Ah, the Super Bowl—a night where football briefly shares the spotlight with Hollywood's flashiest spectacle. While the Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Chiefs 40-22, the real MVP was the parade of trailers that lit up screens between tackles. This year's lineup? A buffet of sequels, reboots, and A-list chaos. Let's dissect the cinematic fireworks that had fans buzzing louder than Kendrick Lamar's halftime protest cameo.
1. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning: Tom Cruise vs. Gravity (Again)
Tom Cruise isn't just defying death; he's rewriting the laws of physics. The Final Reckoning spot teased Ethan Hunt dangling from planes, dodging underwater explosions, and uttering the line, “I need you to trust me. One last time”. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, this allegedly “final” chapter (we'll believe it when we see it) promises stunts so reckless they'd make even Swifties forget Travis Kelce's fumble. Release: May 23.
2. Thunderbolts: Marvel's Dirty Half-Dozen
Marvel's answer to Suicide Squad assembles Florence Pugh's Yelena, Sebastian Stan's Bucky, and David Harbour's Red Guardian for a mission that's “not super, not heroes.” The trailer's standout? Lewis Pullman's Sentry, a Superman-esque powerhouse whose shadowy presence hints at universe-shaking chaos. With Julia Louis-Dreyfus pulling strings, this could be the MCU's grittiest play yet. Release: May 2.
3. Jurassic World Rebirth: ScarJo vs. Mutant Dinos
Scarlett Johansson trades Avengers for velociraptors in this soft reboot. Set at the original Jurassic Park's abandoned research facility, the trailer showcases dinos deemed “too dangerous” for the '90s—including a T-Rex/Xenomorph hybrid that'll haunt your nightmares. Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey round out a cast fighting for survival. Release: July 2.
4. How to Train Your Dragon: Live-Action Nostalgia, With Fire
DreamWorks' beloved trilogy gets a flesh-and-blood makeover. Mason Thames (The Black Phone) stars as Hiccup, soaring alongside Toothless in footage mirroring the animated classic's iconic flight sequences. Gerard Butler reprises Stoick, but the real magic? Nico Parker's Astrid, whose chemistry with Hiccup could reignite the franchise. Release: June 13.
5. Smurfs: Rihanna's Blue Era
Rhianna swaps halftime shows for Smurfette's tiny heels in this CGI/live-action hybrid. The teaser leans on Papa Smurf's kidnapping and a Parisian adventure, but let's be real—it's all about RiRi's sass and John Goodman's gruff charm. Will it dethrone Trolls? Unlikely. Will it sell toys? Smurftastically. Release: July 18.
6. M3GAN 2.0: Dance Battles With a Side of Murder
The killer doll returns—with a Terminator twist. Allison Williams' Gemma resurrects M3GAN to battle Amelia, a military-grade A.I. spy. The teaser's highlight? M3GAN's TikTok-ready cartwheel and the line, “Missed me?”. Campy, chaotic, and exactly what 2023's viral hit demanded. Release: June 27.
7. F1: Brad Pitt's Top Gun on Wheels
Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) revs up this racing drama starring Pitt as a retired driver mentoring Damson Idris' rookie. Though the trailer dropped pre-game, its Formula 1 realism (filmed with real teams) and Pitt's gravelly gravitas scream awards bait. Release: June 27.
8. Lilo & Stitch: Disney's Remake Machine Rolls On
Disney's live-action remake train chugs ahead with Maia Kealoha's Lilo and Chris Sanders' Stitch causing gridiron chaos. The ad showed zero movie footage but won hearts with Stitch hijacking a stadium cart—proof that even CGI aliens can outshine Taylor Swift's boo-birds 311. Release: May 23.
Personal Impressions
Let's be honest: This year's trailers felt safer than a QB kneel. Franchises dominated, originality took a backseat, and Superman's absence stung 17. Yet, there's joy in the chaos. Thunderbolts' antihero swagger and Jurassic World's dino-horror pivot show glimmers of risk. But in an era where nostalgia often overshadows originality, does this lineup signal a creative renaissance or a safe retreat into familiar IP?
Question: Which Super Bowl trailer has you most excited—and which franchise needs to retire to the bench?
