Floating-head movie posters are some of my least favorite designs, but there is one series that I consider an exception: the Netflix series Stranger Things. With its 80s pop theme and bright retro visuals, the Stranger Things poster is one of my favorite designs, so it’s no surprise that it has inspired similar pieces, the latest example being the Bollywood blockbuster Stree 2.
Now, we’re not going to say that the Stree 2 poster is a direct rip-off, but it certainly seems to have some elements inspired by the Duffer Brothers’ iconic Netflix series. From the neon color palette to the composition, the poster’s design certainly looks similar, but it remains to be seen if that’s intentional or not.
Street 2 poster (Image courtesy of Maddock Films)
Upon its release, fans pointed out that the Stranger Things 2 poster bore a striking resemblance to the Stranger Things 2 poster, with a lot of familiar design beats. From the gradient red-and-blue color palette to the composition of the characters and logos, the resemblance is so striking at first glance that it almost borders on parody.
If you look closely, you’ll see that the Stranger Things 2 poster has some unique touches, including scenes from the new film woven into the background and character-specific motifs, like the lead character’s magical braids. Despite these additions, it’s hard not to see the connection, with some fans calling it a “direct rip-off” from the Stranger
Things 2 poster design.
Stranger Things 2 poster (Image courtesy of Netflix)
Whether you’re a fan of Stranger Things 2’s poster or not, I think it’s time to move on from the head-bobbing poster design. It’s worked for Stranger Things, but it’s getting copycat and boring, and frankly, I’m craving something fresh. That’s not to say we haven’t seen some great movie poster design this year. From Deadpool and Wolverine to Joker 2, there have been plenty of examples that restored my faith in movie poster design.
