Rocky! ‘Project Hail Mary’ leads Super Bowl trailers

While Marvel Studios sat out the Super Bowl this year, we still got some pretty awesome new trailers while the Seattle Seahawks saved us from a new New England Patriots dynasty. My personal favorites were the teasers for Project Hail Mary and Disclosure Day, but our daughter made me play the trailer for Minions & Monsters twice. Twice!

Also, how cool was it that Nick Lutsko did the music for a Super Bowl commercial? And while people were impressed by Lady Gaga’s take on “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” it does get icky when you really think about it. It should go without saying that everyone involved with that Dunkin commercial should feel bad too.

Just like with Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show last year, Wired was all over the behind-the-scenes details of Bad Bunny’s fantastic performance.

If you caught some of these trailers during the actual broadcast, you probably noticed that studios aren’t paying to run full trailers, instead cutting promos for them (commercials for commercials, if you will) that prompt folks to go online to see the entire trailer.

And here you are. Ready to see the entire trailer. Multiple of them.

Welcome to Popculturology!

This publication is a free newsletter, but it’s fueled by readers like you. Support independent news, reviews and more for just $5 a month.

Upgrade to Paid

Includes full access to Snackology and The Cold Open.

Project Hail Mary

Oh man, I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with Rocky. Project Hail Mary is one of the movies I’m most looking forward to this year, and the final trailer for the film has only amped up my anticipation.

Disclosure Day

One billion percent in for whatever Steven Spielberg is doing with Disclosure Day. The director of Close Encounters of Third Kind, E.T. and War of the Worlds returning to the alien genre? Absolutely. Let’s do this.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

The Super Bowl teaser for The Mandalorian and Grogu was cute. But was it too cute? It’s weird to see a Star Wars project — especially when it’s supposed to be the franchise’s triumphant return to theaters — treated in a way like this.

Supergirl

Oh no, as if Krypton wasn’t already the emotional hook of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the graphic novel that director Craig Gillespie’s adaptation is based on, Supergirl appears to have added an even more tragic backstory for Kara Zor-El’s dog.

Hoppers

I’ve yet to see one thing from Hoppers that doesn’t make me have high hopes for the movie. This one looks like Pixar is fully embracing its weird side.

Minions & Monsters

My lifelong protest of the Minions is likely coming to an end. That’s what happens when you have a 4-year-old daughter who’s highly susceptible to Illumination’s tiny yellow mascots. In fairness, a tiny Cthulhu works on me too.

The Adventures of Cliff Booth

Yes, we’re getting a sequel to Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. But there are several twists. While Quentin Tarantino wrote the script for The Adventures of Cliff Booth and Brad Pitt is returning as the character, David Fincher is taking over behind the camera. And it’s gonna be on Netflix.

Scream 7

The latest trailer for Scream 7 actually premiered earlier in the week, but Paramount still ponied up to air it during the Super Bowl.

Popculturology is a publication of The Omnicosm.

Issue No. 416

---

Popculturology is written and produced by Bill Kuchman.
Copyediting by Tim Kuchman.

Love what Popculturology is doing? You can help keep the newsletter going by becoming a paid supporter.

If this edition of Popculturology brought you joy, consider sending a tip.

Get the full The Omnicosm experience. Add Snackology and The Cold Open to your subscription via your account settings.

Bluesky Instagram