The film posters that ruined the movie

A film’s plot should remain a tightly-guarded secret before it hits cinemas, else it ruins the element of surprise.

Sometimes though, a film’s marketing department jumps the gun revealing key moments or bigs twists on its own poster.

Here’s some of the most spoiler-riffic posters Hollywood has to offer.

Terminator Genisys

Jason Clarke’s role as John Connor was no secret, but the twist that he was actually a Terminator should have remained a surprise to be revealed in movie theatres, not inside their lobbies.

Rocky IV

Do you think Rocky wins at the end, or the Russian fella?

One might argue that it could be a shot from elsewhere in the film, but it isn’t.

Planet Of The Apes

This, from Planet of the Apes, is unforgivable, however, spoiling one of the all-time great movie twists with gay abandon.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 

And you know that amazing scene in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, when they evade capture by using a flying… oh, here it is, splashed all over the poster.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
 

Meanwhile, will the end of Star Wars: Episode III conclude in a pivotal face-off between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan? Oh. Yes. Yes, it will.

Free Willy

Anyone wondering whether Free Willy is freed at the end, look away now…

The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers

Anyone who hadn’t read the books won’t have known Gandalf was resurrected after his death in Moria in Fellowship…until they saw the poster.

The Impossible

Married Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor were separated at the beginning of this excellent drama about the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Would they see each other again? The poster has the answer.

Ender’s Game

The tagline of this poster totally ruins the film’s twist ending, that’s all we’re going to say.

Cabin In The Woods

Joss Whedon’s horror movie had an ingenious plot twist - let’s just say there was more to the title’s cabin than met the eye. This Asian poster for the film spells this out rather too clearly.

Image credits: Paramount/MGM/Universal/Lucasfilm/Warner Bros