Do You Ever Want to Just Watch Movie Trailers?
On two new Marvel movies, one new DC movie, an F1 movie, and a lot of nostalgia
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I’ve realized that not every post I write for this newsletter needs to be a 1,000+ word analysis of a book, TV show, or movie. So, today, I want to share my quick thoughts on some movie trailers that have me excited for the summer slate.
I have been debating a shorter post like this for a while, and the Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (A perfect title, by the way!) trailer solidified that it was a must.
I used to spend far too much time (for me!) scrolling the YouTube channels that aggregate all the recent movie trailers onto their channels. I would watch trailers for movies that I was buzzing to watch, ones I’d never heard of but new the star of, ones that released in other countries or had small indie releases, ones I’d love the trailer of and forget to follow up on because of, well, all the other movies.
I realize that isn’t a conventional pastime, but the internet (TikTok, really) has also taught me that I don’t think I’ve ever had an original experience. Those videos of “things you’ve probably forgotten from the early 2000s” always send a nostalgic pain through my chest because I, rather naively, didn’t realize how universal so many of the color combos and electronic gadgets and snacks were until I saw the amount of likes and comments on those videos. So, maybe you also spent time watching trailers for the love of movies, but also for the fun of it.
Also, if you’re here, reading this newsletter, there’s a chance you love movies even if you didn’t watch countless trailers for any reason, let alone no good one. So, here are some trailers for movies that I’m excited to see at some point soon.
Thunderbolts* feels like the other side of the Eternals coin for me. I’m writing that based on complete vibes because I haven’t seen Thunderbolts* yet. By the time you’re reading this, I hope that I’ve at least bought tickets for a showing.
But Eternals has become one of my favorite MCU movies of all time. I think it’s one of the most character-driven and creative and grounded and visually stunning projects in the entire franchise. The promotional material for Thunderbolts* makes me think it could be similar. From Florence Pugh jumping off the second-tallest building in the world to the trailers addressing the characters’ complexities, I have very high hopes. Also, and equally important, I’m obsessed with this cast.
Did you remember how I said things from the early 2000s made me nostalgic?
Yeah, there’s no way I’m missing this live-action adaptation of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch (2002). As an avid fan of the original (I watched the show, too. I even tend to rewatch the holiday episodes when I need some extra comfort around that time of the year), I have to say I was apprehensive when this trailer dropped. It took me a while to click “play,” but once I did, I showed it to so many other people. I played it for family members who had to watch the original movie with me. I texted it to friends who feel the same way about the original. It was such a fun surprise.
I find this trailer so unbelievably adorable. I cannot wait to see Maia Kealoha’s take on the icon Lilo. I like that Lilo & Stitch (2025) doesn’t look like a frame-for-frame remake of the animated version. I think it’s much more exciting that viewers can get something different from each version of the story.
As a relatively new (within the last couple of years) fan of Formula 1, I am so intrigued by this movie’s existence. I’m not sure that I have any substantial thoughts beyond “I don’t know that I buy that Brad Pitt is a F1 driver,” but that’s for the movie to prove me wrong. I’m also so curious to see which, if any, F1 drivers pop up in this movie. I wrote a bit about this trailer when it dropped.
Growing up, I had a friend who would watch the original Jurassic Park movie all the time, as much as I watched Footloose (1984) and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. So, even if I didn’t like it, I think I would’ve grown to because of how often we watched it. I don’t think I’ve seen any of the newer ones, starting with 2015’s Jurassic World. I may have caught bits and pieces of that trilogy flipping through channels or being around someone else who watched it. But the Jurassic Park franchise is pulling me back in with Jurassic World Rebirth. The trailer feels like the right amount of nostalgia. I really like what the cast and crew have said about making it, and a new Jurassic Park movie feels so akin to summer to me.
I’m convinced that Superman (2025) and The Fantastic Four: First Steps (More on that later!) are going to help bring romance back to prominence in superhero properties on the big screen. For that alone, I am grateful. Even so, everything about this movie feels like a long time coming. I know that the DC movies have struggled for various reasons over the years, and it seems like Superman could be what the franchise needs to pull itself onto a new track. I hope that’s true because I like these first glimpses of this cast in these iconic roles.
I became a fan of the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise last fall. I watched the first film and 1998’s I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, and I thoroughly enjoyed both. I still need to catch 2006’s I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, and I want to check out Prime Video’s show, I Know What You Did Last Summer. I don’t know how many of those I will get to before I Know What You Did Last Summer comes out this July, but there’s no way I’m missing that.
This trailer reminds me why I love a well-done horror requel. I gasped at the homages and cameos. Letting Jennifer Love Hewitt turn into frame as she returns as the Final Girl, Julie James? Incredible! Showstopping, even!
I shouldn’t even be shocked that I love this trailer so much because I’m such an admirer of Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who directed this movie and co-wrote the screenplay with Sam Lansky from a story by Leah McKendrick and Robinson. Sweet/Vicious! Someone Great! Thor: Love and Thunder! Do Revenge! I love her work!
Before the last movie on this list pushed me to make this post, I was planning on writing a whole post just about The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer.
While they both may work as standalones, I’m convinced that this and Thunderbolts* are the biggest building blocks to Avengers: Doomsday. I don’t have proof to back that up, other than the other movies not being as interconnected as those in the lead-up to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Either way, I love the cinematography and tone in this trailer. It’s so unique! I also think this movie finds itself at a unique spot in the MCU’s line-up. It’s going to entice people who want to compare it to the early 2000s or the 2010s iterations of these characters. Because it’s introducing these characters, it could appeal to those who want to watch the MCU but haven’t found a good spot to jump in. It could be a one-off superhero watch for some people. It could also pull some MCU fans who have lost interest or let it ebb and flow over the last few years.
Mostly, I’m excited to see Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. Their dynamic already shines in the trailer. The sibling banter between Sue and Johnny is perfect. The admiration kids have for Ben warms my heart. I couldn’t be more invested in Reed and Sue’s love story. And the fact that The Fantastic Four: First Steps is helmed by WandaVision director Matt Shakman? Truly had me at “hello.”
It’s only fitting to end with the trailer that inspired this post.
The Now You See Me: Now You Don’t trailer made me chant, (to no one but myself) “We are so back!” I have seen the first two movies probably as many times as I’ve seen Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, which is unquantifiable.
I don’t know how else to explain my reaction to this trailer other than I felt like a kid at Christmas. I couldn’t stop smiling. I kept pointing at the screen when I noticed things that harked back to the other two movies (Henley in a water tank!). I was so pleased to see that the ensemble’s chemistry hasn’t missed a beat since Now You See Me (2013) and Now You See Me 2 (2016). I started anticipating the magic sequence that would live in my mind rent-free for at least a decade.
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t doesn’t release until November, but I have no choice but to make it my entire personality now. It really is so good to be back!
Until next time,
💌 Shelby