What's the difference between a movie trailer and teaser?

[Vlorg]

I believe by technical standards it's only the timeframe that they are released. Teasers are released up to 12 months before the film opens (usually 6-8). Anything less than 4 months is considered a trailer.

Teasers are almost always 30 seconds with little to no information about the film itself. Sometimes there is no footage at all from the film ( or footage shot just for the teaser ). This is often because the teaser is made before the film itself has even begun shooting.

As an aside I do not know of any case specifically but I would imagine that teasers were made and shown in theaters for a film that ended up going straight to video. Sometimes the name does get changed. I remember seeing a teaser for Dick and Jane Save the World....changed to Mom and Dad Save the World by the time the trailers came about. I'm sure there are plenty more.

Vlorg