Horror Trailers Steal the Spotlight at GTA25

The Golden Trailer Awards returned on 29 May with a ceremony that celebrated the craft behind cinema’s most compelling previews. Now in its 25th year, the awards honoured work across 108 categories, recognising everything from international blockbusters to ultra low-budget indies. In an era where a trailer can make or break a film’s prospects, the GTA25 winners showcased just how much impact two minutes of carefully edited footage can have.

Among the standout winners was 28 Years Later “Days”, taking home Best of Show and Most Original Trailer. Crafted by Buddha Jones for Sony Pictures, the spot redefines post-apocalyptic dread through disorientating cuts and a haunting voice-over that leaves viewers unsettled long after the screen goes dark. Paramount Pictures’ Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning “Certainty”, produced by AV Squad, earned Best Summer 2025 Blockbuster Trailer, reminding audiences that the best action teasers still rely on precise pacing and an exhilarating score. In the comedy realm, A24’s Friendship “Gorgeous”, by GrandSon, secured the Best Comedy award with its playful montage of awkward embraces and wry humour.

Documentary trailers also made a strong showing. Disney+’s Jim Henson: Idea Man “Trailer” by Buddha Jones was named Best Documentary (Feature Film) Bio Pic of an Individual, while National Geographic’s Blink teaser from Motive Creative claimed Best Documentary (Feature Film) Subject. These spots demonstrated that non-fiction storytelling can be as visually arresting as any thriller, marrying evocative music cues with striking imagery.

A section of the evening was dedicated to horror trailers, a category that highlighted the unique skills required to tease terror. Warner Bros. Pictures’ Sinners “Magic”, created by AV Squad, won Best Horror. The trailer’s use of abrupt sound edits and sudden close-ups of eldritch rituals showcased how effective horror marketing hinges on withholding as much as it reveals. In the Best Teaser slot, Universal Pictures’ M3GAN 2.0 “The Icon”, from Inside Job, delivered bone-chilling glimpses of the doll’s mechanical gaze. Sony’s 28 Years Later “Days” trailer also claimed the Don LaFontaine Award for Best Voice Over, underlining the power of a single, menacing line to set pulses racing. It was also nice to see the independent UK horror How to Kill Monsters get an award for ‘Trashiest Trailer’

Additional categories across television spots, posters and digital campaigns rounded out the awards. A/V Squad was named Agency of the Year, while GrandSon’s work for Friendship and Buddha Jones’ entries for 28 Years Later solidified their reputations for inventive, high-impact designs. The winners in TV spots spanned genres as diverse as Deadpool & Wolverine “Ready” (Best Comedy TV Spot) to Netflix’s Squid Game S2 “PHENOMENON” (Best Horror/Thriller TV Spot).

The Golden Trailer Awards continue to be “the Hollywood awards show for the post-MTV era,” as founders say, shining a light on the editors, sound designers and graphic artists who condense hours of footage into irresistible previews. With the roll-out of nominee videos on social channels still underway, the trailer community has much more to celebrate in the months ahead.

GTA25 Best Foreign Action trailers