Welcome to the Weekly Trailer Roundup, where we count down the top five trailers released in the past week, “top” being defined any way we want to at the moment…exciting, ridiculous, best, worst…

These are the trailers that, for one reason or another, you should be paying attention to. 

The movies featured in this week’s roundup range from the very big to the very small, plus a few smack dab in the middle. But what all these trailers have in common is a definitive sense of adventure. So what made this week’s cut? Well, Frankenstein’s Army nearly did for the sheer unabashed B-movie weirdness of it all (so I guess you can consider this an honorable mention), but we’ve got five trailers that top even that.

#5 – The Counselor Trailer 2

The trailers continue to underwhelm a little, but it’s hard to imagine this movie not being worth a watch if only to pick apart all the ways it almost got everything right. But I don’t think it’s going to get much wrong. If you haven’t ever read a book by Cormac McCarthy, do yourself a favor and go read one.

#4 – How To Train Your Dragon 2 Official Teaser Trailer

The first How To Train Your Dragon was very, very good, and this trailer, simple though it may be, captures perfectly the sense of wonder and joyful fantasy (with just a hint of very real danger) that made the first one such a success. 

#3 – Our Nixon Official Theatrical Trailer

Richard Nixon may well go down in history as one of the most influential figures of the mid- to late-20th century. The American public is still fascinated by his downfall all these years later. With the promise of new footage, new insights into Watergate and the Nixon White House, this is a documentary that no one with half a political bone in their body is going ot want to miss.

#2 – The Fifth Estate Official Trailer #1

WikiLeaks. Benedict Cumberbatch is blonde. Do you need a third reason?

This is undoubtedly going to be a polarizing film for its portrayal of Julian Assange as the hero of the story, no matter how much of an antihero is does or doesn’t end up showing him as. We still love Butch and Sundance way more than the lawmen who tracked them. But this trailer (after you get over Cumberbatch’s hair) looks damn good.

#1 – I Declare War Official Trailer #2

There are so many amazing places for this film to go, and I can’t believe no one’s ever done something like this before (or maybe they have, somebody tell me who). Like our #2 on this list, I predict this will be a polarizing movie. It’s going to have a lot to say, not only about childhood and imagination, but about the developmental effects of violence. It also looks like it’s going to be just a visual treat. Wow. The whole thing is a serious joke, and at least in this trailer, it works.

The rest of this week’s field:

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Official UK Teaser Trailer – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1F89lMDBdI

The Grandmaster Official Trailer #2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC5amKLgnFU

Frankenstein’s Army Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMUQ2IMuz8o

Planes Official Trailer #3 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_yOrOG7tXM

12 Years a Slave Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYYtS9KSWNg

I’m In Love With a Church Girl Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkZJq_Tj7WI

Rush Official Trailer #3 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmLvpSOh1QA

The Family Official International Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEgpHiA6US8

Tio Papi Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRbbbxPgwic

Nicky’s Family Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAtDdLLJ6BY

The Artist and the Model Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7MdQjqRjyw

Rising From Ashes Official Theatrical Trailer

Ø  4) How To Train Your Dragon 2 Official Teaser Trailer – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwtdJwjQbLM

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Official UK Teaser Trailer – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1F89lMDBdI

The Grandmaster Official Trailer #2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC5amKLgnFU

Frankenstein’s Army Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMUQ2IMuz8o

·         Soooo aggressively, unapologetically b-movie. Reminds me of BioShock

Planes Official Trailer #3 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_yOrOG7tXM

12 Years a Slave Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYYtS9KSWNg

·         It’s a minute too long a trailer, but looks like it has potential

I’m In Love With a Church Girl Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkZJq_Tj7WI

Ø  2) The Fifth Estate Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQOiS_l_0Jk

·         Potential #1, this looks amazing

Ø  1) I Declare War Official Trailer #2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnrj3p_MswY

·         This looks amazing, potential #1

Rush Official Trailer #3 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmLvpSOh1QA

The Family Official International Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEgpHiA6US8

Tio Papi Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRbbbxPgwic

Nicky’s Family Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAtDdLLJ6BY

The Artist and the Model Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7MdQjqRjyw

Ø  3) Our Nixon Official Theatrical Trailer – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=960HlyKVdBo

Rising From Ashes Official Theatrical Trailer

Ø  5) The Counselor Trailer 2 – http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-trailer-counselor-sex-violence-588491