Real Trailer, Fake Movie: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
''[[In a World]] where trailers are made for movies that will never exist.''
{{quote|''[[In a World]] where trailers are made for movies that will never exist...''}}


The show's great. You've seen every episode and bought the DVD collection. And there, tucked away in the extras, is the Holy Grail: the trailer for the movie.
The show's great. You've seen every episode and bought the DVD collection. And there, tucked away in the extras, is the Holy Grail: the trailer for the movie.
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Perhaps it's a spoof. The movie isn't going to be made, and there was never any intention of making it; it was just the production crew having a bit of fun.
Perhaps it's a spoof. The movie isn't going to be made, and there was never any intention of making it; it was just the production crew having a bit of fun.


Never mind. At least the trailer's funny -- we hope.
Never mind. At least the trailer's funny we hope.


This is the superlative of [[Trailers Always Lie]] - while that trope is about trailers misrepresenting various portions of a real film, this is about a trailer lying about an ''entire work.'' That being said... sometimes the trailer is so well-received that [[Defictionalization|people actually make the movie]].
This is the superlative of [[Never Trust a Trailer]] - while that trope is about trailers misrepresenting various portions of a real film, this is about a trailer lying about an ''entire work.'' That being said... sometimes the trailer is so well-received that [[Defictionalization|people actually make the movie]].


Compare [[Trailer Spoof]], which is for a real movie, just not the one you thought it was.
Compare [[Trailer Spoof]], which is for a real movie, just not the one you thought it was.

----
{{examples|Intentional spoofs:}}
{{examples}}
==Intentional spoofs==
== Advertising ==
=== Advertising ===
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk5Q6cDoZCg Falling in Lamb] was an Australian commercial from a few years back, [[Captain Obvious|advertising lamb]]. It was short-lived, though, possibly due to the number of calls to local theatres enquiring about the release date of this new romantic comedy.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk5Q6cDoZCg Falling in Lamb] was an Australian commercial from a few years back, [[Captain Obvious|advertising lamb]]. It was short-lived, though, possibly due to the number of calls to local theatres enquiring about the release date of this new romantic comedy.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4A3lvKuJCo Lucky Star] (no, not the [[Lucky Star|anime]]), starring Benicio Del Toro. There has to be more than one person who saw it repeatedly on TV and never realized it was a car commercial.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4A3lvKuJCo Lucky Star] (no, not the [[Lucky Star|anime]]), starring Benicio Del Toro. There has to be more than one person who saw it repeatedly on TV and never realized it was a car commercial.
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* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3ckFAdY3s4 Scarlet] looked like ads for a slick, spy-fi [[Spiritual Successor]] to ''Alias.'' It ''was'' an ad for a TV series, as in a series of TV's made by LG. Note a lot of the dialogue, such as "Putting her in every home on the planet," and saying "She's gonna change TV."
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3ckFAdY3s4 Scarlet] looked like ads for a slick, spy-fi [[Spiritual Successor]] to ''Alias.'' It ''was'' an ad for a TV series, as in a series of TV's made by LG. Note a lot of the dialogue, such as "Putting her in every home on the planet," and saying "She's gonna change TV."
* Geico made a trailer for a fake reality show titled ''Tiny House'', about a couple living in a house that was built too small.
* Geico made a trailer for a fake reality show titled ''Tiny House'', about a couple living in a house that was built too small.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsaq1XTsrxY Son of Dundee], a 2018 [[Super Bowl Special]] ad, appears to be a trailer for a sequel to ''[[Crocodile Dundee]]''... until they get to the point where they admit that it's actually an ad for Australian tourism.


=== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ===

== [[Anime and Manga]] ==
* ''Elf Princess Rane'' is a two-episode OAV that ends with trailers for the completely nonexistent third and fourth episodes.
* ''Elf Princess Rane'' is a two-episode OAV that ends with trailers for the completely nonexistent third and fourth episodes.
** A similar fate had befallen a number of short OAV series, especially during the 80s and 90s: The material produced was intended to be a pilot for a longer work, but the series was canned before it ever got off the ground. While not all of them necessarily had trailers produced advertising the dead-in-the-water series, see also the "in the next episode" bit advertising "Knight of Lemon" at the end of [[NG Knight Lamune & 40|"Knights of Ramune"]] (which is promptly followed by a note that the series had been cancelled).
** A similar fate had befallen a number of short OAV series, especially during the 80s and 90s: The material produced was intended to be a pilot for a longer work, but the series was canned before it ever got off the ground. While not all of them necessarily had trailers produced advertising the dead-in-the-water series, see also the "in the next episode" bit advertising "Knight of Lemon" at the end of [[NG Knight Lamune & 40|"Knights of Ramune"]] (which is promptly followed by a note that the series had been cancelled).
* ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lFJC0ywHQk Magical Girl Pretty Sammy The Motion Picture: The God Boys VS. Magical Girls]'' was included as one of the extras on the final ''[[Pretty Sammy|Magical Project S]]'' [[Laser Disc]] and DVD. It had many fans believing that a movie was forthcoming, and resulted in a petition (unsuccessful) to get the movie made. What in anime ''doesn't'' it parody? "Oshioki desuu, haaaii!"
* ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lFJC0ywHQk Magical Girl Pretty Sammy The Motion Picture: The God Boys VS. Magical Girls]'' was included as one of the extras on the final ''[[Pretty Sammy|Magical Project S]]'' [[LaserDisc]] and DVD. It had many fans believing that a movie was forthcoming, and resulted in a petition (unsuccessful) to get the movie made. What in anime ''doesn't'' it parody? "Oshioki desuu, haaaii!"
* ''[[Mai-Otome]]'' had a fake trailer on the DVDs for the ''[[Mai-HiME]]'' movie. Many people on [[Anime Suki]] and [[Wikipedia]] don't realize that it's a joke and keep asking when the movie will be released despite the release date being listed as ''20006'' [sic].
* ''[[Mai-Otome]]'' had a fake trailer on the DVDs for the ''[[My-HiME]]'' movie. Many people on [[Anime Suki]] and [[Wikipedia]] don't realize that it's a joke and keep asking when the movie will be released despite the release date being listed as ''20006'' [sic].
* The last page of second volume of the hentai doujinshi ''Take on Me'' is intended to look like an advertisement for a anime adaptation. Far, far too many people have asked where they can find this movie, when it is coming out, etc. It's not, it's just the artist [[Mind Screw|mind screwing]] the audience.
* The last page of second volume of the hentai doujinshi ''Take on Me'' is intended to look like an advertisement for a anime adaptation. Far, far too many people have asked where they can find this movie, when it is coming out, etc. It's not, it's just the artist [[Mind Screw|mind screwing]] the audience.
* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn8PPgfPNnU seventh DVD special] (NSFW) of ''[[Rumbling Hearts]]'' was a trailer of series' [[Remake]] <small>[[In Space]] WITH [[Gundam|GUNDAMS]]!</small>
* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn8PPgfPNnU seventh DVD special] (NSFW) of ''[[Rumbling Hearts]]'' was a trailer of series' [[Remake]] <small>[[In Space]] WITH [[Gundam|GUNDAMS]]!</small>
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* Subverted with [[Gintama]], with the trailer for the Benizakura arc movie. It first shows up in the third season, when the characters admit that the trailer is fake. During the next season, the trailer is played again and the characters say it is actually coming out. Played straight with the second trailer, where the trailer is played and Gin follows up by telling us it is all a lie.
* Subverted with [[Gintama]], with the trailer for the Benizakura arc movie. It first shows up in the third season, when the characters admit that the trailer is fake. During the next season, the trailer is played again and the characters say it is actually coming out. Played straight with the second trailer, where the trailer is played and Gin follows up by telling us it is all a lie.


== Fan Fiction ==
=== Fan Works===
* This [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hTiRnqnvDs fanmade trailer] for ''[[Green Lantern]]''.
* This [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hTiRnqnvDs fanmade trailer] for ''[[Green Lantern]]''.
* It's really more of a case of "Real Movie, Fake Trailer" but there's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfiU-Q0YerE this] trailer for ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers the Movie]]...''
* It's really more of a case of "Real Movie, Fake Trailer" but there's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfiU-Q0YerE this] trailer for ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers the Movie]]...''
* This [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXnqikS6D5A fan-made trailer] for a ''[[Glee]]'' [[The Film of the Series|movie]] called "[[Queer Romance|When Kurt Met Blaine]]". The creator said that she [[Invoked Trope|made the trailer as realistic as possible]], which ''does not help at all.''
* This [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXnqikS6D5A fan-made trailer] for a ''[[Glee]]'' [[The Film of the Series|movie]] called "[[Queer Romance|When Kurt Met Blaine]]". The creator said that she [[Invoked Trope|made the trailer as realistic as possible]], which ''does not help at all.''
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** There was also at least one trailer for a ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjbIUHBz1LY movie].
** There was also at least one trailer for a ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjbIUHBz1LY movie].
** Then there's the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3q5o55BJYw Star Trek: Emergency]'' opening, which is what ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' would probably be like from the Doctor's point of view.
** Then there's the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3q5o55BJYw Star Trek: Emergency]'' opening, which is what ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' would probably be like from the Doctor's point of view.
* [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=3m4uvlo3cr9ksrpsdzmzhd78&page=60#1489 This] text-only trailer for ''[[Kyon: Big Damn Hero]]''.
* [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=3m4uvlo3cr9ksrpsdzmzhd78&page=60#1489 This] text-only trailer for ''[[Kyon: Big Damn Hero]]''.




== Films -- Live-Action ==
=== Film ===
* HELL NO: The Sensible Horror Film, in which the characters do the smart thing. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olEbwhWDYwM]
* All of the trailers in ''[[Grindhouse]]'' (''[[Machete]]'', ''Thanksgiving'', ''Don't!'', ''Hobo With A Shotgun'', and ''Werewolf Women of the SS''). In an unusual twist, both ''Machete'' and ''[[Hobo with a Shotgun]]'' got such a good reception that they [[Defictionalization|were made into actual movies]].
* All of the trailers in ''[[Grindhouse]]'' (''[[Machete]]'', ''Thanksgiving'', ''Don't!'', ''Hobo With A Shotgun'', and ''Werewolf Women of the SS''). In an unusual twist, both ''Machete'' and ''[[Hobo with a Shotgun]]'' got such a good reception that they [[Defictionalization|were made into actual movies]].
* ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ymFxkFfIhU Hardware Wars]'', by [[Ernie Fosselius]], was made seven months after the first release of ''A New Hope'' and is reputedly [[George Lucas]]' favorite ''[[Star Wars]]'' parody.
* ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ymFxkFfIhU Hardware Wars]'', by [[Ernie Fosselius]], was made seven months after the first release of ''A New Hope'' and is reputedly [[George Lucas]]' favorite ''[[Star Wars]]'' parody.
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* ''Kentucky Fried Movie'' includes trailers for parodies of other films, including ''Catholic High School Girls In Trouble'', ''That's Armageddon!'' and ''Cleopatra Schwartz'' (a parody of a [[Blaxploitation]] film called 'Cleopatra Jones'').
* ''Kentucky Fried Movie'' includes trailers for parodies of other films, including ''Catholic High School Girls In Trouble'', ''That's Armageddon!'' and ''Cleopatra Schwartz'' (a parody of a [[Blaxploitation]] film called 'Cleopatra Jones'').
* This is how [[Trey Parker]]'s ''[[Cannibal! The Musical]]'' began. He made a fake trailer for film class and was told to make the movie by his teacher.
* This is how [[Trey Parker]]'s ''[[Cannibal! The Musical]]'' began. He made a fake trailer for film class and was told to make the movie by his teacher.
* Ben Stein's movie ''Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed'' was criticized for, amongst other things, lying to the interviewees about the nature of the film and cutting up interviews to change the meaning of what they said. [[Richard Dawkins]], one of the scientists who claims to have been misquoted, produced his own [http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,2478,Sexpelled-No-Intercourse-Allowed,RichardDawkinsnet satirical trailer for a possible sequel].
* Ben Stein's movie ''Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed'' was criticized for, amongst other things, lying to the interviewees about the nature of the film and cutting up interviews to change the meaning of what they said. [[Richard Dawkins]], one of the scientists who claims to have been misquoted, produced his own [https://web.archive.org/web/20090206023938/http://richarddawkins.net/article,2478,Sexpelled-No-Intercourse-Allowed,RichardDawkinsnet satirical trailer for a possible sequel].
* ''Kill Buljo'', a spoof trailer of "Kill Bill" set in a Scandinavian indigenous people's setting, actually ''was'' filmed later. Supposedly, [[Quentin Tarantino]] quite liked it (the director eventually made [[Dead Snow|a movie about a buried treasure guarded by Nazi zombies]]).
* ''Kill Buljo'', a spoof trailer of "Kill Bill" set in a Scandinavian indigenous people's setting, [[Defictionalization|actually ''was'' filmed later]]. Supposedly, [[Quentin Tarantino]] quite liked it (the director eventually made [[Dead Snow|a movie about a buried treasure guarded by Nazi zombies]]).
* ''[[Tropic Thunder]]'' featured not one but ''four'' of these before the movie even starts. The first is a fake commercial for the [[Defictionalization|now-real]] "Booty Sweat" drink, the second for the sixth installment in fictional action star Tugg Speedman's blockbuster ''Scorcher'' franchise, the third for an [[Eddie Murphy]]-style comedy called ''The Fatties: Fart 2'', and the fourth for ''Satan's Alley'', an [[Oscar Bait]] art film about gay medieval monks starring (the fake) Kirk Lazarus and (the real) Tobey Maguire.
* ''[[Tropic Thunder]]'' featured not one but ''four'' of these before the movie even starts. The first is a fake commercial for the [[Defictionalization|now-real]] "Booty Sweat" drink, the second for the sixth installment in fictional action star Tugg Speedman's blockbuster ''Scorcher'' franchise, the third for an [[Eddie Murphy]]-style comedy called ''The Fatties: Fart 2'', and the fourth for ''Satan's Alley'', an [[Oscar Bait]] art film about gay medieval monks starring (the fake) Kirk Lazarus and (the real) Tobey Maguire.
* Francesco Vezzoli's short film [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLK4mA9GgMo Trailer for a Remake of] [[Gore Vidal]]'s ''[[Caligula]]'' (NSFW for sexual content and nudity) is a fake trailer for a Caligula movie starring, among others, Benicio Del Toro, [[Helen Mirren]] and Karen Black.
* Francesco Vezzoli's short film [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLK4mA9GgMo Trailer for a Remake of] [[Gore Vidal]]'s ''[[Caligula]]'' (NSFW for sexual content and nudity) is a fake trailer for a Caligula movie starring, among others, Benicio Del Toro, [[Helen Mirren]] and Karen Black.
* The movie ''Movie Movie'' had, in between its two main segments, a trailer for a fictitious [[World War II]] air battle movie called ''Zero Hour''.
* The movie ''Movie Movie'' had, in between its two main segments, a trailer for a fictitious [[World War II]] air battle movie called ''Zero Hour''.
{{quote|Fight with them! Laugh with them! Love with them! And even die with them the [[Heroic Sacrifice|death of heroes]] who will [[Famed in Story|live forever]]!}}
{{quote|Fight with them! Laugh with them! Love with them! And even die with them the [[Heroic Sacrifice|death of heroes]] who will [[Famed in Story|live forever]]!}}
* ''Closet Cases of the Nerd Kind'', a parody of ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'', which involves aliens who hit people in the face with pies for no reason, singing mailboxes, and Darth Vader on a motorcycle telling the hero to stop holding up traffic.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3NwB9PLxss Movie: The Movie] from [[Jimmy Kimmel]] is a massive [[Genre Busting]] fake trailer starring a serious number of A-list Hollywood talent.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3NwB9PLxss Movie: The Movie] from [[Jimmy Kimmel]] is a massive [[Genre Busting]] fake trailer starring a serious number of A-list Hollywood talent.


== Literature ==
=== Literature ===
* Later editions of the novel ''[[The Princess Bride (novel)|The Princess Bride]]'' feature a preview chapter of a prospective sequel at the end, a sequel which the author has never quite gotten around to writing.
* Later editions of the novel ''[[The Princess Bride (novel)|The Princess Bride]]'' feature a preview chapter of a prospective sequel at the end, a sequel which the author has never quite gotten around to writing.
** Because [[Stephen King]] [[Show Within a Show|already got the rights to do the adaptation]].
** Because [[Stephen King]] [[Show Within a Show|already got the rights to do the adaptation]].
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== Music ==
=== Music ===
* The [[Music Video]] for ''I'm Not Okay (I Promise'') by [[My Chemical Romance]].
* The [[Music Video]] for ''I'm Not Okay (I Promise'') by [[My Chemical Romance]].
* [[The Black Keys]] released a hybrid music video/movie trailer for their song "Howling For You". It's mostly an [[Affectionate Parody]] of various action movie tropes, as well as being about [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|eighteen different kinds of awesome]]. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLSpj7q6_mM Watch it here].
* [[The Black Keys]] released a hybrid music video/movie trailer for their song "Howling For You". It's mostly an [[Affectionate Parody]] of various action movie tropes, as well as being about [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|eighteen different kinds of awesome]]. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLSpj7q6_mM Watch it here].
* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsKGWbFpLv0&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AVGxdCwVVULXc2Ks68FWGXR1v18uc5uZ6v Hang Me Up To Dry] [[Music Video]] from Cold War Kids.
* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsKGWbFpLv0&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AVGxdCwVVULXc2Ks68FWGXR1v18uc5uZ6v Hang Me Up To Dry] [[Music Video]] from Cold War Kids.
* Kasabian put out a trailer for a 1970s Italian B-slasher film for their song "Vlad the Impaler." It starred [[Noel Fielding]] as "Roman Tarasov."
* Kasabian put out a trailer for a 1970s Italian B-slasher film for their song "Vlad the Impaler." It starred [[Noel Fielding]] as "Roman Tarasov."
* The video for [[Queens of the Stone Age]]'s "3's & 7's" is set up like this, complete with an anouncer at the very end saying the title of the "movie." And the title is? [[Title Drop|Take a wild guess.]]
* The video for [[Queens of the Stone Age]]'s "3's & 7's" is set up like this, complete with an anouncer at the very end saying the title of the "movie." And the title is? [[Title Drop|Take a wild guess.]]




== Videogames ==
=== Video games ===
* IGN's 2008 April Fool's joke was this surprisingly impressive [http://uk.movies.ign.com/dor/articles/863515/legend-of-zelda-movie-trailer/videos/legendofzelda_filmtrailer_040108.html;jsessionid=d8krtjaq0fc0r trailer] for a movie of ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]''.
* IGN's 2008 April Fool's joke was this surprisingly impressive [https://web.archive.org/web/20080511165315/http://uk.movies.ign.com/dor/articles/863515/legend-of-zelda-movie-trailer/videos/legendofzelda_filmtrailer_040108.html trailer] for a movie of ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]''.
** And for 2010, they did a ''[[Halo]]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4DHllroiqM movie trailer...] {{spoiler|[[Bollywood]] style}}.
** And for 2010, they did a ''[[Halo]]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4DHllroiqM movie trailer...] {{spoiler|[[Bollywood]] style}}.
** For 2011, they did a [[Harry Potter]] [http://www.ign.com/videos/2011/04/01/harry-potter-the-aurors-tv-show-trailer TV show].
** For 2011, they did a [[Harry Potter]] [http://www.ign.com/videos/2011/04/01/harry-potter-the-aurors-tv-show-trailer TV show].
** For 2012, they did a [[Mass Effect]] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOqHUa2LfNY cartoon].
** For 2012, they did a [[Mass Effect]] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOqHUa2LfNY cartoon].
* The ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nznm3R66ds Battle] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDbZtu7Kls0&feature=related Fantasia]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCOo3fC5k3M&feature=related series], a set of trailers for a conceptual game franchise that's basically [[Super Robot Wars]], only instead of a [[Massive Multiplayer Crossover]] of [[Humongous Mecha]], it's a [[Massive Multiplayer Crossover]] of cute girls from [[Moe]] and series such as ''[[Fate/stay night]]'', ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]]'', ''[[Mariasama ga Miteru]]'', ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'', ''[[Shakugan no Shana]]'', ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]'', ''[[Pretty Cure]]'', and ''[[Zero no Tsukaima]]''. Many fanboys' hearts have been broken when they realized that the games shown aren't real.
* The ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nznm3R66ds Battle] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDbZtu7Kls0&feature=related Fantasia]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCOo3fC5k3M&feature=related series], a set of trailers for a conceptual game franchise that's basically [[Super Robot Wars]], only instead of a [[Massive Multiplayer Crossover]] of [[Humongous Mecha]], it's a [[Massive Multiplayer Crossover]] of cute girls from [[Moe]] and series such as ''[[Fate/stay night]]'', ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]]'', ''[[Mariasama ga Miteru]]'', ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'', ''[[Shakugan no Shana]]'', ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]'', ''[[Pretty Cure]]'', and ''[[The Familiar of Zero]]''. Many fanboys' hearts have been broken when they realized that the games shown aren't real.
** And since ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'' -is- ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' with cute girls, it got its own [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yONDMeMv0HA trailer for a nonexistent game].
** And since ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'' -is- ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' with cute girls, it got its own [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yONDMeMv0HA trailer for a nonexistent game].
* The ''[[Tsukihime]]'' spin-off Kagetsu Tohya included a preview for ''Tsukihime 2''. No ''Tsukihime 2'' exists or will likely ever exist.
* The ''[[Tsukihime]]'' spin-off Kagetsu Tohya included a preview for ''Tsukihime 2''. No ''Tsukihime 2'' exists or will likely ever exist.
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* ''[[Fruit Ninja]]'', [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZkbxWMUfco the movie].
* ''[[Fruit Ninja]]'', [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZkbxWMUfco the movie].
* There is an [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNgtIrSHack incredible] fan-made trailer for a non-existent ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|Wind Waker]]'' sequel for the [[Wii U]], using hand-drawn backgrounds and models from both ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|Wind Waker]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]''. The end result is fantastic(despite Link's model being [[Off-Model|a bit off]]), and gained some fame around the internet.
* There is an [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNgtIrSHack incredible] fan-made trailer for a non-existent ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|Wind Waker]]'' sequel for the [[Wii U]], using hand-drawn backgrounds and models from both ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|Wind Waker]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]''. The end result is fantastic(despite Link's model being [[Off-Model|a bit off]]), and gained some fame around the internet.
** On a similar note is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P50d9xsLzB0#! this] trailer for a graphically updated version of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]''. It has generated a lot of fan appeal, especially with people’s desire for a Majora's Mask remake on the 3DS.
** On a similar note is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P50d9xsLzB0#! this] trailer for a graphically updated version of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]''. It has generated a lot of fan appeal, especially with people’s desire for a Majora's Mask remake on the 3DS.
* In 2011 Egosoft, developer of the ''[[X (video game)|X-Universe]]'' series, released a trailer for an animated movie called ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlAWC2HSOYM Nautilus]'' set in the series' universe. It was based on a fanfic by forum member NUKLEAR-SLUG about his [[Fish People|Boron]] character Squiddy McSquid. It being [[April Fools' Day]]...
* In 2011 Egosoft, developer of the ''[[X (video game)|X-Universe]]'' series, released a trailer for an animated movie called ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlAWC2HSOYM Nautilus]'' set in the series' universe. It was based on a fanfic by forum member NUKLEAR-SLUG about his [[Fish People|Boron]] character Squiddy McSquid. It being [[April Fools' Day]]...




== Web Animation ==
=== Web Animation ===
* ''[[Homestar Runner]]'' has done this a few times, most famously making a fake trailer for a movie based on their game ''[[Peasant's Quest]]''. According to their website, there already is a full-length ''Peasant's Quest'' movie: "its 'full length' is three minutes" (the length of the trailer).
* ''[[Homestar Runner]]'' has done this a few times, most famously making a fake trailer for a movie based on their game ''[[Peasant's Quest]]''. According to their website, there already is a full-length ''Peasant's Quest'' movie: "its 'full length' is three minutes" (the length of the trailer).
** See also the SBEmail "Narration", where Strong Bad narrates the lives of the residents of Free Country, USA as though they were movie trailers: Homestar and Marzipan are a couple torn apart by a novelty chef's hat, an argument between Coach Z and Bubs over napkins apparently [[Serious Business|leads to the fall of an empire]], and Strong Sad gets a dead goose thrown at him.
** See also the SBEmail "Narration", where Strong Bad narrates the lives of the residents of Free Country, USA as though they were movie trailers: Homestar and Marzipan are a couple torn apart by a novelty chef's hat, an argument between Coach Z and Bubs over napkins apparently [[Serious Business|leads to the fall of an empire]], and Strong Sad gets a dead goose thrown at him.
* [[Puffin Forest]]'s ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUazW0xIObw What it's like to give your players an overpowered NPC friendo]'' is a movie trailer called ''Free Melly''.


=== Web Original ===

== Web Originals ==
* One memorable trailer was for the potentially ''awesome'' film, ''[http://www.cracked.com/video_16451_coming-soon-batman-vs-batman-vs-batman.html "Batman vs Batman vs Batman"]''. Think about it.
* One memorable trailer was for the potentially ''awesome'' film, ''[http://www.cracked.com/video_16451_coming-soon-batman-vs-batman-vs-batman.html "Batman vs Batman vs Batman"]''. Think about it.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnZRU8RahTY&feature=BFp&list=FLJgva_RCMh7bvGLPZ7Yuoag The] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RppxhOdby4&feature=related Batman] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pIV4AgHcoc&feature=BFa&list=FLJgva_RCMh7bvGLPZ7Yuoag&lf=BFp Complex]. Trailers have been made for this fake movie, which crosses [[The Dark Knight Saga]] and ''[[Inception]]'' and has a premise that's as mind wrapping as the latter.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnZRU8RahTY&feature=BFp&list=FLJgva_RCMh7bvGLPZ7Yuoag The] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RppxhOdby4&feature=related Batman] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pIV4AgHcoc&feature=BFa&list=FLJgva_RCMh7bvGLPZ7Yuoag&lf=BFp Complex]. Trailers have been made for this fake movie, which crosses [[The Dark Knight Saga]] and ''[[Inception]]'' and has a premise that's as mind wrapping as the latter.
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* There's a brutal parody of a [[Darker and Edgier]] [[Archie Comics]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djRAiiFlCy8 here].
* There's a brutal parody of a [[Darker and Edgier]] [[Archie Comics]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djRAiiFlCy8 here].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG1ex0AAU5c&feature=fvsr This trailer] for a ''[[Mario Kart]]'' movie.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG1ex0AAU5c&feature=fvsr This trailer] for a ''[[Mario Kart]]'' movie.
* This two-part trailer([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu5tJGfZsgc&feature=related here] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU0Ivs55-Hw&feature=related here]), "[[Orson Welles]]' "The Bat-Man"), was inspired by a widely-circulated(and debunked) internet rumor that Orson Welles wanted to direct a Batman movie during the 40s. The trailer consists of clips from a 40s Batman serial, along with other movies(including ''[[Citizen Kane]]'' and ''[[The Third Man]]''), casting Orson Welles as Bruce Wayne, Joseph Cotton as Jim Gordon, Edgar G. Robinson as the Penguin, Marlena Dietrich as Catwoman and Conrad Veidt(with clips of "[[The Man Who Laughs]]"--ironically, the original inspiration for the character) as the Joker.
* This two-part trailer([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu5tJGfZsgc&feature=related here] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU0Ivs55-Hw&feature=related here]), "[[Orson Welles]]' "The Bat-Man"), was inspired by a widely-circulated(and debunked) internet rumor that Orson Welles wanted to direct a Batman movie during the 40s. The trailer consists of clips from a 40s Batman serial, along with other movies(including ''[[Citizen Kane]]'' and ''[[The Third Man]]''), casting Orson Welles as Bruce Wayne, Joseph Cotton as Jim Gordon, Edgar G. Robinson as the Penguin, Marlena Dietrich as Catwoman and Conrad Veidt(with clips of "[[The Man Who Laughs]]"—ironically, the original inspiration for the character) as the Joker.
** An uber-cool [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNBp1BFwrIE fake trailer] for ''Ocean's 14'', co-starring Robert de Niro and Daniel Craig (yes, as [[James Bond]])...
** An uber-cool [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNBp1BFwrIE fake trailer] for ''Ocean's 14'', co-starring Robert de Niro and Daniel Craig (yes, as [[James Bond]])...
* Used, but then turned into a subversion, by ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series|Yu-Gi-Oh the Abridged Series]]'': There was a trailer made for an Abridged version of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]: [[The Movie]]'', that was never intended to be made into a full movie. Eventually, however, after a lot of people asked for it, Little Kuriboh did make a half-hour version of the movie, but with ''none'' of the lines from the original trailer (except one reference).
* Used, but then turned into a subversion, by ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series|Yu-Gi-Oh the Abridged Series]]'': There was a trailer made for an Abridged version of ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]: [[The Movie]]'', that was never intended to be made into a full movie. Eventually, however, after a lot of people asked for it, Little Kuriboh did make a half-hour version of the movie, but with ''none'' of the lines from the original trailer (except one reference).
* On [[YouTube]], there are many trailers for movies that will never be made. Some are intentionally funny while others are not.
* On [[YouTube]], there are many trailers for movies that will never be made. Some are intentionally funny while others are not.
* ''[[Minesweeper]] [[The Movie]]'' [http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1770138 trailer].
* ''[[Minesweeper]] [[The Movie]]'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20131215174111/http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1770138 trailer].
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=QQyfQ7RMOXsn_id=annotation_594699&feature=iv Grayson], a trailer for a film where a retired Robin once again takes up the mantle to solve the mystery of [[Batman]]'s death. A script was even produced for a full feature and is available to read online.
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=QQyfQ7RMOXsn_id=annotation_594699&feature=iv Grayson], a trailer for a film where a retired Robin once again takes up the mantle to solve the mystery of [[Batman]]'s death. A script was even produced for a full feature and is available to read online.
** In that spirit is also [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2izoh_batman-arkham-asylum-fan-trailer-en_shortfilms Batman: Arkham Asylum], a Spanish-language adaptation of [[Grant Morrison]]'s influential and mindtwisting ''[[Arkham Asylum a Serious House On Serious Ground|Arkham Asylum: A Serious House On Serious Earth]]''.
** In that spirit is also [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2izoh_batman-arkham-asylum-fan-trailer-en_shortfilms Batman: Arkham Asylum], a Spanish-language adaptation of [[Grant Morrison]]'s influential and mindtwisting ''[[Arkham Asylum a Serious House On Serious Ground|Arkham Asylum: A Serious House On Serious Earth]]''.
* ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWL6j0SvqV0&feature=related Pac Man: The Movie.]'' It actually looks half-decent apart from the Special FX.
* ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWL6j0SvqV0&feature=related Pac Man: The Movie.]'' It actually looks half-decent apart from the Special FX.
* Two words: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yVxZxGn888 Mutha Nature] (rated "Blockbuster" by the Academy of Film Review).
* Two words: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yVxZxGn888 Mutha Nature] (rated "Blockbuster" by the Academy of Film Review).
* By the way, the scene is so fertile it was prompted an international festival/contest of sorts, [http://www.teaserland.com Teaserland].
* By the way, the scene is so fertile it was prompted an international festival/contest of sorts, [http://www.teaserland.com Teaserland].
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** I see that and raise you ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adEYyrpvvWo The Fugitive's Day Off]'', (Mashup of ''[[The Fugitive (film)|The Fugitive]]'' and ''[[Ferris Bueller's Day Off|Ferris Buellers Day Off]]'').
** I see that and raise you ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adEYyrpvvWo The Fugitive's Day Off]'', (Mashup of ''[[The Fugitive (film)|The Fugitive]]'' and ''[[Ferris Bueller's Day Off|Ferris Buellers Day Off]]'').
* Not only is there a live-action [[My Little Pony]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXoYK4b_q24 movie], but they go behind the scenes [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgqgAExJMyw&feature=channel too].
* Not only is there a live-action [[My Little Pony]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXoYK4b_q24 movie], but they go behind the scenes [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgqgAExJMyw&feature=channel too].
* Another version of mash-ups uses the sound from one trailer and the footage from another trailer/movie/TV show. An excellent example would be [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1qihwMN0JM Toy Story Requiem]: footage from [[Toy Story]] and [[Toy Story 2]] with the sound from ''Requiem of a Dream''.
* Another version of mash-ups uses the sound from one trailer and the footage from another trailer/movie/TV show. An excellent example would be [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1qihwMN0JM Toy Story Requiem]: footage from [[Toy Story (franchise)|Toy Story]] and [[Toy Story 2]] with the sound from ''Requiem of a Dream''.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AyizzX1Xis Cock and Load] a [[Grindhouse]] style preview about a man who has his penis replaced with a shotgun and uses it to fight the mob. Must be seen to be believed.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AyizzX1Xis Cock and Load] a [[Grindhouse]] style preview about a man who has his penis replaced with a shotgun and uses it to fight the mob. Must be seen to be believed.
* A trailer for the Nicholas Cage ''[[The Wicker Man]]'' has been made as [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_mW8mBzmHo though it was a comedy]. It is hilarious.
* A trailer for the Nicholas Cage ''[[The Wicker Man]]'' has been made as [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_mW8mBzmHo though it was a comedy]. It is hilarious.
* There's also ''[[The Veloci Pastor]]'', a fake grindhouse trailer about a priest [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDNzzhCpqxA who turns into a dinosaur].
* There's also ''[[The Veloci Pastor]]'', a fake grindhouse trailer about a priest [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDNzzhCpqxA who turns into a dinosaur].
* A peculiar small subgenre are the ''Premakes'': using edited footage of mostly old movies, they try to recreate how a movie could have been if it was made a few decades earlier. Youtube user [http://www.youtube.com/user/whoiseyevan Whoiseyevan] has created the best examples, like [[Up]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml9hAN5km14 as a 1965 live-action Disney movie], [[The Avengers]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fCTokuOU_E in 1952] (before all team members except [[Captain America]] were even created), and [[The Empire Strikes Back]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmTpOQrqoO0 in 1950]. The latter is particularly good before it takes from several movies that inspired [[Star Wars]] firsthand. There are a few more Premakes around but not as good as these.
* A peculiar small subgenre are the ''Premakes'': using edited footage of mostly old movies, they try to recreate how a movie could have been if it was made a few decades earlier. Youtube user [http://www.youtube.com/user/whoiseyevan Whoiseyevan] has created the best examples, like [[Up]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml9hAN5km14 as a 1965 live-action Disney movie], [[The Avengers]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fCTokuOU_E in 1952] (before all team members except [[Captain America (comics)]] were even created), and [[The Empire Strikes Back]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmTpOQrqoO0 in 1950]. The latter is particularly good before it takes from several movies that inspired [[Star Wars]] firsthand. There are a few more Premakes around but not as good as these.
* There's a trailer for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OboZbyLsNG0 Nico Nico All Stars], based on memes from [[Nico Nico Douga]], which sadly doesn't exist.
* There's a trailer for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OboZbyLsNG0 Nico Nico All Stars], based on memes from [[Nico Nico Douga]], which sadly doesn't exist.
* While he waits for his movie to even get into production, [[Deadpool]] can watch [http://youtu.be/HInW6v9G3qs this fan trailer]. If the real thing ever happens, it better be as good as that.
* While he waits for his movie to even get into production, [[Deadpool]] can watch [http://youtu.be/HInW6v9G3qs this fan trailer]. If the real thing ever happens, it better be as good as that.
* A trailer for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGn3nydV6sU Monopoly: The Movie] based off of the [[Monopoly|board game]]
* A trailer for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGn3nydV6sU Monopoly: The Movie] based off of the [[Monopoly|board game]]
* The season two DVD for ''[[Marble Hornets]]'' features, as an extra, a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJDJO2hc24A trailer] for the titular student film.
* The season two DVD for ''[[Marble Hornets]]'' features, as an extra, a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJDJO2hc24A trailer] for the titular student film.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=putQn89TQzc The Twit Network]: A spoof of [[The Social Network]], telling Twitter's history instead of Facebook's.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=putQn89TQzc The Twit Network]: A spoof of [[The Social Network]], telling Twitter's history instead of Facebook's.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0av4se_430 This] fan-made trailer for a ''[[Doctor Who]]''/''[[Sherlock]]'' crossover episode. It looks freaking awesome, even if there is no possible chance of it ever being done for real.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0av4se_430 This] fan-made trailer for a ''[[Doctor Who]]''/''[[Sherlock]]'' crossover episode. It looks freaking awesome, even if there is no possible chance of it ever being done for real.
* There's a trailer for ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPQVjJD7COY Pedobear: The Bed Intruder]'' slated for release on February 31st, 2012.
* There's a trailer for ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPQVjJD7COY Pedobear: The Bed Intruder]'' slated for release on February 31, 2012.




== Western Animation ==
=== Western Animation ===
* There was a trailer for a live action ''[[Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law]]'' movie on the Volume 1 DVD.
* There was a trailer for a live action ''[[Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law]]'' movie on the Volume 1 DVD.
{{quote|"We're pretty sure they made the movie, too, but are waiting until our birthday."}}
{{quote|"We're pretty sure they made the movie, too, but are waiting until our birthday."}}
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* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZHS6fHYlhQ 2009 trailer] for the [[Uncanceled|sixth]] ''[[Raumschiff Gamestar]]'' season looked authentic... right until the producers resumed publication of its successor series ''Die Redaktion'' half a year later.
* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZHS6fHYlhQ 2009 trailer] for the [[Uncanceled|sixth]] ''[[Raumschiff Gamestar]]'' season looked authentic... right until the producers resumed publication of its successor series ''Die Redaktion'' half a year later.
* ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDxmerOTkg Meapless in Seattle]'' is supposed to be a trailer for a fake episode for ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]'', until they it into a real episode later on. That episode ended with another fake trailer called ''Meap Me in St. Louis''.
* ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDxmerOTkg Meapless in Seattle]'' is supposed to be a trailer for a fake episode for ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]'', until they it into a real episode later on. That episode ended with another fake trailer called ''Meap Me in St. Louis''.
* In 2012, CollegeHumor.com created [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnpTcrtsN3U a trailer] for a [[Live Action Adaptation]] of ''[[Dora the Explorer]]'', starring a 14-year-old [[Ariel Winter]] as the title character.


==Unintended spoofs==

=== Video games ===
{{examples|Unintended spoofs:}}
== Videogames ==
* The ad for ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker]]'' was shown in theaters. It was so different from the style of the actual game that until the video started showing gameplay footage, some people have mistaken it for a trailer for a Zelda movie.
* The ad for ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker]]'' was shown in theaters. It was so different from the style of the actual game that until the video started showing gameplay footage, some people have mistaken it for a trailer for a Zelda movie.




== Web Originals ==
=== Web Original ===
* There is someone trying to make a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bj_oymzfzg Final Fight] movie, though he just needs the budget apparently to make it work. From the looks of the trailer it looks like he could do it.
* There is someone trying to make a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bj_oymzfzg Final Fight] movie, though he just needs the budget apparently to make it work. From the looks of the trailer it looks like he could do it.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs3ROFNxa5M Speaking of which...]
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs3ROFNxa5M Speaking of which...]




== Western Animation ==
=== Western Animation ===
* The excellent ''Pyrats'' animation was a final project for an animation school in Paris. It will never be a movie, but it looks like a trailer (and people have reported that they would like to go and see it).
* The excellent ''Pyrats'' animation was a final project for an animation school in Paris. It will never be a movie, but it looks like a trailer (and people have reported that they would like to go and see it).




{{examples|[[Show Within a Show]]:}}
==[[Show Within a Show]]==


== Anime and Manga ==
=== Anime and Manga ===
* The last episode of ''[[Excel Saga (anime)|Excel Saga]]'' has one of these for ''[[Puni Puni Poemy]]''. And [[Defictionalization|then...]]
* The last episode of ''[[Excel Saga (anime)|Excel Saga]]'' has one of these for ''[[Puni Puni Poemy]]''. And [[Defictionalization|then...]]




== Films -- Live-Action ==
=== Film ===
* The movie ''[[Scary Movie]] 2'' has a trailer for ''[[Amistad]] 2'', which some people believe is the funniest part of the whole movie.
* The movie ''[[Scary Movie]] 2'' has a trailer for ''[[Amistad]] 2'', which some people believe is the funniest part of the whole movie.
* ''[[CSA: Confederate States of America]]'' features, among its mock commercials, ads for fake TV shows, including the ''[[Cops (series)]]'' parody ''Runaway'' and (presumably syndicated reruns of) ''Leave It to Beulah'' (which uses footage from a real-life show from the '50s).
* ''[[CSA: Confederate States of America]]'' features, among its mock commercials, ads for fake TV shows, including the ''[[COPS (series)|COPS]]'' parody ''Runaway'' and (presumably syndicated reruns of) ''Leave It to Beulah'' (which uses footage from a real-life show from the '50s).
* The [[Weird Al]] movie ''[[UHF]]'' had trailers for ''[[Conan the Barbarian|Conan the Librarian]]'' and ''[[Gandhi]] 2''.
* The [[Weird Al]] movie ''[[UHF (film)|UHF]]'' had trailers for ''[[Conan the Barbarian|Conan the Librarian]]'' and ''[[Gandhi]] 2''.




== Live-Action TV ==
=== Live-Action TV ===
* On ''[[30 Rock]]'', Tracy Jordan once made a trailer for his proposed biopic of [[Thomas Jefferson]]... with him playing all the parts. Highlights include Tracy as Jefferson proclaiming "Eat ''that'', King George!" as he finishes writing the Declaration of Independence and the narrator describing him as an "Academy Award watcher".
* On ''[[30 Rock]]'', Tracy Jordan once made a trailer for his proposed biopic of [[Thomas Jefferson]]... with him playing all the parts. Highlights include Tracy as Jefferson proclaiming "Eat ''that'', King George!" as he finishes writing the Declaration of Independence and the narrator describing him as an "Academy Award watcher".
* ''[[Supernatural]]'' has a trailer for "Hell Hazers II: The Reckoning" in the episode "Hollywood Babylon."
* ''[[Supernatural]]'' has a trailer for "Hell Hazers II: The Reckoning" in the episode "Hollywood Babylon."
* ''[[The Daily Show]]'' advertises several fake products on a regular basis, including ''Jon'' magazine and the Daily Show Home Game. In 2003, they started airing joke trailers for a new spinoff called ''The Colbert Réport'' that had "already been cancelled". ''[[The Colbert Report|The Report]]'' premiered in 2005, and has been described as "the only show that [[Defictionalization|started as a promo for itself]]".
* ''[[The Daily Show]]'' advertises several fake products on a regular basis, including ''Jon'' magazine and the Daily Show Home Game. In 2003, they started airing joke trailers for a new spinoff called ''The Colbert Réport'' that had "already been cancelled". ''[[The Colbert Report|The Report]]'' premiered in 2005, and has been described as "the only show that [[Defictionalization|started as a promo for itself]]".
* A [[Bill Nye the Science Guy]] episode on the Earth's Crust had a trailer for a kid cop show called "Johnny Crust."
* A [[Bill Nye the Science Guy]] episode on the Earth's Crust had a trailer for a kid cop show called "Johnny Crust."
* ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' had one of these where a trailer for ''[[The Wedding Bride]]'' was mentioned on the show and the full trailer was released online [http://www.weddingbridemovie.com/ here]. The movie describes {{spoiler|Ted's failed relationship with Stella however from the somewhat skewed mind of her ex-husband Tony. Ted in one episode goes to see this movie more than once and, at one point, acts out something similar to it to is date while he is in the movie theatre.}}
* ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' had one of these where a trailer for ''[[The Wedding Bride]]'' was mentioned on the show and the full trailer was released online [https://web.archive.org/web/20121214015335/http://www.weddingbridemovie.com/ here]. The movie describes {{spoiler|Ted's failed relationship with Stella however from the somewhat skewed mind of her ex-husband Tony. Ted in one episode goes to see this movie more than once and, at one point, acts out something similar to it to is date while he is in the movie theatre.}}
* In the two-hundredth episode of ''[[Stargate SG-1|Stargate SG 1]]'', titled "200," the team is giving advice on the production of ''Wormhole X-Treme!'', a show based on their adventures. The opening to act four, which airs immediately after a commercial break and was intended to be mistaken for another commercial, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2RWM65ZjL4 is a trailer for] ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2RWM65ZjL4 Teal'c, P.I.]''. Bonus points for ''actually getting [[Shaft|Isaac Hayes]]'' to do the narration.
* In the two-hundredth episode of ''[[Stargate SG-1|Stargate SG 1]]'', titled "200," the team is giving advice on the production of ''Wormhole X-Treme!'', a show based on their adventures. The opening to act four, which airs immediately after a commercial break and was intended to be mistaken for another commercial, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2RWM65ZjL4 is a trailer for] ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2RWM65ZjL4 Teal'c, P.I.]''. Bonus points for ''actually getting [[Shaft|Isaac Hayes]]'' to do the narration.


== Music ==
=== Music ===
* The video for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrrGKR8Xii4 "Hang Me Up To Dry"] by indie rock band Cold War Kids. It's filmed in black-and-white, set in a post-war (World War II?) era and revolves around the relationship of a pale-skinned brunette and a [[Loveable Rogue]]. The fact that it mentions that this is the third installment of a nonexistent trilogy turns this into a [[Foregone Conclusion]] whenever you watch it again (and again, and again), but some fans desperately yearn for [[Defictionalization]].
* The video for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrrGKR8Xii4 "Hang Me Up To Dry"] by indie rock band Cold War Kids. It's filmed in black-and-white, set in a post-war (World War II?) era and revolves around the relationship of a pale-skinned brunette and a [[Loveable Rogue]]. The fact that it mentions that this is the third installment of a nonexistent trilogy turns this into a [[Foregone Conclusion]] whenever you watch it again (and again, and again), but some fans desperately yearn for [[Defictionalization]].




== Radio ==
=== Radio ===
* ''The [[Reduced Shakespeare Company]] Radio Show'' has an audio trailer for a [[Sophisticated As Hell]] movie version of ''Othello'' ("He was tough! He was black! He was jealous as hell!"), starring Mr. T ("I pity the fool who messes with Desdemona!")
* ''The [[Reduced Shakespeare Company]] Radio Show'' has an audio trailer for a [[Sophisticated As Hell]] movie version of ''Othello'' ("He was tough! He was black! He was jealous as hell!"), starring Mr. T ("I pity the fool who messes with Desdemona!")




== Web Originals ==
=== Web Original ===
* ''[http://www.leastlikely.com/ The Least Likely]'', Kelly Hu's project for CAUSE, made in an effort to get Asian-Americans to become more politically active and less apathetic (the name comes from the fact that Asians are the racial group that is least likely to vote each year, with only about one-third doing so). Rumors of an actual movie to go with the trailer still circulate.
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20040923015819/http://www.leastlikely.com/ The Least Likely]'', Kelly Hu's project for CAUSE, made in an effort to get Asian-Americans to become more politically active and less apathetic (the name comes from the fact that Asians are the racial group that is least likely to vote each year, with only about one-third doing so). Rumors of an actual movie to go with the trailer still circulate.




== Western Animation ==
=== Western Animation ===
* ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and ''[[The Critic]]'' are full of them.
* ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and ''[[The Critic]]'' are full of them.
* The second season premiere of ''[[The Boondocks]]'' opens with a trailer for ''Soul Plane 2'' (the original being one of Aaron McGruder's least favorite movies), and the episode itself revolves around its premiere.
* The second season premiere of ''[[The Boondocks]]'' opens with a trailer for ''Soul Plane 2'' (the original being one of Aaron McGruder's least favorite movies), and the episode itself revolves around its premiere.
* ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]'' "One False Movie" can be explained by both Bloo's overwhelming ego and the [[Rule of Funny]], as the 'trailer' seems to be the opening part of the film it's pimping.
* ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]'' "One False Movie" can be explained by both Bloo's overwhelming ego and the [[Rule of Funny]], as the 'trailer' seems to be the opening part of the film it's pimping.
** ''That was only the trailer?''
** ''That was only the trailer?''
* ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' is in love with this trope. They've made trailers for ''[[Kill Bill|Kill Bunny]]'', ''Shoots and Ladders'', ''Hungry Hungry Hippos'', and ''[[Michael Bay|EXPLOSIONS]]''.
* ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' is in love with this trope. They've made trailers for ''[[Kill Bill|Kill Bunny]]'', ''Shoots and Ladders'', ''Hungry Hungry Hippos'', and ''[[Michael Bay|EXPLOSIONS]]''.
** Other trailers include ''[[Laff-A-Lympics|Laff-A-]][[Munich]]'' and "1776", the American Revolution told 300-style, complete with [[What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?]] slow-motion zooms on the signing of the declaration, and the tagline "It's not accurate, but it'll blow your mind!"
** Other trailers include ''[[Laff-A-Lympics|Laff-A-]][[Munich]]'' and "1776", the American Revolution told 300-style, complete with [[What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?]] slow-motion zooms on the signing of the declaration, and the tagline "It's not accurate, but it'll blow your mind!"


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[[Category:Real Trailer, Fake Movie]]
[[Category:Trailers]]

Latest revision as of 15:57, 26 October 2023

In a World where trailers are made for movies that will never exist...

The show's great. You've seen every episode and bought the DVD collection. And there, tucked away in the extras, is the Holy Grail: the trailer for the movie.

But something's not quite right. Perhaps the trailer gives a 1999 release date, and it's already 2007. Perhaps the characters in the trailer are parodies of themselves. Perhaps?

Perhaps it's a spoof. The movie isn't going to be made, and there was never any intention of making it; it was just the production crew having a bit of fun.

Never mind. At least the trailer's funny — we hope.

This is the superlative of Never Trust a Trailer - while that trope is about trailers misrepresenting various portions of a real film, this is about a trailer lying about an entire work. That being said... sometimes the trailer is so well-received that people actually make the movie.

Compare Trailer Spoof, which is for a real movie, just not the one you thought it was.

Examples of Real Trailer, Fake Movie include:

Intentional spoofs

Advertising

  • Falling in Lamb was an Australian commercial from a few years back, advertising lamb. It was short-lived, though, possibly due to the number of calls to local theatres enquiring about the release date of this new romantic comedy.
  • Lucky Star (no, not the anime), starring Benicio Del Toro. There has to be more than one person who saw it repeatedly on TV and never realized it was a car commercial.
  • There was a trailer for an excellent sounding movie playing in a local movie theatre, but it is disappointing to find out it's just a anti-dandruff shampoo ad.
  • There's a whole series of fake trailers used by the AMC theater chain, to warn audiences to pipe down and turn off their personal electronics. Each one opens as expected for its genre (period Kung Fu flick, Disney Talking Animal cartoon, etc), only to be derailed when a cell phone rings, distracting the characters at some critical moment. Hilarity Ensues.
    • Speaking of silencing your cell phone, a policy shown in Israel movie theaters called "Fatal Call" starts out like a movie trailer, but you know from the beginning, since it takes place in a movie theater. The trailer contains a girl who is eating popcorn when her cell phone rings, and a voice from the phone says "Sarah! You shouldn't have answered! You should have left your cell phone off!" Then, Sarah chokes on her popcorn. Ah...don't you just love happy endings?
  • Scarlet looked like ads for a slick, spy-fi Spiritual Successor to Alias. It was an ad for a TV series, as in a series of TV's made by LG. Note a lot of the dialogue, such as "Putting her in every home on the planet," and saying "She's gonna change TV."
  • Geico made a trailer for a fake reality show titled Tiny House, about a couple living in a house that was built too small.
  • Son of Dundee, a 2018 Super Bowl Special ad, appears to be a trailer for a sequel to Crocodile Dundee... until they get to the point where they admit that it's actually an ad for Australian tourism.

Anime and Manga

  • Elf Princess Rane is a two-episode OAV that ends with trailers for the completely nonexistent third and fourth episodes.
    • A similar fate had befallen a number of short OAV series, especially during the 80s and 90s: The material produced was intended to be a pilot for a longer work, but the series was canned before it ever got off the ground. While not all of them necessarily had trailers produced advertising the dead-in-the-water series, see also the "in the next episode" bit advertising "Knight of Lemon" at the end of "Knights of Ramune" (which is promptly followed by a note that the series had been cancelled).
  • Magical Girl Pretty Sammy The Motion Picture: The God Boys VS. Magical Girls was included as one of the extras on the final Magical Project S LaserDisc and DVD. It had many fans believing that a movie was forthcoming, and resulted in a petition (unsuccessful) to get the movie made. What in anime doesn't it parody? "Oshioki desuu, haaaii!"
  • Mai-Otome had a fake trailer on the DVDs for the My-HiME movie. Many people on Anime Suki and Wikipedia don't realize that it's a joke and keep asking when the movie will be released despite the release date being listed as 20006 [sic].
  • The last page of second volume of the hentai doujinshi Take on Me is intended to look like an advertisement for a anime adaptation. Far, far too many people have asked where they can find this movie, when it is coming out, etc. It's not, it's just the artist mind screwing the audience.
  • The seventh DVD special (NSFW) of Rumbling Hearts was a trailer of series' Remake In Space WITH GUNDAMS!
    • This might or might not be a spoof. Either way, there's another visual novel series two of the female protagonists from Kimi Ga ended up in. Muv-Luv. Chances are this was a reference to it...
  • Similarly, the fifth DVD special of Kyoshiro to Towa no Sora was a trailer for The True Kyoshiro To Towa No Sora, a remake of the original series with a grander sci-fi plot and much more Romantic Two-Girl Friendship (with Kuu and Setsuna as the Official Couple). They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot, actually...
  • Hyakko does this in episode six of the series, giving the audience a preview that has, among other things, an army of Mecha-Torakos, Evil!Suzume and a midair battle between Torako and her brother. It's also completely fake.
  • The first volume of The Melancholy Of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan contains a preview of a manga dealing with Itsuki's becoming an esper and joining the Organization… except Kyon disillusions him next page with a "Yeah, that trailer was a fake, Haruhi-chan is a gag-manga".
  • The final episode of Seitokai Yakuindomo includes a preview for a Magical Girl show called Magical Mako, claiming that it will take over their timeslot the following week. Takatoshi then pulls out the TV schedule and points out that they're really be replaced by the second season of Hakuouki.
  • Subverted with Gintama, with the trailer for the Benizakura arc movie. It first shows up in the third season, when the characters admit that the trailer is fake. During the next season, the trailer is played again and the characters say it is actually coming out. Played straight with the second trailer, where the trailer is played and Gin follows up by telling us it is all a lie.

Fan Works


Film

"You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss three bucks goodbye!"

  • The trailer for Italian Spiderman has to be seen to be (dis)believed. SUSPENSO! It was so well-received that it's was expanded into a series, presented as parts of a recently recovered copy of the full movie.
  • The trailer for a "sequel" to Kung Pow: Enter the Fist was actually just deleted footage spliced together. In a strange twist, the film's producer tried to actually produce the sequel, but was denied funding as the original had been a box office flop.
  • The Mel Brooks parody History of the World, Part I ends with a fake trailer for a part II. Wikipedia explains this as being a reference to the book The History of the World, whose author was beheaded before he could write a part 2.
  • Kentucky Fried Movie includes trailers for parodies of other films, including Catholic High School Girls In Trouble, That's Armageddon! and Cleopatra Schwartz (a parody of a Blaxploitation film called 'Cleopatra Jones).
  • This is how Trey Parker's Cannibal! The Musical began. He made a fake trailer for film class and was told to make the movie by his teacher.
  • Ben Stein's movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed was criticized for, amongst other things, lying to the interviewees about the nature of the film and cutting up interviews to change the meaning of what they said. Richard Dawkins, one of the scientists who claims to have been misquoted, produced his own satirical trailer for a possible sequel.
  • Kill Buljo, a spoof trailer of "Kill Bill" set in a Scandinavian indigenous people's setting, actually was filmed later. Supposedly, Quentin Tarantino quite liked it (the director eventually made a movie about a buried treasure guarded by Nazi zombies).
  • Tropic Thunder featured not one but four of these before the movie even starts. The first is a fake commercial for the now-real "Booty Sweat" drink, the second for the sixth installment in fictional action star Tugg Speedman's blockbuster Scorcher franchise, the third for an Eddie Murphy-style comedy called The Fatties: Fart 2, and the fourth for Satan's Alley, an Oscar Bait art film about gay medieval monks starring (the fake) Kirk Lazarus and (the real) Tobey Maguire.
  • Francesco Vezzoli's short film Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula (NSFW for sexual content and nudity) is a fake trailer for a Caligula movie starring, among others, Benicio Del Toro, Helen Mirren and Karen Black.
  • The movie Movie Movie had, in between its two main segments, a trailer for a fictitious World War II air battle movie called Zero Hour.

Fight with them! Laugh with them! Love with them! And even die with them the death of heroes who will live forever!

Literature


Music


Video games

"One man, against all odds, fightting the ultimate evil, trying to save his potential girlfriend as well the entire world."

  • The Oregon Trail movie.
  • Fruit Ninja, the movie.
  • There is an incredible fan-made trailer for a non-existent Wind Waker sequel for the Wii U, using hand-drawn backgrounds and models from both Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. The end result is fantastic(despite Link's model being a bit off), and gained some fame around the internet.
    • On a similar note is this trailer for a graphically updated version of Majora's Mask. It has generated a lot of fan appeal, especially with people’s desire for a Majora's Mask remake on the 3DS.
  • In 2011 Egosoft, developer of the X-Universe series, released a trailer for an animated movie called Nautilus set in the series' universe. It was based on a fanfic by forum member NUKLEAR-SLUG about his Boron character Squiddy McSquid. It being April Fools' Day...


Web Animation

  • Homestar Runner has done this a few times, most famously making a fake trailer for a movie based on their game Peasant's Quest. According to their website, there already is a full-length Peasant's Quest movie: "its 'full length' is three minutes" (the length of the trailer).
    • See also the SBEmail "Narration", where Strong Bad narrates the lives of the residents of Free Country, USA as though they were movie trailers: Homestar and Marzipan are a couple torn apart by a novelty chef's hat, an argument between Coach Z and Bubs over napkins apparently leads to the fall of an empire, and Strong Sad gets a dead goose thrown at him.
  • Puffin Forest's What it's like to give your players an overpowered NPC friendo is a movie trailer called Free Melly.

Web Original


Western Animation

"We're pretty sure they made the movie, too, but are waiting until our birthday."

Unintended spoofs

Video games

  • The ad for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was shown in theaters. It was so different from the style of the actual game that until the video started showing gameplay footage, some people have mistaken it for a trailer for a Zelda movie.


Web Original

  • There is someone trying to make a Final Fight movie, though he just needs the budget apparently to make it work. From the looks of the trailer it looks like he could do it.


Western Animation

  • The excellent Pyrats animation was a final project for an animation school in Paris. It will never be a movie, but it looks like a trailer (and people have reported that they would like to go and see it).


Show Within a Show

Anime and Manga


Film


Live-Action TV

  • On 30 Rock, Tracy Jordan once made a trailer for his proposed biopic of Thomas Jefferson... with him playing all the parts. Highlights include Tracy as Jefferson proclaiming "Eat that, King George!" as he finishes writing the Declaration of Independence and the narrator describing him as an "Academy Award watcher".
  • Supernatural has a trailer for "Hell Hazers II: The Reckoning" in the episode "Hollywood Babylon."
  • The Daily Show advertises several fake products on a regular basis, including Jon magazine and the Daily Show Home Game. In 2003, they started airing joke trailers for a new spinoff called The Colbert Réport that had "already been cancelled". The Report premiered in 2005, and has been described as "the only show that started as a promo for itself".
  • A Bill Nye the Science Guy episode on the Earth's Crust had a trailer for a kid cop show called "Johnny Crust."
  • How I Met Your Mother had one of these where a trailer for The Wedding Bride was mentioned on the show and the full trailer was released online here. The movie describes Ted's failed relationship with Stella however from the somewhat skewed mind of her ex-husband Tony. Ted in one episode goes to see this movie more than once and, at one point, acts out something similar to it to is date while he is in the movie theatre.
  • In the two-hundredth episode of Stargate SG 1, titled "200," the team is giving advice on the production of Wormhole X-Treme!, a show based on their adventures. The opening to act four, which airs immediately after a commercial break and was intended to be mistaken for another commercial, is a trailer for Teal'c, P.I.. Bonus points for actually getting Isaac Hayes to do the narration.

Music

  • The video for "Hang Me Up To Dry" by indie rock band Cold War Kids. It's filmed in black-and-white, set in a post-war (World War II?) era and revolves around the relationship of a pale-skinned brunette and a Loveable Rogue. The fact that it mentions that this is the third installment of a nonexistent trilogy turns this into a Foregone Conclusion whenever you watch it again (and again, and again), but some fans desperately yearn for Defictionalization.


Radio


Web Original

  • The Least Likely, Kelly Hu's project for CAUSE, made in an effort to get Asian-Americans to become more politically active and less apathetic (the name comes from the fact that Asians are the racial group that is least likely to vote each year, with only about one-third doing so). Rumors of an actual movie to go with the trailer still circulate.


Western Animation

  • The Simpsons and The Critic are full of them.
  • The second season premiere of The Boondocks opens with a trailer for Soul Plane 2 (the original being one of Aaron McGruder's least favorite movies), and the episode itself revolves around its premiere.
  • Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends "One False Movie" can be explained by both Bloo's overwhelming ego and the Rule of Funny, as the 'trailer' seems to be the opening part of the film it's pimping.
    • That was only the trailer?
  • Robot Chicken is in love with this trope. They've made trailers for Kill Bunny, Shoots and Ladders, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and EXPLOSIONS.
    • Other trailers include Laff-A-Munich and "1776", the American Revolution told 300-style, complete with What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome? slow-motion zooms on the signing of the declaration, and the tagline "It's not accurate, but it'll blow your mind!"