Nobody expected the chaos. When the first Peter Rabbit trailer 2018 dropped, it didn't just ruffle feathers—it felt like a tactical nuke dropped on a quiet English tea party. People were genuinely confused. You had this legacy of Beatrix Potter, those soft, watercolor illustrations of a bunny in a blue coat, and then suddenly? James Corden is voicing a rabbit who's basically throwing a project X-style rager in a vegetable patch.
It was a total vibe shift.
The Trailer That Broke the Internet (For the Wrong Reasons)
Look, the 2018 trailer was "irreverent" in the way a loud uncle is at a wedding. It opened with the classic "Feel It Still" by Portugal. The Man—which, let’s be honest, was in every single movie trailer that year. We saw Peter and his crew (voiced by heavy hitters like Margot Robbie and Daisy Ridley) treating Mr. McGregor’s garden like a frat house.
There were dance-offs. There were "cool" quips. There was a literal scene where Peter sticks his head out of the crotch of a pair of jeans. For the purists who grew up with the 1902 books, it felt like someone had spray-painted neon graffiti over a national monument.
Why did people care so much? 1. The tone was pure slapstick, closer to Alvin and the Chipmunks than Potter’s gentle fables.
2. It leaned heavily into the "edgy" humor that was popular in the late 2010s.
3. James Corden's voice acting was... polarizing. You either loved the energy or felt it was way too much for a heritage character.
What Actually Happened in the Movie
If you only watched the Peter Rabbit trailer 2018, you might have missed that the movie was actually a massive financial success. It pulled in over $350 million worldwide. Despite the backlash from the "Not My Peter Rabbit" crowd, kids absolutely loved it.
The plot basically follows Peter's feud with the new Mr. McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson), who inherits the estate and wants the rabbits gone. It becomes a total turf war. Gleeson's physical comedy is actually one of the highlights; he gets hit with enough rakes and electric shocks to make Wile E. Coyote look like he’s having a relaxing weekend.
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But then came the "Allergy Controversy."
This is the part that wasn't in the trailer. There's a scene where the rabbits use blackberries to trigger Thomas McGregor’s known fruit allergy. It caused a massive outcry from parents and allergy advocacy groups. Sony eventually had to apologize. It was a weirdly dark turn for a film that marketed itself as a fun family romp.
The Soundtrack and the Style
Music was the backbone of the marketing. Beyond the trailer's lead song, the film was packed with tracks that felt designed to keep parents awake while their kids watched the CGI bunnies bounce around.
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- "I Promise You" – Performed by James Corden (written by Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend).
- "M79" and "Cousins" – Also by Vampire Weekend, adding that indie-pop flavor.
- "We No Speak Americano" – Because why not have a bunny dance to a 2010 club hit?
Visually, the film was stunning, even if the content was chaotic. Animal Logic, the Australian studio behind the animation, did an incredible job. The fur rendering and the way the CGI characters interacted with the live-action environments in Sydney (standing in for the Lake District) were top-tier. It's just a shame the trailer made it look so "corporate-cool."
Was it Really That Bad?
Honestly? No. If you separate the film from the source material, it’s a solid slapstick comedy. It’s got heart, mostly thanks to Rose Byrne’s performance as Bea, a fictionalized version of Beatrix Potter. She brings a warmth that balances out the "cool bunny" energy.
The biggest mistake was the Peter Rabbit trailer 2018 itself. It leaned so hard into the "edgy" marketing that it alienated the core audience of nostalgic adults. Once people actually sat down and watched it, the reviews were mixed but not hateful. It currently sits at around 63% on Rotten Tomatoes—not a masterpiece, but a far cry from the "disaster" people predicted after the first teaser.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking back at this 2018 era of animation or trying to share the world of Peter Rabbit with a new generation, here is how to navigate the noise:
- Watch with Context: If you’re introducing this to kids, explain that it's a "remix." Don't expect the quiet pacing of the original books.
- Check the Soundtrack: If you liked the "vibe" of the trailer, the full soundtrack is actually a great mix of indie-pop and orchestral scores by Dominic Lewis.
- Skip the Controversy: Be aware of the allergy scene if you have sensitive viewers; it's the one part of the film that hasn't aged particularly well.
- The Sequel Factor: If you actually liked the 2018 version, the 2021 sequel (The Runaway) actually doubles down on the meta-humor, even making fun of the first movie's "bad" reputation.
The 2018 reboot proved that you can't please everyone when updating a classic. But it also proved that a loud, obnoxious trailer can still lead to a box office smash if the kids are having fun.