Top 10 Movie Trailer Cliches

coming soon to a theater near you

coming soon to a theater near you welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 movie trailer cliches

it was his idea for this list we’re

it was his idea for this list we’re taking a look at the most common tropes

taking a look at the most common tropes

taking a look at the most common tropes that keep popping up in advertisements

that keep popping up in advertisements

that keep popping up in advertisements for feature films basically we’re

for feature films basically we’re

for feature films basically we’re talking things that are overused in

talking things that are overused in

talking things that are overused in movie trailers in an effort to get us to

movie trailers in an effort to get us to

movie trailers in an effort to get us to watch the flicks number 10 the opening

watch the flicks number 10 the opening

watch the flicks number 10 the opening aerial skyline shot Who am I you sure

aerial skyline shot Who am I you sure

aerial skyline shot Who am I you sure you want to know tell us if any of these

you want to know tell us if any of these

you want to know tell us if any of these clips look familiar

clips look familiar

clips look familiar the aerial skyline shot is an overused

the aerial skyline shot is an overused

the aerial skyline shot is an overused yet always effective method of engaging

yet always effective method of engaging

yet always effective method of engaging the audience in a movie setting

in most cases the setting will be a city

in most cases the setting will be a city that will play a key role in the

that will play a key role in the

that will play a key role in the narrative sometimes the city will need

narrative sometimes the city will need

narrative sometimes the city will need saving from a lone hero as in spider-man

saving from a lone hero as in spider-man

saving from a lone hero as in spider-man or maybe the city will connect a series

or maybe the city will connect a series

or maybe the city will connect a series of diverse characters like in crash any

of diverse characters like in crash any

of diverse characters like in crash any real cities you walk you know either way

real cities you walk you know either way

real cities you walk you know either way the trailer establishes the location as

the trailer establishes the location as

the trailer establishes the location as a commanding presence that makes us all

a commanding presence that makes us all

a commanding presence that makes us all feel puny and tries to set the scale

feel puny and tries to set the scale

feel puny and tries to set the scale I’ve been alone for a long time not

I’ve been alone for a long time not

I’ve been alone for a long time not because I want to be but because until I

because I want to be but because until I

because I want to be but because until I solve this problem I have to be number 9

solve this problem I have to be number 9

solve this problem I have to be number 9 where’d the happy music go

nobody wants to see a movie with no

nobody wants to see a movie with no conflict

conflict

conflict so whenever a trailer opens with happy

so whenever a trailer opens with happy

so whenever a trailer opens with happy music and joyful people living perfect

music and joyful people living perfect

music and joyful people living perfect lives expect all hell to break loose

lives expect all hell to break loose

lives expect all hell to break loose within seconds

the trailers soothing sentiment is

the trailers soothing sentiment is abruptly substituted by intense music as

abruptly substituted by intense music as

abruptly substituted by intense music as the characters attempt to survive zombie

the characters attempt to survive zombie

the characters attempt to survive zombie apocalypses ship sinking and even the

apocalypses ship sinking and even the

apocalypses ship sinking and even the end of the world even if we can see the

end of the world even if we can see the

end of the world even if we can see the extreme change of pace coming this

extreme change of pace coming this

extreme change of pace coming this cliche still creates a genuine sense of

cliche still creates a genuine sense of

cliche still creates a genuine sense of panic that captures the movie at its

panic that captures the movie at its

panic that captures the movie at its most exciting swim fan number eight the

most exciting swim fan number eight the

most exciting swim fan number eight the record scratch the world must turn to

record scratch the world must turn to

record scratch the world must turn to two living legends like our last entry

two living legends like our last entry

two living legends like our last entry this cliche sets us up for one thing

this cliche sets us up for one thing

this cliche sets us up for one thing then delivers the complete opposite

then delivers the complete opposite

then delivers the complete opposite primarily used to advertise comedies the

primarily used to advertise comedies the

primarily used to advertise comedies the trailer presents itself as really badass

trailer presents itself as really badass

trailer presents itself as really badass or mystical there’s a new player intent

or mystical there’s a new player intent

or mystical there’s a new player intent a rabbit a plain white rapper then in a

a rabbit a plain white rapper then in a

a rabbit a plain white rapper then in a fake-out the music comes to a screeching

fake-out the music comes to a screeching

fake-out the music comes to a screeching halt and our unexpected protagonist

halt and our unexpected protagonist

halt and our unexpected protagonist emerges when we lift in the hands of one

emerges when we lift in the hands of one

emerges when we lift in the hands of one man

yeah yes I gave it nice you like this

yeah yes I gave it nice you like this also applies to trailers that start off

also applies to trailers that start off

also applies to trailers that start off with a character going through a typical

with a character going through a typical

with a character going through a typical day then undergoes a random twist such

day then undergoes a random twist such

day then undergoes a random twist such as Rob Schneider becoming a carrot only

as Rob Schneider becoming a carrot only

as Rob Schneider becoming a carrot only problem is he’s about to become a carrot

problem is he’s about to become a carrot

problem is he’s about to become a carrot I’m a carrot it’s like a setup to a joke

I’m a carrot it’s like a setup to a joke

I’m a carrot it’s like a setup to a joke although we can usually predict the

although we can usually predict the

although we can usually predict the punchline

punchline

punchline I like a teacher to become a master of

I like a teacher to become a master of

I like a teacher to become a master of disguise really I’m going to be a master

disguise really I’m going to be a master

disguise really I’m going to be a master of disguise I’m going to be a master

of disguise I’m going to be a master

of disguise I’m going to be a master disguise

disguise

disguise sumo number seven

sumo number seven

sumo number seven flickering Jonesy be you be careful be

flickering Jonesy be you be careful be

flickering Jonesy be you be careful be careful of what a good trailer shows the

careful of what a good trailer shows the

careful of what a good trailer shows the audience just enough to get us into the

audience just enough to get us into the

audience just enough to get us into the theater while also being restrained so

theater while also being restrained so

theater while also being restrained so as not to give the best parts away

as not to give the best parts away

as not to give the best parts away horror trailers typically find just the

horror trailers typically find just the

horror trailers typically find just the right balance unveiling the build-up but

right balance unveiling the build-up but

right balance unveiling the build-up but cutting away before revealing the payoff

it’s as if the film is so frightening

it’s as if the film is so frightening that the trailer felt the necessity to

that the trailer felt the necessity to

that the trailer felt the necessity to cover our eyes for us

I want to see this chosen if we want to

I want to see this chosen if we want to see the monster that everybody’s

see the monster that everybody’s

see the monster that everybody’s screaming about we’ll have to go and see

screaming about we’ll have to go and see

screaming about we’ll have to go and see the whole movie with that we’re

the whole movie with that we’re

the whole movie with that we’re officially sold number six the jump

officially sold number six the jump

officially sold number six the jump scare jump scares and flickering go

scare jump scares and flickering go

scare jump scares and flickering go hand-in-hand habitually trailers

hand-in-hand habitually trailers

hand-in-hand habitually trailers reserved their greatest jump scare until

reserved their greatest jump scare until

reserved their greatest jump scare until the very end the music goes silent with

the very end the music goes silent with

the very end the music goes silent with a character all alone in the dark or are

a character all alone in the dark or are

a character all alone in the dark or are they tension builds as they turn on a

they tension builds as they turn on a

they tension builds as they turn on a flashlight look under a bed or walk down

flashlight look under a bed or walk down

flashlight look under a bed or walk down a menacing hallway no matter what

a menacing hallway no matter what

a menacing hallway no matter what there’s always someone or something

there’s always someone or something

there’s always someone or something waiting to leap out even if we know the

waiting to leap out even if we know the

waiting to leap out even if we know the scare is just around the corner we can’t

scare is just around the corner we can’t

scare is just around the corner we can’t help but jump out of our seats

help but jump out of our seats

help but jump out of our seats guaranteeing horror junkies will buy a

guaranteeing horror junkies will buy a

guaranteeing horror junkies will buy a ticket number five the fade to black

I’m gonna show you something beautiful

I’m gonna show you something beautiful if you want your trailer to seem as

if you want your trailer to seem as

if you want your trailer to seem as dramatic as possible make sure virtually

dramatic as possible make sure virtually

dramatic as possible make sure virtually every transition fades to black

I have it in the vein of many other

I have it in the vein of many other cliches on this list the fade to black

cliches on this list the fade to black

cliches on this list the fade to black is another method of continually raising

is another method of continually raising

is another method of continually raising the stakes with each blink the trailer

the stakes with each blink the trailer

the stakes with each blink the trailer becomes more epic and thrilling Bruce

then just when it looks like the trailer

then just when it looks like the trailer can’t possibly top itself fade – the

can’t possibly top itself fade – the

can’t possibly top itself fade – the trump card be it Ultron or Han and

trump card be it Ultron or Han and

trump card be it Ultron or Han and Chewie Chewie we’re home

finish matters off by transitioning to

finish matters off by transitioning to the release date and will eagerly mark

the release date and will eagerly mark

the release date and will eagerly mark our calendars number for critics and

our calendars number for critics and

our calendars number for critics and accolades come on let’s go in I want to

accolades come on let’s go in I want to

accolades come on let’s go in I want to see what’s on the other side some movies

see what’s on the other side some movies

see what’s on the other side some movies we’ll find an audience no matter how low

we’ll find an audience no matter how low

we’ll find an audience no matter how low they’re rotten tomatos rating is smaller

they’re rotten tomatos rating is smaller

they’re rotten tomatos rating is smaller movies though require strong critical

movies though require strong critical

movies though require strong critical reception to get the word out you should

reception to get the word out you should

reception to get the word out you should be here get out of here now if a picture

be here get out of here now if a picture

be here get out of here now if a picture achieves accolades from Sundance kin or

achieves accolades from Sundance kin or

achieves accolades from Sundance kin or other prestigious film festivals the

other prestigious film festivals the

other prestigious film festivals the trailer will be sure to make note of its

trailer will be sure to make note of its

trailer will be sure to make note of its early buzz if such a claim carries on

early buzz if such a claim carries on

early buzz if such a claim carries on throughout awards season the TV ads will

throughout awards season the TV ads will

throughout awards season the TV ads will highlight any Golden Globe and Oscar

highlight any Golden Globe and Oscar

highlight any Golden Globe and Oscar nominations – winner of the American

nominations – winner of the American

nominations – winner of the American Film Institute Award for movie

Film Institute Award for movie

Film Institute Award for movie year of course some flip this cliche

year of course some flip this cliche

year of course some flip this cliche upside down such as the humorous trailer

upside down such as the humorous trailer

upside down such as the humorous trailer for jackass number two a sad commentary

for jackass number two a sad commentary

for jackass number two a sad commentary on our degenerating culture

a disgusting repulsive grotesque

a disgusting repulsive grotesque spectacle number three

spectacle number three

spectacle number three inception horns

it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where

it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where most of these trailer cliches originated

most of these trailer cliches originated

most of these trailer cliches originated except for this one

while intense music is common in summer

while intense music is common in summer movie trailers inception took its core

movie trailers inception took its core

movie trailers inception took its core to another level of Awesomeness with

to another level of Awesomeness with

to another level of Awesomeness with booming horns that totally blew us away

every time you hear that sound it feels

every time you hear that sound it feels like the Earth’s shaking

now almost all action movie trailers

now almost all action movie trailers recycle the inception horns

it’s as if they’re trying to implant–

it’s as if they’re trying to implant– an idea in our heads that the film being

an idea in our heads that the film being

an idea in our heads that the film being advertised is going to be the next

advertised is going to be the next

advertised is going to be the next inception

number two from the people who brought

number two from the people who brought you on the sea some will bleed where

you on the sea some will bleed where

you on the sea some will bleed where anticipated sequels and adaptations have

anticipated sequels and adaptations have

anticipated sequels and adaptations have built-in audiences the trailers for

built-in audiences the trailers for

built-in audiences the trailers for completely original movies need to find

completely original movies need to find

completely original movies need to find a new selling point this is where the

a new selling point this is where the

a new selling point this is where the talent behind the scenes comes in if

talent behind the scenes comes in if

talent behind the scenes comes in if people know that Christopher Nolan James

people know that Christopher Nolan James

people know that Christopher Nolan James Cameron or the geniuses at Pixar are

Cameron or the geniuses at Pixar are

Cameron or the geniuses at Pixar are involved we’ll check out the flick on

involved we’ll check out the flick on

involved we’ll check out the flick on name recognition alone of course this

name recognition alone of course this

name recognition alone of course this doesn’t always work to a film’s

doesn’t always work to a film’s

doesn’t always work to a film’s advantage the director of scary movie

advantage the director of scary movie

advantage the director of scary movie did anybody honestly want to see little

did anybody honestly want to see little

did anybody honestly want to see little man after learning it was from the guys

man after learning it was from the guys

man after learning it was from the guys who brought us white chicks we didn’t

who brought us white chicks we didn’t

who brought us white chicks we didn’t think so and the guys who brought you

think so and the guys who brought you

think so and the guys who brought you white chicks I know just what to fix you

white chicks I know just what to fix you

white chicks I know just what to fix you for you to have a good night’s sleep ooh

for you to have a good night’s sleep ooh

for you to have a good night’s sleep ooh creamy you’re drinking breast milk

creamy you’re drinking breast milk

creamy you’re drinking breast milk before we preview our top pick here are

before we preview our top pick here are

before we preview our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

got into bikini that does absolutely

got into bikini that does absolutely nothing for me okay look it’s the ice

nothing for me okay look it’s the ice

nothing for me okay look it’s the ice why is it so big so it doesn’t melt it’s

why is it so big so it doesn’t melt it’s

why is it so big so it doesn’t melt it’s actually really interesting how they do

actually really interesting how they do

actually really interesting how they do it is this one company out in Boston

it is this one company out in Boston

it is this one company out in Boston dead oh that went south so oh this is

dead oh that went south so oh this is

dead oh that went south so oh this is some classy she’s naked

some classy she’s naked

some classy she’s naked I’m sorry I want to apologize I’m not

I’m sorry I want to apologize I’m not

I’m sorry I want to apologize I’m not even confident on which end that came

even confident on which end that came

even confident on which end that came out of number one the deep voice

out of number one the deep voice

out of number one the deep voice narrator somewhere in the Far East a

narrator somewhere in the Far East a

narrator somewhere in the Far East a deadly crime ring is about to trigger an

deadly crime ring is about to trigger an

deadly crime ring is about to trigger an international crisis while some trailers

international crisis while some trailers

international crisis while some trailers speak for themselves with their

speak for themselves with their

speak for themselves with their mind-blowing imagery others require an

mind-blowing imagery others require an

mind-blowing imagery others require an outside voice to make things sound even

outside voice to make things sound even

outside voice to make things sound even more explosive from the sewers of Gotham

more explosive from the sewers of Gotham

more explosive from the sewers of Gotham a new villain emerges

not just any actor can do voiceovers for

not just any actor can do voiceovers for movie trailers however they require a

movie trailers however they require a

movie trailers however they require a thunderous throat to sell lines like in

thunderous throat to sell lines like in

thunderous throat to sell lines like in a world where laughter was king for

a world where laughter was king for

a world where laughter was king for years the go-to man for trailer

years the go-to man for trailer

years the go-to man for trailer narration was the late Don LaFontaine in

narration was the late Don LaFontaine in

narration was the late Don LaFontaine in a land of timeless beauty William

a land of timeless beauty William

a land of timeless beauty William Wallace was a man of peace recorded in

Wallace was a man of peace recorded in

Wallace was a man of peace recorded in over 5,000 trailers la Fontaine’s

over 5,000 trailers la Fontaine’s

over 5,000 trailers la Fontaine’s god-like voice eventually became a

god-like voice eventually became a

god-like voice eventually became a pop-culture icon destined for parody New

pop-culture icon destined for parody New

pop-culture icon destined for parody New York cop John McClane has come to say

York cop John McClane has come to say

York cop John McClane has come to say his wife instead he’s going to have to

his wife instead he’s going to have to

his wife instead he’s going to have to save her whether it’s la Fontaine’s

save her whether it’s la Fontaine’s

save her whether it’s la Fontaine’s all-encompassing voice or another

all-encompassing voice or another

all-encompassing voice or another narrators this cliche never gets old

narrators this cliche never gets old

narrators this cliche never gets old what do you mean no in the world oh okay

what do you mean no in the world oh okay

what do you mean no in the world oh okay in the land that no one to land either

in the land that no one to land either

in the land that no one to land either in the Tyne I don’t think so do you

in the Tyne I don’t think so do you

in the Tyne I don’t think so do you agree with our list what’s your favorite

Top 10 Movie Trailer Cliches

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