[hnbear]

This was my first thought too.

I suspect lucky timing that a significant enough sequel came out with huge interest close enough to the trailer site being available drove people to it.

It was the first time I remember people going to see a movie specifically to watch the trailer more than the whatever movie it was that had the trailer. Then the first time people could actually watch trailers at will. Rental VHS/DVD had trailers but always a gamble which you’d get, and they had to be returned. For the first time you could download and rewatch it over and over.

Even with a lot of very hardcore WindowsForLife friends they all went to get QuickTime to watch the trailer.