Top 10 Trailers of the Year

Yes, I love me some trailers. I'm happy to report that trailers seem to be not giving away as much anymore, but there is a slight surge in more trailers. For instance, it used to be there'd just be one trailer, maybe a teaser. Now, major summer tentpoles are releasing a teaser a year in advance, then several full trailers as the release date approaches. Even what may seem like a full trailer can be replaced a month or 2 before the release date with another full trailer.

What makes a great trailer? I think it's more about editing than anything else. It's 2.5 minutes of footage, but if it has a specific flow and energy to it, I think that's what makes it work. The footage it shows is also imperative. For a comedy, make sure the stuff is funny but there should be an apparent feel that there's more than just the best jokes being shown. An action film needs several WOW money shots. For an adult drama, play up prestige and make it look new, not cliched. Make sure your demographic is played to, but don't ignore the rest.

Ok, forget that. Just watch these:

#10
Creating a chilling ambiance for a story that almost everyone knows, the trailer is also a strong acting showcase. (Sony Pictures Classics)

#9
Excellent use of imagery - most notably Cash standing in the field, and instead of predictably using the title song, opts for "Ring of Fire." (20th Century Fox)

#8
Looks powerful and compelling, certain to get people talking, and very moving. Did I mention it's barely longer than 2 minutes? Exactly. (DreamWorks/Universal)

#7
Gotta love any trailer that makes fun of trailers. It puts the summer blockbuster in check. This trailer - originally intended only for the internet - was so popular it ended up in theatres anyways. (TouchStone)

#6
How do you get people excited for a big issue movie? Make it timely. Make it thrilling. This trailer revs up the excitement in what is most likely a quiet movie. Deceptive, of course. (Warner Bros.)

#5
Both trailers are excellent and really exciting, but the second one is better. It oozes cool. (Dimension Films)

#4
A boring, standard movie that uses a great score and epic cinematography to give the derivitive film a Gladiator-like feel. (20th Century Fox)

#3
Like #5, uses exciting music to play up the timely subject matter. Excellent use of music, from Aaron Neville to Kanye West. (Universal)

#2
Know your demographic. This movie obviously don't play to everyone, so instead they opt for an independent type of humor and hip music to sell a Lost In Translation-esque film. (TouchStone)

#1
If only every trailer was like this one. If only DreamWorks hadn't put out a second trailer that exposed the whole movie. While the movie may have been slightly cliched, it was pulled off well, and the trick to this trailer isn't what is shown, but what isn't. Trailers often are bait, and the movie itself is the switch. Go in thinking you're getting one thing when you're actually getting another. This trailer pulls off the bait for the most part but then throws in the switch. Think you're seeing a hip, new romcom. BAM. Nice switch. At first you feel like you're seeing a lot of the movie, but by the end, you realized you've seen nothing. It may have confused some people - is he a vampire? - but it sure got you interested in what exactly was going on. The best trailer of the year. (DreamWorks)