The 10 Least Essential Character Posters Of 2012

Features

by Oliver Lyttelton
December 5, 2012 10:22 AM
24 Comments

There's been a plague in the movie marketing world of late. Virtually every major release -- and seemingly most minor ones as well -- is going far beyond single one-sheet artwork to sell its wares. Along with teasers, arty Mondo-type versions, IMAX editions and everything else in between, posters are released showcasing seemingly every last cast member in the movie.

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" has 17 character posters doing the rounds. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" had over 20. In some cases -- "The Avengers" for example -- we can see the value, up to a point (the Clark Gregg one-sheet was probably going too far). But all too often, the posters feature B-list names playing minor characters, and it's a struggle to imagine who in the world would want them hung on their walls. With 2012 coming to an end, we thought we'd explore on the following pages some of the most pointless character posters that emerged over the past year.

1. Rhys Ifans in "The Amazing Spider-Man"
Sony's reboot of their biggest franchise did well, though failed to match the totals of Sam Raimi's films worldwide. And we'd lay the blame for any box-office shortfalls directly on this horrifying Japanese one-sheet, featuring an incredibly sweaty photo of the wacky best friend from "Notting Hill."

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More: Features, Cloud Atlas, Hunger Games, Mirror Mirror, Argo, Gangster Squad, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Seven Psychopaths, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, Dark Shadows, Frankenweenie

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24 Comments

| Reply

Jeremy | December 6, 2012 2:49 PMReply

Apologies... not sure what occurered with my browser there. Feel free to delete repeating comments... as well as this one.

Jeremy | December 6, 2012 2:45 PMReply

Maybe I'm being completely dense about this, but in what way was Pitch Perfect's poster offensive towards Asians? I mean, I get the snark in the rest of the article, but that one seemed like a stretch.

Jeremy | December 6, 2012 2:42 PMReply

Maybe I'm being completely dense about this, but in what way was Pitch Perfect's poster offensive towards Asians? I mean, I get the snark in the rest of the article, but that one seemed like a stretch.

Jeremy | December 6, 2012 2:40 PMReply

Maybe I'm being completely dense about this, but in what way was Pitch Perfect's poster offensive towards Asians? I mean, I get the snark in the rest of the article, but that one seemed like a stretch.

Jeremy | December 6, 2012 2:40 PMReply

Maybe I'm being completely dense about this, but in what way was Pitch Perfect's poster offensive towards Asians? I mean, I get the snark in the rest of the article, but that one seemed like a stretch.

Hombre Gato | December 5, 2012 5:19 PMReply

I'm from Boston. Irish people still dress like that, especially if they're dead.

Zack | December 5, 2012 4:31 PMReply

Seriously, why does everybody completely lose their shit whenever there's a facetious/snarky piece up here? It's not as though it comes at the expense of actual movie news. This is why we can't have nice things.
(I thought this was hilarious, and would like to see more stuff like this.)

geoff | December 5, 2012 4:18 PMReply

this article is retarded

Michael M. | December 5, 2012 1:39 PMReply

The Cloud Atlas poster is borderline disturbing, perhaps if your a darkly cynical, pessimistic necrophiliac.

Tim Burton | December 5, 2012 4:32 PM

Hot damn! And I thought this article would piss me off.

fwhqgads | December 5, 2012 12:27 PMReply

Mr. Oliver, you are a moron.

Michael M. | December 5, 2012 1:46 PM

He probably addresses individuals as Mr. when he needs them to hold his dick.

Zack | December 5, 2012 1:38 PM

I addressed him as "kid" because, as mentioned above, he addressed the author of the article as though he was asking if naptime was over.

Michael M. | December 5, 2012 1:36 PM

Lol a daycare supervisor? that one actually made me smirk. But you made a fail error when you addressed him as kid.

Zack | December 5, 2012 1:28 PM

At least he doesn't address people as "Mr. [First Name]". He's not a daycare supervisor, kid.

Rander | December 5, 2012 11:58 AMReply

Completely idiotic article, how old the author is? Toshiaki in Frankenweenie was deeply offensive? Are you serious?

Michael M. | December 5, 2012 1:38 PM

My my Zack, you are quite the elaborate fellow lol.

Zack | December 5, 2012 1:27 PM

He's got you there, Oliver. If a white guy doesn't think something is offensive to Asian people, it's not. Those are the rules.

sly-3 | December 5, 2012 11:38 AMReply

were any of these actually displayed in a theater or was their sole purpose to serve as fodder for the "collect em all" types? either way, they promote the films, and thanks to this article, playlist has now given them the opportunity to do just that.

Ray H | December 5, 2012 11:19 AMReply

That's actually Thomas Ian Nicholas on the American Reunion poster.

Michael | December 5, 2012 11:17 AMReply

That's Marc-AndrÃ© Grondin on Goon poster. Not Jean-Marc VallÃ©e.^^

Jawknee | December 5, 2012 10:27 AMReply

The least important Playlist article ever.

knative | December 6, 2012 3:22 AM

No. That would be the one about your mom.

Ethan | December 5, 2012 10:24 AMReply

One per page? You guys are ridiculous. Also, what a terrible article.