2016 had some superb movies and maybe even better trailers!
Taking into account a number of factors, I’ve picked the best trailers of 2016. Number of views, content, significance, and execution are all elements of consideration. There may be some trailers out there that are of higher caliber and quality, but for this list, I focused on the highest level of social impact and aesthetics. While some films may or may not have lived (or will live) up to their hype, the trailers behind them certainly caught our attention.
10. Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad may not have met expectations but this Queen-driven trailer had many excited. The first trailer in 2015 may have given our first glimpse of Jared Leto’s Joker, but this trailer supplemented the excitement. Putting a popular song into the mix, I think we all were hoping for DC’s version of the Guardians of the Galaxy but many would argue the trailers were certainly better than the film itself.
9. Doctor Strange
The introduction of the newest superhero to the MCU had us excited for the Marvel Cinematic phases to follow. Doctor Strange isn’t as iconic as some other Marvel heroes but with Benedict Cumberbatch taking the lead, all of his “Cumberbitches” (yes that’s the name for his actual fanbase) could not wait. The trailer was an oddity leaving a shroud of mystery surrounding the premise, but the film was another Marvel success.
8. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
“Guardians of the Galaxy” was the film that defied the rules. Some of the most die hard Marvel fans were in unfamiliar territory with the characters. But despite all of this, the film was a stellar box office success and had us all more than excited for the sequel. The trailer for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” gave us the return of the vibrant, colorful characters that we quickly grew to love. With that twist of comedy and introductions of new characters, this sequel may be one of the most anticipated sequels of 2017.
7. Justice League
“Batman V Superman” set DC’s path on a rocky start for fans, but many still have hope for the first DC team up film. Half of the characters were introduced in “Dawn of Justice” but this trailer gave us previews of The Flash, Cyborg, and the new and improved Aquaman. Adding a bit of tongue and cheek humor to appease the fans, the “Justice League” trailer sought to alleviate the bad taste in some fans’ mouths.
6. Wonder Woman
While many criticized “Batman V Superman,” the one aspect everyone loved was Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. When the trailer for her solo film dropped, it received overall praise even from the fans who felt scorned by DC. The visual juxtaposition of the tropical world of Themyscira layered against the dark battlefield of World War I is a perfect setup for mass appeal. This is also the first major female superhero with a solo film. The battle sequences look epic and this film could be the jewel of the DC cinematic universe.
5. Spider-Man: Homecoming
This is a more recent trailer that is rebooting the Spider-Man franchise for the third time. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is the youngest of the other portrayals and this is Sony’s first Spider-Man film with a bit of help from Marvel. There’s a more kid-friendly tone to this film which makes this a bit more fun for family moviegoers. There are also many other elements that set Holland up to be the most widely accepted Spider-Man among fans.
4. Kong: Skull Island
“Kong: Skull Island” may not have the views that some of the other comic book trailers have but this is just a gorgeous trailer. Along with the nostalgic poster, this trailer allows classic fans to reminisce while bringing visual appeal to modern day fans. The cast is rock solid and the locale and sequences are some of the best I’ve seen of any trailer. If any film is going to live up to its trailer hype, it will be “Kong: Skull Island.”
3. Logan
We all love Hugh Jackman as Wolverine but his films haven’t always lived up to his own performance. He’s evolved over the years and put quite a bit of work into developing the character and “Logan” may be the film that does his efforts justice. Scored with Johnny Cash’s “Hurt,” I think this may be the most emotional comic book trailer I’ve watched this year. This is Wolverine’s last stand and Hugh Jackman’s final goodbye to the character. With all of the trouble Fox has had shaping Wolverine films for general audiences, this is the movie that Hugh Jackman took a paycut for in order to make sure it was done right. I hope that we get a film that honors everything he has done for the iconic X-Men character.
2. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
“Rogue One” is a “Star Wars” first as it falls outside of the realm of the Jedi/Sith politics. It’s a prequel to episode IV and the trailer gave us a look at other worlds we have never seen on film. The film also lived up to the hype making this supplemental story critic and box office success. Before the film was even released, the battle sequences and visuals had fans just as excited for “Rogue One” as they were for “Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens.”
1. Captain America: Civil War (Spider-Man)
While the first “Captain America: Civil War” trailer debuted in 2015, it was this trailer that marked an iconic beginning for Marvel. The end of the trailer is where the excitement comes in as Tony Stark shouts out “underoos!” and we see Captain America’s shield webbed up into the air with Spider-Man sticking a killer landing. This trailer may have had a ridiculous amount of views, but it may have had even more fast forwards than any other trailer of 2016. We all rewatched that seen multiple times and many parodies spawned from this scene. And of course we know that mockery is sometimes the best form of flattery. Check out our own personal NSFW parody below, haha!
There are definitely some other amazing trailers out there for 2016. Some may have not made this list due to repetition from the previous year or other elements, but we still want to hear your picks for 2016.