For a long time, there has been a real sameness to all of the superhero movie 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 June 13, 2023: 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 to movie 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.

25 Batman v Superman (2016)

Guardians of the Galaxy Poster

The Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice poster 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.

24 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Guardians of the Galaxy Star Wars poster
Disney

Director James Gunn held a contest for Guardians 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 spoofs Star Wars while keeping the Marvel movie's own merits intact. This particular image came courtesy of Blurppy's Poster Posse. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 would do a spoof of The Empire Strikes Back poster, while Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 did one for Return of the Jedi (which appropriately came out on that film's 40th anniversary).

23 The Toxic Avenger (1984)

The Amazing Spider-Man Poster

Hard to believe, but in 1984, The Toxic Avenger was 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.

22 Brightburn (2019)

Brightburn poster
Sony Pictures

If anyone ever wanted a film where Superman snapped as a child and became evil, Brightburn would 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 for Brightburn features 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.

21 Hulk (2003)

Hulk 2003
Universal Pictures

Ang Lee's Hulk was 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

20 The Flash (2023)

The Flash 2023 poster
Warner Bros.

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 that The Flash is 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 of The Flash overlooking 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.

19 Kick-Ass (2010)

Punisher: War Zone Poster

Kick-Ass proved 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.

18 Flash Gordon (1980)

The Dark Knight Rises

While Flash Gordon bombed 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 comedy Ted.

17 Watchmen (2009)

The Dark Knight Poster

Before he turned the DC Comics characters Batman and Superman into a fighting force at the box office, Zack Snyder made a decidedly different kind of superhero movie with DC Comics Watchmen. 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.

16 The Marvels (2023)

The Marvels poster
Disney

All skepticism aside, The Marvels certainly 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.

15 Dredd (2012)

Dredd 3D Poster
Entertainment Film Distributors

While a lot of people were introduced to Karl Urban by his portrayal as Billy Butcher in Amazon's The Boys, some might be surprised to find out that it is not his first time partaking in an on-screen superhero adaptation. His first venture into the genre would actually be in Dredd, a film version of the Judge Dredd comic. This poster for the film should have been enough to propel the character to global sensation, foreshadowing a dark and dystopian world where he leads the pack when it comes to saving it. While that did not happen, unfortunately, the film itself remains an underrated cult classic, and this poster sets the tone for it to perfection.

14 Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

Marvel's The Avengers Poster

Sure, while Marvel's The Avengers poster does hold the same aesthetic and style as the rest of the MCU posters, it's notable for bringing this entire team of superheroes together for the first time. And it still stands as the best example of what this type of marketing tool can do. This image itself has become iconic and the template for various other Avengers films. It encompasses everything the Marvel movies are about. There is no doubt for an entire generation, this poster will be a defining poster hung up on many bedroom walls.

Related: Best MCU Trailers of All Time

13 Swamp Thing (1982)

Kick-Ass

Swamp Thing is certainly one of the coolest B-movie posters ever created. This drive-in style one-sheet perfectly captures the cheesy nature of Wes Craven's DC Comics superhero. Back in the 80s, Swamp Thing was one of the few characters to get his own movie. And though this is pure post-grindhouse schlock of the best kind, one can't deny that it has one of the best movie posters of the 80s. It just screams cool in every direction.

12 Punisher: War Zone (2008)

Watchmen Movie

Love it or hate it, there's no denying that Punisher: War Zone went out of its way to give fans something different. And that included some incredibly cool posters. While the Skull logo one-sheet for this particular franchise sequel is pretty great, this striking image of Frank Castle centered in a frame made from his own firearms is a perfect piece of pop art. It even recalls some of the Marvel character's best comic book covers. It strikes a fierce pose on the cineplex wall, helping it step away from the pack.

11 The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

The Spirit Movie

While The Amazing Spider-Man wasn't as well received by fans as Sam Raimi's trilogy, it did get a better poster campaign. A reboot coming out so close to the original films, which were beloved, meant the new series had to stand out, and this teaser poster certainly set a new tone for the franchise. It teased the story audiences didn't know while offering up some cool iconography of a spider's shadow. Sure, other movies have used this same technique but not with such great effect. Regardless of the finished product, it's hard to deny how great this teaser poster was.

10 Wonder Woman (2017)

Wonder Woman Poster

The poster for Wonder Woman was one that was worthy of the hero's legendary status. One of the most popular and important superheroes of all time, audiences had been waiting years for Wonder Woman to get her own solo film, particularly as multiple other heroes made after Wonder Woman were getting feature films. This poster is elegant, iconic, and powerful, much like Wonder Woman herself.

9 X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Flash Gordon Poster

This poster for X-Men: Days of Future Past was launched during Comic-Con 2013 and serves as the best example of a viral movie poster. It's unique and iconic, unlike anything one would expect from a superhero movie. It is the type of poster that would exist in the world of the movie. It teased the Sentinels without fully showing them. If only more franchises were as daring with their poster.

8 The Dark Knight (2008)

The Wolverine Movie

Was there a bigger catchphrase in 2008 than 'Why so serious?' The Dark Knight marketing campaign was next level. The viral campaign for Christopher Nolan's epic saga launched with this slogan in 2007. And this particular poster is memorable for teasing Heath Ledger's Joker without fully giving him away. It is unlike any other superhero movie, and if one didn't know it was a Batman film could have looked like a great horror poster. In 2008 this poster was in high demand, as it was in theaters and on t-shirts all over the world. It still remains a classic.

7 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Poster

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy found its way onto this list twice. Not only did he create one of the greatest superhero trilogies of all time, it had an interesting marketing campaign that captured the hearts of comic book fans and geeks everywhere. The one-sheet for The Dark Knight Rises once again puts the iconic Batman logo to great use, showcasing the Bat symbol in making the skyline of a crumbling cityscape. In the years since this poster's release, various other franchises have tried to aim for this style, but Batman did it first and did it best.

6 Superman Returns (2006)

superman returns

Superman has had many great posters, but it's hard to deny how awe-inspiring the theatrical poster for Superman Returns is. The poster captures the gravity, power, and elegance of the most iconic superhero. It showcases what looks like a somber take on the hero while also maintaining all the iconic elements. The film's strong use of colors, with a sharp blue and hints of red and yellow, make this the ultimate Superman poster.