History Main / NeverTrustaTrailer

Indeed, the creation of fake trailers to make a movie look like it's from a completely different genre has become one of the Internet's most beloved recent art forms, such as ''Film/TheShining'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmkVWuP_sO0 family-oriented romantic comedy]], ''Film/MaryPoppins'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic slasher horror flick]], ''Series/{{Luke Cage|2016}}'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gpED0Z57RU '90s sitcom]], or the one that started it all, ''Film/TheTenCommandments'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1kqqMXWEFs high school romantic comedy]].

* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'' occasionally does this as a spoof "previously on" segment.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/never_trust_a_trailer.png]]

Indeed, the creation of fake trailers to make a movie look like it's from a completely different genre has become one of the Internet's most beloved recent art forms, such as ''Film/TheShining'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmkVWuP_sO0 family-oriented romantic comedy]], ''Film/MaryPoppins'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic slasher horror flick]], ''Series/{{Luke Cage|2016}}'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gpED0Z57RU 90's sitcom]], or the one that started it all, ''Film/TheTenCommandments'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1kqqMXWEFs high school romantic comedy]].

!!Example Subpages

* [[NeverTrustATrailer/AnimatedFilms Film — Animated]]
* [[NeverTrustATrailer/LiveActionFilms Film — Live-Action]]

!!Other Examples

[[folder:Webcomics]]

Dishonest as it may be, you gotta admit that it is kinda funny, too.

Of course, TropesAreTools, as used correctly this can be a very clever way of averting TrailersAlwaysSpoil (by not mentioning or downplaying the real main plot).

* This ended up backfiring a bit for the initial episodes of ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', as early trailers made it look like a fairy tale-themed ''WebAnimation/DeadFantasy''.
** The first few episodes turned out to be more gradual and comedic with little fight scenes, causing some disappointment among fans. Creator/RoosterTeeth admitted they gave a pretty poor showing with that choice a little around the time of the series debut.

Indeed, the creation of fake trailers to make a movie look like it's from a completely different genre has become one of the Internet's most beloved recent art forms, such as ''Film/TheShining'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmkVWuP_sO0 family-oriented romantic comedy]], ''Film/MaryPoppins'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic slasher horror flick]], ''Series/LukeCage2016'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gpED0Z57RU 90's sitcom]], or the one that started it all, ''Film/TheTenCommandments'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1kqqMXWEFs high school romantic comedy]].

* AdvertisedExtra: The guy seems to be a major character, but isn't.
** LadyNotAppearingInThisGame: A subtrope of this, where the disproportionate appearance of a sexually-alluring character in the publicity material is used to make a work appear more erotic than it is.
* BillingDisplacement: The big-name actor plays a smaller part than they were 'supposed' to get.

* ''Fanfic/MobileFighterEvangelion'' was actually inspired by this trope, with the writer originally making presumptions based on a smiling Asuka, a grim looking Shinji, and an icy-looking Rei for the ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' poster that's currently that page's image that Asuka was happy-go-lucky, Shinji was a {{Determinator}}, and Rei was an IceQueen DrillSergeantNasty rather than the {{Tsundere}}, ShrinkingViolet, and EmotionlessGirl they respectively really were and deciding to make a story based around his assumptions.

-->-- '''''Website/TheAgonyBooth''''' [[http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Star_Trek__Insurrection.aspx on]] ''Film/StarTrekInsurrection''

* Film
** NeverTrustATrailer/AnimatedFilms
** [[NeverTrustATrailer/{{Film}} Live-Action Films]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

Of course, TropesAreTools, as used correctly this can be a very clever way of averting TrailersAlwaysSpoil (by not mentioning or downplaying the real main plot) or HypeBacklash (by underselling the quality and letting word of mouth do the rest once it actually is out).

Of course, TropesAreTools, as used correctly this can be a very clever way of averting TrailersAlwaysSpoil (by not mentioning or downplaying the real main plot) or HypeBacklash (by underselling the quality and letting word of mouth do the rest once it actually is out). But a few of us are a cynical bunch here at TV Tropes, and even the optimists among us know that in the worst examples it'll actually drive away those who would have otherwise enjoyed it, by completely confusing the relevant demographic. Also, using this trope can have unfortunate consequences. A common reason that fans will accuse a work of queerbaiting (hyping LGBT+ representation that doesn't end up happening or is poorly executed) is because of this trope.

Of course, TropesAreTools, as used correctly this can be a very clever way of averting TrailersAlwaysSpoil (by not mentioning or downplaying the real main plot) or HypeBacklash (by underselling the quality and letting word of mouth do the rest once it actually is out). But a few of us are a cynical bunch here at TV Tropes, and even the optimists among us know that in the worst examples it'll actually drive away those who would have otherwise enjoyed it, by completely confusing the relevant demographic.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1530214776239.png]]

* SirNotAppearingInThisTrailer: A major character doesn't show up in the trailer at all.

* SirNotAppearingInThisTrailer: Where a major actor doesn't show up in the trailer.

[[folder:Theater]]
* When ''Theatre/WaitingForGodot'' made its American debut in Miami, its marketing prominently featured stars Bert Lahr (The Cowardly Lion) and Tom Ewell (from ''The Seven-Year Itch''). Posters declared the play to be "the laugh sensation of two continents."

* Parodied by Legendary Frog in the One Ring to Rule Them All: Special Edition, in which a "One Ring 3" Teaser includes shout outs to the movie Speed, the Incredible Hulk, and Charlie's Angels. Lampshaded by Sauron, who asks "Will any of this be in the actual movie?" His goblin assistant, Wayne, tells him that it'll all be cut in post-production.

* If you aren't familiar with Webcomic/SluggyFreelance then the first half of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPoA5qAHqFU this video]] would have you convinced that the comic revolves around... well, a relatively minor side character. After that it breaks down into half a dozen tiny trailers not to be entirely trusted, before finally giving up and summarizing the comic in one sentence.

* Inverted by Screen Junkies' ''WebVideo/HonestTrailers'' which pick apart plot holes and mock the movies featured.
* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'' occasionally does this as a spoof "previously on" segment.

[[quoteright:350:~~uechochamber:tsqb69huwPk~~]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[-The trailer for the second season of our ''WebVideo/EchoChamber'' webshow.-] ]]

->''"Considering what we get, it's highly possible that Movie Trailer Voiceover Guy [[HonestJohnsDealership also sells billions of dollars worth of used cars]] and swampland real estate every year."''

** DC also tried to spin the marketing for the series as a DarkerAndEdgier take on the Golden Age heroes, when it actually falls ''heavily'' on the "Idealistic" side of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism.

* LadyNotAppearingInThisGame: The opposite of AdvertisedExtra: a character featuring prominently in the promotional materials is just a walk-on, or even doesn't appear at all in the actual work.

* LadyNotAppearingInThisGame: The opposite of the above, a character featuring prominently in the promotional materials doesn't really play a significant role.

* ''Fanfic/MobileFighterEvangelion'' was actually inspired by this trope, with the writer originally making presumptions based on a smiling Asuka, a grim looking Shinji, and an icy-looking Rei for the poster that's currently that page's image that Asuka was happy-go-lucky, Shinji was a {{Determinator}}, and Rei was an IceQueen DrillSergeantNasty rather than the {{Tsundere}}, ShrinkingViolet, and EmotionlessGirl they respectively really were and deciding to make a story based around his assumptions.

* Feld Entertainment has done this with their ''Disney/DisneyOnIce'' and ''Disney Live!'' shows a few times:

Of course, TropesAreNotBad, as used correctly this can be a very clever way of averting TrailersAlwaysSpoil (by not mentioning or downplaying the real main plot) or HypeBacklash (by underselling the quality and letting word of mouth do the rest once it actually is out). But a few of us are a cynical bunch here at TV Tropes, and even the optimists among us know that in the worst examples it'll actually drive away those who would have otherwise enjoyed it, by completely confusing the relevant demographic.

Indeed, the creation of fake trailers to make a movie look like it's from a completely different genre has become one of the Internet's most beloved recent art forms, such as ''Film/TheShining'' as a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmkVWuP_sO0 family-oriented romantic comedy]], ''Film/MaryPoppins'' as a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic slasher horror flick]], ''Series/LukeCage'' as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gpED0Z57RU 90's sitcom]], or the one that started it all, ''Film/TheTenCommandments'' as a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1kqqMXWEFs high school romantic comedy]].

** DC also tried to spin the marketing for the series as a DarkerAndEdgier take on the Golden Age heroes, when it actually falls ''heavily'' on the "Idealistic" side of the SlidingScaleofIdealismVersusCynicism.

* The trailer for season two of the AbridgedSeries ''WebVideo/UltraFastPony'' plays this for laughs, with the creator Wacarb running down a long list of things that will happen that did not, as well as Twilight saying the line "I am so full of all of the emotions" over footage of her break down in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E3LessonZero Lesson Zero]] which was never stated at any point in the season. Later Wacarb went on record, saying that the trailers should be treated as there own little thing and not a real representation of the season, after several people questioned him about it. Though it is averted with the following seasons' trailers, which are more obviously designed just to get people excited and not to give them any information on what's to come.

* An egregious example is the [[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/161186 trailer]] for the third ''WebAnimation/{{Arfenhouse}}'' movie. The [[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/268387 actual movie]] turned out to be a few seconds long (not counting credits) and was a TakeThat to all the creator's fans who were nagging him to deliver on his promise of a sequel, though real sequels were eventually made.

* If you aren't familiar with Webcomic/SluggyFreelance then the first half of [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPoA5qAHqFU this video]] would have you convinced that the comic revolves around... Well a relatively minor side character. After that it breaks down into half a dozen tiny trailers not to be entirely trusted, before finally giving up and summarizing the comic in one sentence.

* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'' ocassionally does this as a spoof "previously on" segment.

->''"Considering what we get, it's highly possible that Movie Trailer Voiceover Guy also sells billions of dollars worth of used cars and swampland real estate every year."''

* ''Fanfic/MobileFighterEvangelion'' was actually inspired by this trope, as the writer originally making presumptions based on a smiling Asuka, a grim looking Shinji, and an icy-looking Rei for the poster that's currently the page image that Asuka was happy-go-lucky, Shinji was a {{Determinator}}, and Rei was an icy DrillSergeantNasty rather than the {{Tsundere}}, ShrinkingViolet, and EmotionlessGirl they respectively really were and deciding to make a story based around his assumptions.