The Long and Assy History of Between-the-Legs Movie Posters

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (27)

Can someone explain to me the appeal — besides, perhaps, having an airbrushed ass in your face — of the movie poster world’s complete obsession between-the-legs shots? What is provocative about this set up? It’s not a particularly sexy photo; in fact, often as not, in two dimensions it looks like the airbrushed ass is about to take a dump on the other actors. That’s not cool.

The latest? The Sitter, the unofficial R-Rated Adventures in Babysitting remake starring Jonah Hill. Man, that guy. Props for losing the weight, and for a masterful turn in this weekend’s Moneyball (I know, I could hardly believe it myself). But you’re not going to build acting cred by looking like Jared from Subway and making this movie and 21 Jump Street. Anyway, here’s that The Sitter poster in full, in case you wanted to see Jonah Hill’s fat head looking as though it’s about to be crushed by cartoon thighs.

And here are the highlights in the long history of between-the-legs movie posters.

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I was in the A section of the new releases at Hastings one night with some friends when we came across a movie with this on the cover. I pointed it out to them and predicted we'd see ten more by the time we got through Z. There were about fifteen...

Posted by: pissant at September 21, 2011 12:07 PM

"Can someone explain to me the appeal — besides, perhaps, having an airbrushed ass in your face — of the movie poster world’s complete obsession between-the-legs shots?"

Um...People like ass?

Posted by: Some Guy at September 21, 2011 12:14 PM

What the hell is DE BIOSCOOP?

Posted by: logan at September 21, 2011 12:26 PM

Dustin doesn't like ass? I'm pretty sure that's assist.

Posted by: admin at September 21, 2011 12:34 PM

Secretary???

Posted by: westcott at September 21, 2011 12:35 PM

I actually think it's really effective advertising for Kinky Boots, what with the importance of the footwear.

Posted by: KatSings at September 21, 2011 12:47 PM

The 3:10 to Yuma poster made me spit water.

Posted by: Alabaster Salamander at September 21, 2011 12:52 PM

Slumber Party Massacre: screenplay by Rita Mae Brown. That just never stops being funny.

Seriously, I checked and it is consistently hilarious.

Posted by: Melodie at September 21, 2011 12:53 PM

"SCREENPLAY BY RITA MAE BROWN"?! WTF?!

Posted by: Todd at September 21, 2011 12:54 PM

There is a right and wrong with between the legs shots and with Jonah Hill......there will never be a right.

Posted by: Peanut at September 21, 2011 1:00 PM

Secretary???

Posted by: westcott at September 21, 2011 12:35 PM

And with that, I shall adjourn to the spankatorium for the rest of the afternoon. Adieu.

Posted by: admin at September 21, 2011 1:02 PM

Explain the Kingpin poster to me. Is that face at the top supposed to belong to the chick with the legs?

If so, it should be on Photoshop Disasters.

Posted by: Sherri at September 21, 2011 1:31 PM

De Bioscoop = The movie theater

It's Dutch :-)

Posted by: kiwi at September 21, 2011 1:47 PM

Is there an internet equivalent to esprit de l'escalier? I have such good comback for admin and it's too late.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 21, 2011 2:19 PM

Copy, Paste, Italicize then ridicule, Julien.

Posted by: admin at September 21, 2011 3:22 PM

Slumber Party Massacre made my day. Awesome.

Posted by: Zirze at September 21, 2011 3:49 PM

Technically, Secretary wasn't a between-the-legs poster. Maybe an around-the-legs poster:

http://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/5/MPW-2792

I still remember the controversy surrounding that James Bond poster -- namely, the question of whose legs were featured. One model was used for the test shots, but not in the final version; another model was used for additional shots with various weapons, and it's her hand holding the crossbow in the final version, but not her legs; and the final version featured yet another model. All three of them were in the news, claiming credit. The third model proved her case on some talk show or other when she produced the blue bikini bottom, and noted that she had worn them backwards in the photo at the request of the photographer -- which the photographer later corroborated. He also noted that the second model's hand was used in the photo.

Posted by: PDamian at September 21, 2011 4:22 PM

Dustin doesn't like ass? I'm pretty sure that's assist.

Posted by: admin at September 21, 2011 12:34 PM

Not ASSIST so much as ASSININE branded.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 21, 2011 4:24 PM

I'm...I'm sorry. I know it's bad. I just so rarely get to make ass puns. I'm making an ass of myself. I assumed it would be funny and made an ass of me and me.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 21, 2011 4:36 PM

Ass.

Posted by: admin at September 21, 2011 4:40 PM

I totally deserved that.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 21, 2011 4:50 PM

Mrs. Julien, if I may offer some assistance in assuaging your concerns. I assure you that your assault on Branded's assertion was note-perfect.

Posted by: Ghisent at September 21, 2011 4:50 PM

Kramer: proctologists have the best jokes and they always start with "it was a million to one shot..."

Posted by: Oroboros at September 21, 2011 4:52 PM

Mrs Julien, I can't believe that you are ASS-ASS-inating Dustin's character like that!! However, I too like ass jokes .... for that matter, I just like ass.

And that poster for Secretary ..... hubba hubba .... how do I get her into my office pool???

Posted by: handy_man at September 21, 2011 9:55 PM

I give Kinky Boots a pass, because the title spares us the juncture of thighs. Also because that is one of the movies I put on when I want to make a shitty day better.

Posted by: Reba at September 22, 2011 12:09 AM

Wait, I assiduously asseverate that I haven't assailed anyone here.

I demand to be assoiled.

Buttholes.

Posted by: branded at September 22, 2011 12:45 AM

FART NOISE

Posted by: Rich Mahogany at September 23, 2011 10:39 AM

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The Long and Assy History of Between-the-Legs Movie Posters

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