How to analyse a film poster

How to analyse a film poster
When analysing a film poster the following points need to be considered: 
Images
The images that are used on film posters will usually be images of key settings and main characters within the film. 
key points that should be analysed are: What is the title of the film? What can you say about the way in which the title graphics have been written? Who is starring in the film? Where are the stars’ names placed on the poster? Why? Describe the key images on your poster. Why have they been chosen? Write about the images used - stars, setting, colours, symbols, (mise-en-scene). What do they suggest/signify? What other pictures can you see? What is their purpose? What are the most important colours on your poster? Why do you think these were chosen? What do you think the film will be about? Who is the target audience?

Narrative
A film poster can gives clues away about the narrative of a film. 
key points that should be analysed are: What can you tell about the genre of the film and the types of characters from their facial expression, body language, stance, appearance and position on the poster? What makes you say this? What impression do you get of the character/personalities from their expression, clothes, props. Is there an enigma being presented? Is the poster composed of a series of images (montage, lack of perspective) Is the key image a still from the film?

Colours
The colours that are used within film poster will be relevant to the film and may give away some of the storyline. 
key points that should be analysed are: Are they relevant to the genre e.g. horror posters generally use dark strong colours especially black and red to represent death and evil. Romance films tend to employ lighter pastel and warm colours such as pinks, purples and other warm shades. Are the colours on your poster important? Why? What clues do they give about the genre, and how do they attract the target audience?

Layout
When analyzing a film poster it is also important that you analyse how the images are laid out. 
key points that should be analysed are: Are they are blended in without any concern for real perspective or size relationships between people and setting? Why do you think they are laid out like that? Do you know what the plot, genre and/or theme of the film is? If so, how? Most posters are portrait or landscape in shape. What shape is yours? Describe and discuss the title, font, typeface and graphics on the poster. What style are they in and where are they positioned etc.? has the poster been painted and printed or produced using DTP ( mention how improvements in technology have changed production values).

Written text
The text that is used within the poster can be important as it can catch the audiences attention. 
key points that should be analysed are: What does film's title and its font look like and what does this connote? Is there a catch or tagline? What does it tell us about the action, genre and attitude within the film? Who do you think is the target audience for the film? How has the poster been made attractive to these people? Discuss the billing/credit block. What information does it include about credits and information? Do we get information about who is in the cast, who directed the film, which company distributes it and promotes it etc? Where is the certificate? What does it indicate about the target audience and the content of the film? Does the poster list a website? If not, why not?

Unique selling point
A film poster may also involve a unique selling point in order to attract the target audience.
This could be aspects such as: What makes it different from other films? The plot, stars, themes, setting or characters?