What better way to mark a new year than by replacing that old desktop wallpaper that you've been looking at for ages? Movie wallpapers usually consist of predictable still-shots that are nice to look at but nothing more; you're probably looking for something with a little imagination, though.
That's why we've curated this list of the best movie-inspired desktop wallpapers, which all offer a different insight into your favourite films. Whether minimal, illustrative or 3D art (opens in new tab) styles are your bag, there's something here for everyone.
01. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (opens in new tab)
There can't have been many people expecting a weird animated Spider-Man film to be a huge Christmas smash hit, let alone for it to be considered one of the best superhero films of all time, but that's what the frankly bonkers Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has managed to do. Set across multiple parallel universes with a host of Spider-People, including Spider-Ham – a spider that got bitten by a radioactive pig, obviously – it's a whole stack of spiderrific fun, and it's hard not to love this vertigo-inducing desktop tribute.
02. Léon: The Professional (opens in new tab)
Some elements of Luc Besson's hitman classic feel a lot more problematic these days than they did back in 1994, but it's still hard not to love the core story of a kind-hearted assassin taking an orphan under his wing and teaching her the trade. And it's this aspect that's reflected in this stunning hand-drawn close-up.
03. Metropolis (opens in new tab)
Fritz Lang's 1927 epic is regarded as a masterpiece of early sci-fi cinema, boasting stunning special effects and beautiful art direction. The film was inspired visually by Bauhaus, Cubism and Futurism, and these inspirations are reflected in this elegant and understated wallpaper.
04. Akira (opens in new tab)
Katsuhiro Otomo's movie adaptation of Akira was the most expensive animated film ever when it was released in 1988, and it still looks stunning more than 30 years later. We love this atmospheric interpretation by Jonas de Ro (opens in new tab), featuring Shotaro Kaneda and his iconic motorcycle, with Neo-Tokyo exploding in the background.
05. The Shawshank Redemption (opens in new tab)
Who can resist an inspirational quote every now and then? This wallpaper's based on The Shawshank Redemption and nails its subject using just three elements: the tree in the background, the silhouette of a rock hammer, and a single line of dialogue.
06. Pulp Fiction (opens in new tab)
It would be remiss of us not to include a bit of Quentin Tarantino here, and we've opted for this fantastic vector portrait of Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction, catching her just at the moment after she's helped herself to a portion of the wrong substance. Don't try this at home, kids!
07. Dr. Strangelove (opens in new tab)
Peter Sellers might have been the star of Stanley Kubrick's Cold War black comedy, but it's Slim Pickens who steals the show right at the last minute, as he rides an atomic bomb, rodeo-style, down to earth. This lovely minimal silhouette captures that moment perfectly.
08. Batman (opens in new tab)
There's so much Batman to choose from out there, but we've kept things simple with this delightfully angular polygonal representation of the Dark Knight, and in doing so we've avoided annoying anyone by plumping for a specific Batman (although obviously Michael Keaton was the best). Result!
09. The Shining (opens in new tab)
If you like your wallpaper creative, abstract and film-related, perhaps this design is for you. This pattern is taken from the gloriously retro carpet found throughout the The Overlook Hotel in Kubrick's 1980 film adaptation of The Shining.
10. The Grand Budapest Hotel (opens in new tab)
The whole of Wes Anderson's 2014 movie is a work of art, and pretty much any scene would make a stunning desktop background, but the impressive pink front of The Grand Budapest Hotel makes a grand wallpaper display indeed.
11. The Hunger Games (opens in new tab)
We absolutely adore this negative space Hunger Games design. If you are keen to show off your love of the film series but want something a little classier than the bog-standard film wallpaper, this design is sure to capture your imagination.
12. Fight Club (opens in new tab)
"I saw a Fight Club poster the other day on Imgur's website, which inspired me to create this wallpaper," explains designer Alex Cican (opens in new tab). "I'm using two exceptional drawings of Brad Pitt and Edward Norton." A brilliant movie wallpaper for members of Fight Club.
13. Princess Mononoke (opens in new tab)
There's plenty of Studio Ghibli movie wallpapers out there, but our pick is this Princess Mononoke-inspired offering from designer David Lanham. Featuring a forest spirit, a Kodama, set against a life-like background gives it that creative edge we were looking for.
14. Life of Pi (opens in new tab)
The cinematography in Ang Lee's Life of Pi is out of this world. The movie certainly got critics in a spin, with this epic whale scene stuck in many movie-goers' memories. This wallpaper adds an oil-painted effect to make it even more beautiful.
15. Indiana Jones (opens in new tab)
Let's just forget about the most recent Indiana Jones release and instead try to concentrate on the old gems. This comic-inspired movie wallpaper will bring a burst of colour to any creative desktop. We love its old school feel; if only the movie makers had felt the same way!
16. Star Wars (opens in new tab)
How could we compile a list of movie wallpapers without including some sort of Star Wars reference?! Here we go for minimal once again, with this Stormtrooper-inspired movie wallpaper. What more could your desktop want? Well, maybe the others in this list...
Read more:
- The good, the bad and the ugly of movie posters (opens in new tab)
- The top 25 movie posters of all time (opens in new tab)
- How to break into movie concept art (opens in new tab)
