27 Movies That Ended Up Being Completely Different Than Their Trailers

Recently, we took a look at a Reddit thread asking for movie fans to name some "films that were completely different to the trailers," and redditors really came through with some great responses, which, in turn, sparked even more great examples from our very own BuzzFeed Community!

A woman says "I feel like that's false advertising"
A woman says "I feel like that's false advertising"

CBC Television

So, with that in mind, here are EVEN MORE of the most popular responses shared:

1.Suicide Squad (2016)

A woman swings a hammer
© Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection

"Whoever came up with the marketing and ads for this movie needed a raise because I was genuinely tricked into thinking that I would be watching a great movie."

bhs58

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

2.Frozen (2013)

A snowman dances in the sun
Walt Disney Co. / ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

"My husband and I have basically watched every animated Disney movie as they come out in theaters (prior to the pandemic). We went expecting a movie about a snowman. I didn't expect a princess musical movie, but it is a great movie."

toomanykidsnotenoughtime

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

3.Last Action Hero (1993)

A man talks to a young boy
Columbia Pictures

"Trailer: another stupid Arnie action flick. Reality: a very self-aware satire on all action flicks, especially Arnie ones, that also focuses on the ridiculousness of Hollywood and celebrity."

matdyjames

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

4.Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

A man looks shocked at a cuff on his wrist
Universal Pictures

"I went to see it because it sounded like it had a great soundtrack featuring Audioslave — nope. Never getting that time back."

ashfoxoutoftheboxdesigns

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

5.Hail, Caesar! (2016)

A group of sailors salute
Alison Cohen Rosa/ © Universal Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

"It made it seem like a sort of mystery film where different people from the studio have to solve the kidnapping of a major movie star. It is…not that."

sondheimgeek

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

6.Passengers (2016)

A man and a woman stand side by side
Jaimie Trueblood. ©Columbia Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

"Instead of an action movie, it was a ‘romantic’ sci-fi movie...if you can even call it that."

bhs58

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

7.The Family Stone (2005)

A family stands together on the stairs
20thcentfox / ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

"It was advertised as a funny holiday/family movie but instead was extremely sad and depressing. We took my grandpa to see it during the holidays as a way to cheer him up after my grandma died from cancer. We were horrified while watching it that it wasn't a comedy, but about the mom DYING FROM CANCER!"

emontyz1022

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

8.Pearl Harbor (2001)

A man and a woman dance together
©Touchstone Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

"The trailer showed the war, but the movie was a love story, and the war was only about 20 minutes of it."

lilcalik

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

9.Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

A woman rides a carousel horse while a man stands beside her
Walt Disney Co. / ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

"It looked like it was going to be about Walt Disney making Mary Poppins into a movie and going back and forth with the author about how it should look — a light comedy. Nope! P. L. Travers had a father who literally drank himself to death, stressing out her mother to the point of a nervous breakdown. It was way darker than the trailer would have you believe."

dellarock

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

10.Steel Magnolias (1989)

Four women sit and talk together on the couch
Tristar Pictures / ©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

"The trailer made it seem like a comedy, which it sort of is in a way, but the four of us had no idea it was going to be so sad. We were all crying, and none of us had tissues or anything. Literally snot-dripping crying, and we had nothing!"

ropre

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

11.Vanity Fair (2004)

A man and a woman dance
Focus Films / ©Focus Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

"The trailer made it look sexy, glamorous, and fun. Kind of like Bridgerton, but a bit more historically accurate. Instead, it was one of the most boring movies I've ever seen! Nothing happened, and all the characters were terrible."

dinaponcia

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

12.Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

A man stands in the street brandishing his knife
Dreamworks / ©DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection

"It looked like a dark Tim Burton/Johnny Depp drama. *I* knew it was a musical, but damn, there were some confused people in the theater!"

flyin_bryan

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

13.We Have a Ghost (2023)

A man sits beside an extravagantly dressed woman
Scott Saltzman / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

"It was a cute movie in the end, but A: The trailer I saw made it seem like a comedy movie about a New Jersey-type medium being hilarious (Jennifer Coolidge); however, that was, like, five minutes of the movie. B: The trailer made it seem like far more of a comedy, rather than a touching tale of closure."

oldladyfromtitanic

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

14.Gone Girl (2014)

A man stands beside a "Missing" poster
Merrick Morton / 20th Century Fox Licensing/Merchandising / Everett Collection

"I remember it being advertised as a great date movie around Valentine’s Day. I knew the premise from reading the book, but I didn’t tell my husband what to expect."

rebeccalynnevans

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

15.The Menu (2022)

A woman stares into space
© Searchlight Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

"It seemed genuinely terrifying/a straight-up thriller from the trailer. In the end, it was way more psychological and more of a commentary on a specific societal problem with a few scary parts. Definitely creepy, though."

isabellas492e9e612

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

16.Sorry to Bother You (2018)

A man and a woman stand side by side
© Annapurna Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

"That was a weird one."

dunnareem

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

17.Two Brothers (2004)

Two tigers together
Pathé Distribution

"I remember watching the trailer and thinking, 'Aww, great, a family film making it look cute to adopt baby tigers,' but the movie is actually pretty much the opposite of that, showing what a terrible idea that is and the potential consequences, as well as promoting themes of conservation and of not stealing other cultures' archaeological treasures. It's not really a kid's film, although it was slightly edited for US audiences — I saw it on an international flight and felt ripped off when I realized that the US version cut out bits, and edited out blood to make it more 'family friendly.' Not huge amounts, but enough that the message was clearer with it left in. Still, even for the US version, I found the trailer misleading."

stofzuiger

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

18.The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

A woman holds a piece of clothing off of a rack
20thcentfox / ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

"Maybe I was deluding myself, but from both the trailer and the buzz, I was expecting a smart take on the fashion industry and the fashion industry life, with lots of realistic, informative, and interesting bits. But there's actually none of that in the film, except the 'cerulean top' scene. What a disappointment."

bloonz

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

19.Coyote Ugly (2000)

A group of women pour liquid on another woman
Frank Masi / © Buena Vista Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

"Coyote Ugly is missing from the first list!"

m4698c8f22

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

20.Barbarian (2022)

A woman stands at the top of a staircase
© 20th Century Studios /Courtesy Everett Collection

"The trailer makes it seem like it’s an Airbnb horror film, which it is not. There are so many twists and turns and plays on the horror movie genre. I recommend watching it once and then never again."

supersouper

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

21.Marley & Me (2008)

A man and a woman sit surrounded by dogs
©Fox 2000 Pictures. All rights reserved./Courtesy Everett Collection

"They marketed it as a cute puppy comedy, and it was utterly heartbreaking. My whole family went to see a silly dog movie on Christmas and all left the theater devastated."

kbo0116

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

22.Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

A man in a mech suit shoots a gun
©Warner Bros. Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

"The trailer made the film look like your typical dark and gritty Tom Cruise action flick, but the movie was actually pretty humorous and entertaining."

cao06d

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

23.August: Osage County (2013)

Three women sit a table
Weinstein Company / ©Weinstein Company/Courtesy Everett Collection

"I saw the trailer and thought, 'Oh, a family drama with Julia Roberts — it'll probably be good,' but it was the worst movie. Just horrifyingly awful."

emilypost

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

24.Country Strong (2010)

A woman walks towards another woman in a gown
Screen Gems / ©Screen Gems/Courtesy Everett Collection

"The trailer made it look like it was about a country singer successfully overcoming addiction and making a big comeback. Yeah, I knew there would be some tough moments, but the trailer made it seem like it would be uplifting and encouraging in the end. I specifically chose to watch it to cheer myself up. Instead...I was not cheered up."

abbyb476905b59

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

25.Pleasantville (1998)

A woman stands with a man in a school hallway
© New Line / courtesy Everett Collection

"It was horribly marketed as a teenage rom-com with a classic black-and-white-TV twist, while in reality, it's a morality tale about ridiculous suburban values and political oppression. I'm sure they tricked some people into seeing it who otherwise wouldn't have, but it also probably turned a lot of people off who would have appreciated the experience."

braccolirob

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

26.Lady in the Water (2006)

A man carries a woman out of a pool
Warner Bros / ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

"I know I'll get mocked for saying this, but the trailer for this movie was extremely misleading. I expected a horror movie, but it was so not. It's just a cute story."

aluckyblackcat

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

And finally:

27.Patch Adams (1998)

A man with a clown nose tends to a patient
© Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

"The trailer: 'Robin Williams is a doctor who makes his patients laugh! Hilarity surely ensues!' No. Robin Williams is going to make you cry your eyeballs out, and you won't be prepared for it because you thought this was a comedy."

mbkepshire

You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:

You've read their picks, but now it's your turn! What's a movie you felt turned out drastically different than its trailer led you to believe? Share in the comments below! Oh, and be sure to check out the first list to see if your pick is on there!

Some responses were edited for length and/or clarity.