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!
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So, with that in mind, here are EVEN MORE of the most popular responses shared:
1.Suicide Squad (2016)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
2.Frozen (2013)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
3.Last Action Hero (1993)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
4.Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
"I went to see it because it sounded like it had a great soundtrack featuring Audioslave — nope. Never getting that time back."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
5.Hail, Caesar! (2016)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
6.Passengers (2016)
"Instead of an action movie, it was a ‘romantic’ sci-fi movie...if you can even call it that."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
7.The Family Stone (2005)
"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!"
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
8.Pearl Harbor (2001)
"The trailer showed the war, but the movie was a love story, and the war was only about 20 minutes of it."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
9.Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
10.Steel Magnolias (1989)
"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!"
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
11.Vanity Fair (2004)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
12.Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
"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!"
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
13.We Have a Ghost (2023)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
14.Gone Girl (2014)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
15.The Menu (2022)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
16.Sorry to Bother You (2018)
"That was a weird one."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
17.Two Brothers (2004)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
18.The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
19.Coyote Ugly (2000)
"Coyote Ugly is missing from the first list!"
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
20.Barbarian (2022)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
21.Marley & Me (2008)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
22.Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
23.August: Osage County (2013)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
24.Country Strong (2010)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
25.Pleasantville (1998)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
26.Lady in the Water (2006)
"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."
You can watch the (somewhat misleading) trailer here:
And finally:
27.Patch Adams (1998)
"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."
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.