Top Ten Movie Trailers
AMC Movie List

Top Ten Movie Trailers

They're short, but very sweet. How would you rank these memorable film previews?

rank title points votes your vote
1 Alien
This trailer crescendos to a deafening scream before unleashing an explosion of horror -- a structure that mirrors the success of the two-hour feature. 251 589
2 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
all it took was some shots of a futuristic manufacturing plant, a techno-driven orchestra soundtrack, and Arnie's glowing red eyes to get us excited for a sequel. 249 571
3 Independence Day
The alien attack that lasted only two hours in theaters paled in comparison to the marketing war that raged on TV the week leading up to its release. 190 516
4 Back to the Future Part III
The most bizarre moment in the sequel preceding this flick was was when theater audiences were shown a trailer for Part III just before the credits. 64 468
5 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The combination of the flashbulb, the roar of the chain saw, and the "inspired by true events" feel that makes the trailer just as chilling as the feature. 11 445
6 Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Two classic touches define this trailer: the foreboding text as faceless masses run to safety and the comforting narrator who reminds you it's only a movie. -11 371
7 Thanksgiving
While director Eli Roth made a name for himself with the questionable Hostel series, he had some real fun with this grind-house faux-trailer. -147 353
8 The Tree of Life
In two minutes, we're taken through the birth of the universe; the childhood of a small-town kid; the quiet moments of adulthood; and the end of time. -163 381
9 The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
In addition to Bill Murray's wet-suit dance, this one's got stop-motion animation, a Devo-infused soundtrack, pans, pulls, zooms, and Jeff Goldblum. -173 367
10 Comedian
Poking fun at voice-over clichés, Douglas parodies himself, and the results are funnier than the documentary it's teasing. -215 331