It's an oft repeated maxim, but sometimes the trailers are even better than the movies. And though we won't try to sway your opinion one way or the other, the below list represents the absolute best of the best when it comes to movie trailers that were released in 2014.

To be clear, these are for some movies -- "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (spoiler, it's on the list) for example -- that won't be out until 2015. But they're the reason we got to the movies early, and the reason we were up late watching them on YouTube, again and again and again:

"The Divergent Series: Insurgent"

We've read the books, and we have no clue what's going on in this teaser for the "Divergent" sequel... But it looks insane.

"San Andreas"

The Rock fights an earthquake? Sounds about right to us.

"Pan"

This trailer did nothing to help stop the fear that pirate clowns will fall from the ceiling and kidnap us at night.

"If I Stay"

Ha ha ha what no you're crying.

"Lucy"

"What happens when she reaches 100 percent?" It's totally ludicrous, but the trailer builds and builds -- probably giving away too much of the movie -- but it's awesome.

"Fifty Shades Of Grey"

Hello, Mr. Grey. See you this Valentine's Day.

"Chappie"

What is it about robots learning about the human experience that are endlessly fascinating? Whatever it is, this trailer is inspiring.

"Into The Woods"

The full trailer for the Disney musical finally showed off the movie's singing, and it was great.

"Maleficent"

Accompanied by Lana Del Rey's haunting rendition of "Once Upon A Dream," and showing off the movie's best asset - Angelina Jolie's cheekbones - this nails the idea that this ain't your grandma's Disney movie.

"Birdman"

The movie is nuts, and so is the trailer.

"The Fault In Our Stars"

This is a good trailer, okay? Okay.

"Gone Girl"

Can't go wrong with a David Fincher trailer, and this one -- while not as iconic as, say, "The Social Network" -- is pretty darn great.

"The Maze Runner"

For fans of the movie, this was our first look at the adaptation -- and it delivered, showing off the massive Maze, the characters, and even a little of the terrifying Grievers.

"Avengers: Age Of Ultron"

Appropriately, the trailer is ruled more by James Spader's evil robot Ultron than the return of The Avengers, but goddamn if this doesn't look terrifyingly awesome.

"Guardians Of The Galaxy"

This teaser showed off everything: the humor, the action... And most of all the "Ooga Chaka."

"Godzilla"

The first full trailer for the monster reboot delivered, mostly due to Bryan Cranston's on-the-cusp-of-breaking monologue. Oh, and the monster fights, of course.

"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1"

The trailer perfectly channels the sense of loss and danger Katniss is feeling in this third movie, while giving us just a touch of the epic action (and not that much of the propos, thankfully).

"Furious 7"

Even if the festivities are somewhat marred by the unfortunate demise of Paul Walker, this trailer is bananapants, starting with the whole gang driving out of an airplane, and only getting bigger from there. Remember when this series was just about street-racing or something?

"Mad Max: Fury Road"

If the actual movie is as balls to the wall non-stop exciting as this teaser looks, then your balls will literally obliterate the wall while moving through that wall at light speed while watching the movie.

"Jurassic World"

There's so many things that are incredible about this trailer, but it's when the simple piano rendition of John Williams' theme kicks in that we get goosebumpier than a goose made out of bumps. Add in Chris Pratt leading a biker gang of dinosaurs? We're sold.

"Tomorrowland"

Before this teaser, we knew nothing about the movie. After? We don't know much more, but what we do know seems spectacular. The transition from our world to "Tomorrowland" is amazing, and this is now easily one of our most anticipated movies of 2015.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens"

The didn't need to show anything from the movie. They didn't even show much beyond 88 seconds of footage, most of which is blackness and John Williams' score. But in those scant seconds, director J.J. Abrams completely delivered iconic images that are making us more impatient than a wookiee that it isn't next December already.