15. “The Shape of Water” – Red Band
If you’re not hyped for Guillermo del Toro’s latest masterpiece, “The Shape of Water,” you must not be paying attention, and it’s very likely you haven’t seen this trailer. This violent, romantic steampunk creature feature has cinephiles of all stripes desperately awaiting its December wide release. Much of that excitement comes from the film’s brilliant trailers — we’re particularly fond of this Red Band version. This trailer focuses on the antagonistic dark government agency from which the creature must escape, giving Michael Shannon a much-deserved place at center stage. Though it gives some key points away and focuses less on lead actor Sally Hawkins, it’s got a decidedly more del Toro feel. Between funny, creative scenes (including some sassy sign language) and sudden bursts of violence, this trailer shows the film’s darker — arguably truer — side. This is a zany, unique romance, sure, but it’s also a del Toro monster flick. There will be blood. – LW
14. “Isle Of Dogs”
You don’t have to do a lot to get us to buy tickets to a Wes Anderson movie, but nonetheless, trailers for Anderson’s movies all tend to embody all the idiosyncratic tics that define him as a filmmaker — which is to say that the trailers for Anderson’s movies are all about as wonderful as the films themselves. The first trailer for the stop-motion animation “Isle Of Dogs” is no exception. Not only does it introduce a fantastical pseudo-future world, but, it manages to appease Anderson fanatics, assuring them that he is still the offbeat auteur they know and love, while also highlighting what is hopefully some growth as a filmmaker. It’s got all the symmetry and quick wit we know to expect, while packing in some unusually muted colors and a looseness that we haven’t seen from him since “The Darjeeling Unlimited.” Like with a few other trailers on this list, we haven’t had a chance to see if “Isle Of Dogs” will live up to its promise, but, by the looks of it, it’s hard to imagine anything less than another gorgeous-looking adventure from one of the most consistently fascinating directors working today. Color us excited. – Gary Garrison
13. “The Killing of a Sacred Deer”
The creepy, somber pop song cover is a mainstay in modern trailers. We’ve seen it a million times, whether it’s for a cheesy movie like “50 Shades of Grey” or a superhero film like “Power Rangers,” but no film has ever used it as effectively as the trailer for “The Killing of a Sacred Deer.” The song featured is the upbeat, catchy “Burn” by British singer Ellie Goulding, usually an uplifting anthem, but when it’s used in this trailer, it’s the most disturbing song you’ll ever hear. Sung by ‘Sacred Deer’ actress Raffey Cassidy (as it is in the movie), this rendition of “Burn” is completely a cappella, and, combined with the scenes from the film playing underneath, takes the pop song into much, much darker territory. How else could you promote a movie like ‘Sacred Deer’? The incredible film from “The Lobster” director Yorgos Lanthimos is deeply unsettling and deserves an equally unsettling trailer. And from the first second the trailer begins, with Cassidy’s singing, viewers immediately realize they’re in for something unique, beautiful, but also upsetting, all at the same time. – Charles Dean
12. “The Florida Project”
There are a lot of great, all-encompassing trailers rounded up here, but it’s hard to imagine that any others are as gracefully adept at pinning down the tone of their respective movie than that of “The Florida Project.” Sean Baker’s sweeping, humanist look at the magical innocence of childhood as it runs headlong into the harsh realities of societal inequity and poverty, is as grand a movie as any other in 2017. And its trailer manages to pack all the humor, heart and heartache into two short minutes. Part of what makes it work so wonderfully, is that it’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, but it does know what about “The Florida Project” made it work so effectively: that Brooklynn Prince’s Moonee is our cypher, that the drama of the film is not hers, and that despite how radically her mother’s struggles will alter her life, the wondrous nature of childhood has allowed her to construct her own magical kingdom. That all of this is alluded to without muting Moonee’s boisterous spirit is a feat certainly worthy of recognition. – GG
11. “I, Tonya” – Red Band
The trailer for “I, Tonya” could have gone a different way. It could have shown the traumatic, innocence-deprived childhood of Tonya Harding’s life with pointed melodrama. Instead, we see her story painted with a refreshingly breezy nonchalance, casually witnessing her abusive mother call rival skaters’ moms the c-word, and harshly criticizing Tonya on her abilities and worth. The tone rotates from black comedy to pathos to whimsical romance as she meets and eventually marries Jeff Gillooly, with rapid fluidity that never fails to engage and energize its viewer. The preview picks up even greater momentum once Tonya’s violent potential is revealed and comes to a crescendo of intensity as the world comes crashing down on her, demonstrating the ultimate consequences of cheating. Complete with Scorsese-esque fourth wall breaks and a kickass soundtrack of Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4” and Gun’s cover of “Everyone’s a Winner,” this clip doesn’t care if you like Tonya Harding, it simply has an intriguing story to tell. And that is what makes “I, Tonya” the most punk trailer of 2017. – Jacob Siegel
