Top 20 Movie Trailers That Broke The Internet

Top 20 Movie Trailers That Broke the Internet

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 movie trailers that broke the internet.

For this list, we’ll be looking at the official teasers and previews that garnered a lot of hype and even more views.

What do you think is the best movie trailer of the 21st century so far? Let us know in the comments below.

#20: “Zack Snyder's Justice League Official Trailer HBO Max”

Fans and critics were disappointed in 2017 when they realized the recently released “Justice League” movie had awkward jokes, bland villain designs and very questionable facial CGI. Fortunately, the trailer for the Zack Snyder cut showed that the new film would fix all of those problems. This updated movie would also add creative action and fun lines of dialogue fans couldn't get enough of. By promising to combine new elements and improve upon mistakes, the trailer won over fans and skeptics alike. The 24.9 million views the Snyder Cut accumulated during its first day online showed that anticipation was high to see the League unite.

#19: “Godzilla vs. Kong – Official Trailer”

After 7 years of build-up, the MonsterVerse was finally ready to give audiences the title fight they’d been waiting for. The exciting trailer starts by framing Kong as a powerful protagonist who wants to protect a human he bonded with. Before long, Godzilla is introduced as a villainous Kaiju that’s on a wild rampage. Around 25.6 million people flocked to this trailer within 24 hours to see what happened the first time these two monsters met. This excellent preview built up the hype for the crossover by hinting at at least three Kaiju battles. It also made time to show off its stellar cast of human characters. While we weren’t sure who would lose the battle, we knew this trailer was a winner.

#18: “SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE - Official Trailer”

Miles Morales made a spectacular cinematic debut during this preview for the first “Spider-Verse” film. It took just a day for 26 million people to witness the stunning animation, thrilling action and glimpses at a truly unique coming-of-age-story. The trailer perfectly set up an epic tale where Miles would learn how to be Spider-Man from a veteran webhead. While that sounds heavy on paper, the preview also cleverly weaves in several jokes to lighten the mood. And all the while, the trailer makes sure to never lose focus on the groundbreaking sight of a Black and Hispanic boy taking up an iconic mantle on screen. This truly amazing dive into his world concludes with an exciting tease that more Spider-people might just join him.

#17: “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Comic-Con Trailer”

What could possibly turn The Dark Knight against the Man of Steel? This notable trailer hints at the answer to that question while incorporating epic action. After witnessing the fallout from Superman's destructive battle in Man of Steel, Batman prepares for war. Meanwhile, the Kryptonian wonders what he's meant to do with all his tremendous power. The tension builds in their individual scenes before they come face-to-face in a tense and unforgettable shot. Not only does this trailer promise a big clash and the rise of a heroine, but it also has lots of easter eggs. Thanks to a combination of interested viewers and fans looking for new details, Batman and Superman’s shared film earned around 30.1 million views in 24 hours.

#16: “Marvel's Captain America: Civil War - Trailer 2”

Marvel also had a highly anticipated clash of heroes in 2016. While the first look at “Civil War” was well-received, the second trailer earned a stunning 95 million views right out of the gate. We could pin that on Spider-Man’s surprising appearance at the preview’s end. But even if he had been absent, this preview was still full of great cinematography and a hugely stacked cast. There was also foreshadowing that the civil war between heroes would have some massive casualties. The epic trailer also left a lot of fans struggling to choose whether they were team Cap or team Iron Man. And no matter what side they were on, viewers definitely wanted to see the conflict that could change the MCU forever.

#15: “Marvel Studios' Captain Marvel - Official Trailer”

History was made when “Captain Marvel’s” first preview soared onto the internet. This was the first trailer for a MCU film with a solo female lead. While the preview pulled audiences in with nostalgic images and out-of this world action, it kept a lot of the plot details under wraps. Audiences pieced together that Captain Marvel was up against alien forces and would form an alliance with Nick Fury to achieve her mission. This journey would also force her to confront questions about her own past. The mystery and excitement surrounding this heroine led the trailer to soar higher, further and faster than other previews and gain 109 million views in 24 hours.

#14: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Official Trailer

Over 30 years after “Return of the Jedi’s” satisfying conclusion, the official trailer for the “Force Awakens” showed us an exciting glimpse at the future of the Skywalker Saga. It starts by giving audiences a look at the very different lives Rey, Finn and Kylo Ren have led. Then it hits us with scenes of epic ship shootouts and the promise of a lightsaber battle. In between introducing the main characters and action, fan-favorite faces like Chewie and Han got to step into the spotlight. This trailer's blend of nostalgia and new concepts earned it 112 million views across different media platforms in around a day. The force was very strong with this sneak peek at a brand new “Star Wars” entry.

#13: “Fifty Shades Darker - Official Trailer”

There were lots of eyes on the second entry of this mature film franchise. During the trailer’s first 24 hours online, around 114 million people couldn’t resist the urge to see it. This first look promised to continue Anastasia and Christian’s steamy love story. At the same time, there was a sense that sinister enemies and ghosts of the past would haunt the couple’s relationship. Although the franchise had become infamous for its adult content, the trailer’s editing and grim atmosphere suggested there may be more to the movie than its mature plot. “Fifty Shades Darker’s” moody and well-made preview definitely increased desire for this sequel.

#12: “Frozen II” Official Teaser Trailer

Although many previews like to show off big plot points and dialogue right away, “Frozen II” took a different approach. The first teaser dedicates around a minute of its run time showing Elsa trying to overcome waves with her ice powers. After we see her fight the elements, scenes of familiar characters in distress and shots of a forest environment raise even more questions. “Frozen’s II” mysterious and somewhat unconventional approach to a teaser translated to huge success. By pulling in over 116 million views in 24 hours, this sequel became the most watched animated preview when it was released. “Frozen II’s” journey into the unknown achieved success while taking the top animated trailer crown from the “Incredibles 2”.

#11: “Star Wars: The Last Jedi Trailer (Official)”

Around 111 million people immediately tuned in to see the “Rise of Skywalker'' teaser build up new heroes while setting up the return of an old villain. Before this preview dropped, approximately 120.1 million saw the official trailer for ”Last Jedi” within a day. This dark trailer brought the legendary Luke Skywalker back as a reluctant mentor. His fear and regret loom over a trailer full of scenes that suggest the heroic Rey may turn to the dark side. As the tension rises and huge battles rage on, every character tries to fulfill their destiny. By the end of this thrilling trailer, fans questioned who would be left on the light side at the end of this epic galactic adventure.

#10: “Beauty and the Beast US Official Trailer”

Many audiences were probably already familiar with this tale as old as time. However, a lot of viewers have never seen the story look quite like it did in this beautiful trailer. The titular beast and all of his enchanted servants are all rendered with detailed and superb CGI. And even while surrounded by special effects, Emma Watson stands out for capturing Belle’s character perfectly. If the Beast only needed this trailer to earn 127.6 million views in 24 hours to break his curse, he would’ve been human before the movie’s first musical number. Audiences clearly wanted to relive their childhood memories of this tale by watching this elegant looking live action update.

#9: “SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME - Official Teaser Trailer”

At the beginning of the “Spider-Man'' trailer, we're treated to quirky humor and hints of a plot that will send Peter Parker to Europe. But after Nick Fury arrives, the stakes get so much higher. Peter Parker is pitted against elemental creatures that look and sound terrifying. There don’t seem to be any Avengers around to back him up. And to top it all off, the arrival of the classic Spider-Man villain Mysterio hinted the webhead might be in even more danger than he thought. The exciting scenes and questions the trailer brought along made it required viewing for audiences. Within 24 hours of this trailer’s debut, 130 million people had seen what happens when Spider-Man leaves his friendly neighborhood.

#8: “Thor: Ragnarok” Teaser Trailer

Thor became known as both the god of thunder and trailers after this game-changing look at his apocalyptic film. After the disappointing second entry in the Asgardian franchise, Marvel needed to get fans excited about the character again. Fortunately, 136 million people couldn't wait more than a day to see what Thor was up to. The teaser promised to deliver big battles and scenes of epic destruction. And unlike its relatively dreary predecessor, this “Thor” outing would be full of color and life. A combination of intense action and colorful visuals led up to one of the best endings to an MCU trailer that we’ve seen so far.

#7: “F9” Official Trailer

After a trailer for the “Fate of the Furious” earned 139 million views in 24 hours, it was outsped by the very next entry in the franchise. “F9”’s official preview opens with Dom enjoying a quiet night with his loved ones before it fully careens into fast-paced and explosive action. The theme of family continues to be significant when we learn John Cena's new villain is Dom's brother. And to top it all off, the preview lets us know that great franchise characters we haven’t seen in a while like Mia, members of“ Tokyo Drift’s” cast,and Han would all be along for the next ride. All the amazing action and characters revved the trailer up to 151 million views within a day.

#6: Disney's “Mulan” Official Teaser

When Disney announced that they would be making a live-action Mulan, fans of the company’s animated take on the character were ready to see her on the big screen. Audiences showed up in droves to see her first teaser. Over a span of 24 hours, 175 million people saw Mulan struggle to fit into traditional gender roles. The teaser brilliantly contrasts images of who her society thinks she should be with scenes of her fighting as a fierce warrior. This preview also hinted at large scale scenes of war and creative choreography. “Mulan’s” stunning success proved that audiences were eager to see this courageous heroine carve out her own destiny.

#5: “IT” - Official Teaser Trailer

The creatives behind “It: Chapter One” terrified us with an unsettling and hugely effective teaser. It's full of creepy glimpses of what we'll see in the movie. And despite being less than 3 minutes, the teaser wisely takes time to build up to its most horrifying moments. The most brilliant aspect of the trailer involves the antagonist Pennywise the Clown. Instead of putting him front and center, we only see brief suggestions and glimpses of the vicious villain. This further built up audience anticipation and fear to the moment Pennywise would be fully revealed. Smart creative choices led the teaser to scare up 197 million views after its initial release. In the process, it set the gold standard for how horror trailers should be made.

#4: “The Lion King” Official Teaser Trailer

While 1994’s “Lion King” has plenty of admirers, even the most die-hard fans had to wonder how these animated animals would look in live-action. Disney answered that question with a stunning and gorgeous teaser. Our first look at the photo-realistic animals that live in the Pride Lands was accompanied by powerful narration from James Earl Jones as Mufasa. The creative team also played up the nostalgia factor by recreating the 1994 movie’s iconic opening. Playing on what audiences knew about the animated Lion King and adding incredible visuals was a winning combo. The 2019 “Lion King” film can proudly say it attracted over 224 million viewers for its first look at the Pride lands.

#3: Marvel Studios' “Avengers: Infinity War” Official Trailer

In 2017, Marvel Studios showed off its hugely ambitious crossover event movie by dropping a breathtaking trailer on the world. Nearly every Avenger we knew of at the time showed up in the preview looking ready for a fight. And their timing couldn’t be better. With the threat of Thanos growing closer, every hero would be needed to stop him. Their efforts would involve fun hero team ups we had never seen on screen before and excellent action. We’d also get a bearded Cap, Hulkbuster armor and a massive war. Fans were so excited for those awesome scenes and more that the trailer received 230 million views in just 24 hours. This amazing trailer sent hype through the roof for this crossover event.

#2: “Marvel Studios' Avengers” Official Trailer

There was so much hype for every little detail of this movie that Marvel Studios didn’t even reveal the full title in the description of the trailer. Audiences had to watch the somber teaser to learn that their favorite heroes were in the endgame now. Around 289 million people saw that Hawkeye, Thor and Iron Man were still all struggling to accept the loss of half the universe. But Cap and Black Widow were still determined to fix everything. Their resolve would be needed because a quick shot of Thanos hinted that the heroes would have to face the mad titan again. While the plot details were scarce, an epic title drop and a surprising finale that gave fans hope made it a tremendous teaser.

#1: “SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME” Official Teaser Trailer

For a while, it seemed like fans weren’t getting an official trailer for “No Way Home”. But on one August 23rd, AKA, Wanda and Vision’s anniversary day, we finally got our first look. The trailer shows the fallout of Spider-Man's identity being revealed. After Peter asks the magical Dr. Strange to fix things, a spell accidentally opens a door to new threats. While multiple villains are hinted at, fans really went wild when they saw Alfred Molina return as Doc Ock. His inclusion, an intriguing story and an incredibly long wait all helped the teaser break records. It webbed up over 355 million views in 24 hours. The only way Sony can get higher numbers is if Tobey Maguire shows up for the next trailer.