Posters play an important role in the marketing of a movie, providing the average moviegoer with a glimpse into what they may or may not be getting themselves into. While one should never judge a movie by its poster, some are obviously more effective than others. We've put together a gallery of our picks for the best and worst movie posters of 2008.

Photo by Warner Bros. PicturesThe Best:
YES MAN

The look on Jim Carrey's face alone makes you believe in the power of Yes.

Photo by Walt Disney PicturesThe Worst:
BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA

Looking at this poster, one can't help but think of a feature-length Taco Bell commercial.

The Best:
STEP BROTHERS

Ferrell and Reilly strike a pose, evoking the cheesetastic department store studio family portrait.

The Worst:
MEET DAVE

Admit it -- you're overcome with the urge to clean out your ears.

Photo by Macall Polay/Focus FeaturesThe Best:
BURN AFTER READING

This retro-styled one sheet is a brilliant tip of the hat to graphic designer Saul Bass.

Photo by MGMThe Worst:
COLLEGE

It's a guy sticking his head into what appears to be a glowing toilet. Not the most tasteful way to sell a movie, but at least you know exactly what you're getting into.

Photo by Touchstone PicturesThe Best:
MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA

The Buffalo Soldier's protective arm around Matteo Sciabordi provides a simple, striking image.

Photo by PicturehouseThe Worst:
THE WOMEN

There is an astounding feat of airbrushing happening between the women on this poster. Is it Botox -- or is it Photoshop?

Photo by Warner Bros. PicturesThe Best:
GRAN TORINO

This poster leaves you with no doubt that at 78 years old, Clint Eastwood could still take on... well, anybody.

Photo by Universal PicturesThe Worst:
CHANGELING

Look out, kid! Run! Giant Angelina is going to eat you! (Or perhaps adopt you.)

Photo by Miramax FilmsThe Best:
BLINDNESS

This haunting teaser provides subtle glimpse into Fernando Meirelles' tale about an epidemic of blindness.

Photo by Sony PicturesThe Worst:
HANCOCK

There are close-ups, there are extreme close-ups... then there's Hancock.

Photo by Lionsgate Films'The Best:
W.

The President is ready for his close-up, Mr. Stone.

Photo by Lionsgate FilmsThe Worst:
BANGKOK DANGEROUS

The most interesting thing happening on this poster is Nicolas Cage scratching his armpit.

Photo by Lionsgate FilmsThe Best:
TRANSPORTER 3

Jason Statham is no James Bond, but this ultra-cool one-sheet is almost 007-esque.

The Worst:
WANTED

Aside from the floating figures awkwardly posed above the skyline, how is it that Angelina Jolie's scrawny arm can support the weight of that gun?

The Best:
THE DARK KNIGHT

Long before The Dark Knight opened to become the biggest movie of the year, this creepy teaser provided moviegoers with a twisted taste of the Joker's madness.

Photo by Universal PicturesThe Worst:
FROST/NIXON

This poster isn't terrible, but it does certainly suffer from the bewildered look on Michael Sheen's face.

The Best:
THE INCREDIBLE HULK

Avoiding the snarling green face of the Hulk, this poster instead turns the attention on Bruce Banner's turmoil with the beast inside.

The Worst:
MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN

This one-sheet actually isn't half-bad, but any poster bearing the awful title "Midnight Meat Train" automatically lands itself on this list.

The Best:
MAN ON WIRE

It's a man. On a wire. But the wire is strung between the twin towers of the World Trade Center, which is what makes this documentary -- and the poster -- so intriguing.

Photo by Lionsgate FilmsThe Worst:
SAW V

This is simply gross. But it does get points for effectively capturing the spirit of the "Saw" franchise.

The Best:
HAROLD AND KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY

Neil Patrick Harris is a pretty funny guy. NPH astride a unicorn? Genius.

The Worst:
CHAPTER 27

An overweight Jared Leto as the man who murdered John Lennon. See the poster, and you've seen enough.

The Best:
THE AIR I BREATHE

A clean, nicely designed poster for a little-seen indie emsemble drama.

The Worst:
YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN

As a general rule, no one should ever have to see Adam Sandler doing the splits in a pair of cutoff shorts.

The Best:
CLOVERFIELD

For a while, this ominous teaser featuring a decapitated Statue of Liberty (and a release date) were all moviegoers had to go on. But it was enough.

The Worst:
MAD MONEY

Okay, okay. We get it. It's about money. Mad money.

Photo by IFC FilmsThe Best:
PING PONG PLAYA

This movie is about a cocky, trash-talking ping pong player. But you probably already figured that out.

The Worst:
ONE MISSED CALL

E.T. phone home. A little creepy, but mostly just weird.

The Best:
TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE

This stark one-sheet for Alex Gibney's Oscar-winning documentary could double as both movie marketing and political art.

The Worst:
OVER HER DEAD BODY

It's true -- Eva Longoria Parker has a beautiful body. Here, however, it appears to be suffering from a really fake-looking Photoshop job.

The Best:
THE BANK JOB

A classy old-school throwback, complete with retro border, to go with the movie's 1970s heist plot.

The Worst:
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS

Ashton Kutcher's obnoxious finger point is what does it. Cameron, you just got Punk'd!

The Best:
THE SPIRIT

This bold teaser triptych is an unmistakable appeal to fans of comic book visionary Frank Miller.

The Worst:
PROM NIGHT

Just replace "Prom Night" with "Oops! My Tiara!" and you could market the movie as an uproarious comedy.

The Best:
FUNNY GAMES

Naomi Watts' tear-streamed face is simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.

The Worst:
UNTRACEABLE

This otherwise unremarkable poster is completely ruined by the tacky cursor sitting on Diane Lane's face.

The Best:
QUANTUM OF SOLACE

This image, in all its simplicity, tells you everything you really need to know: James Bond is back, and he's bringing an extremely large gun.

The Worst:
THE HOTTIE AND THE NOTTIE

Legend has it, if you stare at this poster long enough, you will turn into stone.