- Papyrus
• By Chris Costello
• Download from My Fonts
• Cost: From $40.99
Although Papyrus is a divisive font, its jolty letters became iconic with its use in the Avatar title graphic. Papyrus has never gained much positive popularity, but when styled and designed individually it can provide everything you need and become unrecognisable. People will be shocked when you tell them your expert typography is actually Papyrus! This font should be used sparingly and only in the right setting, and you should be prepared to adjust it to make it work – but if its groundwork has headlined a world-famous film, it clearly has potential.
- Futura
• By Paul Renner (Paratype)
• Download from Adobe Fonts
• Cost: Free with Adobe subscription
It was inevitable that such a vastly used font would make it to this list, with Paul Renner’s typeface dominating typography all over the world today but especially in the ‘60s. You can’t move for it in genre-defining sci-fi films and space films, with its use on the posters of 2001: A Space Odyssey, inside the space ships in Interstellar, and all over the newspaper props Bladerunner: The Final Cut. In contrasting genres, it’s also been used all over Wes Anderson’s vibrant films, all of which are full of typography-based production design. Type is actually widely relied on to make Anderson’s dream-like worlds convincing, and Futura is used as his house font in all of his films other than Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
- Indiana Jonas
• By Vit Condak
• Download from DaFont
• Cost: Free
The typography of the title graphic from the Indiana Jones film is undoubtedly iconic. Its design was inspired by the styles of old-fashioned adventure posters and also holds connotations of comic strips, fitting for the film’s tone. Although its inspirations stemmed from print, the typography was created for the film’s on-screen title graphic, creating a noticeable homage to its inspirations at the time. These inspirations combined with the wacky orange-yellow gradient make it an iconic moment in on-screen film typography. Indiana Jonas is the most accurate available reworking of the font, available to download from DaFont.
- News Gothic Bold
• By Morris Fuller Benton
• Download from Adobe Fonts
• Cost: Free with Adobe subscription
News Gothic Bold was the font used in the title graphic of the Star Wars film, creating a bold and iconic title that has become synonymous with the franchise. The extra serifs that make the logo so recognisable were hand-modified, but the bones of the typography come from News Gothic Bold. Its flexible nature also placed it in the credits of Star Wars and even in Star Trek as well, making it the ideal fit for all areas of sci-fi films.
- ITC Serif Gothic
• By Antonio DiSpigna, Herb Lubalin, ITC
• Download from MyFonts
• Cost: From $29.99
For those in search of the font used in the world-famous Star Wars typography, ITC Serif Gothic is responsible for the logo of Star Wars. The extra serifs that make the logo so recognisable were hand-modified, but the bones of the typography come from ITC Serif Gothic. Its flexible nature also placed it in the credits of Star Wars and even in Star Trek as well, making it the ideal fit for all areas of sci-fi films.
- Neue Aachen Pro Bold
• By Colin Brignall, Monotype
• Download from Adobe Fonts
• Cost: Free with Adobe subscription
Aachen Bold was the font created by Colin Brignall for the title graphic of Pulp Fiction. Its title graphic and posters all used Helvetica Black, and other variations of the Helvetica family are seen in graphics throughout the whole film. Love Actually is one of the most iconic romance films of the 2000s, and it heavily led the widespread Helvetica-based designs that all romantic comedies used at the time – when the genre was especially rampant and we couldn’t move for Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
- Helvetica
• By Max Meidinger, Eduard Houffmann, Linotype (now Monotype)
• Download from MyFonts
• Cost: $39
One of the most iconic romance films and Christmas films, Love Actually is a film where the use of Helvetica is significant. Its title graphic and posters all used Helvetica Black, and other variations of the Helvetica family are seen in graphics throughout the whole film. Love Actually is one of the most iconic romance films of the 2000s, and it heavily led the widespread Helvetica-based designs that all romantic comedies used at the time – when the genre was especially rampant and we couldn’t move for Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
- Archer
• By Tobias Frere-Jones, Jonathon Hoefler, Hoefler and Co
• Download from MyFonts
• Cost: From $23.81
The Grand Budapest Hotel was one of Wes Anderson’s first films that didn’t use Futura as its primary font, and although Futura did still crop up a few times in the film, Archer is the font that dominated. Used in the title, poster, the hotel’s signage and the credits, the delicate serifs and tall letters of Archer blended into Anderson’s mid-European, aged-looking world perfectly. Anderson’s unique and cult-favourite production design makes Archer’s use in The Grand Budapest Hotel impossible not to mention, especially as this is possibly one of his most well-designed films.
Conclusion:
The use of fonts in film can have a significant impact on the overall aesthetic and tone of a movie. From iconic sci-fi films to romantic comedies, the right font can elevate a film and make it stand out. Whether it’s the bold and iconic News Gothic Bold or the delicate and elegant Archer, the fonts used in these films are a testament to the importance of typography in the film industry.
FAQs:
Q: What is the most iconic font used in film?
A: Helvetica is one of the most iconic fonts used in film, with its use in Love Actually and other romantic comedies of the 2000s.
Q: What font was used in the title graphic of Star Wars?
A: ITC Serif Gothic was used in the title graphic of Star Wars.
Q: What font was used in the title graphic of Pulp Fiction?
A: Aachen Bold was used in the title graphic of Pulp Fiction.
Q: What font is responsible for the logo of Star Wars?
A: ITC Serif Gothic is responsible for the logo of Star Wars.
Q: What font was used in the title graphic of The Grand Budapest Hotel?
A: Archer was used in the title graphic of The Grand Budapest Hotel.
