A Look at What Makes a Movie Poster Iconic

Image source: screencrush.com

The fact is that not all movie posters are created equal. Some posters stand the test of time and become collectors' items. Others, meanwhile, are simply forgotten. For this blog, Joe Cianciotto describes the qualities of an iconic movie poster.

Good design is essential to create an attractive poster because if the design isn't good, it could end up being a bad marketing tool for the film. Before starting the poster, several elements need to be considered, including perspective, layout, and typography, says Joe Cianciotto.

Here are some important aspects of movie posters:

1) Good Composition

Composition in art is how the various elements of an image are arranged. It is not just about how the poster looks but also its overall impact on the viewer. When designing a movie poster, this is one of the most important aspects to consider.

Composition in film marketing flyers can be divided into three sections: foreground, mid-ground, and background. Each section has its own specific role in the marketing strategy, so if you want your movie poster to be good, it needs to have a well-thought-out composition, explains Joe Cianciotto.

Image source: musebycl.io 

2) Calls-to-action

Calls-to-action are prompts intended to excite viewers and motivate them to take action. The main goal of the poster is usually to get the viewer to watch the movie in theaters, but in some cases, it can be used for other purposes. For example, a call-to-action can encourage people to buy the DVD when released, visit the movie website, or even attend an event promoting the film.

3) The Main Image

The most important part of any good design is the main image. According to Joe Cianciotto, this is the first factor to consider when creating a poster to develop an attractive design. After all, it is often the main image that comes to mind when we think of the most iconic movie posters.

Salute: Remembering 'Band of Brothers'

My name is Joe Cianciotto. I’m a movie fanatic, but I also love a well-made TV show. Probably, the most well-made single-season TV show I’ve seen is "Band of Brothers."

Image source: hdwallsource.com

Steven Spielberg’s "Saving Private Ryan" is my number one war movie of all-time, and "Band of Brothers" complements it and adds so much more.

Produced by both Spielberg and Tom Hanks and released by HBO in 2001, "Band of Brothers" takes us all on the journey of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. At times harrowing, sometimes introspective, this brilliant and stunning series has left me in tears more than times than I can imagine watching a series.

Image source: hbocanada.com

The episodes take us through the training, and afterwards a number of the most important operations of Easy Company. They conduct recons and raids and hold their ground against all odds in the rain and the murdering winter cold. They gain ground but lose scores of their brothers while fighting for the Allies in the greatest war humanity has ever known.

I don’t personally know a WWII veteran, but I feel now like I do. Because of the series, I’ve gained a different insight into what it means to be a soldier, fighting for what you believe is right, and what it means to have brothers who are in no way related to you by blood.

Do you like "Band of Brothers" too? Message me, Joe Cianciotto, on the comment section below and let’s discuss more epic TV series.

Joe Cianciotto is an architect based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Aside from architecture, Joe loves movies. More musings from him here.