10 Greatest Movie Teasers That Used Original Footage

Star Wars is one of the biggest names in pop culture. Suffice to say, one of the contributing factors to its success is Ralph McQuarrie. The man has worked on the original trilogy and is responsible for the series' iconic visuals and design. And while this list features trailers that use original footage, the teaser for The Empire Strikes Back is unique for featuring concept art as its main draw.

The footage uses McQuarrie's paintings for the film while being accompanied by John Williams' familiar Star Wars score. These images showcase new, exotic locations, such as Hoth and Cloud City, while promising a climactic confrontation between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. It even introduces viewers to new character Lando Calrissian, who would be the latest addition to the film's collection of heroes and villains.

One small negative, however, is how the narrator mispronounces names such as Leia and Lando, calling them 'Leah' and 'Landau,' instead.

Regardless, this piece of marketing cements Ralph McQuarrie's importance to Star Wars and how the saga wouldn't be where it is without his efforts. It also shows that the series' visuals and static images were enough to make audiences excited for the next chapter in what would become the beloved original trilogy.