Around this time last year, I wrote a list of the Best and Worst Trailers of 2013. While there won’t be a “worst” list this year, that just means the trailers of 2014 have been all around much better than before. As studios fight over your hard earned movie money, they’ve been far more creative and unique with their campaigns. From viral videos, to teasers with confidence in the material, having my job of sifting through tons and tons of trailers every day has never been better.
That also means I’ve cherry picked the best and brightest for you all. Some trailers are films releasing next year, some have already come and gone, and one is stuck in limbo. These are the ten trailers that’ll make you want to show up early to your screening to see them on the big screen.
Here are the ten best trailers of 2014.
Honorable Mentions: Interstellar, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Foxcatcher, Knight of Cups, Godzilla, Tomorrowland, Big Hero 6, Godzilla
10. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
This may have gotten on the list just for being a trailer for a new Star Wars movie, but it barely squeaked by. Being the definition of “tease,” this is the trailer that sent a million fans flocking to their keyboards. Haha, we weren’t any different.
9. The Interview
Before all that hullaballoo, The Interview was a small movie about killing a dictator with a really good trailer. Using a semi-popular viral video of young korean boys playing guitar, I had to see this trailer a few times. Good music, it’s cut particularly well, and the final joke is pretty good.
8. American Sniper
Now THIS is how you advertise a military film. The final film may not fulfill all the promise of the first trailer, but there’s still much to chew on. Excellently shot military action, emotional turmoil, and humans instead of soldiers. It’s all delivered in a succinct, gripping fashion and there hasn’t been a quieter trailer this year.
7. Furious 7
While new fans will flock to theater for Paul Walker’s last outing, this first trailer for Furious 7 shows the rest of the world what we’ve known for awhile. Fast & Furious is f**king awesome. #FAMILY
6. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
Mockingjay – Part 1 had such great advertising. Before revealing the conventional trailers, we got a steady stream of propaganda like teaser videos and images. Knowing that it’s a big property folks would’ve seen regardless, it was good to see all the effort when it really wasn’t necessary. Good thing the film itself also capitalized on all of the fervor.
5. Guardians of the Galaxy
To this day I still hear “Hooked on a Feeling” jokes.
4. Fifty Shades of Grey
Fifty Shades of Grey went from being that really bad sounding movie based off of an even worse sounding book to kind of interesting with its first teaser. All it took was a cut that made it seem like a sexually charged horror film and Queen Bey covering own of her own songs in an awesome way. Then the second trailer completely went and undermined all of that goodwill. So much for that, I guess.
3. Nightcrawler
Want to get folks interested in your film? This is how you do it. First releasing as a viral teaser, Nightcrawler went on to be one of my favorite films of 2014 as it utilized all the creepiness found in this short video. A slim Gyllenhaal with sinister eyes and a well written speech does a good trailer make.
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
Coming out of practically nowhere with a boom, Fury Road instantly became my most anticipated film of 2015 with its trailer released over San Diego Comic Con. Gritty, cartoonish, explosive, and stylish as f**k. And this was all done with practical effects! You don’t even need to see any of the other trailers for this film from here on out.
1. Birdman
Maybe I’m crazy?
Maybe you’re crazy?
Maybe we’re crazy?
Probably
What are your favorite trailers from 2014? Do you have a “best” trailer that I didn’t feature here? Leave a comment below or hit me up on Twitter!
