With the amount of money it costs to carry out a television ad, utilizing a bold and creative marketing technique can make all the difference, which is why these irresistibly awkward commercials are using uncomfortable situations to leave a lasting impression.
I'm sure most of you have encountered an awkward situation at least once in your lifetime, whether it's bumping into someone you dislike or experiencing an uncomfortable situation at your local store, these instances are definitely times you'll remember long after they happen. These awkward commercials are striking a cord with audiences because they serve to showcase the types of humorous situations that many viewers can actually relate to.
From uncomfortable arm shaking ads to creepy car wash campaigns, these irresistibly awkward commercials are making viewers cringe with its humorous situational experiences.
12 Irresistibly Awkward Commercials
From Socially Awkward Auto Ads to Candid Camera Commercials:
Tana Makmanee — Jun 26, 2013 — Pop Culture
10
Candid Camera Commercials
The Humorously Akward KLM Personal Space Experiment
9
Uncomfortable Polygamist Ads
The 'Blue Wireless' Commercial is Cringe-Worthy
8
Corny Joke Commercials
Wienerschnitzel $.79 Corn Dog Ad Brings on the Brutal Humor
7
Spectator-Shaming Car Ads
A Kia Ad Embarrases a Spectator to Promote the Kia 'Cerato'
6
Literal Social Media Re-Enactments
The Nico Muhly 'Two Boys' Opera Ad Brings Online to Life
5
Awkward Arm Shaking Ads
The 'Awkward Shake' Video Showcases a Funny Hand Motion
4
Awkward Announcement Videos
Crest Commercials Show You Can Say Anything With a Smile
3
Shuddersome Sustainability Spots
The 'Wasting Water is Weird' Campaign is Creepy and Effective
2
Awkward Youth Commercials
Sprite’s Awkward Soda Pop Commercial Reenacts Youth Culture
1
Awkward Adult Conversation Ads
This JetBlue Commercial Makes a Case for Booking Your Vacation
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IKEA Unveils the Don't Worry, You Can Afford It Campaign
Aggressive Athlete Ads
Nike Launches the Winning Isn’t for Everyone Campaign
AI-Generated Ketchup Ads
Heinz Designed an Advertisement Using the Slogan 'It has to be Heinz'
Anti-Consumption Natural Ads
The 'Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants' Ad Aims to Reducing Consumption
Branded AI-Generated Short Films
KFC Philippines Captures Attention with AI-Generated Films
Invisible Furniture Capsules
IKEA's Invsbål Campaign and Capsule are a Playful April Fool's Joke
AI-Lead Car Ads
Ford Launched an AI Campaign Dubbed 'Be Surreal, Be Ford'
Spontaneous Summer Picnics
Absolut Vodka & Sprite's HANGOUT-OF-HOME Inspires Unplanned Gatherings
Halloween-Inspired Pretzel Campaigns
Snyder’s of Hanover Debuts the 'Pretzelface' Campaign
Clear In-Game Billboard Advertisements
SCS Software's Truck Simulator Uses Real-Life Advertising
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Hands-Free Car Innovations
Ford Partnered with the British Deaf Association to Launch an Ad
Film-Inspired Condiment Ads
GUT New York Forms the Heinz Smiles Campaign to Celebrate Joker 2
Groundbreaking AR Posters
Wall's Out-of-Home Ads Make AR Experiences Unmissable with WinDOOH Tech
Emotional Poeticized Motorsport Campaigns
Honda Debuts the 'Unstoppable Dreams' Campaign
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
Ketchup Dispenser Billboards
'Smack for Heinz' Helps Fans Complete Meals with a Favorite Condiment
Athlete-Backed Shoe Campaigns
Nike Released Awaken Your Madness with International Soccer Players
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
Humorous Automotive Campaigns
Hyundai’s 'Where Have You Been?' Ad Merges Nostalgia and Branding
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Influencer-Inspired Ads
Tomcat's Ad Shows an Influencer Mouse with a Fatal Unboxing Twist
Sporty Fashion Spring Campaigns
adidas Originals Introduces the 1000 Back Campaign
AI-Fuelled QSR Animated Commercials
McDonald's Japan Rolls Out an AI Ad to Spotlight its Fries
Versatile Hot Honey Campaigns
Mike's Hot Honey Launches the 'You'll Love It with Mike's' Campaign
Hug-Activated Marketing Machines
UNIQLO France and The Pull Launch the Hug to Unlock Ad
Employee Fragrance Campaigns
Lidl's Fragrance Campaign Features Local Talent with Celebrity Names
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Humorous Payment Campaigns
Paypal's Latest Campaign Features Actor Will Ferrell
Lazy Cereal Campaigns
SURREAL Cereal Cheekily Pokes Fun at New Year's Resolutions
Hilarious Judicial Beauty Ads
e.l.f. Cosmetics Debuts "Judge Beauty" Campaign
Inspiring Leftover Ads
Hellmann's Mayo Cat Super Bowl Ad Uses Mayonnaise to Fight Food Waste
Product Review-Centered Campaigns
Kitchenaid's 'Love the Racks' Campaign Was Written by a Customer
Charming Christmas Advertisements
Sainsbury’s Christmas Ad 2024 Evokes Childhood Nostalgia
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
Cinematic GenAI Campaigns
The Know-It Alls by Perplexity is a Movie-Style Trailer
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
AI-Generated Holiday Soda Ads
The Coca-Cola Holidays Are Coming Ad Has Been Updated with AI
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
History-Centric Advertisements
Royal Ontario Museum's Epic Natural History Ad is Inspiring
Young Travellers-Targeting Campaigns
Progressive Insurance Has Introduced a New Campaign
Craveable Soda Packaging
Sprite is Reviving Its Obey Your Thirst Campaign for a New Generation
Eerie Film-Based Deodorant Campaigns
Secret Deodorant Debuts a Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Commercial
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
Cosmetic Criminal Commercials
Elf's Cosmetic Criminals Ad is a 15-Minute True Crime Parody
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Futuristic Shapewear Ads
Skims' First-Ever TV Ad, Skims Lab, Stars Kim Kardashian in Every Role
Quirky Athlete-Centric Mayo Campaigns
Hellmann's New 'Mayotivations Campaign' Features Will Levis
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Rom-Com Dating App Campaigns
Tinder's It Starts With a Swipe Reimagines Meet Cutes
Encouraging Jar-Reusing Campaigns
Kraft Mayonnaise's Initiative Encourages Consumers to Repurpose
Mystery-Style Holiday Ads
Waitrose Adds Mystery to the Festive Season with ‘Sweet Suspicion’ Ad
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Food-Themed Holiday Campaigns
Kroger’s 2024 Holiday Campaign Celebrates Food and Connection
Smart Shopping Cart Ads
Instacart Unveiled Ads for Its AI-Powered Caper Carts
Whimsical Uplifting Soda Campaigns
Coca-Cola Unveils It's Magic When The World Comes Together
Humorous Pet Furniture Campaigns
IKEA Playfully Presents its UTSÅDD Collection in a Campaign
Neighborhood-Inspired Campaigns
Kotn's F/W 2024 Collection is Released with a Witty Short-Film
Shoppable CPG Ads
Instacart-Powered Shoppable Video Ads are Coming to YouTube
Super Bowl Drive-Thru Commercials
Taco Bell Debuts Its Live Más Drive-Thru Cams Campaign
Confetti-Filled Snacking Commercials
Frito-Lay Launches the Taste of Super Bowl Campaign
Supersized Delivery Sweepstakes
DoorDash's Big Game Ad Shares Stuff from All the Ads with a Winner
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
Togetherness Seltzer Campaigns
White Claw's Grab Life By The Claw Targets the Loneliest Generation
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
GenAI TV Ads
ITV's AI-Generated Ad Service Helps New-to-TV Brands Affordably Reach More Audiences
Comfort-Focused Footwear Ads
The ALDO Spring 2024 Campaign Highlights Its Pillow Walk Technology
Erectile Dysfunction Medication Ads
Phoenix Wants to Help Canadian Men ‘Rise Again’
Car-Specific Video Commerce
Audi and Bambuser Make a Significant Evolution in Business Strategy
Eco-Minded Millennial Ads
Coors Seltzer's 'Call to Inaction' Campaign Aims to Save Water
Connected Beer Jerseys
Miller Lite's Running of the Beer Ads Turns Fans into Walking Billboards
Co-Branded Custom Ads
Lexus and Universal Pictures Partner for the 'Experience OZmazing' Spot
Heritage Brand Boot Ads
Blundstone Launches Global Campaign Celebrating Personal Boot Stories
Gen Z Breakfast Campaigns
'Start the Day the Totino’s Way' Targets Teens Who Skip Morning Meals
Nostalgic Long-Form Infomercials
Mint Mobile's 'Mintfomercial' Offers Humor and Nostalgia
Cheerful Healthy Snack Campaigns
Garden Veggie Snacks' YUMbelievably Delicious is Innovative
Humorous Natural Deodorant Campaigns
The Every Man Jack 'Still Smell Good' Campaign is Catchy
AI-Powered Advertising Tools
Amazon Ads Now Offers a Beta for its New AI Tools for Advertisers
Quirky Plant-Based Food Ads
Gosh! Food's Falafel Advertisement is Surprising
Boneless Wing Ads
Whataburger Cleverly Launches Its Boneless Wings with This Ad
Donut Inspired Ad Campaigns
Dunkin' Donuts New Ad Campaign is Called Dunkin'Terns
Tailgate-Inspired RVs
Hellmann's Brings "Mayo-tivation" to Underdog Football Fans
Music Video-Inspired Supermarket Campaigns
Albert Heijn Pays Homage to Wham!'s Last Christmas
All-Dark Marketing Campaigns
IKEA Introduces its Darkest Campaign Yet with Try Oslo's Help
Tongue-in-Cheek Skincare Ads
CeraVe Collaborates with Michael Cera on Hilarious Ad
Dramatized Caramel Candy Ads
Reese's Big Game Ad Shows Exaggerated, Relatable Reactions to Change
Tongue-In-Cheek Soda Campaigns
Pepsi Jokes at Coca-Cola in It's Tastes Better Campaign
Humorous Condiment Campaigns
Mike's Amazing Taps Jason Alexander for Its New Campaign
Movie-Inspired Truck Commercials
Ram Truck Partners with Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures
Kindness-Promoting Ad Reboots
Coca-Cola’s Christmas Kindness Campaign Returns for the Holidays
Shoppable Luxury Fashion Films
Tom Ford Allows Consumers to Seamlessly Shop Its Spring 2024 RTW
Peeling Cheese Packaging Billboards
This Babybel Billboard is Inspired by the Product's Packaging
Childhood-Inspired Car Campaigns
Mercedes-Benz's 'Drive Pilot Story' is Based on Young Aspirations
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Social-First Car Campaigns
Škoda's Reddit Car Share Amplified the Voices of Passionate Fans
Cookie-Twisting Commercials
The OREO Super Bowl 2024 Spot Revisits Pivotal Moments in History
Inspiring Daily Bodycare
method's Unleash Your Inner Shower Celebrates Personal Transformations
Swipable Curated Ad Inspiration
Swipify Lets Users Swipe Through the Latest Ad Campaigns
Influencer Snack Bar Campaigns
Nature Valley Launches a Social-Oriented Digital Marketing Campaign
Sketch Comedy Retail Commercials
The Target Lady Ad Revives a Familiar Comedic Character
Heartwarming Holiday Car Ads
Toyota Debuts Three Ads During NBCUniversal’s Primetime Specials
Wish-Granting Beer Ads
The 2024 Bud Light Super Bowl Commercial Introduces the Bud Light Genie
Artful Illusory Ads
giffgaff's Large-Scale Illusion Artwork Challenges Inattentional Blindness
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Retail Body Cam Initiatives
Pret a Manger Employees are Testing Out Body Cams for Personal Safety
Heist-Themed Cheese Ads
This Maxi Babybel Ad Celebrates the Cheese's Return
AI-Crafted Banking Ads
The U.S. Bank Debuts 'The Power of Us' Campaign
Emotive AI Actors
CreatorKit Helps Businesses Create Video Ads with Hyper-Realistic AI People
Champion Tax Ads
H&R Block's Ads Claim All Users are Tax Champions
Timeless Price Commercial Re-Runs
IKEA Canada Brings Back its Iconic Start the Car Commercial
AI Video Advertisement Generators
AdCreative.ai Showcases anAI-Powered Product Videoshoot Model
Playful QSR Campaigns
Cossette Forms the New McDonald's Campaign to Closest Restaurant
Human-Like AI Marketing Avatars
Studio Neiro Helps Scale Marketing With Engaging AI Videos
Hard-To-Read Health Campaigns
A Specsavers Campaign Encourages Movie-Goers to Check their Sight
Iconic Commercial Reboots
Oscar Mayer Brings Back Its Iconic Jingle for a New Generation
Social Connection Campaigns
Beavertown Brewery's Is This Seat Taken? Campaign Unites Strangers
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Mini Musical Productivity Ads
Slack's The Big Meeting Takes on a Musical Number
Alternative Butter Ads
Lurpak's Crush Expectations Redefines Plant-Based as Edgy, Not Earthy
Snacking Mishap Campaigns
The Other Hand by Cheetos Shows Snackers Who Refuse to Put the Bag Down
Status Quo Defying Campaigns
The 'We Aren't Made To Be Still' Campaign Intersects Whisky with Life
Dynamic Auto Marketing Campaigns
Hyundai Promotes Its Electrical Vehicle Line-up
Empowering Mental Health Football Ads
adidas Debuts Short Film 'You Got This'
Playful Alcohol Ads
The New Aviation Gin Commercial Brings Humor with Ryan Reynolds
Ice Cream-Inspired Superbowl Campaigns
Häagen-Dazs Aims to Connect with Younger Consumers
Short Film-Inspired Ads
Apple’s New ‘The Underdogs’ Ad Features Various Apple Products
Vibrant Runner-Targeted Commercials
PUMA Southeast Asia Debuts a Community-Based Video Campaign
Solution-Oriented Holiday Ads
Orange’s Holiday Ad Brings Families Together Over Smartphones
Cosmetic Branding Design Initiatives
The AmLactin x Kerasal #UnsexyDesignChallenge is Cheeky
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Bar Cart Mascots
Tito's New Ad Series Features an Anthropomorphic Bar Cart with Mixology Skills
Car Safety-Promoting PSAs
The Ad Council and NHTSA Have Launched a New Never Happens Campaign
Comedic Groundhog Day Campaigns
Lay's Flavor for Days Campaign Taps into Groundhog Day
Debunking AI Apps
BSBot Helps Publicis Clients Tell the Truth About AI from Fiction at Cannes
Classic Ad Campaign Revivals
Seagram's 7 Crown is Reviving Old Ads for Its New Campaign
April Fool's Lifestyle Collections
Nugget Introduced Its 'Most Trendiest - High Endiest' Line Yet
Love-Centric Public Service Announcements
Ad Council & R/GA Debut the Love Has No Labels Campaign
Uncomfortable Conversations Learning Resources
Atana Debuts a Course for Difficult Conversations