Last night I went over the 11 worst movie posters of 2011, so why not take the effort to play out this year on a high note. Here are the 11 best movie poster of the year, but there is one small rule change. Independent films are allowed. The reasoning is that they’re capable of having quality posters, it just shouldn’t be a surprise when they don’t. Again, feel free to click on these to see larger version, but be warned as some are quite big.

#11 The Ides of March

The Ides of March was something of a letdown, and this highly shopped poster sums that up. Neither of these guys look quite like this in real lighting, but the concept of having Clooney on the Times cover is very slick. Immediately you know the roles of these actors.
 

#10 Another Earth

I never had the chance to see Another Earth, but this is beautiful photography of the talent. You could even argue that the independent budget put the stop to an overzealous graphic artist whippin’ up writer/star Brit Marling’s hair and cheeks.
 

#9 Super

Everything you could need in this poster. Goofy, oddball hipster flick with wannabe superhero.
 

#8 Being Elmo

The fewer colors the better in this case. There’s black, white, red, and a light orange. That’s all that’s needed to identify the famous Elmo from a distance. At the same time, this isn’t the safe image of the young puppet kids see on PBS. The high contrast lends toward adult appeal.
 

#7 Bad Teacher

Surely I’m not the only one who appreciates this poster. The typical desk and chalkboard give the immediate setting, the slouch and shades give the attitude. I even like the canted angle, and nice touch with the apple. Not too much going on, just enough.
 

#6 Sucker Punch

I was really looking forward to seeing Sucker Punch and the cool marketing was a big reason why. The trailer was action packed, and had a style reminiscent of the video game Bioshock which is also prevalent in this poster. In particular I like the swooping, oversized title. Big kudos for not making lead Emily Browning look pale as all get out.
 

#5 The Mechanic

An action movie with no kinetic sensation in the poster, get out! The Mechanic was one of the more action packed films of the year, but the simple poster is quite the antithesis. The image of a handgun assembled from armaments is easy to grasp and sticks with the viewer.
 

#4 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1

Simply giving credit where it is due, people. The Twilight series has seen some drab posters filled with the silliest of fog and brown hues, but here’s one that gives it straight. No hint of a vampire story, that would almost be false advertising. This is strictly engaging the girls with a romantic embrace.
 

#3 Contagion

This poster is impressive for replicating the look of a biozard flyer. There’s so many stars that showing each face would be almost goofy… (cough)… New Year’s Eve… (cough)
 

#2 Drive

Drive is not the typical movie that makes its way into a wide release. It’s neo-noir, retro, and hyper violent. In the very least the poster conveys two of these characteristics. I’m afraid a violent poster would have been a turn off to the crowd that would actually appreciate this film, the anti-getaway movie. Props for the Mistral font.
 

#1 Human Centipede 2

I have no qualms with the following statement. Human Centipede is a far better movie that most give credit. If folks wonder off and find a creepy doctor in the woods, he better have something interesting to do to them. Now, I haven’t seen the sequel and if memory serves it was even banned in the UK until several alterations were made. This poster gets the message across with simple, soft photography and non-intrusive post work.  It looks like it belongs in a museum, and I’m sure that had the credits been removed it would be lauded in such a location.