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In the streaming age, TV show poster design may be even more important than traditional ads and promos. We’ve collected our 20 favorite show posters of 2020. Did your favorite shows make the list?

Best overall design

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, dead to me, best overall design

Thoughts on the show poster design

This poster for Netflix’s Dead to Me was our #1 favorite of the year. Beyond showing the faces of the stars, the design immerses you, literally, in their dark world. The reflection easter egg is extra special and the typography is on point. It’s also a great follow-up to the season one poster that showed the women floating rigidly on the pool’s surface. For season two, they’re in a whole lot deeper.

Viewing experience promised

A female-led dramedy with edgy twists

Best sense of movement

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, Killing Eve, best movement

Thoughts on the show poster design

This boldly colored poster for Killing Eve, shown on AMC, was our second overall favorite. The overlaid disjointed text is effective because it’s not the title of the show. The flowy, flamey dresses draw you in to the central line, which clearly highlights the conflict between these women.

Viewing experience promised

Strong women battle without losing femininity

Best photographic mood

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, Home before dark, best photographic mood

Thoughts on the show poster design

Apple TV’s Home Before Dark features a compelling photo of a young girl half-hidden by faceless law enforcement. The photo is moody and evocative, making you instantly connect with the main character.

Viewing experience promised

A dark tale of an under-the-radar investigator

Best storytelling

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, Married at first sight, best storytelling

Thoughts on the show poster design

The design for A&E’s Married at First Sight is rather obvious, in a good way. The nervous expressions on hidden faces combined with the juxtaposition of wedding attire and name tags sends a clear message of the show’s premise. The quantity of text is also handled well.

Viewing experience promised

Reality TV at its best/worst

Most compelling

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, Westworld, most compelling design

Thoughts on the show poster design

This poster for HBO’s Westworld immediately grabbed our attention. The palette is nearly monochromatic and eye-catching. The robot’s devastation is so clear. The jagged building in the background seems to be piercing his cyber heart. The whole effect is unsettling and powerful.

Viewing experience promised

A violent, stylized sci-fi drama

Best use of humor

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, breeders, best use of humor

Thoughts on the show poster design

As the parents of a toddler, we laughed out loud when we saw the poster for Breeders, shown on FX. The minute you process what’s happening in this wonderfully directed photo, you’ll either relate completely or be utterly grossed out. Even the show’s title made us giggle.

Viewing experience promised

A witty and relatable parenting comedy

Best illustration

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, altered carbon, best illustration

Thoughts on the show poster design

The illustration work on this poster for Netflix’s Altered Carbon is top-notch. Star Anthony Mackie remains recognizable while a striking scene grows out of his broken mind. In a market full of photo-illustrative designs, this one stands out for its composition and execution.

Viewing experience promised

A cerebral sci-fi adventure that might break your brain

Most whimsical

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, Katy Keene, most whimsical design

Thoughts on the show poster design

Dark isn’t always dreary, as proved by the design for the CW’s Katy Keene. The trendy palette, whispy clouds, and embellished type come together in a design that’s just plain pretty. The red polka-dot dress makes us think the clothes will speak louder than the characters.

Viewing experience promised

A fashion fantasy full of big dreams

Best use of texture

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, Tiger King, best texture

Thoughts on the show poster design

Netflix went unapologetically orange in its poster for Tiger King. The layered tiger graphics create a hypnotic texture. The photo handling is a little disturbing telling us this guy is not a noble hero. While it takes a back seat to the rest of the design, the typography has a personality of its own.

Viewing experience promised

Compelling, ridiculous, off-putting nonfiction

Most unique concept

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, Everythings gonna be okay, most unique concept

Thoughts on the show poster design

We’ve never seen anything like this design for Freeform’s Everything’s Gonna Be Okay. While many posters feature cast photos, this one is exceptionally creative. Teens, bugs, school, a sense of being put on display or maybe poked and prodded? We commend the designer for selling the network on this one.

Viewing experience promised

A teen-led story that’s equal parts dark and delight

Most eye-catching

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, High Town, most eye catching

Thoughts on the show poster design

Color blocking is used to great effect in this poster for High Town, shown on Starz. The composition is striking with the transparent pill creating a sort-of lens. A brewing storm, red waters, and a sinking figure combine to tell us this is a drama of buried secrets.

Viewing experience promised

A dark-on-dark show that goes beneath the surface

Best headshot

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, better call saul, best headshot

Thoughts on the show poster design

Many show posters feature headshots of the star, but this one for AMC’s Better Call Saul stands out. We get a strong sense of the character from his tacky suit and cheesy grin. But why is he torn up? And can he be put back together? We’re intrigued.

Viewing experience promised

A character-driven story with layers

Best focal point

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, diary of a future president, best focal point

Thoughts on the show poster design

Who wouldn’t resonate with the adolescent woe emanating from this poster for Disney’s Diary of a Future President? The strong focal point keeps our attention on the feelings of the moment. The design is restrained and effective. The typography speaks to the show’s audience.

Viewing experience promised

Middle school is rough. And hilarious.

Best concept execution

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, McMillions, best concept execution

Thoughts on the show poster design

This poster for HBO’s McMillions shows how powerful a simple concept can be when it’s perfectly executed. The playful treatment of such iconic images borders on pop art. The instant brand recognition of McDonald’s is leveraged powerfully, leaving no question about the content of this docu-series.

Viewing experience promised

Uncover the financial scandal of McDonald’s Monopoly game

Best retro design

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, The Politician, best retro design

Thoughts on the show poster design

This poster for Netflix’s The Politician is full-on retro. The composition is well balanced considering the high number of elements. We love the heavily shadowed typography and the striking way the color is handled, giving each perfectly illustrated portrait its own voice.

Viewing experience promised

A parody full of people on a power trip

Best photo handling

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, Good Girls, best photo handling

Thoughts on the show poster design

Never underestimate the power of good COB, that is cut out background. This poster for NBC’s Good Girls shows how a talented designer can seamlessly integrate several photos into one well-composed image. We appreciate the irony of the show title and the fact these women are obviously printing fake money.

Viewing experience promised

Three suburban women tackle a criminal DIY project

Best use of color

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, Ugly Delicious, best color

Thoughts on the show poster design

Most food photography tries to make the dish look as appetizing as possible. Not so for the poster of Netflix’s Ugly Delicious. The food collage is backed by striking, high contrast colors that stand out on the streaming platform. The overall design is busy and bold yet focused.

Viewing experience promised

A messy, yummy, sensory experience

Most curiosity inspiring

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, Mr Inbetween, most curiosity inspiring

Thoughts on the book cover design

The poster for Mr Inbetween, shown on FX, screams suspense—dark empty road, ominous eyes, pink unicorn. Wait. What? We were immediately curious about this show. The contrast of content reminds us how good design can tell a story.

Reading experience promised

A dark comedy that balances suspense and sparkles

Best graphic

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, The Pharmacist, best graphic

Thoughts on the book cover design

The poster for The Pharmacist on Netflix features a striking graphic of figures made out of pharmaceutical dust falling into nothing. Message received. This is also the only black and white design on our list, and the palette feels appropriate for the nonfiction content.

Reading experience promised

An unfiltered look at the dark side of pharmacology

Best cast photo

20 best tv show poster designs of 2020, Kettle Fire Creative blog, The Goldbergs, best cast photo

Thoughts on the book cover design

A good cast photo can make a marketing campaign. The cast photo featured for ABC’s The Goldbergs is full of fun. We truly hope this is a genuine photo and someone really sewed a six-headed sweater. There are too many puns about the “tight knit” cast to start.

Reading experience promised

This silly retro family is close, maybe too close

What do you think of our winners? Have you seen some great TV show posters this year? Share your favorite designs with us in the comments!


Note: Kettle Fire Creative has not necessarily watched and does not endorse any of these shows. The evaluation is based solely on the quality of TV show poster designs. No money was received from the networks, marketing companies, or their affiliates.

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