American "publicity materials" were forbidden in the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. These Polish movie posters show how the country adapted to these ideological constraints.

American-made movies are shown—and increasingly made for viewing—around the world, so it makes sense that their advertising would change with the country – if for no other reason than to accommodate language difference. Sometimes these changes are barely noticeable, and merely highlight the nuance of a “foreign” perspective. Other times, Rocky ends up looking like a chick flick.

Poland stands out in the international film advertising mix, and rightfully so. From 1945 to 1989, Poland was under the clutches of the Soviet bloc, where U.S. “propaganda” material was strictly banned. Working around the constraints of the ban, Polish artists produced colorful and quirky film posters that often have very little to do with the movie they portray.

These often contrasting, sometimes mind-boggling depictions of American cinema have to be seen to be believed.