Since it seems like I have to watch every trailer that comes out in a given year, I feel it only fair to highlight the ones that were worth my precious two-and-a-half minutes. A good trailer can throw a movie high on someone's must-see list or change indifference into excitement. I hesitate to call them art not because I don't believe the term technically fits (it does), but because "art" is such a loaded word. Still, when you forego Mr. Movie Voice, showing the entire movie, and edit together a piece that's pretty damn cool in its own right, then you're worthy of some attention.
Hit the jump to start the countdown.
Two additional notes: I've also included the names of the music used in the trailers for those that want to buy the tracks. Also, to qualify only the trailer had to come out this year, not the film. With that in mind…
10. TRON LEGACY (Teaser Trailer)
And now you know how to get people excited about a sequel to a movie that came out in 1982. Oh, and try to imagine it in 3D.
9. 9 (Teaser Trailer)
The music that begins at 0:46 is "Welcome Home" by Coheed and Cambria.
8. IN THE LOOP (Trailer)
The music used throughout the trailer is Walter Carlos' abridged version of the "William Tell Overture" from the soundtrack for A Clockwork Orange.
7. STAR TREK (2nd Trailer)
The music used throughout the trailer is "Freedom Fighters" by Two Steps from Hell.
6. BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS (Promo Trailer; NSFW if your work sucks and doesn't allow you to watch cursing and Nic Cage smoking his lucky crack pipe)
5. KICK-ASS (Hit-Girl Red-Band Trailer; NSFW if your work sucks and doesn't allow you to see an 11-year-old cursing and killing the shit out of bad guys)
The music following "Okay, you cunts. Let's see what you can do now," is "Banana Splits (Tra La La Song)" by The Dickies
4. CLASH OF THE TITANS (2nd Trailer)
The music that starts at 0:40 is the instrumental version of "The Bird and the Worm" by The Used. However, that version, as far as I can tell, isn't available. You can only purchase the original song; sadly the lyrics and vocals are atrocious.
3. A SINGLE MAN (Promo Trailer)
This trailer is far better than the official one, which removes almost any hint of the main character's homosexuality. As for the music, it's "Clock Tick" by Abel Korzeniowski from the film's soundtrack. The whole album is amazing and the MP3 version is only $7.99 at Amazon.
2. A SERIOUS MAN (Trailer)
As you probably already know, the music that starts playing at 1:17 is "Somebody to Love" by Jefferson Airplane.
1. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (Teaser Trailer)
The music used throughout the trailer is "Wake Up" by The Arcade Fire.
Sunday: Top 10 Films of 2009
Monday: Worst 5 Films of 2009
Tuesday: Top 10 Trailers of 2009
Wednesday: Best Performances, Quotes, and Kills of 2009
Thursday: Top 20 Films of the 2000s