With 85% of U.S. households paying for at least one ad-free streaming service, the world of entertainment, especially advertisement, is very different today than it was a few decades ago. Simply put, we no longer enjoy having our entertainment interrupted. Long before streaming, we used to watch TV while waiting through commercial breaks. Back then, TV ads were actually fun rather than annoying because they were humorous and had catchy jingles. Hence, no wonder most famous commercials date back to the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early ‘00s.
The idiom "They don't make 'em like they used to" perfectly applies to ads. Modern TV advertising simply can't match the most popular commercials made back in the day. Whether it's the most famous Super Bowl commercials or the best TV commercials, the now-classic, old commercials remain unpaired, with just a few exceptions from the modern age. Even after multiple viewings, the most memorable commercials stick in our minds because they never fail to make us laugh. Advertisers know that humor is a terrific tool to engage with your audience and build a favorable perception of your business. However, a good comedy isn't always all it takes to produce the most effective commercials. A catchy jingle, a play on emotions, or an outlandish concept with great montage and execution can be the key for an ad to rank amongst the best commercials ever produced.
Below, we've compiled some of the most iconic, hilarious, tear-jerking, straight-up weird, or otherwise memorable ads that, even years after their initial release, continue to click with the audiences. Prepare for a rollercoaster of a ride because the greatest commercials of all time that we've compiled below pack a rainbow of emotions. Do you agree with our selection of the most iconic commercials? Upvote the ones that stuck out to you, and let us know in the comments if we've missed any good ones!
#1 Wendy's – Where's The Beef? (1984)
A commercial from 1984 called "Fluffy Bun" starred Clara Peller, a manicurist from Chicago, Illinois. In the ad, when Peller's character orders a burger from an unnamed Wendy's rival restaurant, she is given a tiny patty on a large bun. "Where's the beef?" exclaims Peller, outraged at the injustice. Thanks to her, "Where's the Beef?" became an instant 1980s catchphrase.
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#2 Snickers - Betty White (2010)
With a memorable Snickers commercial, beloved late comedian Betty White captured hearts at the 2010 Superbowl. She portrays the alter ego of a football player with the worst luck. After devouring a Snickers bar, he changes back into himself, but not before hurling some funny jabs at his teammates. "You're not yourself when you're hungry," the ad's message is effectively conveyed while also making people chuckle. 13 years later, this is still the best Snickers ad.
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#3 Tootsie Pop – How Many Licks? (1968)
How many licks does it take to get to the lolly's center? With this iconic campaign, Tootsie Pop completely changed how effective advertising might be. After all these years, TV stations are still airing this simple line-drawing animation. In fact, the “How Many Licks?” commercial is one of the longest-running ads to date.
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#4 Volvo Trucks – The Epic Split (2013)
If we had to give an example of an epic ad — it's this one. Volvo presumably considered various ways to show off the stability and accuracy of the dynamic steering in their trucks. However, there is undoubtedly no better approach than to show Jean-Claude Van Damme performing his famous splits while delivering a speech while Enya plays in the background. 9 years later, this commercial is still legendary.
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#5 Metro Line – Dumb Ways To Die (2012)
Here is evidence that even serious messages can be successfully conveyed through humor. Melbourne Metro used animation to spread the word about its 2012 rail safety campaign. The video emphasizes that railroad fatalities are entirely preventable by using bright, blob-like figures and a funny tune. It's the opposite of what you'd anticipate from a public service announcement (PSA) promoting railway safety, which may be why it's so memorable and still so liked today.
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#6 Old Spice – The Man Your Man Could Smell Like (2010)
The humorous, self-aware commercial rapidly won over the viewers. And arguably the hearts of many women. In the advertisement, Isaiah Mustafa, a former American football star, is depicted claiming to be better than their lovers because he smells incredible with Old Spice. The advertising agency Weiden & Kennedy developed the idea after finding that 60% of body wash purchases are made by women. Thanks to this, Old Spice sales upped by 11%. Clearly, there is potency in smelling like the man your boyfriend might smell like!
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#7 Keep America Beautiful: The Crying Indian (1970)
This PSA from the 1970s is one of the most recognizable advertisements. In it, a Native American man expresses his sorrow about the environmental damage brought on by modern culture. One tear may be seen falling down Iron Eyes Cody's cheek as the camera pans in on his face. After the initial airing of the advertisement, Cody's visage was associated by many Americans with environmental idealism.
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#8 Budweiser – Someone Waits For You At Home (2014)
This commercial deftly manipulates viewers' emotions. With a heartwarming montage of priceless moments that all dog owners would recognize, it gives us a false sense of security before ending with a blow to the stomach. Still, the ad ends positively, saving our hearts from heartache. This is the ideal technique to convey a message that is so vital and make sure it is remembered long after the advertisement has ended. Don't drink and drive because "Friends are Waiting," both the two and four-legged ones.
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#9 M&M’s – They Do Exist (1996)
You can tell the holiday season is coming if you see this famous advertisement on television! M&M's commercial features the red and yellow mascots skulking around on Christmas Eve with a bowl of M&M's for Santa. When they accidentally run upon old St. Nick, they both experience astonishment upon discovering the other. In fact, this ad has been re-aired every year for more than 25 years, and there aren't many TV commercials that remain relevant after all these years!
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#10 Life Cereal – Mikey Likes It (1978)
The best commercials are ones that people can relate to. The star of these well-known TV commercials for Life Cereal, Mikey, was a reflection of millions of viewers or their children. Life Cereal is continuing in business even though John Gilchrist, who played Mikey, resigned from acting after appearing in more than 250 ads. If Mikey likes it, it must be good!
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#11 California Raisins – Lunchbox (1986)
Since the beginning, raisins have been either loved or hated by those looking for a quick snack. If you were a child during the 1980s or 1990s, you would likely recall when raisins moved from the opening act to the main stage, thanks to an advertisement featuring the fictional rock band California Raisins. Those cartoony R&B raisins gained so much fame that they soon starred in their own TV specials and series while also selling merchandise.
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#12 Volkswagen – The Force (2011)
One of the most excellent car advertisements ever was made possible by pop culture allusions, a cute child, and intelligent marketing decisions. In a break from tradition, the automaker uploaded a more extended version of the commercial to YouTube a few days before its costly Super Bowl broadcast. The risk turned out profitable. The Super Bowl ad with the most social media shares is still "The Force." May the force be with you...
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#13 Coca-Cola – Meet Joe Greene (1979)
One of the most popular "Super Bowl commercials" was also among the first big ones. Many remakes and parodies have come from it, and viewers frequently list it as their all-time favorite. In the commercial, a young boy offers Joe Greene, a legendary defensive tackle with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the time, his bottle of Coke when he is obviously upset following a tough game. Greene is moved by this offer and throws the child his jersey with the classic phrase, "Hey kid, catch!” After its release, this moving 60-second story became an immediate hit.
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#14 IAMS – A Boy And His Dog Duck (2015)
This tale of a young kid's unbreakable bond with his loved pet dog will soften the most rock-solid of hearts. The idea is universally relatable to all animal lovers and pet owners, making it the ideal way to reach the pet food company's target market. A foolproof way to make a commercial that will appeal to everyone — just include a cute dog. Cue instant success.
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#15 Apple – 1984 (1984)
This Apple advertisement, directed by Ridley Scott, was modeled around George Orwell's iconic dystopian novel "1984" and featured a woman battling a brainwashing machine. This Apple commercial depicted how depressing life would be if the fictional book had become a reality. Whether or not one had read the novel, this famous ad was brilliant, unique, and, most importantly, daring.
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#17 Google Assistant: Home Alone Again (2018)
For its 2018 "Make Google Do It" campaign to advertise its product Google Home, Google drew on nostalgia for the '90s. In addition to having actor Macaulay Culkin return as Kevin McCallister from the iconic 1990 movie Home Alone, it even went so far as to build an almost exact copy of the McCallister family residence. And at last, 28 years later, Kevin finally ate his mac & cheese. Still, the most relatable thing in this ad is him briefly jumping on the bed and then having his back hurt.
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#18 Always – Like A Girl (2015)
Long-in-the-tooth sayings like "stop whining like a girl" back the stereotype that women are weaker than men. The feminine sanitary product company Always believes it needs to change. The company's "Like a Girl" commercial aired during the Super Bowl XLIX. In the ad, "What does it mean to do X like a girl?" and other similar questions are posed to a group of children and teenagers. Viewers were forced to reevaluate their beliefs and behaviors due to the campaign's compelling message. Also, it was a bold decision for Always to run the advertisement on a mostly male-dominated event.
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#19 Coca-Cola Hilltop (1971)
Many commercials were produced that year. Coca-Cola's anthem (“I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”) about bringing about world peace through soda by the pop group New Seekers gained huge success. The studio made a remake in 1990 with the original actors and their offspring as a tribute to the legacy. "Hilltop" is regarded as one of the most famous advertisements ever made and transmits a message of tolerance and hope.
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#20 Geico – Cavemen (2006)
The short story "Pastoralia" by George Saunders, which centers on a man and a woman who work as "cave-people" at a failing theme park, served as the campaign's point of inspiration. This was before the advertising became intrusive and annoying. And honestly, this commercial will still be funny a hundred years from now.
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