How many times have you seen a trailer that totally convinced you a movie was going to be phenomenal? Capturing the essence of a plot in a short clip is meant to hook viewers and build anticipation. The trailer industry has evolved since Niles Granlund originally introduced the concept back in 1912. The Pleasure Seekers holds the crown for the first short promotional teaser released through Winter Garden Theaters. Trailers were designed to be advertising, exciting, and attention-grabbing!
Movie trailers are oftentimes just as important as the movie itself. Die hard movie fans love a dramatic trailer that gets them ready for the main event. New technology and advanced visual effects have amplified the cinematic experience. You’ll discover that a few of the most watched trailers of all time on this list come from the Marvel Universe.
Alright, that’s enough throat clearing for one list! Let’s explore 5 movie trailers that broke viewership records…
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 The Lion King (2019) - 224.6 Million Views
Disney
The Lion King trailer premiered during the Oscars in 2019. The powerhouse cast included stars like James Earl Jones, Beyoncé, and Donald Glover. Jon Favreau was the director who also directed movies like Elf, The Jungle Book, and Iron Man. The new live action musical received 1.6 billion in box office sales. It became the highest grossing remake and seventh highest grossing movie of all time.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
The trailer boosted lots of excitement for the movie which finally dropped later that July. Elton John, Beyoncé, and Childish Gambino were among the talented Artists who contributed to the popular Lion King Soundtrack. The trailer had over 224.6 million views.
4 Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - 230 Million Views
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Avengers: Infinity War was a major box office hit bringing in a whopping 2 billion in ticket sales. The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy unite to defeat their powerful adversary. Following Black Panther, Infinity War was released in April 2018. This Action/Sci-Fi movie broke historical records and included an all-star cast. The film had an unexpected ending leading up to endgame.
The trailer sparked thousands of mashups on YouTube with viewers showcasing their reactions. It was filled with action, unanswered questions, and heavy tension. Fans got a sneak peek inside events that sent shock waves through the MCU. The suspenseful teaser piled up 230 million views.
3 Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022) - 250 Million Views
Rings of Power has since generated several record-breaking achievements. Generations of fans watched the highly-anticipated teaser premiere during Super Bowl Sunday. The visual effects were striking, animated, and exceeded viewers expectations. Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz, and Charlie Vickers were among the many actors that delivered amazing performances. The first trailer accumulated over 250 million views in just 24 hours.
2 Avengers: Endgame (2019) - 289 Million Views
Marvel Studios
The Avengers: Endgame trailer was a jaw dropping surprise released in December 2018. The film had an estimated budget of $365 million and ended up being one of the most expensive motion pictures distributed by Walt Disney Studios. It received awards from MTV, People’s Choice, Critics Choice, and more. Following the catastrophic events of Infinity War, The Avengers assembled again for a second shot at redemption.
Fans picked apart every piece of the trailer which sparked trending conversations on social media. It set a Twitter record within the first 24 hours reaching 549,000 mentions. Marvel Studios tweeted a special thanks to viewers for the most watched trailer in history at the time. Although Endgame was nominated for an Oscar in 2020, it surprisingly didn’t take home the trophy. The trailer smashed the internet and reached a grand total of 289 million views.
1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) - 355.5 Million Views
Sony Pictures Releasing
Marvel Universe and Columbia Pictures broke several viewership records when this trailer released in August 2021. Box offices sold roughly 6 million in ticket sales during opening weekend. Social media mentions related to the film reached over 1.56 million mentions in just the first 12 hours. Spider-man: No Way Home stars one of Hollywood’s prestigious actors, Tom Holland, who ended up winning Best Movie Performance for the film at the MTV Awards.
The film took the spot for the largest gross sales in MCU history. The popular trailer debuted on CinemaCon and social media. Fans were in for a wild ride after seeing the action-packed teaser. The film went on to receive 54 nominations and won 23 awards. The No Way Home trailer racked up 135 million in the first 24 hours and crushed a total of 355.5 global million views.
