With millions of
Movies to choose from and Hollywood pumping out hundreds every year, it can feel like finding a decent flick is like searching for a diamond in a coal mine. Yes, apparently since 1900, the world has averaged over 2,500 movies per year. That's a lot of popcorn to munch on!
When it comes to deciding which movie to watch, people usually rely on the tried-and-true method of checking out the poster, cast, and, of course, the trailer. It's like a mini-movie before the main event! And let's be real, trailers can make or break a movie's success. But despite all the glitz and glam, it's important to remember that it's not always a reliable indicator of how good the movie will actually be. After all, a trailer is just a sneak peek, like trying to judge a book by its cover.
Some movies truly prove that trailers can be just as unreliable as your ex-boyfriend. So, take those previews with a grain of salt and happy movie watching!
#1 Bridge to Terabithia
Source: © Disney
Bridge to Terabithia was marketed as a lighthearted children's fantasy movie, much like The Chronicles of Narnia. However, the film actually turned out to be a poignant coming-of-age story that tackled the difficult themes of death and loss.
#2 Galaxy Quest
Source: © DreamWorks Distribution
The trailer for Galaxy Quest made it seem like a silly, child-friendly space adventure. But in reality, it's a clever and hilarious love letter to Star Trek that's full of brilliant performances and great writing. Some even say it's the best Star Trek movie ever made!
#3 Thelma & Louise
Source: MGM
Some thought it was a wild, female-led comedy about a road trip. But it turned out to be a powerful and emotionally charged exploration of female friendship and the oppressive forces that women face in their everyday lives.
#4 Click
Source: © Columbia Pictures
Think it was another Adam Sandler comedy where he has the power to control time. But the movie turned out to be a touching and emotional story about the importance of family and appreciating the present moment.
#5 Slumdog Millionaire
Source: © 20th Century Fox
Not the trailer, but the bus advertising for Slumdog Millionaire in the UK claimed it was "the feel-good movie of the year." Urgh, wrong.
#6 Fight Club
Source: IMDb
Of course, Fight Club. The misleading trailer made it seem like a movie about guys who like to fight. But the movie is actually a mind-bending exploration of identity, consumerism, and toxic masculinity, with a twist ending that you won't see coming.
#7 Ad Astra
Source: IMDb
Ad Astra had all the makings of an epic space adventure, but it was more like a trip to the dentist - slow, tedious, and full of unexpected pain.
#8 Godzilla (2014)
Source: © Warner Bros.
You'd think Bryan Cranston was the star of the movie and the entire plot revolved around him. But it turned out he was just a minor character with limited screen time, leaving us wondering "Where's Cranston when you need him?"
#9 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Source: IMDb
The trailer for this movie was like a wild west carnival ride, but in reality, it was more like a slow horse ride through the dusty plains. However, it turned out to be an excellent film that delved deep into complex emotions and stunning visuals, leaving us feeling like we had been punched in the gut (in a good way).
#10 Snow Dogs
Source: IMDb
When you see a trailer with talking huskies on a beach, you'd think it's a feel-good movie about canine companionship. But nope, it's about Cuba Gooding Jr. discovering his roots as a musher in Alaska. Not a single talking dog in sight.
#11 It Comes At Night
Source: IGN
Imagine going into a post-apocalyptic horror flick and coming out with a sense of existential dread and loss. That's what happened with "It Comes At Night". The trailer made it seem like a monster movie, but in reality, it's a psychological thriller about the depths of human paranoia. Good luck sleeping after that one.
#12 Antebellum
Source: IMDb
The little girl in the hallway was shown to look like a ghost in the trailer, but she was actually just a normal little girl. And the glitching airplane to suggest time travel or parallel universes. But in the end, it was just a regular old horror flick. They got us good.
#13 Maleficent
Source: IMDb
Disney's Maleficent seemed to promise a dark retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but ended up being as sweet as a slice of
Disney Princess cake. Maleficent went from being a powerful villain to a nice fairy godmother with questionable fashion choices. They completely missed the point of this character and why people love Maleficent in the first place..
#14 The Happening
Source: 20 Century Fox / Allstar
Marketed as a horror/thriller but turned out to be more of a deadpan comedy. People expected to be scared, but instead, they were laughing at Mark Wahlberg's intense seriousness.
#15 Days of Summer
Source: IMDb
The trailer for 500 Days of Summer promised a
funny, lighthearted romantic comedy. Expectations were shattered as the audience was faced with the cold hard truth that love is messy and not always happily ever after.
#16 Age of Ultron
Source: IMDb
Age of Ultron was set up to be a dark and gritty superhero movie, but instead, it was filled with jokes and quips.