Preview Perjury: 10 Movie Trailers That Made A Film Look Better Than It Actually Was
© Provided by ColliderCreating a great trailer is an art in itself. In addition to conveying the main plot points and setting the tone of the film, a trailer should condense a 90-minute film into a two-minute collection of moments that capture the viewer's attention and want more without revealing too many details. Some of the trailers did it perfectly, but others struggled, showing movies that look way better than what we got.
RELATED: The best movie trailers that don't give too much away
While these previews were successful in terms of ticket sales, they ultimately resulted in disappointing end products that were remembered for the wrong reasons or were forgotten altogether. Whether you think it's false advertising or the product of a successful marketing team, these trailers promised us more than his films could deliver.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
It 's been a long 16 years since the end of the original Star Wars trilogy , and longtime fans and newcomers alike are gnashing their teeth as they watch the trailer for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Returning to where it all began, it featured younger versions of our favorite characters, iconic music and environments loved by millions around the world.
With George Lucas in full control, the prequels could become the most influential films of all time. Needless to say, that certainly didn't happen, and even with the new wave of fanfare the prequels have received in recent years, it's hard to say they lived up to the hype that first trailer created.
RELATED: Star Wars: Every lightsaber fight in the prequels, ranked
"Transformers: Revenge of the Dead" (2009)
In 2007, The Transformers was a hit that struck a good balance between stunning visuals and a charming comedic tone. The Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen trailer featured similar but more poignant things: first, tonal adjustments from the editing and score provided a mock-terrifying vibe before the Autobots and Decepticons took over. exploded on the screen.
"What is the fallen one?" His question amuses him. Before the release of the trailer, the audience was very interested, but the film itself did not hesitate to seriously solve this mystery. It was a disappointing sequel to its entertaining predecessor, which started a long line of disappointing Transformers films.
Godzilla (1998)
Godzilla dominated the Japanese market as the greatest movie monster of all time in 1998, finally 1998. As if directing the extraordinary Roland Emmerich wasn't enough, Godzilla caught America's attention as one of the best. trailers ever built.
With a T-Rex monologue , suspense building as footsteps approach, and Godzilla stomping on a T-Rex skeleton like nothing ever happened, the trailer stands out as a ride from hell. The film itself didn't live up to expectations, adoring fans returned disappointed, and the box office fell short.
"Forbidden Reception" (2011)
Promising an action-packed, heart-pounding thrill-fest that only Zack Snyder can pull off, the Sucker Punch trailer sold us a film with the perfect blend of directorial style, offbeat script and lively cast of characters. The audience could applaud. To say that expectations were a bit high would be an understatement.
Instead, viewers are left with a somber and depressing story that lasted longer than it should, diverting attention from a visually compelling but ultimately repetitive performance. While millions of people loved the trailer, Sucker Punch left viewers with a bad taste in their mouths and was largely forgotten.
"Hercules" (2014)
Hercules may never have looked like an Oscar-winning masterpiece, even given its huge hype, but its trailer makes it sound like a blast. After all, who wouldn't love to see Dwayne Johnson play the legendary Greek demigod battling giant beasts twice his size?
Unfortunately, those memorable clips from the trailer went back and forth for the first few minutes of the film, while the rest dealt with Hercules' loyalty to the Thracians as a barbarian warlord invaded their region. The lack of originality and the imbalance between dramatic storytelling and self-deprecating comedy meant that the film fell short of expected audiences' expectations.
Prometheus (2012)
It's been 15 years since the last installment in the Alien series (at least the last one without the Predators) and 26 years since the 1986 Alien saga gained widespread acclaim when Prometheus trailers promised a return beyond the series' fame , interest in the film began. . fly to the sky
The polarizing prequel didn't reach the heights of the legendary space saga as many thought and was initially criticized by most fans. Over the years, Prometheus has gone from being a rejected disappointment to a controversial cult classic, but it never quite lived up to the hype and scale that was in the air since that premiere.
RELATED: From 'Alien' to 'The Sun': 10 Creepy But Terrifying Space Horror Movies
"Snowman" (2017)
Based on Yoo Nesbø 's bestseller of the same name, judging by the trailer, The Snowman seems to have taken over the crime genre. A chilling mix of mysticism and horror, all the best elements of the genre seemed to come together in one harrowing film.
Ultimately, the most disappointing thing about the film was its monotony. Despite all the gruesome imagery, puzzle solving, and an extremely talented cast, the film failed to captivate or excite audiences as its twists ranged from the predictable to the absurd.
"Battle: Los Angeles" (2011)
Likely a victim of the hype, Battle: LA fared no worse than other popular sci-fi blockbusters, but it struggled to keep up with its epic trailer. It was so good it made you wince, as it contained a full-length alien invasion that promised a solid and realistic mix of sci-fi spectacle and wartime drama.
Although Aaron Eckhart was praised for his performance and the action scenes were considered technically sound, the film received scathing reviews from critics upon its release and disappointed many viewers. That's a shame considering the trailer presents the film as the culmination of an alien invasion blockbuster.
"Man of Steel" (2013)
Man of Steel didn't just have a great trailer; It was the best marketing campaign ever for a major film. All of the trailers showcased exciting new aspects of the film, reimagining what a Superman movie could be and presenting DCEU as a dark and realistic alternative to the MCU's action-comedy.
Even with hindsight, it's hard to imagine the movie we get from these trailers being so generic and boring, let alone the usual Zack Snyder- esque visuals. Caught between the dynamics of Marvel and the sheer darkness of The Dark Knight trilogy , Man of Steel betrayed its overwhelming enthusiasm and fantastic cast - and failed to deliver on the promise of a new superhero.
RELATED: The best comic book movie trailers of all time
"Suicide Squad" (2016)
Anyone who says "you can't polish a stick" has never seen what the Suicide Squad marketing team did to put together one of the best trailers of all time. Set to the tune of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," the preview featured stylized violence and promised to list iconic villains played by Hollywood stars.
It would be unfair to call the film the biggest disappointment in blockbuster action history. The chemistry wasn't right, the jokes weren't engaging, neither were most of the characters, and whatever the action, the trailer lacked the emotion and flair that were the film's main selling point.
READ MORE: 2023 in cinemas: The 10 most anticipated sci-fi movies of 2023
