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How have movie posters evolved throughout history?

Brynlee MacAlister

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Movie posters have come a long way since their inception in the late 1800s. They were initially created to advertise traveling shows, but as motion pictures gained popularity, they became an essential marketing tool for films. Over the years, the medium of film posters has evolved significantly, and several trends and styles encountered along the way.

One of the first trends in movie posters was a focus on the actors. Several posters from the early 1900s showcased the actor’s faces, and it was the only element in the design. These posters were made in portrait orientation, had bold typefaces, and were often hand-painted. As the film industry started to grow, the size of the posters increased, and the design became more sophisticated. Artistic typography and illustrations also became prominent in the 1920s.

The 1930s to the 1950s is known as the golden age of Hollywood, and the movie posters from that era reflect the glamour and sophistication associated with the era. The typography became more artistic and sophisticated while the illustrations became more detailed. Posters from this era often featured the names of the directors and producers. The ‘40s onwards saw the rise of illustrated movie posters, and some of them became iconic like the ones created for the Star Wars movies in the ’70s.

In the 1980s, the focus shifted from illustrations to photographs, and posters started featuring stills from the film. Typeface and layout design also became more sober and modern. The digitization of the medium in the 1990s allowed designers to experiment with more colors and layout design. Since then, the use of digital illustrations in movie posters has become popular.

In recent years, movie poster design has become less conventional. Designers have moved from traditional layouts to more creative and minimalist designs. Posters often feature a single image or a central figure with text inspired by the film’s theme. The use of negative space has become more prominent in contemporary movie poster design. Movie posters like those created for the Get Out and La La Land are excellent examples of this trend.

In conclusion, the evolution of movie posters reflects the changes in the film industry and the artistic trends that have emerged over the years. From hand-painted designs of the early 1900s to digital illustrations, movie posters will continue to evolve with the times.