For a long time, there has been a real sameness to all of thesuperheromovie posters released by Marvel, DC, and other studios. They tend to follow the same template that all major blockbusters do. Yet sometimes, a superhero poster truly stands out and catches one’s eye. Given these are based on comic book superheroes, who tend to have great cover artwork to catch the viewer’s attention, a great superhero poster tends to do the same.
Update July 05, 2025: This article has been updated with even more great superhero movie posters.
While there has been a lot said about how there is lost art tomovie posters, the superhero genre is filled with incredibly beautiful posters. While the movie might not always be great, the posters remain iconic. What does it take to make a memorable superhero movie poster that stands out above the crowd? Bright colors, striking images, and an artistic approach that is unique to each character certainly help. These are the best superhero movie posters of all time.
25Batman v Superman (2016)
TheBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justiceposter is a noticeable step in a different direction from what we saw coming from Marvel over the past couple of years. DC intended to break the mold, and it can be argued whether that was for better or worse. Though there are two versions, the Batman one with the Superman logo over it is the more iconic image. While we cannot say for certain that the film lived up to expectations, the marketing surrounding it (including the posters) will always be a memorable time in cinema history.
24Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
DirectorJames Gunnheld a contest forGuardians of the Galaxy, which resulted in quite a few cool fan posters that were incorporated into the marketing campaign. This one quickly became a fan favorite, as it spoofsStar Warswhile keeping the Marvel movie’s own merits intact. This particular image came courtesy of Blurppy’s Poster Posse.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2would do a spoof ofThe Empire Strikes Backposter, whileGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3did one forReturn of the Jedi(which appropriately came out on that film’s 40th anniversary).
23The Toxic Avenger (1984)
Hard to believe, but in 1984,The Toxic Avengerwas one of the few superheroes on the scene. Troma was clearly way ahead of its time. And this poster helped sell the movie to the masses. A super low-budget affair, the studio had to rely on cool marketing materials to entice interested audiences. In this case, the movie also had a lot of gratuitous violence going for it.
22Brightburn (2019)
If anyone ever wanted a film where Superman snapped as a child and became evil,Brightburnwould basically be that. This small-scale horror film produced by James Gunn poster does a great job selling this twisted take on the Man of Steel’s story. The poster forBrightburnfeatures a floating child with red eyes and a tattered cape that appears as if it’s made out of a young boy’s coat, selling the horror vibes of this twisted supervillain tale.
21Hulk (2003)
Ang Lee’sHulkwas a notable disappointment for many fans at the time, even though it has grown in appreciation since its release. However, one cannot deny how awesome the poster for the movie was. The poster showcased the massive scale of the Hulk, with his palm reaching out to the audience and concealing the rest of his body from the audience. It was enough to tease the audience and get them excited to see this Marvel legend fully realized on film like the television series never could.
Related:Why Ang Lee’s Hulk Was Ahead of Its Time
20The Flash (2023)
Listen, all critiques on Ezra Miller are more than valid. So much so that the majority of DC fans would not mind a recasting of the characters if they plan on sticking with this iteration of him for upcoming projects. But, it is hard to deny thatThe Flashis taking the world by storm based on goodwill and cleverly banked on nostalgia to avoid having to market Miller any more than they have to. This poster ofThe Flashoverlooking the horizon in the Bat Cave was an instantly popular image and drew thousands of new eyes to the project. It’s a stunning shot and shies away from graphic design tropes that are unsavory in comic book and action-related media.
19Kick-Ass (2010)
Kick-Assproved to be a very different kind of superhero movie. And with that came a different kind of ad campaign. The movie is about street vigilantism, and the movie smartly incorporated the old WWII recruitment posters into the marketing campaign. All the characters got their own poster, but this specially designed Kick-Ass one certainly stood out.
18Flash Gordon (1980)
WhileFlash Gordonbombed at the box office, it did get this beautiful one-sheet from Italian poster artist Renato Casaro. And it might be the best thing about the entire movie. Sadly, it didn’t entice too many people into the theater. But the sci-fi adventure, with its driving Queen soundtrack and cheesy special effects, has gone on to become a true cult classic. And it was even given its proper due in the 2012 Seth MacFarlane comedyTed.
17Watchmen (2009)
Before he turned the DC Comics characters Batman and Superman into a fighting force at the box office,Zack Snydermade a decidedly different kind of superhero movie with DC ComicsWatchmen. Keeping Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' style in place, this series of character one-sheets perfectly captured the graphic miniseries. Instead, replacing the drawn heroes with the actors that played them. This resulted in a very cool, modern take on what the superhero genre was supposed to be. It looks like the comic, yet it’s so much more.
16The Marvels (2023)
All skepticism aside,The Marvelscertainly appears to be a return to form for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It leans heavily on the style that made the films so popular in the first place, with a blend of humor and seriousness that feels natural rather than forced. This poster for the high-budget spectacle shows off the three leading characters (Kamala Khan, Monica Rambeau, and Carol Danvers) in a minimalist fashion. They are lined up vertically, almost resembling a totem pole of sorts in terms of power or a pillar that is supposed to represent their united strength. Either way, the simplistic poster is a nice change for the studio.
