32 Mind-Blowing Times Movie Trailers Completely Fooled Us

Have you ever left a movie theater feeling like the film didn’t live up to the hype shown in the trailer? It turns out, this is quite a common occurrence in Hollywood. Here are some well-liked movies that, upon closer inspection, may not have been presented as accurately as they could have been in their promotional materials.

Jennifer’s Body (2009)

Under the guidance of director Karyn Kusama and writer Diablo Cody, the movie “Jennifer’s Body“, featuring Megan Fox in the role of a high school student turned succubus after an unsuccessful demonic ritual, is often praised as one of the most misinterpreted cult classics. The trailers successfully highlighted the horror aspects of the thriller but failed to convey its underlined feminist messages and instead emphasized its mature, humorous coming-of-age humor. Furthermore, the poster’s portrayal of Fox contrasted sharply with the film’s satirical take on teenage objectification.

About Time (2013)

Richard Curtis’ film, titled About Time, initially presents itself as a typical romantic comedy, much like the heartwarming rom-com one might anticipate from its creator, Richard Curtis, who is also known for directing Love Actually. However, what sets this time travel movie apart featuring Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams is its transformation into a profoundly emotional tale that explores the importance of maintaining family ties.

Godzilla (2014)

The marketing strategy for the Godzilla reboot by Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures heavily capitalized on the fame of one of its stars, Bryan Cranston. Therefore, it was quite unexpected when Godzilla ended up eliminating Cranston’s character, a winner of multiple Emmy awards, in the initial scenes of the movie.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)

In the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” penned by Cameron Crowe and directed by Amy Heckerling, it’s Jennifer Jason Leigh who plays the primary character, Stacy Hamilton. However, the marketing campaign gave a misleading impression, as it focused more on Sean Penn’s character, Jeff Spicoli.

Passengers (2016)

The preview of the space-age sci-fi drama Passengers indicates that travelers Jim Preston (played by Chris Pratt) and Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence) are both accidentally awakened from their cryogenic sleep at the same moment. However, in the movie itself, it is only Jim who is awakened prematurely, and he decides to rouse Aurora intentionally for companionship, which some critics argue spoils the romantic aspect of the story.

Sucker Punch (2011)

Zack Snyder’s movie, Sucker Punch, was heavily advertised with trailers showcasing its visually captivating action scenes. However, what wasn’t clearly mentioned is that these intense moments are merely fantasies of Emily Browning’s character, Babydoll, and the entire cast are actually inhabitants of a mental asylum for most of the film.

Magic Mike (2012)

For those who thought Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike, a film inspired by Channing Tatum’s personal experiences, would mainly offer a lighthearted dance spectacle, might find more satisfaction with its 2015 follow-up, Magic Mike XXL. However, the first film is essentially a narrative about self-destruction and yearning for a brighter future, interspersed with enjoyable dance scenes.

The Cabin In The Woods (2011)

As a cinephile, I must say that Drew Goddard’s directorial debut, “The Cabin in the Woods,” was initially marketed to seem like yet another run-of-the-mill horror movie about a group of dim-witted kids stumbling into a spooky woodland retreat. However, upon closer inspection, this film proved to be a witty and thought-provoking dismantling of the most common horror genre clichés, ultimately earning its reputation as one of the finest horror-comedy films ever made.

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

According to Director Robert Rodriguez, Miramax initially intended to emphasize the crime thriller aspects of Quentin Tarantino’s script for From Dusk Till Dawn, rather than its horror elements, when promoting the film. This led many viewers to be taken aback as the story about two criminal brothers (portrayed by George Clooney and Tarantino) unexpectedly transformed into a non-stop gory vampire tale in the final act.

Drive (2011)

Looking at its title, some viewers might have expected Nicholas Winding Refn’s film “Drive,” featuring Ryan Gosling as a getaway driver involved in a botched job, to be an adrenaline-fueled action movie. Instead, it turned out to be a thoughtful neo-noir drama that moved at a slower pace, surprising some audiences. As reported by The Guardian, one viewer even went as far as filing a lawsuit due to being misled by the film’s marketing, claiming that she was led to believe it would be more like the “Fast and Furious” series.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007)

In the dark-themed film titled “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street“, Johnny Depp portrays the central character, who is a barber in the 19th century seeking justice for the brutal murder of his wife and child, a crime he was falsely accused of. If you weren’t familiar with the 1979 stage production by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, you might not have realized from the movie marketing that it was a musical.

It Comes At Night (2017)

As a cinema enthusiast, I reckon Trey Edward Schults’ second film, “It Comes at Night“, showcases an impressive demonstration of slow-building tension and paranoia. This film revolves around a family’s fight for survival amidst a devastating virus outbreak. However, it’s understandable if someone felt let down upon discovering that the A24 horror production isn’t your typical zombie movie as marketed. To be honest, I too am uncertain about what exactly “it” in the title represents.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

It’s likely that many viewers of Jim Carrey’s films anticipated a lighthearted, humorous experience when they entered the theater for Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman’s film, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” However, what they found was a thoughtful, melancholic exploration of the extreme measures one might take to escape the pain of a past romance. The trailer, featuring Electric Light Orchestra’s lively tune, “Mr. Blue Sky,” showcases some of the movie’s fantastical aspects but presents it as a more whimsical, comedic offering instead.

The Grey (2012)

The movie “The Grey” by director Joe Carnahan, often commended for its poignant exploration of survival against both harsh nature and personal despair, is marketed as a high-octane thriller featuring Liam Neeson battling wolves. However, surprisingly, the actual fight scene between Neeson’s character and the wolves does not occur on screen; instead, the movie concludes with the protagonist preparing to face his wolfish adversary, followed by black screens and rolling credits.

Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)

As a cinephile, I believe that director Doug Liman’s timeless masterpiece, “Edge of Tomorrow,” starring the legendary Tom Cruise as an unwilling soldier who inexplicably respawns after death during a human-alien conflict, didn’t flop at the box office because of its uninspiring title. Instead, I firmly believe that the marketing strategy misrepresented it as a grave and serious war film, rather than the delightfully smart and action-packed sci-fi thriller it truly was, thereby underplaying its unique charm and appeal.

Red Eye (2005)

The deceptive quality of “Red Eye,” featuring Rachel McAdams as a woman compelled to aid the passenger next to her (Cillian Murphy) in an assassination plot, might be attributed to several factors, such as Wes Craven being the director. The advertising, in fact, seemed to attempt to market it as a slasher film similar to his “Scream” series, but surprisingly, this PG-13 political thriller is one of Craven’s less intense works in terms of mood.

Unbreakable (2000)

In a different phrasing: The film Unbreakable was promoted as a supernatural thriller similar to M. Night Shyamalan’s preceding success, The Sixth Sense. However, viewers were taken aback when they discovered it was actually a dark interpretation of a non-comic book superhero movie that was quite progressive for its era.

Catfish (2010)

Picture yourself expecting to watch an edge-of-your-seat found footage thriller like “The Blair Witch Project,” but instead, you discover it’s actually a documentary. This was exactly the case with “Catfish,” where filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost chronicled Nev Schulman’s online relationship with a woman whose authenticity eventually came under question.

Bridge To Terabithia (2007)

I recall coming across the trailer for the movie “Bridge to Terabithia,” featuring Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb, and assuming it was an uplifting family film set in a magical realm. But upon further investigation, I found that Gabor Csupo’s adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s book is actually a heart-wrenching tale about finding solace from the pain of everyday life by means of creativity and imagination.

Lady In The Water (2006)

Whenever M. Night Shyamalan reveals he’s making a new film, viewers tend to presume it’ll be a horror flick right away. However, the previews for his melancholic fairy tale Lady in the Water, where a building manager character (played by Paul Giamatti) endeavors to guide a strange young woman (portrayed by Bryce Dallas Howard) back to her ethereal abode, didn’t exactly quell those assumptions.

Wonka (2023)

In the movie “Wonka,” directed by Paul King, Timothée Chalamet (who’s been nominated for an Academy Award) took on the role of Roald Dahl’s quirky chocolatier at a younger age. Surprisingly, this captivating family film is a musical, although it may not be immediately obvious from the marketing. The 1971 film, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” was a musical, but there’s no indication of that in the promotions for this new version.

The Many Saints Of Newark (2021)

Over a decade since HBO’s groundbreaking series, “The Sopranos,” concluded with a controversial ending, Warner Bros. presented a film that stirred debate, revisiting the criminal family’s background. Unlike what was advertised as an origin story for Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini’s son Michael, the movie, titled “The Many Saints of Newark, ” focused more on his mentor, Dickie Moltisanti (portrayed by Alessandro Nivola).

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Did you realize that Matthew Broderick’s character Ferris Bueller in John Hughes’ famous high school movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” actually had two other siblings, apart from Jennifer Grey’s Jeanie? If you recall, the original trailer hinted at this fact, but upon watching the final cut of the film, you might have noticed that the actors portraying his younger brother and sister were not included in the final release.

Click (2006)

In “Click,” Adam Sandler portrays a stressed-out family man who gets hold of a universal remote that, surprisingly, controls his life. Initially, this film was one of Sandler’s more grown-up comedies. However, when the story takes unexpectedly serious and even emotional turns, it might have left viewers surprised, as they were anticipating another lighthearted comedy like Sandler is commonly associated with, following his time on Saturday Night Live.

Colossal (2016)

It could be said that the deceptive advertising for director Nacho Vigalondo’s film “Colossal” served to its advantage, as viewers anticipated this movie featuring Anne Hathaway as an American woman who uncovers a kaiju in Japan would be a whimsical sci-fi comedy. However, the plot proves to be more complex than that, as it is disclosed that the monster symbolizes the main character’s battle with addiction.

Kangaroo Jack (2003)

In the movie “Kangaroo Jack,” the titular kangaroo, being an Australian character, appears sparingly and is mostly silent, except for one dream sequence that belongs to Charlie Carbone, played by Jerry O’Connell. Interestingly, this dream sequence was heavily emphasized in the promotional materials. However, this emphasis might have been misleading as the film’s PG-rated comedy contained content that was surprisingly inappropriate, a fact which may not have pleased many parents.

Yesterday (2019)

In the movie Yesterday, where a struggling musician (performed by Himesh Patel) discovers he’s in an alternate world where The Beatles never existed, the intrigue and uniqueness weren’t downplayed in its promotions. Yet, there was widespread surprise and dismay when Ana de Armas, visible in the trailer, was entirely absent from the final cut of the film, even prompting two fans of this Oscar nominee to consider legal action against Universal Studios.

Mean Girls (2024)

If you hadn’t realized that the 2024 version of “Mean Girls” was based on the stage adaptation of the coming-of-age comedy, you could have thought it was just a redundant remake of the 2004 film. The promotional materials provided no indication that it was a musical, unless one considers the musical note in the logo as such.

Observe And Report (2009)

From the humorous trailer, viewers assumed that “Observe and Report” would be another typical comedy like what Seth Rogen was widely recognized for at the time. However, it turned out to be a dark psychological thriller delving into the psyche of an unstable mall security guard instead. It’s worth questioning if parents might have confused director Jody Hill’s controversial dramedy with another mall-themed movie from the same year: the more kid-friendly “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”.

Bicentennial Man (1999)

Experience the delightful family time as I watched Robin Williams bring his unique charm to life as a robot in the PG-rated movie, “Bicentennial Man.” At first glance, this film appeared to be an entertaining sci-fi adventure based on an Isaac Asimov story. However, what viewers didn’t anticipate was that they were in for a thoughtful and introspective journey exploring the complexities of mortality, seen through the eyes of an artificial being.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)

In “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,” Tina Fey portrays Kim Baker, a real-life journalist, in a movie based on her memoir, “The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan.” This film adaptation recounts Baker’s experiences reporting on Middle Eastern conflicts during the early 2000s. The movie received acclaim for its blend of humor and drama, but the trailers focused more on the comedic aspects, potentially to attract fans of Tina Fey who are well-known from her work in “30 Rock.

Lamb (2021)

In A24’s movie “Lamb,” starring Noomi Rapace and Hilmir Snær Guðnason as parents to an unusual half-sheep, half-human creature, was initially promoted as a horror film. However, the horror aspect is not fully explored until late in the story. Instead, the majority of the film delves into themes of grief and the challenges of parenthood at a slow, introspective pace.

2025-03-30 23:39