In the days of old, movie trailers were short, sweet, and to the point. They would usually last only a minute or two, giving audiences a glimpse into the plot and setting the tone for the film. However, over the years, trailers have become increasingly long and revealing, often spoiling key plot points and ending surprises. The purpose of a trailer should be to entice audiences, not to give away the entire film.
The Problem with Modern Trailers
- They’re often too long, usually exceeding 2 minutes
- They spoil key plot points and ending surprises
- They fail to maintain the mystery and suspense
- They’re often focused on selling the product rather than the story
When Trailers Give Away Too Much
A good trailer should give audiences just enough information to spark their interest, without revealing too much. Unfortunately, many modern trailers have fallen short of this mark. For example, the Superman III trailer spoils the ending by revealing that Superman saves Richard Pryor’s Gus Gorman, a villain up until that point. The Godfather Part II trailer also gives away that Hyman Roth gets shot, and Terminator Salvation reveals that Marcus Wright is a Terminator.
Can you imagine if Alien or Psycho gave away their respective plot twists? The impact would be lost, as the mystery is a crucial element in building anticipation and excitement.
Examples of Good Trailers
Gone Girl is a prime example of a well-crafted trailer that masterfully builds suspense and mystery. The trailers didn’t give away too much, but rather teased the audience with cryptic clues and clever editing. This approach paid off nicely, as audiences were left eager to see the film.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is another example of a trailer that got it right. Sony refused to acknowledge the presence of Tobey McGuire and Andrew Garfield, making the trailer feel more like a teaser than a full-fledged trailer. The lack of revealing plot points or ending surprises made the film’s eventual reveal more impactful.
The Importance of Mystery
Movie trailers are like rollercoaster rides – we think we know what’s coming, but then surprises subvert our expectations. The purpose of every movie is to evoke emotions, and revealing too much too soon can spoil the experience. Imagine if the trailer revealed that the Goblin killed Aunt May. It would have been a shocking twist that would have lost its impact.
Being packed in a theater full of fans, feeling the range of emotions, and bonding with strangers is a reward experience. However, killing the mystery has a huge factor in ruining the movie theater experience. What’s the point of purchasing a ticket if all our questions have been answered in a three-minute trailer?
A Return to One-Minute Trailers
A one-minute trailer is considered a teaser, but sometimes it’s all you need. If the plot isn’t clear, it’s best to reveal it in the trailer. However, it should never give away the entire story. The art of the movie trailer has been lost because of corporate greed, and marketing departments are failing to step into the shoes of the average moviegoer.
The solution isn’t to give away every big beat that will get audiences excited. Instead, it’s about striking a balance between revealing enough to pique interest and not revealing too much to spoil the surprise. The cleverness of a trailer should be in getting people excited over a film they barely know, not in spoiling all the secrets.
| Characteristics of a Good Trailer | Description |
|---|---|
| Builds suspense and mystery | Teases the audience with cryptic clues and clever editing |
| Reveals just enough to pique interest | Avoids spoiling key plot points and ending surprises |
| Focuses on the story rather than selling the product | Avoids revealing too much or too little |
Conclusion
Movie trailers have lost their magic due to corporate greed and a focus on selling products over telling stories. By striking a balance between revealing enough to pique interest and not revealing too much, trailers can regain their former glory.