There use to be a time when movies got one trailer. One trailer to grab the audience’s attention. Today, movies get two, three or even four trailers some of them three minutes long. Theatrical trailers, feature trailers, international trailers, trailer previews…yes, even the trailers are getting trailers. Thankfully, one thing hasn’t changed - the teaser trailer.
No matter how massive the movie is expected to be, you can be sure there’s only going to be one teaser trailer. One unique moment to generate buzz, sometimes a whole year before the movie is even released. Some filmmakers have turned teasers into an art, (looking at you, Mr. Nolan), while others don’t seem to understand the concept.
A great teaser manages to capture the audiences’ interest, sometimes without much (or any) footage from the actual film. It can be dialogue or voice over or something shot just to let everyone know the movie’s coming. So, without further adieu, here are my top ten CBM teaser trailers in chronological order.
1. SPIDER-MAN (2002)
This rare teaser trailer resembles more of a short film or sizzle reel or a pitch. A bank robbery goes off without a hitch. The culprits seem to get away until they find their helicopter stuck in a giant web between the World Trade Center. That should answer any question of why some of you may not have seen it.
Still, this is arguably the best teaser trailer ever made - it sucks the audience in and announces the big screen debut of one of the most popular comic book characters ever. And it doesn’t use footage from the movie except for some web-swinging shots. Add Leave You Far Behind by Lunatic Calm and you've got yourself a winner.
2. DAREDEVIL (2003)
Regardless of your feelings towards the film itself, the teaser trailer for Daredevil was really well done. It’s the gargoyle shot that sells it. The first time you pass over them you aren’t entirely sure if you saw a statue or a man. Then we get our answer as we see Ben Affleck in costume. We’re treated to a few shots from the film but nothing is really given away. The film may not be all that great but it’s teaser trailer is.
3. HULK (2003)
One of the best ever. The very definition of teaser. They didn’t bother using anything from the film for this, just Eric Bana staring into a mirror while we hear his voice over. And it’s a great voice over. Him confessing that he likes the feeling of losing control and turning into this beast. Even more of a tease, all we see of "The Other Guy" is a shot of the Hulk’s eye, then a bathroom sink right at our faces. For me, the film was underwhelming but this teaser was top notch.
4. SPIDER-MAN 2 (2004)
This teaser hits you with a great WTF moment. It’s the diner scene with Peter and MJ. Sappy soap opera stuff and then BAM! No one expects a car to come crashing through the window. The teaser gives us shots but not too much. We do see Harry with a knife standing over Spidey but, seeing this for the first the time, that doesn’t give a whole lot away. No, the theatrical trailer does that instead. This is easily one of the best teaser trailers out there.
5. BATMAN BEGINS (2005)
Warner Bros. took a page out of Universal’s book with the voice over hook. As with Eric Bana’s Bruce Banner, Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne monologues about his searching and a discovery. Discovering something dark and relentless.
I’m not as enamored with Christopher Nolan as a director as some people here are but the man knows how to put together a teaser. The trailer shows scope and sets a tone right away. You know immediately the neon, camp and Bat-Nipples are a thing of the past. And it’s capped off with flashes of a Batman that would go on to gross billions at the box office.
6. SUPERMAN RETURNS (2006)
Three words - the Planet Krypton. The moment composer John Williams’ score seeps in over the Warner Bros’ logo this trailer is given class. It’s majestic in a way. It’s amazing how a single piece of music can make a trailer. Williams’ piece could make a Monster High trailer feel poetic.
The images fade from one shot to the next but the music, and Marlon Brando’s voice over gives them depth. Superman Returns wasn’t the reboot Warner and Bryan Singer were hoping for but at least we got a great teaser trailer out of it.
7. THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
Nolan gets it. Teasers are meant to tease the audience. You know the director and studio have done their job when the audience wishes there was more. Most of the teaser is just black with streaks of light. There are a few lines of dialogue from the film as we see the bat symbol literally crumble before our eyes.
The kicker is hearing Heath Ledger as the last piece of the symbol flies at us, revealing a glimpse of the Joker card. I’m not a part of the “TDK is the best comic book movie of all time” club but this is one of the best teaser trailers, hands down.
8. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011)
One can argue this isn’t really a teaser. It’s the 1st trailer Fox officially released but it doesn’t show too much. There are really only a few lines of dialogue so I think it qualifies as a teaser. Who knew Half a Man and John F. Kennedy would go so well together?
What I like about this trailer is the sense of a new beginning. Not because it actually says “Witness the beginning” but because of seeing James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender in their roles as Charles and Erik. The 60s aesthetic gave the sense this film would be different from the other CBMs being released. And it was. No way I wasn’t adding this to the list.
9. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)
And for the trifecta - The Dark Knight Rises teaser trailer is either lazy or brilliantly calculated, depending on how you look at it. It’s one of those cases where you have a 90 second trailer and most of it is footage from the previous films. As a viewer you’re like, “They just spent over half the trailer showing us old stuff”. Which leaves you with only a few seconds of actual new footage. What makes this one of the top? Well, the flash of a blurry Bane, for one. But it’s the 2 second glimpse of his back as he closes in on an exhausted Batman that seals it. Frustrating, right? Yeah, it’s a teaser. And, again, Nolan gets it.
10. MAN OF STEEL (2013)
Say what you will about Man of Steel but this teaser trailer is amazing. Composer Howard Shore’s Bridge to Khazad Dum was a fantastic choice. It’s another of those moments when a piece of music makes the trailer. David S. Goyer has been said to be hit or miss but the monologue he wrote for Russel Crowe’s Jor-El was touching and gave the trailer gravitas. It came across as inspiring. Give WB extra points for coming up with two of these teasers. Kevin Costner’s Jonathan Kent has one, too.
The images were intimate - you wouldn’t know it was Zack Snyder if the text didn’t mention his name. Favorite shot is easily the tease of young Clark, with a red blanket on his back, taking the classic Superman pose. Man of Steel is one of the most polarizing films in history but I think we can at least agree it had a pair of amazing teaser trailers.
Russel Crowe - Jor El
Kevin Costner - Jonathan Kent
That’s my list. Do you guys have any all time favorite teaser trailers? Share below and, as always, thanks for reading.