Movie Trailer Music Madness: The Greatest Trailer Song of All Time
We here at UNPLUGG’D like to watch movie trailers so much that it’s unhealthy. So — with some inspiration from The Ringer — we decided to create our own 32-trailer bracket to figure out which banging trailer music is the most bumping
Editor’s Note: We had been developing this for a long, long time…so of course, over the summer, The Ringer swooped in and made their own movie trailer bracket. In order to pivot and create something different, we decided to focus on which movies of this millennium implemented music the most effectively. In full, we’re not insinuating that they stole our idea; however, Mr. Simmons, just know that our lawyers’ offices are open 24/7.
Song choice can make or break a trailer, as well as sway the general attitude moviegoers hold towards a project. Just ask the team behind the legendary teaser for Guardians of the Galaxy, which somehow convinced millions of people to go watch a movie about a galactic raccoon and his pet tree.
Complete with Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling,” this badboy changed the game, with seemingly every studio cutting their trailers to the beat of a catchy song nowadays. After all, music really finds a way to stick in your head, so why not use it to sell your movie?
Due to the immense power trailers hold within the entertainment industry, we figured it was time to settle a debate — which trailer has the best music of all time? And since America loves its brackets, we’ll be answering this question via a March Madness tournament-style, single elimination fight for movie trailer supremacy.
To begin, Nate and I divided up 32 of our favorite trailers into four regions:
- HYPE — Pretty much explains itself.
- ATMOSPHERIC — The music really sets the mood here.
- LIT — It’s like hype, but more litty.
- FUN — Amusing, entertaining, or enjoyable.
For our debut of the Movie Trailer Music Madness, we’ll be releasing the hotly-anticipated bracket, which can be found below:
In this edition of Movie Trailer Music Madness, we’ll also be breaking down the HYPE region in all of its raging glory. Our panel of five judges will then vote on which lucky HYPE trailers will advance to the Movie Trailer Music Madness Sweet Sixteen (taking place in Omaha). Decisions will be revealed along with our breakdown of the ATMOSPHERIC region in our next article.
Readers should note that trailers embedded within the series are set to begin at the start of the song within the trailer, rather than at the beginning of the trailer itself. This should save you some time; in many of the entries below, the music doesn’t start until more than halfway through the trailer. However, I highly recommend watching each trailer all the way through, since most of them are pretty fun even without the music.
Also of note, a few TV trailers snuck in here, but hey, TV’s getting more cinematic lately, so we’ll let it slide.
And without further ado…
The HYPE Region
1. Black Panther (2018)
Can you think of a more hype trailer campaign than Marvel’s work with Black Panther? Some might side with the spoken poetry of the official trailer, but I’m sticking with this teaser, in which Run the Jewels’ “Legend Has It” blares to Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan clashing for the title of The Boss. Move over, Angela, and step into the spotlight, Ryan Coogler. Wakanda forever!
2. Mission: Impossible — Fallout (2018)
The M:I franchise has the best trailers of any film series, period. And I could have argued this trailer as the number one overall seed, but some of its grandeur could also be attributed to Tom Cruise risking his life for our movie-going pleasure. Regardless, “Friction” creates the perfect backdrop for some visceral action sequences cut to the rhythm of the pulsating beat. Henry Cavill reloading his arms, anyone? The intermixing of the original M:I theme song is a nice touch as well.
3. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Yes, it’s a riff on Guardians of the Galaxy. But who cares? The retro font, the zany imagery, and Robert Plant’s insane pipes let us know we were in for a delightful time at the movies. Added bonus for all the references to Viking lore in the song. “Valhalla, I am coming!”
4. Atomic Blonde (2017)
Whoever thought to themselves Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” and Kanye’s “Black Skinhead” would mold together to give Atomic Blonde’s trailer the perfect grungy 80’s Berlin feel … good work. The ‘Ye drums combined with Charlize straight up John Wicking everyone in sight makes every punch land that much harder.
5. Creed 2 (2018)
I generally think it’s hard to cut trailers to Kendrick, but when the lyrics fit this well, why not? The first trailer for Creed 2 easily earns its place on this list with its goosebump-inducing spurts of “DNA.” spliced throughout.
6. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Joining the HYPE region is the trailer for the movie about the band who invented stadium music as we know it. So yeah, Bohemian Rhapsody and its marketing drops some pretty classic bangers. Can’t confirm, but Queen was probably the Sheck Wes of my parents’ generation.
7. Westworld 2 (2018)
First off, don’t watch this trailer if you don’t want some of the Season 1 spoilers to be spoiled. Second, Game of Thrones and Westworld composer Ramin Djawadi is officially a legend. This dude has created the incredible themes for two of television’s biggest shows, but his decision to cover classic songs like Paint It, Black and Runaway with a beautiful piano was pure genius. Who knew Heart-Shaped Box — a Nirvana tune — could be so hype?
8. G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
EDM White Stripes? The People’s Champ? BRUCE WILLIE???
What trailers do you think got snubbed from the HYPE region? Let us know in the comments below, and tweet at us @unplugg_d! Stay tuned for all the inevitable shocking upsets, close calls, and banging tunes in our subsequent editions of Movie Trailer Music Madness. 32 trailers enter the tournament, but only one will leave!
