. And the Star Wars one with it's ludicrous hyperbolic drawings of characters who don't ressemble their real-life counterparts is also a classic! It can't be put in such a list as it's in it's own way a piece of history, surely?! Though admittedly these ones are both better: http://kspark.kaist.ac.kr/Star%20Wars/Star%20Wars.files/StarWars%20poster.jpg http://images.art.com/images/products/regular/10204000/10204240.jpg And yes, reading the comments, that Bangkok Dangerous one with Nicholas Cage clutching nothing, whilst shooting his way out of a glass box sinking in fire definitely should have made it on... why would you (presumably) photoshop out the gun?! I don't understand!!

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    • Padman

      Apr 22nd 2009, 12:46

      @ ThrashGordon; I believe the labels on The Hottie & The Nottie poster are meant to be a play on Paris Hilton's real-life (or at least Simple Life) catchphrase of referring to anything she likes by saying "that's hot", but no, this doesn't make the whole affair any less detestable. LMAO @ the plastic park keeper in The Green Mile, that is indeed quite a shocking lack of information. The Meet The Fockers one to me, rather than the film name, seems to focus on shouting "look at our cast! Look at our cast! You recognise them all, don't you? It's because they're really famous! That makes our film good! Look at our cast!!"

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    • SCQ47

      Apr 22nd 2009, 15:09

      If this is your top ten, you've clearly not seen very many films or film posters in your life time.

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    • spudmonkeysteve

      Apr 24th 2009, 10:13

      At everyone who has complained about this top ten, especially SCQ47 who says that because they have chosen these because they haven't seen many films. These posters are chosen because they do not adequately put across the point of the movie, the Star Wars poster looks like Conan The Barbarian in space, for example and, while it is an iconic piece of cinema imagery, does not adequately advertise the film. The image itself is very arty etc but you don't get a sense for what the film is about from the image. Also because something looks good on a magnolia wall does not make it classy or iconic, bravo to Total Film for being brave enough to challenge the commonly held opinion.

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    • razzaman123

      May 6th 2009, 17:46

      argh man paris hilton sucks to the fullist i hate the hell out of her damn shes annoying

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    • razzaman123

      May 6th 2009, 17:46

      th family guy blue harvest poster is better than that star wars one

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