When pondering what makes a movie poster one of the best, I don't care about the artistry of the poster by itself. What I'm looking for are the posters that are the most iconic -- the images that burn themselves into your mind and fill it with the promise of what the movie will deliver -- the posters that still evoke a rush of feelings and memories when you see them years later. I present to you the 10 most iconic, most easily recognizable posters ever made.

10) Reservoir Dogs -- Parodied a number of times, this iconic shot perfectly illustrates what it's all about: a number of very dangerous men who will eventually kill one another. Simple, elegant and cool.

9) The Thing -- John Carpenter’s The Thing is proof in the pudding about how you remake a film and make it far better than its original. And this poster, while revealing NOTHING about what is in store for the audience, reminds everyone who has seen it of what it was about. This poster made a reappearance in last years film The Mist where it is hinted that the hero may have painted it.

8) A Clockwork Orange -- How do you explain the insanity of this film in poster form? With art.

7) Rocky -- Just look at that poster. You’re hearing the music, aren’t you? That’s what I’m talking about. Iconic.

6) Pulp Fiction -- Tarantino knew how to make his posters pop and this is the best of the bunch. While having almost nothing whatsoever to do with the plot of the film, it has everything to do with the film thematically. This poster was hung in almost every film-student dorm room in the '90s. Even mine.

5) The Empire Strikes Back -- Just look at that thing. The kiss. The lurking Vader. It held so much promise of what was to come -- and what was delivered. This was the perfect example capturing the chaotic “lets throw everything in there” '70-'80s style of poster art, and it still takes you back.

4) Alien -- Still haunting. Still cool as all hell to look at.

3) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom -- Often regarded as the weakest of the three (soon to be four) films, this poster was the best of them all. There he is, just standing there, beckoning to you, promising another adventure. You want to follow him through that door, don’t you. You want to believe. That poster just calls you into the theater.

2) Big Trouble in Little China -- Holy crap this poster is right on the money. Fun, exciting and full of promise, it is a parody (and a great one at that) of the crazy frenetic posters of the day. It’s got everything: ninjas, guys wielding magic, a hot heroine and Jack Burton, big as life, with a submachine gun, a CB and a smile. Hell yeah.

1) Jaws -- Dun dun. Dun dun. Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dundundun dun dun dun dun dun dun! Perfect.

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C. Robert Cargill - - - Email Me

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