Magazine Cover Analysis: Empire

This magazine cover is Empire’s February 2011 cover, featuring Johnny Depp as the cover model. This issue’s main feature is the exclusive behind-the-scenes look at ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’.  Empire magazine was first released in July 1989 and is the biggest selling movie magazine in the U.K, as well as being published in several other countries internationally, including the U.S.A and Australia. Owned by Bauer Media Group after its purchase in 2008, the magazine sells for £3.99 per issue and has a circulation of 145,117.

This cover follows the general conventions of magazine covers by having a masthead (EMPIRE), a strapline (Movie’s biggest year ever!), a cover photo (Johnny Depp), a barcode (bottom right, out of the way of the photo and text) and cover text, to advertise the contents.

The colour scheme focuses on black, yellow and white. The red masthead is a commonly used staple of Empire magazine that features on almost every single one of its covers. Red is a highly visible colour which grabs the eye, therefore when a viewer looks at the cover, they will very quickly be drawn to the title. If they are already a fan of the magazine, this will allow them to easily pick it out from the hordes of other magazines. The black, yellow and white colours are also highly visible, making them easier to read against the tropical background of the photograph, while at the same time matching it.

The cover photo of the cover is of Johnny Depp as the character Captain Jack Sparrow from the movie franchise ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. The face of this photograph, specifically the eyes, are the main focal point of the cover, drawing the viewer’s gaze in, piquing their curiosity with the way the subjects own eyes stare straight out. This technique makes it seem like the subject is staring directly at the viewer, no matter where the viewer is standing. This forces the viewer to hold the gaze for as long as possible, meaning they will be staring at the magazine for longer than the other magazines and as such, will be more likely to buy it as they are already interested in it.