How do you sell a movie to the public? That question's been a challenge to moviemakers for decades, and the answers they come up with over the years have shown a wide range of creativity and style. In fact, a lot of great trailers don't show any footage from the actual movie itself. (And fun fact: trailers got their name because they originally used to appear "trailing" after the main feature.)
Sometimes before a trailer goes out, studios also release what's called a teaser – a shorter version containing just a small taste of what to expect. It's all about salesmanship with a streak of artistry, and as you'll see today in How Movies Find Audiences when we choose a few of trailers that dared to think outside of the box, the right mix can really pay off.
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Using a single camera set up over and over, Britain's bad boys of comedy turn a simple voiceover pitch into a laugh riot.
- Alien: The editing of movie trailers was never the same again after this dialogue-free, rapid-fire exercise in mounting terror created entirely through sound effects and editing.
- Comedian: This documentary about stand-up comedy featuring Jerry Seinfeld has one of the most unexpected trailers ever made… and to say any more would spoil the fun.
- Miracle on 34th Street: A trailer about the making of a trailer? Sounds like a risky move, but here's how Fox pulled it off for this Christmas classic.
- Cloverfield: The theatrical trailer met viral video with this terrifying collage of images that had the online community abuzz as soon as it debuted.
- Where the Wild Things Are: Another trailer that became a viral sensation, this one uses a powerful song choice (The Arcade Fire's "Wake Up") and innovative editing to create a two-minute work of art.
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Part fake sales pitch, part brilliant music video with ELO music —this is how you promote a film that seems to defy description.
- 1941: Comic actor John Belushi was so popular when this teaser was made, they didn't even need to use a second of footage from the actual film. Instead, audiences got to see this...
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day: One of the most famous of all teasers was this simple but effective promo, using no footage from the film itself and a single, effective line of dialogue.
- Superbad: The modern comedy trailer wouldn't be the same without this groundbreaking blend of retro graphics, funk, Van Halen, and one of the first major viewer drives to a website for extra, unrated videos.
What's the most memorable trailer you've ever seen?
