Comparing Teaser and Theatrical Trailers

Thor

This is the teaser trailer.

This is the theatrical trailer.

Battle LA

Teaser trailer.

Theatrical trailer

As seen from both Thor and the Battle LA, on the theatrical trailer there is more narrative information. We find out about who the characters are, the background information such as why they are doing what they are doing, how they got there and what they have to do. 

The technical aspect also differs. Theatrical trailers, those found in cinemas, are generally much longer than teaser trailers - often up to two-and-a-half minutes in length. Theatrical trailers often appear quite late in the film's marketing campaign - in the last few weeks in the run-up to the film's release.

Teaser trailers often reach the public a considerable time before the film's release - often many months, sometimes over a yea, before the film is due to hit cinemas. They reveal little about the plot, for example, withholding information from the audience in order to create anticipation and a desire to want more, thus generating greater long term interest in the film. Teaser trailers might be shown in cinemas but usually are found online on official and unofficial websites.

However there are some similarities between theatrical and teaser trailers.

• Both of them have fades.
• There are often taglines in both.
• Impact sounds used to create a mood.
• Production/distribution company logos
• Often they do have release dates, however the teaser trailer, in general, is more vague due to where in the marketing campaign the trailer is released.
• A website for the film is often shown in both.