This poster analysis discusses the key elements of the movie poster for The Martian and how they target different audiences. The primary visual element is Matt Damon's space helmet which signifies the science fiction genre and draws in fans of director Ridley Scott's previous sci-fi films. Damon's unemotional stare and the tagline "Bring Him Home" in the center attract attention and imply the plot of getting home. References to NASA and Damon's past action roles aim to appeal to male audiences aged 16-35, while his good looks may draw some female viewers as well. Overall the poster uses visual and textual cues to communicate the science fiction genre and target predominantly male audiences.

1. The Martian Poster Analysis
His face shows no
emotion,likeablank
stare .It’svery
masculine andshows
no fear.This
representsthe type
of audience forthis
filmbeing,amale
orientatedaudience.
His eye contact
withthe
audience
showsdirect
mode of
address. The
directorhas
usedthisso the
audience can
see whatthe
maincharacter
mightbe
feelingwhen
lookingathis
eyesandface.
Formal mode of addressshownon
the title of the film,because of the
fontusedfor the title of the film.
The actor inthe filmMatt Damon is
mostlyknownforstarringin
blockbusteractionfilms,makinghis
target audience forhisfilmswould
be male audience whoare aged16-
35 wholike actionfilms.Thisiswhy
RidleyScottcast himas a main
character inthisfilmto broaden
the audience.
The filmstag line is“BringHim
Home”,whichgivesthe ideaof how
far awayfrom home he might be,
and whyhe has a vague lookon his
face. Thisrepresentsthe genre of the
film, science fiction.The use of the
tag line andthe space suit, are used
togethersothe audience knowwhat
to expectthe plotof the filmtobe.
The audience forthisfilmis
predominantlymale,because Matt
Damon isinaction filmswhichare
usuallytargeted towards men.A
female audience isdrawnto
watchingthisfilmbecause of his
looks, whichbroadensthe audience
for thisfilm.
Primary Optical Area
Strong Fallow Area
WeakFallow Area Terminal Area

2. The Martian Poster Analysis
Primary Optical Area : The primaryoptical areafor thisposteristhe helmetwhichthe mainstar
Matt Damonis wearing.Thisisa goodway forthe audience to have an ideaof what genre the filmis
goingto be which isscience fiction. The use of the director’s name inthe middle of the helmet
catchesthe audience’seyebecause of the readinggravity. RidleyScottisa well-knownscience
fictiondirectorwhohasdirectingbig filmssuch asthe science fiction- horrorAlienwhichwas
releasedin1979. The audience whoenjoy filmssuchasAlienwill be drawntowatchingthisfilm.The
audience for science fictionhorrorfilms suchas alien,are usuallymales.Filmslike thisare targeted
more towardsa male audience becauseof the action,violence,blood,anddeaththatmightbe
featuredinthe film.
Strong Fallow Area : The strongfallowareaforthisposteristhe tag line andthe protagonistsface
whichisin the centre of the poster.The tag line beinginthe centre of the posterisveryeye
catchingfor the audience,because of the use of a large white fontwhichmakesitstandoutagainst
Matt Damon’sface. While readingthe tagline the audience will see the starsface inthe centre.The
star gives a directmode of addressto the audience.Asthe audience are readingthe tagline, Matt
Damon’seyesare lookingstraightatthe audience,givinganalmostemotionlesslookto them.This
couldbe linkedtothe tag line “BringHimHome”.His face looksverystrongbut almostfearless,the
linktothe tag line couldbe thathe misseshome andisdeterminedto getback.
WeakFallow Area : The weakfallowareaisthe title of the film“The Martian” whichistowardsthe
bottomof the poster. Thisfilmistargetedtowardsscience fictionfans,whoare usuallymales.The
use of the actor Matt Damontargets a differenttype of audience,fansof filmshe haspreviously
done whichare mostlyactionfilms,whoare predominatelymales,aged16-35 yearsold.Thiswill
broadenthe audience forthe filmalsothe directorof the filmRidleyScott’sfanswill be attractedto
watchingthe film,because of hispreviouswork. The filmtittle“The Martian “ givesanideaof the
genre of filmitis.Whenthe audience thinkof “The Martian”,theywill instantlythinkof ascience
fictionfilmbasedinspace,andthentheywill readthe tagline “BringHimHome”.Thiswill give them
an ideaof what the mainplotis goingto be about, and if theyare interestedinwatchingitornot.
Terminal Area : The terminal areaof the posteris at the bottomof the posterwhichisthe names
of everyone involvedinthe makingof the film.Inthe rightcornerat the bottomof the posteronthe
characters space uniformisthe wordNASA,whichgivesthe audience anideathatthe character is
on a missionfromthe space companyNASA andhow he wantsto getback home. Most science
fictionfilmsare usuallybasedinspace,sothe use of the NASA writingonthe space suit, isusedto
define the genre of the film.Science fictionfilmsare more commonlytargetedtoamale audience,
usuallybetweenthe agesof 16-35, from a lowerworkingclass,to uppermiddle class.Mostfilms
Matt Damonstars in are action filmssuchasSavingPrivate Ryan,whichare targetedto a similar
type of audience.A female audience will be drawntothe filmbecause of the mainstarsgoodlooks,
whichhelpsmix the audience,andtobroadenit.