What makes the perfect trailer? It may be the editing style or the money shot that sends the internet into hysteria — but it just might be the song selection. Whether it be the latest chart-topping hit, the perfect throwback, or an interesting new cover of an old favorite, there have been more than a couple of occasions where the music in a movie trailer steals the show. Here are the best needle-drops in trailers of the 21st century.
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The Social Network (Scala & Kolacny Brothers - Creep)
David Fincher’sThe Social Networkis hailed as a masterpiece and one of the greatest films of the 21st century, but the film’s trailer is a classic in its own right. TheScala & Kolacny Brotherscover of theRadioheadhit “Creep” is a large part of why the trailer for the film works as well as it does — so much so that this cover will forever be synonymous with the marketing campaign for the Oscar-winning drama.The women’s choir behind the cover has had plenty of their other work used in other trailers, but never as beautifully as here. Not only do the lyrics of the song precisely capture the awkward relentlessness ofMark Zuckerberg, but the pacing of the song perfectly captures the escalating tension throughout the trailer.
Logan (Johnny Cash - Hurt)
Superhero trailers tend to always use either a fast-paced song or a slow and moody cover of a popular hit. That’s what makes the first trailer forJames Mangold’sLoganso special. The use ofJohnny Cash’s iconic cover ofNine Inch Nails' “Hurt” promises fans this is truly a different kind of superhero movie, giving it engaging, neo-western vibes. The melancholic nature of the song is even used during the most action-heavy parts of the trailer, which makes it all the more chilling. Most of all, the song’s inclusion lets the audience know the current psyche of the titular character.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (The Four Tops - Walk Away Renée)
AsdivisiveasMartin McDonaugh’s Oscar-winningThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missourimay have been when it first debuted, there’s no denying that the use ofThe Four Tops' cover ofThe Left Banke’s “Walk Away Renée” perfectly reflects the chaotic and mean-spirited nature of the trailer. The song, which plays during the last half of the trailer, blares over footage of police brutality, buildings burning, and a brutal family dilemma — as well as more tender moments such as the characters showing affection. While the song accurately encapsulates the deliberately messy nature of the film, control is shown when the song briefly stops for a news reporter to countdown to 1 before quickly transitioning back into the music.
Pineapple Express (M.I.A. - Paper Planes)
Comedy trailers typically aim for one primary goal: to make the audience laugh. Which makes the trailer forDavid Gordon Green’sPineapple Expressall the more impressive with how committed it is to its pretty serious song choice:M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes.” While the song is not specifically about weed (and more about how Americans tend to look down on immigrants), the references to cannabis make it just the right fit for theSeth Rogen/James Francostoner comedy trailer. From the quick-edits of the film’s villains that are in rhythm with the tempo of the song, to cutting shots of the characters firing guns to the gunshots in the actual song, the editing team behind this trailer clearly outdid themselves.
Watchmen (Smashing Pumpkins - The End Is the Beginning Is the End)
It was certainly a bold choice for the first trailer forZack Snyder’s highly ambitious adaptation ofWatchmento be set to a song that originated from the soundtrack ofBatman & Robin, a film so reviled that it very nearly ended superhero movies. Yet it paid off magnificently asSmashing Pumpkins' “The End Is the Beginning Is the End” perfectly encapsulates the source material’s feeling of existential dread and hopelessness. Even the lyrics of the song speak toWatchmen’s views on the crumbling of society. It is a moody track perfectly selected for a moody trailer.
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (Imagine Dragons - Friction)
The trailers for the last severalMission: Impossiblefilms have been brilliantly set to various songs, fromEminemandP!nk’s “Won’t Back Down” forGhost ProtocoltoFugees' “Ready Or Not” forRogue Nation. But neither of those hold a candle to the use ofImagine Dragons' “Friction” in the trailer forChristopher McQuarrie’sFallout. Similar to other entries here, the trailer forFalloutis cut to the rhythm of the song which leads to one of the trailer’s biggest highlights:Henry Cavill, in all his glory, punching his fists to the beat of the song. Who knew that two grown men fighting in a fancy bathroom could be so musical?
Where the Wild Things Are (Arcade Fire - Wake Up)
After an introductory line, the trailer forSpike Jonze’s adaptation ofWhere The Wild Things Arebarely has any words; just the sounds of howling and theArcade Firehit “Wake Up.” The moving nature of the song, as well as its chorus, helped give audiences just a glimpse at the emotional depth of what the general audience initially perceived as “just a kids' movie.” This trailer could also multi-task as a music video for the song; the song’s rising tempo feels more than appropriate for the entire trailer, from the spurts of joy and play to the shots of the titular Wild Things crying. Most of all, it gracefully portrays the innocence of childhood in a way that most trailers can not.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Of Monsters and Men - Dirty Paws)
Similar to the trailer forWhere the Wild Things Are, this teaser forBen Stiller’sThe Secret Life Of Walter Mittycould serve a dual purpose as a music video. The use ofOf Monsters and Men’s “Dirty Paws” sets a certain aura for the film as the slower build-up plays over the titular character’s mundane life before quickly rising as our hero embarks on his adventure, all accompanied perfectly by shots of Greenland, the Himalayas, and the ocean. It’s the kind of song choice that molds a sense of wonder, promise, and inspiration. It’s not your typical adventure film.
The Wolf Of Wall Street (Kanye West - Black Skinhead)
Martin Scorsese’sThe Wolf Of Wall Streetis perhaps one of the wildest films in the auteur’s illustrious career, so it’s more than fitting that the trailer is set to the beat ofKanye West’s “Black Skinhead.” It just makes sense that a trailer that focuses on the luxuriously unethical lifestyle ofJordan Belfortis set to a song from someone as polarizing as West. On top of that, the trailer debuted two days before the official release of the acclaimed song, meaning that not only was the trailer promoting the Scorsese film but also the song itself!
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Karen O with Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - Immigrant Song)
Many now associate the first trailer forThor: Ragnarokas one of the best uses ofLed Zeppelin’s brilliant “Immigrant Song,” but there’s a good argument that the trailer for Fincher’sThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoodid it much better with a cover byKaren O,Trent Reznor, andAtticus Ross. The warped version of the classic hit certainly captures the twisted and sickening spirit of the film itself, catapulting an audience’s interest to a whole new level. The song’s use in the trailer also promised that after a string of tamer films, Fincher could still make a film as shocking and sardonic as the films that made him famous. Heck,evenThe Muppetsmade a parody of the trailer!
