“Pillion”
Okay, so we’re kind of breaking the rules of the list a little bit to accommodate “Pillion.” This is necessary because these two posters are excellent examples of cohesive, evocative imagery. On their own, these posters for Harry Lighton’s film are striking in their own way, both featuring shirtless, wet, attractive actors. Viewed together, they tell the story of the movie in a unique, fairly subtle way. For those not aware, “Pillion” tells the story of an introverted gay man (Harry Melling) who finds himself in a BDSM-tinged relationship with a biker (played by Alexander Skarsgård). With that context, the images in the posters start to take on a new meaning. Not only do you see that the two men are looking at each other, both with very different facial expressions, but you then notice the necklaces they’re wearing. Melling is wearing a chain with a padlock on it, with Skarsgård sporting a key. This is just an excellent idea for two posters and is an incredibly effective way to hint at the film’s plot.
“Thunderbolts*”
When we talk about how modern film posters often cram floating heads of famous cast members and look like Photoshop gone wrong, it’s honestly mostly about Marvel Studios and other superhero films. It’s a well-known joke at this point that Marvel films are almost always given subpar (or, less generously, laughably bad) posters. But that’s definitely not the case with Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts*.” All of the images used for the film posters are pretty solid. However, rising above the rest is this poster, which feels far too minimalist to be associated with a major Marvel Studios production. The image on the poster is dominated by the shadowy silhouette of a man (the film’s primary villain, the Void) with striking white eyes surrounded by bright yellow. Then, when you look a little closer, you see the film’s central star, Florence Pugh, in the eyes themselves. As mentioned, it’s incredibly restrained for a film studio that revels in excess. It’s almost arthouse, which goes with the “Thunderbolts*” trailer that made our Best Trailers of 2025 list. Let’s hope Marvel keeps this up in the future.
“Together”
Honestly, you could put any of the posters for “Together” in this place, and the same could be said about each. These posters are both disturbing and beautiful, and more than a little romantic. It’s a wonderful blend that encapsulates Michael Shanks’ body horror breakout film. This poster, in particular, can be viewed as especially romantic, as it features the film’s stars, Dave Franco and Alison Brie (a real-life married couple), in a loving embrace, gazing longingly into each other’s eyes. However, just below their eyeline, you see how their hands are melding into their bodies. It’s eerie, to say the least. This is a bold poster that is both visually appealing and unsettling. Perfect for this film.
“Warfare”
The old saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words, right? There is no better example of this in effect than with the poster for “Warfare.” This film, co-directed by Alex Garland and a real Iraq War veteran, Ray Mendoza, doesn’t shy away from showing the reality of war. It’s grimy, messy, chaotic, and harrowing. In fact, “Warfare,” as opposed to many war films throughout history, seemingly has no political message other than to say that war can be scary as fuck. So, when you have a film so focused on the harsh reality of combat, it’s perfect to feature a poster that shows only the filthy face of a soldier who has clearly been in some shit. It’s such an overwhelming image on its own, as it’s almost impossible to see the soldier’s eyes through the mucked-up lenses of his glasses, that it’s immediately unforgettable. There is no better single image to sum up a film than this poster for “Warfare.”
“Weapons”
There might not be a more iconic film image of 2025 than the way the kids run in Zach Cregger’s “Weapons.” Combine that imagery with the eerie blurb summing up the initial plot of the film, and you have an impactful combination that sells “Weapons.” The marketing surrounding this film is exceptional in almost every way, which helped explain the film’s great box office returns. However, the film’s poster strikes the perfect balance between scary and vibey, which somehow captures the essence of what you see in the finished film. Eventually, as you watch the film’s actual plot unfold, other images will stay with you long after you leave the viewing experience. However, what gets you in the door are these faceless, nameless children running through the streets in the middle of the night. It’s great.
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