10 Bad Movies With Great Trailers

7. The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty

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20th Century Fox

This may sound hard to believe, but the pre-release buzz surrounding The Secret Life of Walter Mitty was so strong that many predicted that Ben Stiller was a shoo-in for an Academy Award nomination for Best Director.

That may have had something to do with an expertly-designed marketing campaign, a prime December release date and the fact that the dramatic comedy ticked many of the narrative and thematic boxes that the Academy loves when it comes to dishing out the gold statues. Sure, the trailer may as well have had 'AWARDS BAIT' stamped all over it, but there's no denying that it was an incredible promo.

Stiller may have shown previously-unseen levels of skill and ambition from behind the camera, and the whole thing is beautifully shot, but The Secret Life of Walter Mitty turned out to be a classic case of style over substance. Falling into the same trap as many other would-be prestige pictures, the on-the-nose message, cloying earnestness and saccharine moments sink a narrative that would have benefitted immensely from even a little bit of edge.

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