When it comes to catching a viewer's attention, creating an ad that is visually shocking is certainly one effective approach, and these morbid ad campaigns are some striking examples of how incorporating aspects of death and violence serves to make a bold impression.
Gory scenes and violent images isn't something that people ordinary see on a regular basis, which is why incorporating those morbid references into an ad campaign is a creative way to catch people off guard and capture their attention. Mainly focusing on certain safety issues such as driving or concerns about animal cruelty, these morbid ad campaigns are going beyond the bounds of what is normally acceptable in society to show much darker and often realistic effects of these issues.
From human helmet ads to ghostly donor campaigns, these morbid ad campaigns are showcasing that reality isn't always a pretty picture.
23 Morbid Ad Campaigns
23
Morbid Mischief Ads
This Campaign for Danone Densia Features Skeletal Wayward Youth
22
Morbid Magazine Marketing
The Ritual Magazine Italia Ad Campaign Depicts Creepy Kids
21
Dead Fly Car Ads
The Renault Megane R.S. 265 HP Campaign is Hilariously Morbid
20
Deathly Emoticon Ads
The Brake Don't Text and Drive Campaign Sends a Morbid Message
19
Suicidal Animal Ads
The China Environmental Protection Foundation Campaign Urges Human Help
18
Human-Devouring Animal Ads
The Cow Parade 2011 Campaign is Hilariously Shocking
17
Deathly Companion Campaigns
These Staff Jeans Ads Market a Laid Back Lifestyle
16
Morbid Vow Billboards
Great Copy Makes Great Statement in Anti-Smoking Ads
15
Morbid Safe Sex PSAs
‘The Cover' by MTV Staying Alive
14
Human Helmet Ads
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation Campaign is Gorily Scalped
13
Morbid Mammal Reminders
The Cero Caza De Ballenas 'Whale' Ads Promote Animal Activism
12
Disturbing Animal Testing Ads
Morbid NOAH Campaign Uses Faux Fragrances with Dead Critters
11
Disturbing Marine Life Ads
The Sea Shepherd Campaign Illustrates the Death of Thousands of Animals
10
Morbid Message Ads
The Metuna Don't Text and Drive Campaign is Shockingly Nonchalant
9
Homicidal Diet Ads
The Slimsticks Weight Loss Products Literally Kill Your Cravings
8
Deathly Food PSAs
The 'Killer Burger' Ad for Road Safety Trust Shows how Food Kills
7
Shocking Cruelty Advertising
This Disturbing Baby Seal Clubbing PETA Ad Takes Aim at Canada
6
Skin-Stretching Campaigns
The M Wrap Print Ads Show that this Plastic Wrap Keeps Food Fresh
5
Morbid Wildlife Park Ads
Bratislava Zoo Campaign Encourages People to Meet the Animals They Wear
4
Ghostly Donor Campaigns
The France Adot 2011 Ads Celebrate and Thank Organ Donors
3
Morbid Magazine Ads
The G2 Grey Vega iPad Commercial Shows Print as a Dying Business
2
Extinction-Simulating Calendars
The 'Sanctuary Reverse Calendar' Counts Down Impending Doom
1
Butterfly Effect Death Ads
The Organ Donor Foundation Campaign Urges People to Donate Organs
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AI-Driven Dreamy Fashion Campaigns
ETRO's Spring 2024 Ad Campaign Uses Artificial Intelligence
Playful Pet Accident Campaigns
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
AI-Lead Car Ads
Ford Launched an AI Campaign Dubbed 'Be Surreal, Be Ford'
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
Film-Inspired Condiment Ads
GUT New York Forms the Heinz Smiles Campaign to Celebrate Joker 2
Deep Sea Funerals
Mondial Boasts Another Way to Scatter the Ashes of Loved Ones
Restyled Cinematic Makeup Campaigns
Dolce & Gabbana's 'Il Pranzo' Campaign is Dramatic and Bold
Dark Aesthetic Floral Bouquets
UrbanStems Launched its 'Kill Them with Kindness Campaign'
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
Mental-Health Awareness QSR Packaging
McDonald's Alters Its Happy Meal Boxes for Mental Health
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Sporty Fashion Spring Campaigns
adidas Originals Introduces the 1000 Back Campaign
Eco Storytelling Workwear Campaigns
Patagonia's We Can Get There From Here Tells is Inspiring
Influencer-Inspired Ads
Tomcat's Ad Shows an Influencer Mouse with a Fatal Unboxing Twist
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Lazy Cereal Campaigns
SURREAL Cereal Cheekily Pokes Fun at New Year's Resolutions
Inspiring Leftover Ads
Hellmann's Mayo Cat Super Bowl Ad Uses Mayonnaise to Fight Food Waste
Soil Erosion Awareness Sandwich Ads
Hellmann's Aims to Save Sandwiches from Extinction
Collossal Crocodile Campaigns
The Lacoste 'Play Big' Campaign Features Artists and Athletes
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Global Handbag Campaigns
Coach's New 'Unlock Your Courage' Campaign Promotes Personal Expression
Naughty Holiday Campaigns
Diesel's XXXMas is Inspired by Erotic 90s Aesthetics
Provocative AR Campaigns
NotCo's 'Not So Happy Animals' Presents Food Logos in a New Light
Nature-Reconnecting Outdoor Campaigns
Mammut Encouraged People to Reconnect with Nature
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Grayscale Burger Restaurants
Burger King France Made a Visually Striking Anti-Bullying Initiative
Eerie Film-Based Deodorant Campaigns
Secret Deodorant Debuts a Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Commercial
Spoof Sparkling Water Cans
Liquid Death's Can of Art Pokes Fun at a Controversial Work of Art
Architecture-Inspired QSR Ads
This New McDonald’s Campaign Encourages Eating at Home
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
Globalized Spooky Destinations
Intrepid Travel Presents a Curated Selection of Spooky Adventures
Therapeutic Nature-Inspired Campaigns
Craghoppers Introduces Its Autumn/winter 2024 Campaign
Offbeat Fashion Campaigns
ASOS 'Inspired By' Delivers Non-Traditional Inspiration to Style-Seekers
Quirky Athlete-Centric Mayo Campaigns
Hellmann's New 'Mayotivations Campaign' Features Will Levis
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Adventurous Roadtrip Retail Campaigns
The Pilot Flying J 'See You Out Here' Campaign is Relatable
Smart Shopping Cart Ads
Instacart Unveiled Ads for Its AI-Powered Caper Carts
Celebrity-Fronted Gardening Campaigns
Miracle-gro Introduces the Gro Like Martha Campaign
Humorous Pet Furniture Campaigns
IKEA Playfully Presents its UTSÅDD Collection in a Campaign
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Pollution-Removing Murals
This Campaign Sucks by Dentsu Brings Awareness to London's Air Quality
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
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Mindful-Shopping Campaigns
The Ordinary’s 'Slovember' Campaign Promotes Intentional Shopping
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
In-Game Advertising Services
StackAdapt Offers Engaging Game Advertising for its Clients
Emotive Smartphone Camera Covers
Yifan Hu Designs the Emoji-Inspired Smartphone Accessories
Eclipse-Inspired Beer Campaigns
DAVID Miami Creates the Global Corona Lime Light Campaign
70s-Style Cat Snack Ads
Temptations' Creamy Purrrr-ée Treats Star in a Nostalgic Holiday Ad
Perception-Challenging Art Exhibitions
Raise the Moral Studio Presents the Becoming Familiar Show
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’
Water Digital Wallet Loyalty Cards
Liquid Death Has Introduced the Liquid Death Country Club
Motocross-Inspired Eyewear Campaigns
Oakley's New Campaign Celebrates the Iconic MX Goggles
Eco-Minded Millennial Ads
Coors Seltzer's 'Call to Inaction' Campaign Aims to Save Water
Mystery-Style Holiday Ads
Waitrose Adds Mystery to the Festive Season with ‘Sweet Suspicion’ Ad
Exquisite High Jewelry Campaigns
Boucheron's New Campaign Film Was Directed by Claire Choisne
Co-Branded Custom Ads
Lexus and Universal Pictures Partner for the 'Experience OZmazing' Spot
Extraterrestrial Influencer Campaigns
MoonPie's Alien Acquisition Shares Ads for Extraterrestrials
Heritage Brand Boot Ads
Blundstone Launches Global Campaign Celebrating Personal Boot Stories
Cheerful Healthy Snack Campaigns
Garden Veggie Snacks' YUMbelievably Delicious is Innovative
Kindness-Encouraging Soda Campaigns
The Coca-Cola 'The World Needs More Santas' Ad is Festive
Scream Queen Skincare Campaigns
philosophy and Sarah Michelle Gellar Partnered for a Retinol Ad
Quirky Plant-Based Food Ads
Gosh! Food's Falafel Advertisement is Surprising
Safe Consumption Swimmer Campaigns
The Malibu 'Don’t Drink and Dive' Campaign Stars Tom Daley
Pet-Equality Campaigns
Pet Ownership Rights Take Center Stage in Innovative Campaign
Donut Inspired Ad Campaigns
Dunkin' Donuts New Ad Campaign is Called Dunkin'Terns
All-Dark Marketing Campaigns
IKEA Introduces its Darkest Campaign Yet with Try Oslo's Help
Suicide Prevention Campaigns
To Write Love on Her Arms Launches the Please Stay Alive Campaign
Augmented Reality Wine Bottles
DeBortoli's AR Sinister Wine Enhances the Consumer Experience
Dramatized Caramel Candy Ads
Reese's Big Game Ad Shows Exaggerated, Relatable Reactions to Change
Human Connection-Centric Campaigns
Etsy's New Ad Campaign Wants to Keep Commerce Human
Visually Appealing Food Campaigns
Celestial Seasonings Launches the Taste Our World Campaign
Mental Health-Supporting Campaigns
'The Last Photo' is a Suicide Prevention Initiative
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Adventurous Tourism Campaigns
Saudi Tourism Debuts its 'This Land is Calling' Campaign
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
Spoof Sci-Fi Beer Ads
The Liquid Death x Rebel Moon Collab Pokes Fun at Beer Ad Tropes
Swipable Curated Ad Inspiration
Swipify Lets Users Swipe Through the Latest Ad Campaigns
Responsible Alcohol Consumption Campaigns
Absolut's Call It a Night Campaign Promotes Safety
Poeticized Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Club 21 Debuts its Cinematic 'Salute The Detail' Campaign
Festive Carnivorous Plant Ads
John Lewis' Holiday Ad Tells the Story of Snapper: The Perfect Tree
Artful Illusory Ads
giffgaff's Large-Scale Illusion Artwork Challenges Inattentional Blindness
Retail Body Cam Initiatives
Pret a Manger Employees are Testing Out Body Cams for Personal Safety
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Emissions-Minded Food Campaigns
This Meatless Farm Campaign Boasts Reduced Emissions
History-Centric Advertisements
Royal Ontario Museum's Epic Natural History Ad is Inspiring
Beauty Corporate Diversity Ads
E.l.f. Beauty's So Many Dicks Ad Urges for More Corporate Diversity
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Empowering Car Ads
CarMax's New Ad Campaign Takes a Witty Approach
Textural Festive Sneaker Collections
adidas Presents the Dynamic Día de Muertos Collection
Gaming Ads-Inspired Video Games
D3 Publisher and Monkeycraft Present the Ironic Those Games
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Scannable Skincare Murals
The Ordinary's Interactive Augmented Reality Mural Promotes Bodycare
Playful QSR Campaigns
Cossette Forms the New McDonald's Campaign to Closest Restaurant
Community Behavioral Health Campaigns
Comprehensive Healthcare Debuts a New Recruitment Campaign
Inclusive Voting Campaigns
The Body Shop Worked with Apathy is Boring to Improve Voter Turnout
Hard-To-Read Health Campaigns
A Specsavers Campaign Encourages Movie-Goers to Check their Sight
Movie-Inspired Halloween Menus
Burger King Unveils the Haunting Addams Family-Inspired Menu
Hyper-Local Gym Ads
GymBox's Made for London Life Ads Juxtapose City Living and Gym-Going
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
Alternative Butter Ads
Lurpak's Crush Expectations Redefines Plant-Based as Edgy, Not Earthy
Gut-Friendly Kombucha Campaigns
Health-Ade's Thrill Your Gut Highlights the Benefits of Kombucha
Empowering Mental Health Football Ads
adidas Debuts Short Film 'You Got This'
Skateboarding-Inspired Ads
Vans Launched the ‘Always Pushing’ Ad Highlighting Skating Culture
Creative Sun Safety Installations
Giant Beach Installation is a Reminder to Practice Sun Safety
Athlete-Backed Mental Health Campaigns
The Love, Your Mind Campaign Aims to Support Mental Health
College Football Ad Campaigns
Aflac Partners with Nick Saban and Deion 'Coach Prime' Sanders
Promotional Influencer Videos
Activision Recruits Multiple Creators to Appeal to Gen Z Consumers
Short Film-Inspired Ads
Apple’s New ‘The Underdogs’ Ad Features Various Apple Products
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Contemporary Classic Horror Games
Still Wakes the Deep Immerses Players in a Scary Game
Efficiency-Driven Digital Ad Solutions
ShopLiftr is Revolutionizing Digital Advertising
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
Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters
Wunderman Thompson Morocco Creates the Life-Saving Outdoors
Solution-Oriented Holiday Ads
Orange’s Holiday Ad Brings Families Together Over Smartphones
Children's Illustrated Book Campaigns
The 'One in 100' Initiative Spotlights the Medically Complex
Mobile Device Addiction Campaigns
The Women's Brain Health Initiative Highlights a Growing Concern
Celebratory Odd Designs
Ridiculous Design Celebrates Weird and Wonderful Ideas Within Design
Subtle Marketing Pop-Ups
FOMO Nudge Encourages Users to Buy with Subtle Pop-Ups
Love-Centric Public Service Announcements
Ad Council & R/GA Debut the Love Has No Labels Campaign
Provocative Eco Screensavers
Planet-Saving Screen Savers Encourage Switching Off Devices
Grocery Store Ad Spots
Morrisons, the UK Supermarket Chain, Celebrates Its Low Pricing in This Ad
Haunting Tech Safety PSAs
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection Releases 'The Horse'
Blood Center Campaigns
Markham Yard Releases the Blood Center Campaign to Inspire Donations
Slaugherhouse-Transformed Unique Museums
Cave Bureau Creates the Anthropocene Museum 9.0
Ardent Entertainment Campaigns
Steve Harvey Narrates the New Abu Dhabi Calendar Campaign