2022 was full of all kinds of fantastic movies, with the floodgates finally being opened after several years of COVID delays, meaning that the year also saw the release of all kinds of fantastic movie trailers. Many of 2021’s best movie trailers teased films that were released in 2022 to critical acclaim, while others weren’t received nearly as well. However, 2022’s movie trailer lineup is a powerhouse, consisting of all different genres, with these incredible trailers being seen by many different audiences during their first year back at the theater.
From January’s trailers for X and Jackass Forever to December’s trailer for Oppenheimer and Scream 6, 2022 was packed to the brim with exciting trailers for movies from 2022, 2023, and beyond. First looks were given at some of 2022’s biggest blockbusters, such as Jurassic World: Dominion and Thor: Love and Thunder, as well as some awards-season darlings like The Whale and The Banshees of Inisherin. Out of all these trailers, some have risen to the top, so here are the best trailers of 2022 ranked.
11. Cocaine Bear
When Cocaine Bear was first announced, many were left scratching their heads, as a story about a rampaging bear high on cocaine sounded like schlock on the level of the Sharknado franchise. However, the Cocaine Bear trailer revealed exactly what the film was: a tongue-in-cheek comedy. The trailer’s gory violence and over-the-top humor made it an instant laugh, with the film getting memed all over Twitter. The trailer also features serious dramatic actors like Margot Martindale and Ray Liotta, making the trailer even more surreal. Whether it’s a fantastic comedy or so bad it’s good, the trailer for Cocaine Bear easily deserves an honorable mention.
10. Elvis
For a genre as oversaturated as musical biopics, the trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis instantly made its mark. The trailer gave a first look at then-unknown actor Austin Butler in his full Elvis costume, teasing the incredible performance he delivers in the final film. It also gives the first hints of the frantic editing and zany style that is one of the hallmarks of Luhrmann’s filmography. To top it all off, the incredible use of Elvis’ music, including “Power of My Love” and “Suspicious Minds,” instantly hook any Elvis fans, bringing about the exact tone and nostalgia that the film is going for.
9. The Super Mario Bros Movie
Many fans of the Mario franchise were terrified when it was announced that The Super Mario Bros. Movie was being made by Illumination Entertainment, who have a not-so-stellar track record. On top of that Chris Pratt was voicing the titular plumber, which was an unpopular choice. Surprisingly, though, when The Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer was released, it actually looked great. Jack Black’s fantastic performance as Bowser is highlighted in the trailer, which also shows off the gorgeous animation, which is a significant step up from Illumination’s previous films.
Not only was the trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie great – it’s release was great too. An entire Nintendo Direct was held to hype up the trailer’s release, featuring Chris Pratt and Jack Black. As soon as the trailer was released, Twitter exploded, filled with excited fans talking about how surprisingly good the film looked. Unlike most of the other trailers on this list, the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer felt like a community event, making it one of the best of 2022.
8. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
The first trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania gave a first look at the MCU’s next big bad, Kang the Conqueror, making it a massive hit among MCU viewers. The trailer was surprisingly dramatic, proving that the film will be a major tonal shift from the previous two Ant-Man films. The trailer also makes fantastic use of Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” which simultaneously alludes to the conclusion of the Ant-Man trilogy, touches on the fact that the film will take place in an all-new world (much like The Wizard of Oz), and is transformed into a gorgeous sci-fi melody. Hopefully the 2023 movie is just as good as the trailer.
7. John Wick Chapter 4
2022 saw the first trailer for the next installment in one of the most popular action franchises of all time, John Wick Chapter 4. The trailer gives a look at how the upcoming film will expand the world of John Wick, as well as showing off some more of the beautiful cinematography that is present throughout the series. While John Wick Chapter 4 proves that the series’ fantastic action will return, it crucially doesn’t show too much. The trailer only uses shots from a few select scenes, meaning that there are plenty of new action setpieces still to be discovered in John Wick Chapter 4.
6. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
The first teaser for Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery was released in 2022, preparing audiences for the highly anticipated sequel to the beloved first film. The trailer uses fantastic editing to highlight its mystery elements, with the constant clicking and snapping of puzzles scoring everything. The trailer also shows off Glass Onion‘s star-studded cast, providing just enough about each character to hook audiences while still not giving away the mystery.
5. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse had two different trailers release in 2022, but it’s the second trailer that is truly special. Not only does it give a look at the film’s beautiful animation, but it is also incredibly dense with Easter eggs and references. Characters like Spider-Man 2099 and Spider-Woman are shown off, while hundreds of other Spider-Man characters populate the background of the trailer. The trailer is a love letter to the Spider-Man franchise, and viewers can watch it multiple times and still not have unpacked everything in the extensive footage.
4. Barbarian
Barbarian is a pretty interesting trailer, as upon first glance, it seems like a fairly generic horror movie trailer – which is exactly what it needs to be. Without spoiling anything, Barbarian has a massive twist that really only works if audiences have seen the trailer previously. The Barbarian trailer is almost essential to the viewing experience, making it one of the most unique and important trailers of 2022.
3. Nope
The first teaser for Jordan Peele’s Nope was released in February 2022, and it instantly enamored audiences. The trailer is incredibly eerie, perfectly reflecting the tone of the film it is representing. The best aspect of the Nope trailer though is how mysterious it is. Almost no details about the plot of Nope are given away, with many audiences going into the film not even knowing what it was about. The trailer masterfully sold the film, while also making the film’s story content as much of a mystery as Nope‘s exciting ending itself.
2. Avatar: The Way of Water
The first trailer for Avatar: The Way of Water entirely focuses on the technical aspect of the film – and it’s beautiful. Some of the CGI in the trailer is so realistic that viewers were debating which shots were animated and which were live-action. It featured spellbinding music that perfectly reflected the sense of wonder that the film evokes. The first trailer for Avatar: The Way of Water was also released exclusively in theaters before Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, meaning many audiences saw it for the first time on the big screen – just as James Cameron intended.
1. Black Panter: Wakanda Forever
When it comes to trailers, it doesn’t get much better than the first trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. After the critical failure of Thor: Love and Thunder, the pressure was on for Wakanda Forever, whose trailer was released only a few weeks after Love and Thunder hit theaters. Many MCU viewers were worried that the franchise had lost its sense of seriousness, and would now only be delivering goofy comedies like the most recent Thor movie. However, the Wakanda Forever trailer hit it out of the park, possibly even shifting public perception of the MCU permanently.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s first trailer was a somber and dramatic look at Wakanda, finding the perfect tone that was needed after Chadwick Boseman’s tragic death. The trailer masterfully uses a cover of Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” to set up the themes and mood of the film, showing off the beautiful world of Wakanda once again. The Wakanda Forever trailer gave a look at Namor and the people of Talokan, some of the best villains in the MCU. All this and more makes the first Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer the best trailer of 2022.
