Another Top 10 Movie Trailers

The appearance of strange and unusual crop circles has always proved to be a great mystery throughout our history. Many believe they are visual proof that aliens exist and have been visiting our planet for some time now. M. Night Shyamalan took full advantage of this phenomenon, using it to creepy effect in the first trailer for “Signs.” Intercut with terrifying footage from the film and complemented by creepy, suspenseful music, audiences were left wanting more and this trailer definitely drove them to the theaters to explore the mystery.

Pixar is most certainly a heavyweight when it comes to heart-warming animation. With a string of hits, anticipation was high for “WALL-E,” a story about a lonely robot that follows his heart and embarks on an epic journey in the process. This trailer expanded on its brilliant teaser, making us fall in love with the titular hero upon our first glimpse of him. What followed was a brief but tantalizing preview of the film’s humor and adventure, which quickly sucked in both children and adults alike – as proven by its massive critical and commercial success.

On the surface, this trailer for the 2014 Australian supernatural horror film “The Babadook” might seem like every horror trailer you’ve ever seen. But what separates it from the others is its sense of pacing and imagery. Good horror films don’t rely on jump scares and quick cuts to scare you. Instead, the terror comes from what you don’t see and often from well-placed sound design. The trailer builds and builds until the last shot, leaving you with goose bumps and a reluctant desire to see this scary thrill ride.

“If you want to win the lottery, you have to make the money to buy a ticket.” Lou Bloom repeats this motto over and over again until it’s ingrained in our brains. The first trailer for “Nightcrawler” is a perfect example of what a great one should be. It sold the neo-noir thriller thanks to Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, while never revealing the plot or spoiling any of the story. The footage could easily turn off viewers by being too disturbing, but instead it is cut together to make us more intrigued than ever.

What better way to follow up what’s been considered one of the best comic book adaptations with a sequel that was also the final installment of Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy? The trailer for “The Dark Knight Rises” opens with the haunting voice of an angelic-looking boy, throngs of people and a quick flash of the highly anticipated Bane. Enter Michael Caine as Alfred, who speaks with grave worry and self-disappointment, to Bruce Wayne and that’s all that’s needed to get tongues a-wagging. Oh, but there’s more – so much more; “There’s a storm coming, Mr. Wayne” purrs Catwoman, and what follows is image after image of the film’s promised action, chaos, and celebrity-filled goodness that, by its end, no one could wait for the Bat to “rise.”

Stanley’s Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” is without question a landmark in both cinema and science fiction. And the trailer introduced audiences to a film unlike anything they’ve ever seen before with teases of its breathtaking effects and amazing imagery, and glimpses of the monumental film made our senses yearn for more. Relying heavily on its epic theme music instead of dialogue to bring in audiences to the magnificence of what was coming their way; this trailer is as unique as the film itself. Simply mind blowing.

With 2012’s monster hit “The Avengers” smashing box office records and proving that Marvel’s risk had paid off, audiences the world over were highly anticipating a preview for what was to come next. What they got from this sneak peek, which can be considered both a teaser and a trailer, can only be summed up with one word: awesome! New heroes. Classic heroes. A menacing new villain with a haunting voice. Amazing action set pieces. Easter eggs. The Hulkbuster armor! All topped off with a darker rendition of “I’ve Got No Strings” from “Pinocchio”, this trailer is one for the record books. And the follow-up trailer got our juices flowing even more!

Marvel Studios had a tough egg to crack when approaching marketing for their 2014 hit “Guardians of the Galaxy.” If audiences didn’t know who Iron Man was back in 2008, they most certainly didn’t know anything about a talking raccoon and a tree-like humanoid. This trailer hilariously introduced us to the titular heroes, the space opera concept and the off the wall humor in one go. Cut to the tune of Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling,” there was spark of anticipation with each repetition of “Ooga-Chaka!”

What is the Matrix? The first trailer for the Wachowskis’ 1999 science fiction action film left audiences asking this very question, telling us that we have to see it for ourselves! Showcasing the movie’s spectacular effects, real-time action and glimpses of its deeper mysteries, this trailer is as mind-blowing as the film itself. “The Matrix” was a milestone in cinema history and the trailer was like the red pill, a gateway to an experience like no other. Just remember, there is no spoon.

Before we unveil our top pick, here a few honorable mentions:
- “Skyfall” (2012)
- “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)
- “American Sniper” (2014)
- “Interstellar” (2014)
- “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows - Part 2” (2011)

Martin Scorsese’s wild and crazy film about the real-life stockbroker Jordan Belfort that pleaded guilty to charges of stock market manipulation - among other crimes - was shocking to say the least. This trailer introduced audiences to a fast-paced world with a cast of characters that are as wacky as they are strange, showing us the decadence and indulgence of a man that truly had it all. Although in actuality, Belfort’s actions are no laughing matter; this trailer showed us that these guys certainly had fun while it lasted.

Do you agree with our list? What do you think is the best movie trailer? For more teasing top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.