4) Star Wars: The Force Awakens
There is a reason why this is the most-watched trailer of the year – and it is not just because of Star Wars’ sensational recurring popularity. The build-up, the brief teases, the exciting changes in J.J. Abrams’ more futuristic galaxy far away and that bravura shot of the Millennium Falcon flying swiftly through the desert gives bursts of nostalgia and excitement. It is only natural that millions of people want to watch it again and again.
J.J. Abrams, one of pop culture’s greatest champions for keeping story details under wraps, makes us savor the few short glimpses of this newly expanding cinematic universe. Unlike his powerful and enigmatic teaser for Star Trek from 2008, this one feels more like fan service. (That earlier trailer focused on the rebuilding of the Starship Enterprise and only hinted at its source material in the final third.) Nevertheless, that whoosh of Williams’ original triumphant orchestrations made many feel like a kid again when it was released on Nov. 28, and also ensured us that even the most ardent Star Wars fans could breathe a sigh of relief.
The build-up to that Web-shattering final shot of the Millennium Falcon dazzles, with John Williams’ suspenseful score a fitting undercurrent to these teases. Meanwhile, Abrams decides to push the new cast – John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac – and make us wait in anxiety for our first glimpses of Han, Luke and Leia (or Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, in case you forgot). This did everything a teaser trailer is supposed to do: give us a little taste and leave us begging to see the final product.