Top 10 Trailers of December 2017

Script written by Michael Wynands

Top 10 Trailers of December 2017

‘Tis the season for awesome trailers! Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be counting down the Top 10 Trailers of December 2017.

For this list, we’ve ranked the best film, TV and video game trailers released throughout the month of December.

#10: “Sicario 2: Soldado” (2018)

Denis Villeneuve’s 2015 crime thriller about a covert FBI effort to take down Mexican drug cartels may have flown under a few people’s radars, but it told a harrowing tale of violence and corruption, while still netting a tidy profit. For those who missed it, we highly recommend going back and checking it out, because a sequel is forthcoming, and by the looks of this trailer, it’s going to make for some must-watch cinema. Though Emily Blunt is sitting this one out, by the looks of this first trailer, del Toro and Josh Brolin are plenty capable of carrying the film themselves. Atmospheric and tense, the trailer sets the stage for another gritty thrillride of a movie.

#9: “The Polka King” (2018)

Jack Black’s cinematic offerings are admittedly inconsistent. For every gem like “School of Rock,” there’s sadly also a dud like “Gulliver’s Travels”. After watching this compelling first trailer though, we’re admittedly feeling cautiously optimistic about “The Polka King”. Based on a true story, it explores the exploits of Jan Lewan, a Polish immigrant turned massive American polka star, who used his fame to exploit fans via a Ponzi scheme. It’s a story that reaffirms the old adage that “life is stranger than fiction”, and based on reviews from its Sundance premiere that promise a somewhat absurd comedy, it looks as though Jack is back.

#8: “Ocean’s 8” (2018)

Holy freaking ensemble cast. We didn’t think you could possibly compete with the star-studded offering of Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy, but in this all-female spin-off, director Gary Ross, is certainly making a go for it. At the center of it all is Sandra Bullock as Danny Ocean’s estranged sister and fellow con, Debbie. And joining the magnetic Miss Congeniality star? Oh you know… just the likes of Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter and rising star Awkwafina. From the looks of this first trailer, Ross has managed to recreate the frenetic magic of Soderbergh’s series, while giving it his own undeniably fresh twist.

#7: “Sense8” (2015-18)

This series by the Wachowskis might not have generated the viewing numbers that Netflix wanted, but it managed to cultivate a passionate, dedicated fan-base of rabid viewers. And when Sense8 was cancelled after two season, those devotees rallied to make their voices heard. Thankfully, this is one fan campaign that didn’t fall on deaf ears, and Netflix greenlit this 2 hour special series finale to give Sense8, its characters and fans some much needed closure. This first look is equal parts teaser, behind-the-scenes production video and nostalgic retrospective. Not only will this first look get you pumped for the finale, but it’ll remind you of why you fell in love wirth Sense8 to begin with.

#6: “Death Stranding” (TBA)

As graphics and computational power continue to improve exponentially, the line between the aesthetics of cinema and gaming grows ever thinner. With this trailer for the long-gestating “Death Stranding”, which debuted at the 2017 Game Awards, and stars Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen, that line has all but disappeared. The cinematics are stunning, the narrative gripping and the atmosphere… almost too tense to handle. In addition to all the ways in which the game is visually remarkable, the concept feels equally fresh. Honestly, we would have enjoyed this as a simple short film, but given that it’s a trailer for a game we’ll actually get to play… “excited” is an understatement.

#5: “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom ” (2018)

In 2015, this franchise came roaring back into theaters with Jurassic World, proving it still had teeth enough to dominate the box office. And now, we finally, have our first look at the sequel. The filmmakers promised that this instalment would deliver more dinosaurs than we’d ever seen before, and in this trailer alone, they’ve delivered. Things have changed on Isla Nubar, where the dinosaurs and mother nature have reclaimed the land. In a desperate bid to save the dinos from an imminent volcanic eruption, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing put themselves in harm’s way yet again. Based on this first look, it doesn’t take long for them to find it.

#4: “Black Mirror” (2011-14; 2016-)

Who’s ready to be entertained, engaged, intellectually stimulated and most likely made to feel anxious and uncomfortable? Charlie Brooker’s hit anthology series is back for a fourth season, and in order to spread the good word and get you pumped, Netflix has released a whole barrage of trailers to remind you that this series is unlike any other. For our purposes, we’ve selected the trailer for the entire season, because, with everything crammed into just 2 minutes, this hectic sampling makes us really appreciate just how diverse the stories are that they’re telling. Of course, for a better look at each of these unique tales, we highly recommend scoping out episode-specific trailers as well.

#3: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2017)

Who knows if we’ll ever get to see Miles Morales don the spider-suit in the MCU, but giving him his own animated feature film is certainly a good start. Voiced by up and comer Shameik Moore, who you may know from his roles in “Dope” and “The Get Down”, this film’s Spider-Man is faced with the daunting task surviving adolescence while also filling the void left by Parker’s death. In addition to a killer soundtrack, this trailer showcases an animation style that uniquely blends comic book style art with contemporary 3D animation. With Phil Lord and Chris Miller producing, and the Spider-Verse seemingly central to the plot, you can expect plenty of surprises.

#2: “Annihilation” (2018)

Are you paying attention to Alex Garland yet? You REALLY should be. After blowing away cinemagoers and critics alike with his directorial debut, “Ex Machina,” the filmmaker returns with what looks to be another breathtakingly original piece of cinema. Starring Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez and Tessa Thompson, Annihilation follows an expedition into a quarantined zone where the environment and creatures have clearly taken a sharp left turn. Terrifying yet hauntingly beautiful at times, the trailer promises a thrilling ride, with a story and concept that grabs you and pulls you, desperate for more.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Far Cry 5” (2018)

“Krypton” (2018-)

“Mortal Engines” (2018)

#1: “Ready Player One” (2018)

With this trailer, Steven Spielberg’s upcoming adaptation of Ernest Cline’s ode to geek culture is shaping up to be one of the most exciting films of 2018. While the San Diego Comic Con teaser felt like little more than a VFX highlights reel, this trailer provides the uninitiated with a better sense of our protagonist, Wade Watts, the worlds he inhabits, both real and virtual, and the odds he’s up against in his quest for the ultimate easter egg. Of course, there are even more groundbreaking examples of CGI on display too, which, coupled with a compelling story, has us really hoping that this film lives up to its massive potential.