60 Great Horror Movie Posters

01

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Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)

Creepy and mysterious; like the movie, you're not sure what to expect.

02

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An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Universal

In this poster for the quintessential werewolf movie, the actors convey the film's sense of humor, while the use of space and vertical balance draw your eye to the (significant) full moon.

03

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Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004)

Sony

Simple yet effective with striking color contrast.

04

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Army of Darkness (1992)

Universal

This parody of '80s bare-chested barbarian flicks (Conan the Barbarian, Beastmaster, etc.) captures the film's camp appeal.

05

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Blood Beach (1981)

Jerry Gross

Corny fun image draws attention to what would otherwise be an overlook-able movie.

06

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The Body Snatcher (1945)

RKO

Menacing yet artistic with muted tones.

07

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The Brain Eaters (1958)

American International Pictures

Startlingly scary, dominated by the disturbing visage with cold eyes, sharp fangs and a throbbing brain.

08

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The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Goldwyn Distributing Company

Captures the surreal artistry of this German expressionist classic with a twist ending.

09

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Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things (1972)

Geneni Film Distributors

Offbeat and goofy, yet unnerving—just like the movie.

10

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C.H.U.D. (1984)

New World

Cooler and more foreboding than the actual film.

11

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Cloverfield (2008)

Paramount

Like Planet of the Apes, this poster for the blockbuster found footage-style movie uses the unexpected rendering of an iconic symbol to create striking imagery, all the while maintaining the mystery of the "something."

12

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The Company of Wolves (1984)

Cannon

Wisely highlights the gruesome werewolf transformation scene, since the rest of the movie is not nearly as outrageous.

13

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Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Universal

Colorful and action-packed with a vintage, hand-drawn design.

14

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Creature from Black Lake (1976)

Howco International Pictures

Brooding, imposing and impressively rendered.

15

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Creepshow (1982)

Warner Bros.

Places an otherwise horrific image in the safe context of a movie theater, creating a playful, tongue-in-cheek poster.

16

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Dead Alive (1992)

Trimark

Nightmarish picture hints at both the grisly content and the dark humor in the film.

17

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Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)

American International Pictures

Wince-inducing photo catches the eye (pun intended).

18

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Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)

Warner Bros.

One of the all-time greats, combining color, humor and artistry for maximum impact.

19

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The Evil Dead (1981)

New Line

Startlingly dark, reflecting the graphic content of the original film that lacked much of the sequels' warped humor.

20

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Eyes Without a Face (1960)

Lopert Pictures

Intense use of red contrasts the woman's soft features, reflecting the beauty and danger wrapped together in the plot.

21

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The Fly (1986)

20th Century Fox

A shadowy tease that provides a vague promise of the shocks to come.

22

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The Food of the Gods (1976)

American International Pictures

Embodies the campy terror of '70s animals-running-amok flicks.

23

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Frogs (1972)

American International Pictures

Funnier and more intriguing than anything in the film, although it wrongfully gives the impression that the movie contains giant, maneating frogs.

24

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Future-Kill (1985)

International Film Marketing

Created by famed Swiss artist H.R. Giger (who designed the aliens in Alien and Species), the poster showcases his "biomechanical" style and is perhaps more famous than the movie.

25

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Garden of the Dead (1974)

Entertainment Pyramid

Marvelously morose with an unexpectedly artistic sensibility for a low-budget zombie movie.

26

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Halloween (1978)

Compass International Pictures

This poster for the movie that launched a franchise treats the embodiment of Halloween—a jack o'lantern—with deft use of shape and pattern to create the illusion of movement, making the design all the more ominous.

27

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Happy Birthday to Me (1981)

Columbia

A gruesome tribute to slasher movie excess.

28

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The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007)

20th Century Fox

Declared disturbing enough by the MPAA that it had to be edited to remove the hand.

29

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The Hitcher (1986)

Tristar

Dramatic and conceptually innovative, delivering a first-person point of view with the simple addition of a rear-view mirror.

30

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Hostel Part II (2007)

Lionsgate

Inventive, provocative and sanitized for your protection.

31

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House (1986)

New World Pictures

Alternately fun and creepy, drawn in classic '80s horror poster style.

32

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House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Allied Artists Pictures

Grimly playful reflection of its B-movie status.

33

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The Howling (1981)

AVCO Embassy Pictures

Edgy and memorable, conveying the werewolf theme without actually showing a werewolf.

34

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I Spit on Your Grave (1978)

Cinemagic Pictures

Appropriately envelope-pushing and controversial, given the movie's theme.

35

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I Walked With a Zombie (1943)

RKO

Classy with layered visuals that signal there's more here than a standard zombie flick.

36

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Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957)

American International Pictures

Colorful, cartoonish artwork resembles a vintage pulp magazine from the '30s or '40s.

37

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Jaws (1975)

Universal

One of the most famous movie posters of all time feeds on the classic film's nightmarish scenario of not knowing what lies beneath.

38

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The Killer Shrews (1959)

McLendon-Radio Pictures Distributing Company

Despite a cheesy concept and even cheesier execution (dogs dressed in "shrew skins"), the movie delivered a wonderful poster—both shocking and humorous.

39

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