Below you will find TrailerAddict’s top trailers of 2009. Though they are in no specific order, you may notice that the better trailers are listed near the bottom of the list. Coincidence?

Terminator Salvation – Extended Trailer
Picked just because we have nothing against extended trailers or the original Terminator theme song. Yes, it might have given a bit too much away, but the film’s teaser trailer already gave away the film’s biggest plot twist, so what was left? Watch Trailer »

Tron Legacy – Comic Con Trailer
Though we already saw this trailer once in 2008 at SDCC, fans had no issue seeing it again. Acting as the ultimate teaser, while still showing enough goodies – Light Cycles! — the first preview for Tron Legacy confirmed the return of Jeff Bridges, as it did in 2008, and reminded moviegoers that this is one franchise deserving of a sequel. Watch Trailer »

500 Days of Summer – Feature Trailer
With the loss of Don LaFontaine in 2008 we’ve been forced to hear some pretty bad replacements as voice-over narrators for trailers. The teaser trailer for 500 Days of Summer reminded us of this. At least, at first. While the constant repeating of “500 Days” came across as annoying, though “Sweet Disposition” was right on, it did help us remember 500 Days of Summer. The feature trailer decided to use the same narrator, but only at the beginning, and then lets a killer multi-score soundtrack take over. Well done. Watch Trailer »

Moon – Trailer
When you begin claiming that a film is a return to sci-fi classics while having a relatively untested director at the helm, that leaves a lot to prove in the film’s first trailer. Add in the fact that the film follows a single individual, and things have just become a bit more complicated. Enter the first and only trailer for Moon, which enjoys a terrific build-up, thrilling music from the great Clint Mansell, and a general sense that one should never be alone for too long. Just for good measure, the preview features some (deserved) critical acclaim. Watch Trailer »

2012 – Trailer B
Roland Emmerich has made a living out of providing audiences with disaster films. After wowing moviegoers with a little film known as Independence Day, the director began to slide. Focusing more on effects than quality of story, we have sat through films that included Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow and 10,000 BC; all of which had very nice looking trailers. Then we were shown a compilation of disaster footage for 2012. Though we knew better, the footage did suggest that Emmerich, after years of practice, was giving us his coup de gras. With unbelievable visuals, and a matching extended clip, audiences couldn’t help but become sold on the film’s special effects. Watch Trailer »

Last House on the Left – Trailer
Another trailer that used music perfectly. The only trailer for the remake showcases Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine”, as covered by the group Taken by Trees. A cover song for a remake? Couldn’t be more fitting. Better yet, the song’s lyrics and slower rhythm fits the preview beautifully. The only issue with the trailer is that it closes out by giving too much away. Oh well, the film was able to hold back on other nice surprises. Watch Trailer »

A Serious Man – Trailer
“Please, I need help.” Wait – What is that banging? Oh, a man’s head. Okay. Er, what? The sound of a head being bashed continues throughout the preview, along with a compilation – or more like a mashup – of both footage and dialogue from the film. Some of it even repeats. End it with, “The Rabbi is busy,” and we are reminded that we should expect nothing less from Joel and Ethan Coen. Watch Trailer »

Inglourious Basterds – Teaser Trailer & Trailer
When Quentin Tarantino announced that he was moving forward with a World War II movie that would take a twist on history while using an unrelenting collection of languages including English, German, French and Italian, one couldn’t help but be interested. No, the film was not entirely in black and white; something some rumors claimed it was. Instead, the film was chock full of Tarantino flair. While we had hoped to choose one trailer for the film, you can’t have the trailer without the teaser. Exaggerating Brad Pitt’s role in the film, the teaser trailer introduced the “Basterds” while showcasing terrific sound editing, blood-splattered text, and a quick compilation of footage from the film. Leaving a lot to be imagined, the trailer filled in all the gaps left behind by the teaser. The trailer also showed a continued marketing strategy of showcasing Brad Pitt in the film, a face that has a huge box office draw domestically, though the international marketing gave more focus to other cast members including Christoph Waltz and Mélanie Laurent. The trailer also teased another small film, Nation’s Pride. Watch Trailer »

Avatar – Trailer
With a half a decade (and counting) worth of expectations, it comes as no surprise that fans were polarized by the first trailer for Avatar. With no dialogue, unless you count, “This is great,” from Sam Worthington, the two-minute plus preview was all about the visuals. 20th Century Fox later followed that up with a dialogue-toting three-minute plus trailer, but the damage was done. What damage? Well, the first (and second) trailer for Avatar was one of the few reminders that some trailers are better seen in the theaters and NOT online. Sigh. We know, sacrilege, but in the case of Avatar it couldn’t have been more true. The film’s 3D trailer would go on to knock the pants off those fortunate enough to catch it before God knows what sort of CG animation. With the entire veil now drawn back, fans agree with Cameron’s single piece of dialogue– This is great. Watch Trailer »

Clash of the Titans – Teaser Trailer
Yes, we also adore the feature trailer for Clash of the Titans, but it is the film’s teaser trailer that set the ass-kicking pace. Playing what sounds to be a remixed track of “The Bird and the Worm” by The Used, the first glimpse at the film was akin to an acid trip, but with mythological gods! In just over a minute, Warner Bros showed a kickass remake that thankfully doesn’t look to have used that same metallic owl from the original. Oh, and just for kicks, there was nothing cooler than seeing a giant scorpion strike down to the beat of the music. Watch Trailer »

District 9 – Teaser Trailer
While we may never understand the reasoning behind the blurred alien face, which was later removed mind you, District 9 looked as if it were made for those disappointed by the loss of Halo; including we here at TrailerAddict. When Halo got both Peter Jackson and Neill Blomkamp on board, the adaptation of the popular first person shooter couldn’t have been setup more perfect. But then, with rising cost estimates, it fell through. In came District 9, a project that Blomkamp and Jackson were able to deliver. The best part is, now nobody knew what to expect. Shot in docu-style, the preview opens up by assuming the discussion is some sort of unwanted immigrants. Kind of, but not exactly. “They are not human.” Cut to realistic UFO. Holy sh… Watch Trailer »

Star Trek – Feature Trailer
If you can’t tell yet, we have got a weakness for trailer music. Even before the first trailer, the selection of cast (and director) gave fans of the franchise a renewed confidence in this restart. While the teaser trailer and first trailer gave fans something worth getting excited for, it was the feature trailer, with its use of the track “Freedom Fighters” from Two Steps from Hell that sold those still on the fence. The trailer starts with a perfect introduction to James T. Kirk, played by Chris Pine, provides great lines of dialogue that give a general sense of what the story is about and, if you can believe it, “too much” action. All to a wonderfully dramatic score. Fire everything! Watch Trailer »

Where the Wild Things Are – Trailer
A perfect example of the importance of music selection for a film preview. Just about every trailer for Where the Wild Things Are boasted the song “Wake Up” by Arcade Fire, including the film’s captivating first trailer. With the help of this particular song selection, both the band and the film received an incredible amount of recognition. Throw in some great visuals, creative text, and you have a trailer worth watching repeatedly. Watch Trailer »