April Fools
Hidden images and in-jokes in movie posters
In honor of April Fool’s Day, lets review a few hidden images and in-jokes found in movie posters. Artists have long hidden images, words, and other symbols in their work, although the vast majority of modern examples rely more on the viewers imagination than anything else.
For example, is that really a hidden penis on the shoulder of Tommy Lee Jones in the Men in Black movie poster, or simply a few random folds in his suit? (We have it on good authority it’s not intentional.)
And are the alien spaceships blowing up the earth in Independence Day really being controlled by Mickey Mouse? (Probably not, but some at Miramax may feel differently.)
Speaking of penises and Disney, the most infamous example of hidden imagery in a movie poster would have to be the so-called “Palace with the Phallus” background illustration in posters for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. This urban legend involves yet another hidden phallic symbol, and there is plenty of speculation as to how it made it’s way into the key art.
Buy Men in Black movie posters at: AllPosters, eBay, MoviePosterShop.com, Amazon
Tagged genitalia, independence day, men in black, mickey, subliminal
Little Big Men « posterwire.comApril 16, 2005 at 6:01 PM
[…] Posters We’ve covered hidden (and perhaps unintentional) sexual imagery in movie posters before, but film studios often make phallic imagery front and center as part of a mark […]
nathan millerJune 6, 2005 at 7:48 PM
speaking of penises in the little mirmaid the preist on the boat gets a boner during his speach.
Mickey of the Caribbean « Posterwire.com » the movie poster weblogJanuary 28, 2010 at 3:23 PM
[…] Walt Disney Pictures has released a new teaser poster for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest teaser one-sheet is essentially a reworking of the existing “Jolly Roger” style skull key art from previous Pirates of the Caribbean teaser posters. This newest teaser poster seems to give a hint of a “hidden Mickey” with it’s two flaming torches… or maybe we’re just seeing things. […]
Little Big Men | Posterwire.comNovember 29, 2011 at 10:48 AM
[…] covered hidden (and perhaps unintentional) sexual imagery in movie posters before, but film studios often make phallic imagery front and center as part of a marketing […]