History Main / RecycledTrailerMusic

* A [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ2LVZX4yiQ trailer]] for ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' uses music from the ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' trilogy and ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean''.

* The trailer for ''Film/RunawayTrain'' made excellent use of Henry Mancini's dynamic theme for ''Film/{{Lifeforce}}''. Both were Cannon Group productions.

The first film of a franchise is most likely to use this trope, whereas trailers for future films tend to [[RecycledSoundtrack reuse music from the previous ones]]. For example, most ''Franchise/StarWars'' trailers after ''Film/ANewHope'' used portions of Music/JohnWilliams' score for that film, whereas the original trailer for ''A New Hope'' used stock music! Once the score is completed, the studio might release a new batch of trailers using the film's own music. Alternatively, if a new film is from the same creative team or production company behind a recent hit, the music might be excerpted from the hit's soundtrack, as when an instrumental version of "Belle" from ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' underscored TV ads for ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}}'', for instance. By TheNewTens this trope became a DiscreditedTrope as more and more trailers began to use licensed stock library music. Even franchises used new arrangements of their established themes instead of recycling the same tracks.

The first film of a franchise is most likely to use this trope, whereas trailers for future films tend to [[RecycledSoundtrack reuse music from the previous ones]]. For example, most ''Franchise/StarWars'' trailers after ''Film/ANewHope'' used portions of Music/JohnWilliams' score for that film, whereas the original trailer for ''A New Hope'' used stock music! Once the score is completed, the studio might release a new batch of trailers using the film's own music. Alternatively, if a new film is from the same creative team or production company behind a recent hit, the music might be excerpted from the hit's soundtrack, as when an instrumental version of "Belle" from ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' underscored TV ads for ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}}'', for instance.

* A [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek3cPxOUWwE trailer]] for ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' starts with a snippet of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlZOuo2cezI Reach for the Stars]]". A promo for ''The Neverending Story'' animated series also used it, as did promos for ''[[Film/StarWarsEwokAdventures The Ewok Adventure]]'', ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' videos and the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection.

* "Escape", from the period film ''Film/PlunkettAndMacleane'', is another prominently used chorale theme, showing up in trailers for films such as ''Film/{{Quills}}'' and ''Film/ThePatriot''.

* Ride/UniversalStudios Florida used the ''Film/BackToTheFuture'' theme in their advertisements in the early-to-mid 1990s. Justified since [[Ride/BackToTheFutureTheRide the ride based on the movies]] was one of their most popular attractions at the time.

* An overused score is the main theme from ''Film/RequiemForADream'', "Lux Aeterna" which is used for "serious" movies... and certain NASCAR commercials. Most ads don't use the original recording; instead they tend to use the big orchestral arrangement which was recorded for the trailer of ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheTwoTowers''.

* Incidentally, ''Film/{{Stargate}}'' used music from Wojciech Kilar's ''Film/BramStokersDracula'' which was used for numerous other trailer's itself: including ''Film/TwelveMonkeys'', ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'', ''Film/DemolitionMan'', ''Film/{{Underworld}}'' and ''Film/WhatLiesBeneath''.

%%* At least one of the trailers for ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' did this. They were still working on the music for the movie. The trailer used music from ''TheIsland'' as well as music by Audiomachine.

* "My Name Is Lincoln" from ''Film/TheIsland'' shows up quite frequently in film trailers. Much of the trailer to ''Film/{{Flyboys}}'' is set to it.

* [[TheBBC]] nature documentary series ''Planet Earth'' had an original score by George Fenton, but the trailers used "Hoppípolla" by Music/SigurRos which became a hit single as a result, and was so strongly associated with the show that over a decade later, a remix was used in the trailers for ''Planet Earth II''.

* The "Flying" theme from ''Film/{{Hook}}'' is another exceedingly popular children's fantasy piece. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-0wghH4OL8 Give a listen,]] and you'll probably recognize it.

* The initial [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S0DTpq1RU0 trailer]] for ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'' used [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1laXBhhVG0 music]] from ''The American President''.

%%* The music from the climax of ''Film/DarkCity'' was used for one of the sequels in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''. Nearly all of the melodic motives in the ''Dark City'' score were lifted out of Igor Stravkinsky's Theatre/TheRiteOfSpring.

* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wok7pG9_vX8 trailer]] music for the Disney film Film/AngelsInTheOutfield notably featured the main overture from ''Film/{{Rudy}}'', as well the main theme from another baseball flick, ''Film/TheNatural''.

* A [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ2LVZX4yiQ trailer]] for ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' uses music from the''Franchise/SpiderMan'' trilogy and ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean''.

* A [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ2LVZX4yiQ trailer]] for ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' uses music from ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean''.
** Another trailer for Sonic 06 uses music from the ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' trilogy.

* Erotic thriller? Expect to hear [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYQmsyYxSFk "Telescope"]] from ''Film/BodyDouble''.

* The trailer for ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' uses the Propellerheads' epic "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", a awesome ten-minute dance-remix-amalgamation-hybrid-''thing'' of about five different ''Film/JamesBond'' instrumental themes.

* The trailer for ''WesternAnimation/ChickenRun'' uses music from two previous Creator/DreamWorks productions, ''WesternAnimation/{{Antz}}'' and ''Film/MouseHunt'', as well as the main theme of ''Film/TheGreatEscape''.
* The teaser trailer for ''WesternAnimation/{{Toy Story|1}}'' used music from ''Film/IronWill''.

* Early trailers for the Creator/{{Pixar}} film ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}'' used a piece of music originally heard over the opening titles in ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'', also by Pixar.

* Trailers for the film adaptation of ''Film/{{Constantine}}'' use "Pain and Retribution" from the score to ''Film/TheCrow''.

* The trailer for the 2006 ''Literature/CuriousGeorge'' movie briefly uses some of [[Music/RandyNewman Randy Newman's]] score from ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife''.

* The trailer for ''WesternAnimation/TheWildThornberrys'' movie used "The Egg Travels," from ''WesternAnimation/{{Dinosaur}}''.

* The theatrical trailer for ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'' used, of all things, an instrumental of [[WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie "Now That We're Men"]]. However, said song was replaced with a generic tune later on, for whatever reason.

* In the previews for the movie ''Film/NoReservations'', part of the music used consisted of the ending credits music from ''Film/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents''. Its own trailers were using music from Paramount's ''Series/TheAddamsFamily'' films. And some trailers for ''A Series Of Unfortunate Events'' used the ''Film/EdwardScissorhands'' theme! The first trailer for Burton's ''Alice in Wonderland'' used music from ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' -- the cycle is complete. Naturally ''WesternAnimation/CorpseBride'' also used music from ''A Series of Unfortunate Events''.