This article originally appeared onDen of Geek UK.
Some are iconic scenes twisted beyond all recognition, others moments which usually go unnoticed.
If youve seen foreign movie posters before, theres a good chance theyre Polish.
I could have easily filled the whole list with the work from that one country.
But in particular Soviet era designers seemed to connect to it, producing some of the most amazing work.
Darth Vader is a malevolent big cat hunting his prey.
This Hungarian take by Tibor Helenyi is no exception.
Its truly, truly surreal.
Until you actually re-watchSaving Private Ryanand realise just how brutal it is as a film.
Which makes this piece of art the perfect poster to accompany the carnage of the D-Day landings.
Both cultures fusing to create a take on a film which already has iconic, stunning, poster work.
But this is the flip side of the puppet master.
This is revenge, the devil vs God, and a whole mess of subtext wrapped in ornate presentation.
Whats not to like here?
Andrzej Klimowskis original 1976 Polish poster for its cinema release is truly something special.
The question on the poster, and indeed in the film, is who sits upon the throne?
Who is the Don?
This is a question for both the audience and the characters.
Both lay claim to sitting in the chair, and this creates a powerful image which intrigues and delights.
But instead theres no getting away from the factThe Flywill be a brutal and transformative experience.
Theres something truly special about the hand-painted posters from Ghana.
Take this spectacular one ofAnaconda.
Who the hell wouldnt want to immediately see this film upon looking at this.
Only an image of Jon Voights stupendous leer could compete.
Feel the allegorical power.
This poster for the classicKing Kongcomes from colonial Belgian Congo.
Plus theyre incredibly well dressed.
This poster certainly became iconic in its own right, with English language versions of it appearing.
Take this Japanese print forAmelie.
This poster acts as the best possible review of the film.
Faceless truck is the literal embodiment for the metaphorical monsters that pursue us relentlessly.
Eschewing any sort of blood soaked image is a brave move when marketingCarrie.
Theres no hint of a prom either.
This is a piece about violence.
This is whatChinatownultimately revolves around.
This is much more a hardboiled pulp mystery than the original poster suggests.
The entire Japanese series of posters forEasy Riderare worth checking out.
Confession time, Ive never seenDirty Dancing(although weirdly I have seenDirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights).
I know the iconography, the music, the lines.
But this poster makes me reconsider everything I knew about it.
The power of a simple image, presented well.
It reminds me of one of those choose your own adventure books, popular in the 70s and 80s.
So much is brilliant here.
The overt acknowledgement that yes, it is a Christmas movie.
But the fact that Santa is actually just wearing a mask tells you everything.
This is only a Christmas movie in disguise.
The gremlins are also hiding in plain sight, ready to spring into mayhem.
And they are very much grinch like.
Its almost purposely designed to be the most Japanese rendering of a Hollywood film they know nothing about possible.
Animal quite rightly takes center stage here as the Muppets burst onto the big screen.
Who represents the chaotic energy of the Muppets let loose, as they were here at your cinema?
I love this poster so much.
What could possibly scream ex-American military asset doing his own thing and wanting to party more than this?
Nothing I tell you.
Im going to get this one framed and placed on my wall.
Its dynamic, terrifying, messy, and completely unknowable.
Which is exactly what the fight against the aliens is like.
Here hes presented as more the man who also happens to be high on coke.
Its certainly evocative, and provides a sense of almost nausea the more more you look at it.
The Stay Puft Marshmallow man is a devilish red here, making literal his demonic origin.
Well, they cant say they didnt warn you.
One was smart, ahead of its time, and brought a diverse audience.
This poster represents this, while also nicely emulating Picasso.
I would frame this over any of the official marketing images.
In this case, an iconic pose complete with suit, gun, Bond girl, and car.
Oh, and a big giant fish of course.
Its their film, so quite rightly theyre front and center, no distractions.
I guess dancing is really important in Japan.
But somehow it all comes together pleasingly.
I guess this is its native poster, and we count as the alternate one?
No matter, there are many Italian variations for this spaghetti Western classic, but this is the finest.
The bold colours, the binary shading on Clints face, the startling font which demands your attention.
Then you notice the bodies piled up behind Clint.
Almost impressionistic renderings of his deadly force.
You should frame this.
with a machete in the head.
Instead its a variant poster design shown in China which might just be my favourite poster of all time.
Its all there, but almost indescribably so.
My younger brother has this poster hanging in his room.
Whenever Im visiting Im always struck by Godzillas kind eyes.
Its like he doesnt want to damage anything, but he cant help it.
Its a striking image of a monster with a conscience.
Yes I know its another poster of a non-English language film, butGodzillais pretty much universal right?
Japanese characters in place of Roman ones.
This emphasises their friendship, which is the core theme of the film.
Theres just something so appealingly tawdry about this German poster forBoogie Nights.
By relegating the star outlines to snaps from the camera, the focus instead becomes an illustrated Heather Graham.
I guess Sherlock Holmes didnt quite the have the same name recognition as Steven Spielberg in 1980s France?
Its almost as if for a 90s British version theyd put Hugh Grants face on the monster.
Superb recontextualisation of a film ostensibly about Sinbad.
But really we all watch it for the monsters.
Tree in a bubble is the best way to sum it up.
Taiwan, however, got it spot on.
Oh, and tree bubble is still there for those who were worried.
Its a variation on the usual poster, but with a couple of stand-out twists.
Although Jennifer Connelly is trapped in a crystal ball still.
There are many, many posters forBlade Runner.
Most run on a similar theme of bleak dystopian future cityscape.
Of course Poland decided to do things a little differently.
So girl in bikini with a gun.
This is the Lennon poster which sums up the character of the man he would become.
