Ranking 2017 Comic Book Movie Trailers

Each and every comic book movie based on a Marvel or DC property set for release in 2017 has a trailer online.

While one of 2017’s Marvel-based comic book movies has already hit theaters, five are set for release in the eight remaining months of the year. Thor: Ragnarok was the last to show its cards with a trailer dropping on Monday morning.

On the following slides, we rank each Marvel/DC comic book movies’ trailers. The candidates include Logan, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, and Justice League.

The rankings are based on each film’s best trailer, not accounting for knowledge of the film itself if it has been released (looking at you, Logan, you excellent piece of movie from James Mangold), as selected by the ComicBook.com staff.

6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 falls into sixth place despite its trailers building quite a bit of excitement for the film.

Adhering to many fans’ wishes of “not showing too much” in the previews may have bit this ad campaign a bit when it comes to dropping footage. The plot of Vol. 2 is still very mysterious as the film is less than a month from release.

The best of its trailers has provided us with the following information: Ego is Peter Quill’s dad and played by a Kurt Russell who looks a lot like J’Son, Ayesha is a villain painted gold, Baby Groot will be all over the place, Drax appears to be stepping up his role, the film will have a fun soundtrack, and the Guardians roster will expand by at least three (Yondu, Nebula, and Mantis).

The trailers do little to differentiate Vol. 2 from the original Guardians of the Galaxy from 2014. While this is no problem for the movie itself, as the first film is one of the best and most beloved comic book movies of all time, it doesn’t allow the trailers a chance to shine over any other preview for 2017 comic book movies.

 

5. Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman‘s best trailer was its most recent, which saw the character enduring training under Hippolyta, heading to London for the first time, and using several of her epic powers in battle.

Unfortunately for Wonder Woman, we saw several of the titular heroine’s powers in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. That said, director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot appear to have teamed up for some of the best action sequences of any comic book movie to date.

However, as has been the problem with each Wonder Woman trailer so far, the previews insists on an putting off-beat attempt at humor in its post-title card conclusion clip. It’s a very off-putting contradiction to round out an otherwise action-packed trailer.

Like Guardians, the Wonder Woman trailers are not bad. They simply fall under the we’ve-seen-trailers-like-this-before category.

 

4. Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spider-Man: Homecoming has offered two drastically different trailers through its marketing campaign. 

The first trailer was light-hearted and focused heavily on Peter Parker’s journey through high school. The second took a darker route and showed audiences how thoroughly Peter’s abilities as Spider-Man will be tested. For that, we’re ruling the second as the better trailer.

Spider-Man: Homecoming‘s second trailer provided an in-depth look at Peter’s current state: he wants to be an Avengers, Tony Stark makes him question his ability to be a hero, and he is struggling with teenage high school issues in addition to super villains like the Vulture.

The most recent Homecoming trailer undoubtedly built hype for and faith in the Jon Watts directed film but failed to deliver any particular scenery, characters, or tones which set it above other trailers we’ve seen for films in 2017 or previously. 

 

3. Logan

There is a considerable gap between the fourth and third rankings on this list. The top three films either revamped the approach to trailers, offered something brand new and exciting, or both.

The first is Logan. Two epic trailers for Logan make it tough to choose one clear cut winner in terms of quality. The first featured Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” while the second kicked ass to the tune of Kaleo’s “Way Down We Go.”

Because each of the trailers for Logan were so imaginative and innovative, we’re not going to pick one as its best.

Logan‘s trailers reinvented the approach to super hero films. Hugh Jackman’s last outing as the Wolverine was touted as a character-driven sendoff, packed with raw emotion built both within the film’s story and fan experiences with the actor and character. The trailers revealed that director James Mangold was clearly taking a personalized, western approach to the film, while they did not confess abundant specifics about Logan‘s journey.

Tossing X-23 into action in red band takes sealed the deal, making Logan‘s trailers some of the most iconic of the year.

 

2. Justice League

In a time where many fans are down on the DC Extended Universe in the wake of poor reception to Batman v Superman, Justice League‘s second trailer silenced the naysayers. 

Set to the tune of “Come Together” by The Beetles, the members of the Justice League did just that in the first real look at the upcoming film. Sure, San Diego Comic Con’s trailer showed each of big name heroes in movie form, but Trailer #2 tossed them into the ring together to see what they’re capable of as a tag-team.

The universe remained constant to Batman v Superman’s in terms of a dark, gritty tone surrounding the heroes but organic bits of humor packed an extra bunch when Bruce Wayne told Barry Allen his power was being rich and a tough-guy Arthur Curry quipped about Bruce’s dressing like a bat. 

Icing on the cake: the heroes are working together creatively. Aquaman riding the Batmobile as a means to launch himself into battle with Parademons was the ultimate kicker this trailer needed.

 

1. Thor: Ragnarok

The Thor: Ragnarok trailer took the Internet by storm on Monday morning. 

Several lingering questions of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were answered: where was Thor during Civil War? Where did the Hulk go after Age of Ultron? What is Loki doing since The Dark World? What is Hela going to look like in live-action? Why isn’t Thor carrying Mjolnir? Does Chris Hemsworth look as good without long hair?

Each question had a satisfying answer but also built more interest and questions to be answered by Ragnarok when it hits theaters.

The first look at the Hulk in his gladiator armor fans have eagerly waited on was revealed. The bizarre colors of Sakaar and the Grandmaster were showcased. Someone was standing in the background dressed like a Celestial!

Thor and the Marvel Cinematic Universe may have met their match in Hela, a character who is making her presence known by destroying Asgard upon arrival. 

All set to the tone of “The Immigrant Song,” by Led Zeppelin, Taika Waititi’s Ragnarok trailer understood all of the necessary elements to create an exciting trailer and executed on each of them.