The six most recent superhero movie trailers, ranked

4. Venom

Venom‘s very first trailer was expected to raise excitement for Eddie Brock’s solo feature. Unfortunately, it ended up disappointing a considerable number of fans, mainly due to its focus on Brock’s civilian identity, as opposed to his gooey alter-ego. While the complaints are understandable, the trailer’s perceived shortcomings are also what made it such a great experience.

Despite his superhuman abilities and cool visuals, Venom works best when he’s treated as a horror character. Through its mystery, the trailer fully embraced that unique nature. Yes, there was excitement and action sprinkled throughout, but instead of focusing on the superhero spectacle side of the character, the trailer went for a darker and mysterious vibe.

Just like a classic horror film, it teased audiences with a frightening creature that was always lurking in the shadows, but never actually allowed itself to be seen. That’s a dynamic that’s yet to be explored in the superhero movie genre, and one that could be a great addition to the Venom movie.

Admittedly, the film could end up being an action-heavy adventure that favors spectacle over mystery and horror. However, even if that’s the case, the trailer still did a great job at selling Venom not as another comic book adaptation, but as an interesting movie.