The best film trailers of 2026 — our favourites

2026 is shaping up to be a remarkable year for film. After years of recovery from the pandemic and the shift towards streaming platforms, cinema has never been stronger. And that is largely thanks to the quality of the films coming up — and the trailers that have been making us eager for months. These are our favourite film trailers of 2026 so far, plus a look behind the scenes of the world of trailers.

Why a good trailer matters

A film trailer is much more than a promotional clip. It is the first impression, the calling card, the promise of an experience. An outstanding trailer can take a film from zero to sold-out screenings. A bad trailer — or worse, no trailer at the right moment — can bury a perfectly good film before it ever makes it onto the screen.

For cinema programmers, trailers are working material. They give a first impression of tone, genre, target audience and commercial potential. A two-minute trailer can determine whether a film makes it onto the programme or not. That makes it all the more important to be able to assess trailers quickly and systematically — which is precisely what Teasy was built for.

But for the general public too: trailers are how films get discovered. Research shows that a significant portion of cinema-goers base their choice of film on having seen a trailer — online, before another film, or via social media.

What makes a trailer memorable?

There is an art to making a good film trailer. The best trailers share a number of characteristics:

• A clear atmosphere: Within the first ten seconds you already know what kind of film to expect
• Emotion over plot: The best trailers tell you how a film feels, not exactly what happens
• A hook: One image, one line, one moment that stays with you
• Music as a driving force: The right musical choice can elevate an average trailer to greatness
• Not giving too much away: The hardest balancing act — showing enough to spark curiosity, little enough to preserve the surprise

Trends in film trailers for 2026

This year we are seeing a number of striking trends in the world of trailers. First, there is a clear shift towards shorter, punchier teasers designed specifically for social media. Where a traditional trailer runs two to three minutes, we are seeing more and more thirty- to sixty-second teasers going viral on Instagram Reels and TikTok.

Second, we are noticing that major studios are more frequently using staggered trailer strategies. Rather than one big trailer at the announcement, a campaign is built up: first a teaser, then a short trailer, then a full trailer, followed by featurettes and behind-the-scenes material. For cinema programmers, this means following the complete trailer journey to get a full picture.

A third trend is the growing presence of international film content in Dutch cinemas. Korean, Spanish and Scandinavian productions are increasingly reaching Dutch screens, partly due to the success of international series on streaming platforms. Trailers for these films are often less prominent in traditional channels. Teasy helps you keep up with trailers from 35 studio and distributor channels, including Cinéart and September Film.

Trailers we are watching closely this year

Without going into specific film titles that have not yet been announced, we can say that the categories leading the way this year are very promising:

Adult animated films are making a strong comeback. Following the success of various animation productions aimed at adult audiences, we are seeing multiple promising trailers in this genre. The visual language of these trailers is often breathtaking, and they appeal to a broader audience than traditional animated films.

Biographical dramas are another strong category. From musicians to historical figures — trailers in this genre have the gift of connecting emotionally right away. They do not always win at the box office, but they attract a loyal audience that actively seeks out the cinema.

Horror and psychological thrillers manage to surprise every year. The trailers for this genre are an art form in themselves: they must build tension without giving away the best scenes. The finest horror trailers of 2026 are each masterclasses in economy of means.

How Teasy helps you keep up

The challenge is not that there are too few trailers — quite the opposite. Every week brings new trailers, from major releases and small independent productions, from domestic and international films. It is impossible to keep track of them all manually without a system.

Teasy helps you keep up with upcoming cinema releases. New trailers from 35 channels appear automatically in your overview, in chronological order. You can give trailers one to five stars, save them for later or share them with colleagues using the share menu. Over weeks and months, you build up a structured picture of upcoming films.

A trailer gives you a first impression of a film. Teasy helps you keep track of trailers, save them and give them star ratings.

Whether you programme for a large multiplex or an intimate arthouse cinema, or you are simply excited about what is coming to cinemas: Teasy helps you keep track of upcoming cinema releases.

The trailer as a preview of an experience

Ultimately, the finest trailer is one that makes you go to the cinema — not to find out exactly what happens in the film, but because you want to experience what the trailer promised. That is the magic of film trailers: they create desire. And 2026 has more than enough trailers that do exactly that.

Want new cinema trailers at your fingertips, sorted chronologically and ready to assess? Create a free Teasy account and watch trailers from the past 30 days.