The Phantom menace pops to mind. Just that teaser with the gungans on their mounts, walking in the fog was enough to get every one on board for a new star wars series.
It wasn’t a very good series, but it did lead to greater things and was a success by all accounts.
Weird how so many talked shit about Phantom Menace but I saw it 4 times in a packed theater and was pumped everytime.
i think its a flick more than a film. visuals and audio were impressive, but almost none of the characters were developed or charming or even quotable. it even somehow managed to be more racist than should be possible.
I was 12 and I all I remember thinking was double sided lightsabers are cool. Which was disappointing as I was a huge Star wars fan. I don’t think I really liked it that much but going to the movies was always a big deal.
Took me about half a dozen viewings to come to terms with the fact that it’s not great, but I still enjoyed the nostalgia of the release and the hype around it.
Everything except the Gungans was top notch. I still think the fight with Darth Maul is one of the best in the entire series. The music was SO fucking good.
Barbie, hands down
I would say Inception, on two fronts. It was a good trailer for a good movie, but the trailer itself also resulted in dozens of movies throughout the year emulating the iconic “Inception horns” heard during the trailer.
Lion King, hands down. The trailer was just the entire opening scene, and seeing the trailer for the first time (in the theater, as was the style at the time), gave me chills. The scope of the animation was clearly something new, and Carmen Twillie & Lebo M fucking killed the vocals in Circle of Life
Blair Witch Project had one of the best marketing campaigns ever. Hitchcock’s Psycho had a groundbreaking campaign as well.
Yeah I was in highschool (Aus) and we bought the idea that it was real found footage and a real legend, hook, line and sinker. Excellent marketing.