16 Movie Trailers From the Past That Gave Away the Whole Plot
Here's a list of 16 movie trailers that spoiled their own films by giving away major plot points, twists, or endings.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Some trailers are meant to tease. Others, unfortunately, tell too much. This list explores 16 films whose trailers spoiled the plot so thoroughly that audiences were left with little to discover. Whether it’s horror, thriller, or drama, these previews committed the ultimate narrative betrayal.
1. Cast Away (2000)
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This trailer spoils Chuck Noland’s rescue and return home, taking away the suspense of whether he survives. It even shows him reuniting with his fiancée, eliminating any sense of emotional buildup. The story’s emotional weight comes from isolation, yet the trailer skips through it.
2. Terminator Genisys (2015)
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The trailer reveals that John Connor, the supposed savior of humanity, becomes a Terminator. This major twist was meant to shock audiences but got thrown into the marketing instead. Fans were furious, feeling robbed of a genuine surprise.
3. Free Willy (1993)
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The trailer ends with the iconic whale jumping over the boy, which is literally the film’s climactic scene. It tells viewers exactly what happens, from friendship to freedom. While it’s still a touching film, the suspense is deflated.
4. What Lies Beneath (2000)
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This supernatural thriller is full of eerie tension, but the trailer gives away the husband’s guilt. It shows Michelle Pfeiffer discovering the truth, undercutting the mystery. Instead of a guessing game, viewers walk in knowing the ending.
5. Quarantine (2008)
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The final shot of the trailer is also the final shot of the movie. It shows the protagonist being dragged into the darkness, revealing her fate. A horror movie’s strength is unpredictability, which this trailer completely ruins.
6. Carrie (1976)
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Brian De Palma’s Carrie thrives on a slow burn leading to the prom night explosion. Unfortunately, the trailer gives that moment away, complete with fire, screaming, and telekinesis. Even the ending is hinted at, robbing it of shock value.
7. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
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The return of Harry Hart was supposed to be a jaw-dropping reveal. Instead, the trailer immediately shows him alive with an eye patch, eliminating any dramatic tension. One of the franchise’s boldest moves lost its punch.
8. The Island (2005)
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The trailer tells you that the futuristic utopia is a lie and the characters are clones. This revelation comes halfway into the film but is front and center in marketing. It completely dismantles the narrative’s slow unraveling.
9. Chronicle (2012)
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While the trailer is stylish, it spoils Andrew’s descent into villainy. His final confrontation with his friends is shown clearly, including moments from the last battle. The transformation from awkward teen to terrifying superhuman is stripped of surprise.
10. The Double (2013)
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The trailer spells out the plot twist involving the doppelgänger. It even outlines the relationship dynamics and conflicts, taking the mystery out of it. A movie about identity confusion shouldn’t be so clear-cut before you sit down.
11. The Net (1995)
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This cyber-thriller builds its tension from a woman whose identity is erased. Unfortunately, the trailer gives away the entire sequence of her losing everything and regaining it. There’s little left to discover during the movie itself.
12. The Terminator (1984)
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It’s a classic, but its original trailer gives away that Arnold’s character is a machine and not a human. At the time, this was meant to be a twist. If you saw the trailer first, you missed out on that layered reveal.
13. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
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This film is packed with meta-horror surprises and bizarre reveals. However, the trailer includes shots of the underground facility and monsters, which are best discovered during the movie. It lessens the shock of how deep the horror goes.
14. Dream House (2011)
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The big reveal — that the protagonist is actually the killer — is blatantly exposed in the trailer. It turns a psychological thriller into a checklist of known events. With the mystery gone, the film struggles to hold interest.
15. Stepmom (1998)
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This heartfelt drama is supposed to unfold its emotional beats naturally. However, the trailer outlines the illness, the family dynamics, and the final emotional resolution. All that’s left is to bring tissues and go through the motions.
16. Malice (1993)
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The trailer walks viewers through every plot twist, including Alec Baldwin’s shocking courtroom confession. It removes the intrigue that drives the thriller forward. Watching the movie becomes an exercise in waiting for the expected.