Footloose Movie Poster Arguments

     Movie posters can serve as one of the most important ways of advertising. The audience can see a glimpse of what the movie is going to be like. Although some are misleading, the poster for Footloose does not come off that way. In Everything’s an Argument, Andrea Lunsford claims “Images can make especially powerful appeals to our emotions” (Lunsford 389). This statement is accurate when looking at the movie poster for Footloose. This particular movie poster strongly focuses on the audience’s emotion appeals, or pathos. 

     This poster appeals to people’s carefree side, showing the two main characters and several other blurred characters in the background dancing.  It also appeals to one’s desire for intimacy. Through the two characters body language, one can take away that they are romantically involved. After watching the movie, it is easy to see the movie poster accurately depicted the relationship between Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough’s characters Ren and Ariel. Since these actors are not notably movie stars, they both were posed with an emotional appeal in the poster.

     When looking at the poster, one immediately notices the vibrant purple title and tagline along with two people front and center. The color purple is associated with ambition and purpose. Purple accurately depicts the mood that Wormald’s character Ren has while he tries to get the town he lives in to loosen up and change laws. The main focal point of the movie poster is the two main characters, Wormald and Hough, in a close embrace. Footloose’s storyline heavily revolves around these two and their developing relationship. One of the other main topics in the film has to do with dancing and making the town “cut loose”. The poster reflects this subject very clearly by having an image of the two characters and several other blurred images dancing in the background. They all seem relaxed and like they are having fun. Another indication that the film is about having fun and letting go is the tagline located at the top of the poster, “There comes a time to cut loose”.

     Although it’s possible emotional appeal has more of a role in deciding whether one is in favor of something or not Footloose’s movie poster also uses logos and ethos to entice people (Lunsford 394). The movie poster appeals to one’s logical side by the string of words placed at the bottom. The first line notes that two of the production companies involved were Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment. Both production companies are very notable with successful movies such as The Wolf of Wall Street, 13 Hours, and The Vow. Julianne Hough’s background with dance may bring an ethical appeal to the movie poster. Hough has starred in several movies and shows that heavily involve dance such as Burlesque and U.S. reality show Dancing With the Stars  (imdb.com).

     Overall the poster correctly portrays the major themes and storyline of the movie. It gives just enough to draw people in and make people want more. After looking at this poster, audiences will definitely be interested in watching the movie. The poster does not have much on it yet accurately depicts what the movie is about and is not misleading in any way.