The 10 Best Star Wars Movie Trailers, Ranked

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Star Wars is a master at building anticipation. For almost fifty years, Lucasfilm has expertly used teasers and trailers to create huge excitement and memorable moments in pop culture.

Whether it was the original teasers that first hinted at the Star Wars universe or more recent trailers showcasing the exciting new trilogy, a new Star Wars trailer always generates a lot of buzz. Here’s a ranking of the ten best, from good to truly memorable.

Star Wars: A New Hope (Teaser, 1977)

No list of iconic trailers would be complete without the original Star Wars trailer. It used old-fashioned, somewhat blurry footage of spaceships and space battles, and the voiceover famously declared it “a spectacle light-years ahead of its time.”

With no existing fanbase or familiar history, the very first Star Wars trailer captivated audiences with its sense of mystery and the promise of a completely new world, launching the massive cultural impact the franchise has today.

Though it’s an older trailer, it’s undeniably groundbreaking. It essentially launched the kind of large-scale movie marketing campaigns we’re now familiar with.

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Teaser, 2022)

The initial trailer for the 2022 series Obi-Wan Kenobi created a lot of excitement. It confirmed Ewan McGregor would reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi after a 17-year absence, and included a brief snippet of Darth Vader’s recognizable breathing, suggesting his return as well.

The first trailer for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series immediately captured fans’ attention by using music from both Duel of the Fates and Battle of the Heroes – songs that connect the Star Wars prequel films to the original trilogy.

The Clone Wars (Final Season Trailer, 2020)

As a huge fan of The Clone Wars, I was absolutely thrilled when the first trailer for season 7 dropped! After years of wondering if we’d ever get a proper ending, seeing those opening shots – the clone trooper helmets, familiar lines from previous seasons – it just confirmed this was going to be the epic conclusion we’d all been hoping for. It really felt like they were bringing everything full circle.

This wasn’t just a preview for a new Star Wars show; it felt like a complete revival of a beloved time in the franchise. For fans who loved The Clone Wars, it was the satisfying conclusion they’d always hoped for.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Teaser Trailer, 2016)

Few Star Wars films made since Disney acquired the franchise have been as well-received as Rogue One, and that holds true for the initial preview of the movie as well.

The first teaser for Rogue One is incredibly intense, relying more on the sounds of alarms from the Death Star than traditional trailer music. This creates a strong sense of tension as the footage introduces us to new characters and highlights the dangerous mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, setting the stage for A New Hope.

This initial trailer showed what a Star Wars film could be outside of the main Skywalker story – a more realistic and intense war movie exploring the hardships of fighting for the Rebellion. The critically praised series Andor later successfully built on this same darker, more grounded approach.

The Mandalorian (Season 1 Trailer, 2019)

The debut trailer for The Mandalorian’s first season was a landmark moment for Star Wars fans, as it was the first time the New Republic era was brought to life on screen. Back then, no one was quite sure what to anticipate from a live-action Star Wars TV series.

Audiences were treated to a visually striking scene featuring stormtrooper helmets mounted on spikes, a soundtrack reminiscent of classic Westerns, and the intriguing introduction of a new, masked Mandalorian hero brought to life by Pedro Pascal.

It’s amazing to see how central Din Djarin has become to the Star Wars franchise. With three seasons of The Mandalorian on Disney+ already under its belt, and a movie featuring Din Djarin and Grogu coming next year, he’s truly a key part of the series now.

The Phantom Menace (Trailer, 1998)

For many Star Wars fans, the first trailer for The Phantom Menace felt like a dream come true, bringing the beloved saga back to the big screen after a 16-year hiatus. It introduced exciting new characters, skilled Jedi, the unique double-bladed lightsaber, thrilling space battles, fast-paced podraces, and much more, making it a landmark moment for both pop culture and the world of film.

Back in 1998, the internet wasn’t as common as it is today, and it was difficult to find videos online. Because of this, many fans apparently bought tickets to see Meet Joe Black simply to watch the trailer for The Phantom Menace, and then left the theater as soon as it finished.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Teaser #1, 2014)

Similarly, the initial trailer for The Force Awakens created a lot of excitement back in 2014. It announced the beginning of a new set of Star Wars sequels, set 10 years after the last prequel film and over 30 years after the original movies.

Widely considered one of the greatest Star Wars trailers ever made, the short clip featured very little footage and dialogue. However, it sparked immense excitement for a new trilogy. The trailer ended with the iconic John Williams Star Wars theme as the Millennium Falcon engaged in a thrilling dogfight with TIE Fighters—a perfect mix of the new and the classic.

Battlefront II (Official Gameplay Trailer, 2017)

Despite a rocky start and negative feedback from players, EA’s Battlefront II still features one of the greatest Star Wars trailers ever made.

The trailer is a fantastic tribute to the exciting battles and action throughout the entire Skywalker saga, showcasing clips from all three main periods of the franchise. It cleverly begins with soldiers from the First Order, then Imperial Stormtroopers, and finally Republic clones, creating a powerful connection to the series’ history.

I was absolutely blown away by the trailer – especially that incredible version of Duel of the Fates with the blaster fire perfectly timed to the music! Seriously, even though Battlefront came out eight years ago, this trailer makes me want to jump right back in. It’s no surprise fans have been campaigning for a Battlefront 3 – I’ve even seen campaigns happening just this year! It really shows how much people still love this game.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Teaser #2, 2015)

Similar to the initial trailer for The Force Awakens, the second trailer was remarkably effective despite showing very little footage. It powerfully connected with fans and honored the franchise’s history.

Newly released dialogue from Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi includes the line, “The Force is strong in my family…My father has it. I have it. My sister has it. You have that power, too.”

The teaser culminates in a powerful scene: the broken remains of Darth Vader’s helmet and a return to Han Solo and Chewbacca, with Han saying, “Chewie, we’re home…” Even now, the teaser is incredibly moving, and many people reportedly cried after seeing it.

Revenge of the Sith (Teaser #1, 2004)

Although all the Star Wars trailers are fantastic, the original teaser for the 2005 film Revenge of the Sith is the most impressive.

The trailer, voiced by Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi from A New Hope, revealed Darth Vader’s backstory and hinted at a fall from grace, leading many to believe the Skywalker saga would conclude with this film. It had a very dramatic and intense feel, showing scenes from the new movie alongside images of Darth Vader’s power.

The Revenge of the Sith trailer clearly showed that Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into a dark figure was going to happen.

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2025-10-27 05:41