15 Best Alternative Posters For Movies Released in 2011

As I mentioned in my Top 10 Mondo Posters of 2011 post, there are an abundance of amazing artists creating amazing posters that are often equal to, or in many cases, better than what the studios release. This list contains 15 of my favorites (in no particular order) that were brought into the world by the movie stork in 2011.

Drive and the comic book franchises led the way for most fan art, which makes sense as the Gosling flick was one of the most lauded movies of the year and comic book fan bases are, well frankly, comic book fan bases.

As a side note, whilst compiling this list I came upon Reelizer.com, which is a cool site that collects fine film art and displays them in easy to check out gallery form. I bookmarked it, you should as well.

If you are an artist featured here and I didn’t link your site, please let me know the URL (Micah @ Postercollective.com) and I will update accordingly.

 1. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo 

By Matt Needle

Great concept, great execution. While Rooney Mara’s breasticles are prominently featured on the official studio release, I like this design-centric version better.

2. My Week With Marilyn

By Matt Needle

One of my favorite films of the year gets a light, fluffy, and fun rendition by Matt Needle. I love the title treatment as it, along with the entire poster, immediately make me think of Marilyn and her bright and bubbly personality, even if it was just for show.

3. Drive

By James White

Capitalizing on the pink color choice of the studio work, James White‘s take is blowing up the interwebz as one of the last year’s best posters period. Good news, James is making the poster available for purchase. I know a lot of people that want this one, including moi.

4. Insidious

By Victor Moreno

Um, yes please! I’d almost be too afraid to hang this on my wall. An absolutely terrifying poster for an absolutely terrifying film.

5. Drive

By Eric Bonhomme

Another bad ass Drive poster capitalizing on the pink motif. When I first saw the pink on the original studio posters I was not a fan, it’s since grown on me because of versions like this one. Hooray for violence.

6. The Innkeepers

By Akiko Stehrenberger

The Innkeepers has a great run of posters already (see our Top 10 Movie Posters of 2011 for proof). With that said, Akiko Stehrenberger’s version is a stunning and a welcome addition to the fold.

7. Attack the Block

By Deadly Mike

This might be my favorite piece of art out of this whole lot. It quite literally captures everything the film is about in one amazing scene. Believe, Bruv!

8. Rise of the Planet of the Apes

By Russell Ford

Russel Ford’s effort is all sorts of bad ass. Aesthetically, it’s pleasing on the eyes and the concept helps emphasize the blurred lines between humans and our primate cousins. Caesar approves.

9. Troll Hunter

By Ghoulish Gary Pullin

Target practice! Ghoulish Gary, one of our favorite artists here at Poster Collective, created one of the best concepts of the year in his send up of the excellent Troll Hunter.

10. The Divide

By Jock

Technically, this gets a wide release later this month, but this apocolyptic French flick was initially released in 2011. Either way, this poster is all sorts of rad sauce.

11. Captain America

By Olly Moss

Olly’s done all sorts of fantastic work in the last few years leading him to become one of the most recognizeable and successful pop artists around. His Paper Cuts exhibit was nothing short of genius. And this effort is Das good!

12. Captain America

By Kevin Howdeshell

Kevin’s another artist to watch if this absolutely amazing poster is any indicator. I didn’t even like this movie (did anyone?) but I would gladly display this on my wall. It really doesn’t get much better than this.

13. I Saw the Devil

By Jason Edward Davis

Because everything on the Internet needs more cats. Jason turns one of the most brutal films in recent history into a lovable feline picture. I can haz like!

14. X-Men First Class

Josh Siegel

The studio releases were easily the worst posters of the year. By a country mile. So much so that fan contests began springing up all over the web for replacements, which is where I stumbled upon this retro beauty. I enjoy it so much because it plays against the hyper, kinetic, modern action flick that the franchise is. For some reason I feel like jiving.

15.  Cowboys and Aliens

By Daniel Danger

Daniel’s work here is deep and bold, like almost everything he does, and is about 11 thousand times better than the film (based on PC staff’s opinion). It’s so cool (literally) that it makes me want to watch the film again. Almost.