Top Ten Movie Trailers of 2016

Top Ten Movie Trailers of 2016

January 1, 2017 0 By EVA

Whether you love or hate the movie, the trailer is what gets you to the theater. There’s an art to trailer editing that sometimes goes unappreciated, a delicate balance in choosing key shots and moments that will entice viewers while also making sure not to give too much away. This year has definitely boasted some impressive movie trailers across the board, but for now we’ll focus on the geekier films (of course). Take a look at some of the best trailers of the year (in no particular order) that got our blood pumping, gave us goosebumps and got our hard-earned money to the box office.

1. Logan

This here is an example of EXCEPTIONAL use of music, as “Hurt” by Johnny Cash sets the perfect tone for the film. There’s also very little dialogue, with only about 10 lines being spoken for the entire trailer. Rather than explain the plot or characters, the trailer sets the mood with well-chosen shots and matches great cuts with musical beats to drive it all forward. While the other Wolverine films have had their struggles, this looks like it’s going to be an incredible end to Hugh Jackman’s time as Logan.

2. Wonder Woman

I’ll be honest, I didn’t used to be a huge Wonder Woman fan despite the fact that she’s pretty much the most prominent female superhero of all time. But this trailer? Damn, it gets my heart rate up. Action-packed with a touch of humour and plenty of badass warrior woman kicking butt the entire time. I am so here for this. This trailer makes me feel like I can take on the world.

3. Kubo and the Two Strings

Another great use of music for this animated film with a beautiful rendition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. This trailer really showcased the beautiful art and animation that went into Kubo and the Two Strings, and it really felt like something new and interesting in this year’s animated film roster.

4. Captain America: Civil War (Trailer #2)

Captain America: Civil War won the worldwide box office this year, so it’s no surprise that the trailer made my list. After the first trailer, the Internet basically exploded (I would have used the first trailer but it technically came out in 2015.) But the hype didn’t slow down at all for trailer #2, in fact it sped up to about 73 million views thanks to our first glimpse of a certain webslinger. Speaking of which…

5. Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spidey swings in just in time to make the 2016 cut with his light-hearted debut… or return… reboot… sequel… spin-off? Whatever, it’s awesome. This trailer feels like the high school movie every 90s kid has been waiting for, calling back a decade or so with MGMT’s “Time to Pretend” and playing off a very promising ensemble cast. Meanwhile it still grounds itself nicely into the MCU, throwing in Easter Eggs like a Bruce Banner photo in Peter’s science class. It’s the perfect Spider-Man movie trailer.

6. Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad met some very mixed reviews, but I give major kudos to the trailer editors on this one. Because regardless of how people felt about the movie in the end, the first two trailers definitely did their job of getting people interested and into theaters (even if critics tried to deter people from doing so).

7. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Trailer #2)

Probably one of the most inspirational/motivational trailers of the year. Did I cry the first time I saw it? MAYBE. The fact that it was released about a month before the pivotal US election gave me some major feels. Whereas last year’s The Force Awakens highlighted a new age, this film is of course a return to the originals, but amplified by the advancements in filmmaking which are showcased in some impressive shots in this trailer.

8. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them

This trailer was brief in terms of content but still managed to reel us back into the wizarding world. And the theme at the end… THE THEME. A whimsical promise of the Harry Potter world we know but with a new twist. This was another case of a film that was met with mixed reviews, but got its audience to the theater with the trailer.

9. The LEGO Batman Movie

 

Personally I’m a huge Batman fan, and this year has been pretty serious for him with the introduction of Batfleck in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which has been analyzed and criticized ad nauseam. So it’s nice to get to step back, take a deep breath and just laugh at the antics of a less serious caped crusader. This trailer really was the comic relief we needed, and I can’t wait for the film next year. (Plus, “Black and Yellow” was a hilarious song choice).

10. Kong: Skull Island

This trailer has pretty much the same strengths as the original trailer for the 2014 Godzilla film. The fact that we never get a clear look at Kong is especially tantalizing, and the use of sound is very well done. I didn’t think I could be drawn into yet another King Kong film, but this might have done the trick.

Honorable Mention: Guardians of the Galaxy 2

Alright, alright, I’ll include GOTG 2. Honestly, I was hoping to wait for a ‘full trailer’ as this has technically been labelled only a teaser, and felt more like a “heck yeah we’re back!” since we mostly get character intros instead of hinting at the plot. But it’s still pretty entertaining and deserves a mention here.