What makes a good trailer?

[Darth Joker]

What do you think makes a good trailer?

Is it 'less is more'?

Is it 'jazz it up with good dramatic music and random action scenes (but not the key scenes)' for action movies?

How many of your best jokes should you reveal in a trailer for a comedy?

I found one fan-made trailer for a potential Batman film on YouTube that struck me as a great trailer for the actual Batman film if it was to be made (going by the 'less is more' idea).

Tell me what you think of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slVtOl2VcPQ&watch_response

[DWEarhart]

For years, my favorite ones were those that showed the least. Now, there's interesting ways to do traliers; making them worthy of its own timespace.

When the original Matrix teaser showed, I was working booth at the theater. Just an image, a question, and the audience was mesmerized. You felt like this movie was going to be something special.

It also pays to have an excellent narrator. Some people remember trailers for because of these voices.

And boobies.

[titanfan]

The formula is simple: It TELLS WHAT THE MOVIE IS ABOUT without giving too much away. Then find something in the movie that viewers can connect with.

It's generic, I know--and it can be a tough balancing act--but so many times, I see trailers where I have to ask myself "What the hell is this movie about?" or trailers which give away the entire movie.

All good trailers have that special way of connecting with the audience. Whether it makes you curious, or tries to get you to like the characters or situation--that's what's important. The Spider Man trailer for the first film wouldn't be the same if they didn't intersperse all those scenes with Peter Parker and Aunt May for example. In those few vignettes, you were able to relate to Peter and Aunt May.

[Buzz Dixon]

For years Roger Corman had an exploding helicopter shot edited into every one of his trailers 'cuz he paid a lot of money for the shot and figured by the time people actually got around to seeing the movie in question they'd forget there was supposed to be an exploding helicopter in it.

[Haunt]

beats me. but i remember thinking that the trailer for the movie Daredevil was perfect. and i'm talking about the fan-made trailer because i didn't really like the music in the theatrical. just the way it starts very slowly, forces you to pay close attention to everything that happens, and the addition of the pulse-quickening music makes it perfect in my eyes. i can still watch that trailer and get excited, even though i hated the movie. dunnaduh-dunnaduh-DUN-DUN-DUN *metallic club spinning around*...

[Carcassa]

The music definetly sets the mood for what the movie will be like. i.e. scary, funny, etc...
For Horror movies, I like short fast clips that you can almost see the "villian" and the gore that he/she/it is causing but not quite enough.

Comedy... what I don't like is hearing every joke in the movie, in the trailer.

Action... A few stunts that make you go "WOW"!

Thriller... I don't want to see hardly anything.

The new Hostel 2 trailer is pretty good. It doesn't show anything. Just a guy speaking some other language with subtitles.