In recent months, YouTube has become inundated with fake trailers, a trend that appears to be unexpectedly beneficial for movie studios. As theaters grapple with ongoing challenges, numerous highly anticipated films and series, including Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the DC Universe’s Superman, and HBO’s The Last of Us, are slated for release in 2025. Although official trailers for these titles exist, they typically contain only brief snippets. Consequently, many content creators are using AI technology to expand upon these limited previews, generating elaborate fake trailers.
Implications of Trailer Monetization in Hollywood
Relaxed Copyright Enforcement by Studios
The issue of trailer monetization has intensified the ongoing rift between SAG-AFTRA and film studios. The strikes initiated by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA in 2023 were fueled by fears regarding AI technologies potentially replacing actors and writers. Reports suggesting studios financially benefiting from AI-generated content are likely to exacerbate these tensions. Prominent companies such as Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, Sony Pictures, and Paramount have been highlighted by Deadline as entities either profiting from fake trailers or failing to take action against the creators producing them.
Interestingly, some trailers are being released for films that have not yet completed filming. For instance, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey already has trailers available, despite no official content being ready, in addition to those for The Batman 2, which hasn’t even started production.
Perspectives on Fake Trailers
Audience Confusion Surrounding Fake Trailers
Image via Warner Bros.
While fake trailers can be creative and entertaining, they often mislead viewers by masquerading as authentic studio content. Channels like Screen Culture fail to disclose that their trailers are fan-made, leading many to believe they are viewing genuine previews. This misrepresentation presents a risk to studios’ reputations and raises questions about why studios seem to tolerate this influx of misleading media. If studios choose not to intervene, the quality of search results on YouTube may continue to decline, possibly frustrating audiences looking for legitimate content.
For more insights, refer to Deadline.