The best movie trailers of 2013

If there’s one thing we love at Yahoo Movies just as much as films, it’s trailers for films, and 2013 has seen some absolute belters.

[The biggest plot holes of 2013]

Whether they’re for films coming this year or next, these sizzling little slices of anticipation continue to be the best way for marketers to ramp up excitement for their movies, but not all trailers are created equally.
 
A good trailer needs to be spectacular, intriguing, but most of all, impactful. It needs to leave you desperate to see the movie immediately, and all of the trailers on our list certainly fulfilled that criteria, regardless of whether the final film matched up to our expectations or not.

'Man of Steel'
Full of Terrence Malick-esque visuals, a stirring Russell Crowe voice-over, stunning special effects, and a foreboding Hans Zimmer score, the third trailer for Man of Steel really whet our appetites for Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot. Whether the final film lived up to this trailer is still being debated in internet forums.

'Wolf of Wall Street'
The first trailer for Martin Scorsese’s 'Wolf of Wall Street' came out of nowhere and was an instant classic. Underlined by Kanye West’s foot-stomping tune 'Black Skinhead', the trailer went on to win Best Teaser Trailer at The Hollywood Reporter’s Key Art Awards (yes, that is a real awards ceremony).

'Only God Forgives'
Nicholas Winding Refn’s follow up to sleeper hit 'Drive' divided critics upon release, but the UK trailer, propelled by the woozy beats of "2020" by indie band Suuns, oozed sinister charm and was eye-catching, distinctive and totally unforgettable.

[The worst movie dialogue of 2013]

'This Is The End'
Trailers for comedies are hard to pull off. You need enough laughs to draw people in, but you don’t want to spoil your best jokes. Luckily then, for 'This Is The End', the trailer was packed with just enough incongruous cameos, sight gags and belly laughs to leave you thirsting for more.

'Gravity'
More of an extended clip than a traditional trailer, the “Detached” ad for Alfonso Cuaron’s highly-anticipated 'Gravity' was instantly attention-grabbing, offering more tension in its 2 minute run time than many thrillers manage over 2 hours. Naturally, 'Gravity' went on to become a HUGE hit.

'X-Men: Days of Future Past'
Bryan Singer’s return to the X-universe (Xuniverse?) had been greeted with trepidation following Matthew Vaughn’s barn-storming 'First Class' proved the franchise could prosper without him, but the impressive first trailer for the time-hopping 'Days of Future Past' announced that the prodigal son had returned. Made good use of "Journey To The Line" from the 'Thin Red Line' soundtrack.

'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'
Very little was known about Ben Stiller’s upcoming directorial effort before the first trailer hit, but with its launch, the secret was out.

[The Fifth Estate named 2013's biggest flop]

Scored by buzzy Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men, the trailer is more a tone poem than straight ad, featuring very little dialogue, relying on its fantastical visuals and awesome tune to reel the audience in.

'Iron Man 3'
Marvel movies always have great trailers and those for 'Iron Man 3' lived up to the studio’s reputation. The final version, with Ben Kingsley’s sinister Mandarin voice over, explosive action, and fist-pumping final reveal, was an absolute cracker.

'You're Next'
Proper horror made a big comeback in 2013 and home invasion flick 'You’re Next' was an under-appreciated example of the genre. This trailer, which features the best use of Lou Reed’s "Perfect Day" in recent memory, was guaranteed to capture your attention, revealing just enough of the film’s threatening tone to leave you wanting for more.

'Star Trek Into Darkness'
Pre-release hype for 'Star Trek Into Darkness' reached incredible levels and part of the reason were the film’s impeccable trailers. This final international trailer focused on Benedict Cumberbatch’s devious machinations as the film’s primary villain ‘John Harrison’. There's something fishy about that name...

'The Conjuring'
Horror trailers often rely on tone-setting and cheap thrills to draw people in, but the first proper trailer for James Wan’s 'The Conjuring' played out a single, terrifying, scene to great effect. The mundane setting makes the trailer all the more chilling. Don't go in the wardrobe!

'Don Jon'
All eyes were on Joseph Gordon Levitt when he announced his directorial debut Don Jon. Could the lauded actor perform behind the camera as well as he could in front? Judging from the brilliantly assembled jazzy first trailer, the answer was yes, indubitably yes.

'The LEGO Movie'
We had doubts about a LEGO film, but the debut trailer lived up to its billing as “the greatest movie ever assembled”. Featuring an all-star cast, some cracking dialogue (“I only work in black… and sometimes very, very dark grey”), and buckets of charm, this new animated film from the director of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is now one of our most anticipated films of next year.