Most Misleading/Deceptive Movie Trailers

[BRV]

A little while ago (OK, five months ago), it was reported that movie studios could be sued for deceptive or misleading movie trailers.

variety.com/2022/film/news/ana-de-armas-yesterday-false-advertising-1235467419/

Movie studios can be sued under false advertising laws if they release deceptive movie trailers, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson issued a ruling in a case involving “Yesterday,” the 2019 film about a world without the Beatles.

Two Ana de Armas fans filed a lawsuit in January, alleging that they had rented the movie after seeing de Armas in the trailer, only to discover that she was cut out of the final film.

So, what do you feel is the most misleading or deceptive movie trailer, either because it features a star who didn't make the final cut, portrays itself as something completely different, or any other particular reason?

[Push R Truth]

I came for this Old Ass Batman Movie, but why is it called The Flash?

[Ben Wyatt]

Hancock is one for sure.
Marely and Me

[James Fabiano]

Outside Providence. The Farrelly Brothers connection was pushed but it wasn't a comedy more than it was a dramedy.

[YAKMAN is ICHIBAN]

Godzilla, barely featuring Bryan Cranston.

[chazraps]

Serious answer: Predators

The film-makers openly said they added additional Predator lights to the trailer to make it seem like it was a planet full of Predators when there's really only four Predators in the movie.

Deliberately misleading, deliberately shitty.

[No Longer a Produceman]

The Village by M. Night Shyamalan. Good movie but was marketed as horror when it wasn’t a horror film.

[Paul]

The "Alien 3" Teaser Trailer:



In fairness; the movie's script was still being worked on when this teaser was released, and the movie we ended up getting had very little to do with the script they had when this teaser was released.

[schma]

The trailers for Rat Race and Zoolander produced negative interest in me and then they ended up being hilarious.

[James Fabiano]

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. Makes Phantasm look like the big bad of the film.

[JoDaNa1281]

Collateral Beauty

[schizo]

May 23, 2023 11:32:06 GMT -5 YAKMAN is ICHIBAN said:

Godzilla, barely featuring Bryan Cranston.

or Godzilla

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Arachnophobia's trailer made it seem like a fun lighthearted comedy with John Goodman hijinks. The actual movie had Delbert as a small supporting character till the climax, and wasn't light hearted. There were comedy moments, but there were more horror moments.

[Natural Born Farmer]

The Road made it look like it was a Mad Max-esque, post-apocalyptic thriller instead of a character driven drama about a dad and his son at the end of the world.

Not so much misleading, but I distinctly remember there was a trailer for Black Hawk Down set to the Dave Matthews Band song The Space Between. Nothing like a heartfelt song about enduring love to give some punch to your war movie trailer.

[Confused Mark Wahlberg]

I'm pretty sure they made 'Bug' seem like some horror movie instead of whatever the hell it was.

[Mr PONYMANIA Mr Jenzie]

May 23, 2023 11:52:32 GMT -5 Paul said:

The "Alien 3" Teaser Trailer:



In fairness; the movie's script was still being worked on when this teaser was released, and the movie we ended up getting had very little to do with the script they had when this teaser was released.

you meant THIS ONE of course



with the first two shots not in the theatrical edition

yeah but no, trailers are REPRESENTATIONS of the released movie
how those two idiots won their case is beyond me

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

The one that springs to my mind is Mother!. marketed as a horror movie when it really wasn't. Just because somethign is weird and disturbing doesn't make it horror. It also wasn't very good so oh, well.

[YAKMAN is ICHIBAN]

May 23, 2023 13:55:12 GMT -5 Mr PONYMANIA Mr Jenzie said:

yeah but no, trailers are REPRESENTATIONS of the released movie
how those two idiots won their case is beyond me

I don't thank that they have ultimately won their case yet based on the timing of these articles, but I can't find any follow up on it. This was an early motion to dismiss, so it is likely either still going on, or settled.


If a movie trailer includes an actor, and it seems to be more than a minor appearance, and they aren't in the final cut at all? That seems like it crosses a line.

If a trailer includes an actor who is killed early as a twist, I don't think that generally would. Thinking trailers for Scream or Psycho (presumably, I don't remember the trailers to either)

Maybe it could under some set of facts. To imagine of an extreme example, if you have an A list crew of actors featured exclusively in the trailer making it look like an ensemble heist film, but it turns out they are only in the first five minutes and the remainder of the film consists of the director mocking you for trusting the trailer and buying a ticket. Or if in Castaway Tom Hanks was only in the first 5 minutes and the rest was a musical featuring only a singing volleyball.

[DSR]

May 23, 2023 13:09:28 GMT -5 schizo said:

May 23, 2023 11:32:06 GMT -5 YAKMAN is ICHIBAN said:

Godzilla, barely featuring Bryan Cranston.

or Godzilla

Plenty of that Kick-Ass guy, though.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

May 23, 2023 15:22:50 GMT -5 YAKMAN is ICHIBAN said:

I don't thank that they have ultimately won their case yet based on the timing of these articles, but I can't find any follow up on it. This was an early motion to dismiss, so it is likely either still going on, or settled.

Yeah, it's not actually gone to the courts yet, and I have my doubts it'll ever get there. They'll probably settle for a four-figure sum, as there's little chance they'll get a penny if it actually gets to the courts.