Top 10 Film Trailers of 2019
Most people I know would probably disagree, but I personally love watching the trailers before a movie. I have to get to the theater early so I don’t miss the previews, even though 99% of the time I’ve already seen the trailer online. But it’s a totally different experience seeing trailers on the big screen in a communal space. Crafting a good trailer is an art form in itself, having to showcase a feature-length film in 2 minutes, while trying to convey what the film’s about without revealing too much. It really takes a lot of work and skill, so it’s especially satisfying when a trailer is memorable and executed so well. I saw a lot of really great trailers in 2019 so it took a lot of time narrowing the list down to just ten, but alas, here it is: the top 10 trailers of the year!
10. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood | Trailer
I have no experience with Mister Rogers or his famous tv show (I didn’t grow up watching any PBS shows for some reason). The first time I’d even heard of him was when my cousin told me I looked like Mister Rogers because of the sweater I was wearing (I asked “Who?”). Despite all of this, I still got emotional watching this trailer, especially with the ending scene featuring fans singing his show’s theme song to him on the train - it’s so heartwarming! Tom Hanks feels like the perfect actor to portray such a beautiful human being.
9. Cats | Trailer 1
Cats is a weird musical with surprisingly everlasting appeal, apparent in its decades-long success on Broadway. Despite being around for a while, many still don’t quite understand why Cats is so popular. I don’t even know anyone who actually likes the musical. So when they announced there would be a live-action film adaptation, the world was curious. While it seemed like a lost cause, especially with the negative reception when this trailer finally debuted, I had hope in Tom Hooper, whose last two films were both nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards (‘The King’s Speech’ and ‘Les Miserables’). This trailer is weird in all the right ways, instantly appealing while also disturbing. And we can all agree Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of “Memory” is damn good, teasing what is hopefully a show-stopping sequence.
8. Bombshell | Trailer
I keep coming back to this trailer strictly because it does an excellent job of utilizing Billie Eilish’s hit song “Bad Guy.”
7. Pokemon Detective Pikachu | Trailer 2
I love this trailer because it features a remixed instrumental to the series’s iconic theme song. The song’s use of “Holding Out for a Hero” is also memorable and matches the fun and manic energy displayed on screen.
6. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | Final Trailer
Though it ultimately debuted to lukewarm reception, the trailer for the final film in the Skywalker Saga does an excellent job of capturing the beauty of the Star Wars films. We see stunning shots, like the torrential battle on the remnants of the second Death Star, or the giant icebergs and reflections. We see our new heroes together for the first time. C-3PO saying he’s “taking one last look” at his friends - MY TEARS! All of this, set to an uplifting rendition of the franchise’s iconic song, ending with “the force will be with you… always” and a final shot of Rey’s hopeful moment is the perfect capper to a series nine films in the making.
5. The Goldfinch | Trailer 1
The have no idea what ‘The Goldfinch’ is even about, just that its based on a Pulitzer prize-winning novel. This atmospheric trailer does a great job of showcasing the legendary Roger Deakins’ stunning cinematography and teases an epic and emotional journey. Though it ultimately received scathing reviews and became a box office bomb, at least we got a great trailer out of it.
4. Parasite | Trailer 1
While I would discourage everyone to avoid trailers or from learning any details of ‘Parasite’ because it's best viewed cold, this trailer does a good job of setting up the film’s premise while avoiding any spoilers. The trailer starts off seemingly as a fun con job that soon turns into pulse-pounding thriller you never see coming, much like the film itself. I also really like the black and white effect the trailer utilizes in quoting the film’s stellar reviews. It’s a nice and unique touch that helps make the trailer stand out.
3. Mulan | Trailer
Disney’s been hit-or-miss with its live-action remakes, but the upcoming ‘Mulan’ remakes looks like the studio is attempting something more ambitious than a shot-for-shot recreation of its animated hit. Sure, some of our favorite elements from the original film are gone, like Sheng, Cri-Kee, the iconic music, and most importantly, Mushu. But I’m hoping the end result is a film the audience deserves rather than a film that just offers us strictly fan service. The cinematography looks amazing, and the instrumental versions of the original film’s hit songs are a nice tough. If this updated ‘Mulan’ proves successful it may pave the way for more interesting adaptations of our childhood favorites.
2. The Farewell | Trailer
Ever since I first heard about this film I’d been eagerly awaiting to see a first glimpse so you can probably guess my excitement when this trailer finally premiered early this summer. The trailer immediately sets up its unique premise in the first few seconds, while also showcasing the film’s humor despite the dire circumstances. I’ve seen friends get teary-eyed just from watching this trailer, a testament to how it’s so relatable to so many Asian-Americans.
1. The Last Black Man in San Francisco | Trailer
This trailer debuted at the beginning of this year but I never stopped thinking about it. Like the film itself, this trailer plays like a love letter to San Francisco, or at least to what it once was. Adam Newport-Berra’s gorgeous cinematography combined with Emile Mosseri’s fantastic score and Michael Marshall’s (of “I Got 5 on It” fame) rendition of “San Francisco” result in the most memorable and affecting trailer of the year.
Honorable Mentions:
Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Final Trailer
It: Chapter Two | Teaser Trailer
Never Rarely Sometimes Always | Trailer