Publicity stunts have been a core marketing maneuver for some time now, yet they speak to modern societies particularly well. In an age that revolves around sharing experiences on social media, it is only natural that companies would go the route of publicity stunts in order to generate a substantial amount of word-of-mouth promotion.
There have been a series of impressive publicity stunts over the last couple of years as well. Some focus on truly shocking people through gory situations while others are downright terrifying such as Leo Burnett's simulated car crash in a public bathroom. Other publicity stunts are much more innocent and even festive as was the case with Air Canada's 'Gift of Home' campaign that gave expats in London a round trip ticket to Canada this year.
47 Examples of Shocking Publicity Stunts

52
Pod-Protesting Publicity Stunts
Greenpeace Giant iPod is Landed at Apple HQ with Activists Inside

51
Supersized Submarine Stunts
The Milan Submarine was Installed by Ad Agency M & C Saatchi

50
LEGO Subway Stations
This LEGO Subway Station in Milan was Replicated for Promotion
49
Animal Underground Commuters
Sky Atlantic Put a Polar Bear on the Subway to Promote a New TV Show
48
Heated Bus Shelters
'The Beach Look Good On You' Campaign Encourages New Yorkers to Vacation
47
Macho Ice Cream Vans
The Skoda Monster Ice Cream Truck is a Deliciously Wacky PR Stunt
46
Exhibitionist Publicity Stunts
The Palmolive Shower in Moscow Features Bathing Beauties
45
Comfort-Focused Cinemas
IKEA's Movie in Bed Event Replaced the Traditional Seats with Big Beds
44
Extra-Terrestrial Dining
Sushi in Space Promotes Out-of-This World Taste
43
Monstrous iPhone Ads
The World's Biggest iPhone Formed from 56 iPads
42
Photocopied Publicity Stunts
Scholtz & Friends' Copy Shop Ad Campaign Recreates Berlin Landmarks
41
Pet Food Publicity Stunts
Paws Natural Pet Emporium's Owner is Only Eating Dog and Cat Food
40
Edible Snowy Publicity Stunts
Miss Cakehead's 'Ice Cream Snow' is a Huge Hit in London
39
Adrenaline-Filled Fashion Stunts
The Mast Walk by Alex Thomson Merges Luxury with Adventure
38
Airline Holiday Surprises
Air Canada Gives the 'Gift of Home' to Canadians Living Abroad
37
Halloween Mask Publicity Stunts
The HealthExpress Stoptober Campaign Depicts Scary Smoker Faces
36
Sky-High Press Releases
Houston PR Makes Mundane Announcement with an Extraordinary Campaign
35
Misleading Delivery Publicity Stunts
The DHL Trojan Mailing Campaign Cleverly Dupes Competitors
34
Cargo-Sized Cardboard Crates
The Amazon Nissan Box is the Biggest Paper Carton You've Ever Seen
33
Illuminated Social Media Signs
The 'I like Naples' Installation Illuminates the City
32
Tiny Soda Stands
This Coca-Cola Publicity Stunt Promotes Mini Coke Cans With Itty Bitty Booths
31
Downtown Paint Publicity Stunts
The Paint Party 2013 for Corona Beer Was a Vibrant and Messy Event
30
CEO Advice Publicity Stunts
The 1-844-GIRLBOSS Campaign Builds Confidence and Promotes New Book
29
Car Roof Catwalks
Vauxhall Fashion Scout Show Opens With a Carwalk
28
Highrise Infidelity Stunt Ads
The Discovery Channel’s Campaign Has a Man Escaping an Angry H
27
Apocalypse-Ready Advertising
The 'In Case of White Walkers' Cases are Located in Sweden
26
Flash Mob Sleepovers
The Creative 'IKEA Slumber Party' Publicity Stunt
25
Boxed Furniture Campaigns
The Urban Farm 'No Assembly Required' Stunt Takes a Jab at IKEA
24
Donation-Encouraging Statues
A Series of Ice Men in Brazil Raise Awareness of Organ Donation
23
Bee Bearding Publicity Stunts
This Man Takes Bee Bearding to a Whole New Level to Sell His Honey
22
Simulated Crash Bathroom Pranks
The Think! Pub Loo Shocker Campaign Dissuades Drinking and Driving
21
Racy Red Light PSAs
The Stop the Traffik Publicity Stunt Illuminates Human Trading Rings
20
Festive Airline Publicity Stunts
The WestJet Christmas Miracle Answered Passengers' Wishes
19
Ice Wall Publicity Stunts
Speed Stick Gear Literally Brings Men's Hygiene to New Heights
18
Scavenger Hunt Publicity Stunts
Patrons Search for Hidden Money in MK Art Gallery
17
Tricky Toilet Stunts
The IKEA Porta-Potty Promotes Bathroom Product Line with Humor
16
Airline Flash Mobs
The Virgin Atlantic No Ordinary Park Bench Stunt is Entertaining
15
Gigantic Jockey Publicity Stunts
Paddy Power Coordinates Mass Stunt for the Cheltenham Festival
14
Meta Publicity Stunts
Warner Home Entertainment Allows Viewers to Watch Gravity in a Floating Tank
13
Zombie-Shooting Publicity Stunts
Wacky Promo From Loducca, Brazil for the Walking Dead TV Series
12
Iconic Interactive Peeking Posters
This Interactive Marilyn Poster Attracts Viewers in Curiosity
11
Parachuting Publicity Stunts
'Cow' Sends Noodles and Cash Towards the Heavens
10
Maternal Marketing Campaigns
The Bartendr Gestations Publicity Stunt Turns Heads Through Racy Ads
9
Lava-Based BBQs
Bompas & Parr Creative Studio Cook Steaks with Molten Lava
8
Life-Sized Cereal Toys
Dare Promotes the New Honda Civic With a Massive Munchy Monument
7
Curling Commentary Film Promos
The Ron Burgundy Curling Commentary is Comedy Gold
6
Joke Jogging Publicity Stunts
Fevicol’s Simple Marketing Campaign Stages Runners Stuck in Pl
5
Social Media Scavenger Hunts
Twitter Guides Participants in the ‘Key to Strong’ Challe
4
Temporary Smog Relief Purifiers
The Chinese Smog Epidemic is Being Fought with Bags of Clean Air
3
Hilarious Toilet Discussions
Cherry Healey Promotes Cottonelle Flushable Wipes by Talking Bums
2
Teen Drama Hackvertising
MTV France Hacked Twitter to Celebrate Season Three of Teen Wolf
1
Porcelain Publicity Stunts
The Uncle Grey Royal Copenhagen Campaign Paints the Town Red
Related Ideas
Creative Ad Responses
Kiehl’s Response to Censorship Embraces Bold Creativity
Cleverly-Disguised Fountain Cups
Pepsi's Latest Campaign Stunt Introduced 'Undercover Cups'
Playful Billboard Campaigns
Dreamies Treats Unveil a Show-Stopping 3D Billboard Campaign
Aggressive Athlete Ads
Nike Launches the Winning Isn’t for Everyone Campaign
Sound-Focused Ice Cream Ads
Magnum Ice Cream Ads Bring the Ultimate Sensory Experience to Life
Humorous Brand Campaigns
The Ikea Rewards Program Embraces Its Late Arrival with Humor
Stress-Reducing Garbage Initiatives
The Hefty Brand Launches its 'Trash Time Out' Campaign
Giant Balloon Installations
A Kim Kardashian Balloon Takes Over Times Square for Skims Swim Launch
Positive Social Media Campaigns
The New Tumblr Campaign Champions Community Over Controversy
Mens Underwear Campaigns
David Beckham Stars in the News BOSS ONE Bodywear Campaign
Irish Stout Campaigns
Guinness Unveiled its St. Patrick’s Day Campaign
Modern Newsstand Skincare Pop-Ups
Neutrogena x AIRE Health Hosted a Thematic Event
Humorous Menswear Ads
Men’s Wearhouse Goes Full Funny with its 'Love the Way You Look' Campaign
90's Archival Footwear Pop-Ups
Dr. Martens Hosted a 'Buzz Bus' in NYC
Film-Inspired Condiment Ads
GUT New York Forms the Heinz Smiles Campaign to Celebrate Joker 2
Humorous Drink Cart Ads
Tito’s Spokescart Returns with New Tricks and the Same Laid-Back Charm
Sniffable Deodorant Billboards
Sure's Out-of-Home Campaigns Invites Passersby to Take a Whiff
Sauce-Proof Shirts
Shake Shack Created Disposable Fashion Inspired by Tray Liners
Parisian Airport Pop-Ups
Moët Hennessy's Paris Concept Event Featured Travel Exclusives
History-Centric Advertisements
Royal Ontario Museum's Epic Natural History Ad is Inspiring
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
Athlete-Backed Shoe Campaigns
Nike Released Awaken Your Madness with International Soccer Players
Humorous Automotive Campaigns
Hyundai’s 'Where Have You Been?' Ad Merges Nostalgia and Branding
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
Influencer-Inspired Ads
Tomcat's Ad Shows an Influencer Mouse with a Fatal Unboxing Twist
Late-Night Text Campaigns
The IKEA "U Up?" Stunt Reached Sleepless Social Media Users
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Star-Studded Tech Campaigns
Jewellery Pros and Music Talent Promote the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Unusual Fast Food Ads
KFC’s ‘Believe’ Campaign Ad Pushes Chicken Obsession to New Heights
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Seasonal Phone Booth Activations
Spotify's Q4 is Calling Urges Brands to Start Holiday Advertising
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
Box-Office-Themed Travel Pop-Ups
Intrepid x TIFF Host an Experiential Travel Activation
Fashion Industry Greenwashing Reports
Fashion Takes Action Zeroes in on Greenwashing Practices
Sensitivity Marketing Campaigns
Cetaphil Teams Up with Lil Wayne for Super Bowl Spot
Drug-Themed April Fool's Gags
Innocean Berlin's Glory Over Pain Corporation Campaign is Satirical
Experiential Marketing Campaigns
MIKE AND IKE, HOT TAMALES, and Marvel Team Up for Campus Tour
Nature-Reconnecting Outdoor Campaigns
Mammut Encouraged People to Reconnect with Nature
AI-Assisted Business Ads
Google Workspace's 50 States, 50 Stories Shares Small Businesses Using AI
Vibrantly Comedic Travel Campaigns
The 'Booking.yeah' Campaign Features The Muppets
Young Travellers-Targeting Campaigns
Progressive Insurance Has Introduced a New Campaign
Humorous Mens Fragrance Campaigns
A New Axe Campaign Takes Sweetness to Absurd New Heights
Customer-Driven Holiday Campaigns
Amazon's Holiday Campaign is Inspired by 5-Star Reviews
Terrace Brand Endeavors
Louis Vuitton Features its Latest Collection at a Beachfront Pop-Up
Art-Promoting Campaigns
Beige Billboards Spark a Bold Call to Save Charlotte’s Art Scene
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
Cheeky Bar-Focused Campaigns
Heineken Advocates for Financial Support for Bars with Starring Bars
House Party-Themed Campaigns
Hiders Keepers Shows Stella Artois’ Clever Take on Party Etiquette
Mobile Device Durability Ads
The Apple 'Trust Issues' Ad Showcases the iPhone 16 Ceramic Shield
Ice Cream Stick-Inspired Campaigns
KFC Brazil Gets Creative with Its 'Prize on a Bone' Campaign
Data-Driven QSR Campaigns
Burger King's BK Unwrapped Reveals Customers' 2024 Ordering Preferences
Social Media App Campaigns
Snapchat Promotes Creators in a Bold Campaign Amid TikTok Uncertainty
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Creative Auto Campaigns
The Electric Capri Campaign Revives a Legend with Modern Flair
Cross-Category Refreshment Campaigns
Sprite and Pringles Hot Have Teamed Up for a New Campaign
Retail-Based Pop-Star Takeovers
H&M and Charli xcx Host a Surprise Event at Times Square
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Quirky Athlete-Centric Mayo Campaigns
Hellmann's New 'Mayotivations Campaign' Features Will Levis
Playful Hotel Campaigns
BWH Hotels Launches a Campaign to Reclaim Stolen Treasures
Cake-Themed Commercials
KFC Thailand’s Birthday Ad Turns the World Into Cake
Traveling Fashion Showcases
The Guess Bus in Sydney is an Example of Experimental Marketing
Adventurous Roadtrip Retail Campaigns
The Pilot Flying J 'See You Out Here' Campaign is Relatable
Innovative Outdoor Advertising Campaigns
Unilever's Dirt is Good Turns Billboards into Playgrounds
Global Runner-Inspired Campaigns
PUMA Introduced its 'Go Wild' Campaign
Celebrity Hot Sauce Ads
Frank's RedHot Partners with Paris Hilton for Crystal-Studded Ad
Pollution-Removing Murals
This Campaign Sucks by Dentsu Brings Awareness to London's Air Quality
Hands-Free Driving Campaigns
Ford UK's Social Campaign Shares Merch for the "Passenger Princess"
Rebranded Food Delivery Apps
Skip Revamps Its Brand Identity to 'Skip to the Good Part'
Spoof Sparkling Water Cans
Liquid Death's Can of Art Pokes Fun at a Controversial Work of Art
Dog-Focused QSR Campaigns
The Hot Dog on a Stick Dog Days of Summer Campaign Treats Pooches
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
QSR Summer Pop-Ups
McDonald's Mexico Launched a Summer-Themed Activation in Mexico
Theatircally Filmic Champagne Campaigns
Piper-Heidsieck Debuts its 'Twist the Script' Campaign
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Canadian Creator-Approved Campaigns
The Hacksmith and Mentos Launch a Fizz-Powered Innovation
Empowering Woman-Inspired Campaigns
Stuart Weitzman Launches 'How Lovely to Be a Woman'
Co-Branded Custom Ads
Lexus and Universal Pictures Partner for the 'Experience OZmazing' Spot
Stylish Soda Pop-Ups
Poppi World Enticed Health-Conscious, Fashionable Visitors During NYFW
Heritage Brand Boot Ads
Blundstone Launches Global Campaign Celebrating Personal Boot Stories
Cinematic Travel Campaigns
Marriott Bonvoy Debuts the 'You are the Greatest Souvenir' Campaign
Post-Partum Meal QSR Campaigns
Burger King Captures a Special Moment with Bundles of Joy Campaign
Gen Z Breakfast Campaigns
'Start the Day the Totino’s Way' Targets Teens Who Skip Morning Meals
Humorous Star-Studded Chip Campaigns
Pringles Unveiled its 'Call of the Mustaches' Campaign
Nostalgic Fast Food Campaigns
'cheeky Maccas' Celebrates Australian Summer with a Road Trip
Global Holiday Campaigns
David Beckham Stars in SharkNinja's 'Ninja the Holidays' Campaign
Throwback OOO Campaigns
KitKat's Auto Reply_Break Turns Out-of-Office Emails into a Break for All
Super Bowl Drive-Thru Commercials
Taco Bell Debuts Its Live Más Drive-Thru Cams Campaign
Quirky Plant-Based Food Ads
Gosh! Food's Falafel Advertisement is Surprising
Body-Positive Brand Campaigns
Dove's Super Bowl Ad Challenges Toxic Body Talk in Sports
Documentary-Style Hotel Campaigns
W Hotels' 'Hotel Tales' is a Captivating New Campaign
Confident Fashion Rebranding Campaigns
Boohoo Launches the People Will Talk... Campaign
Hollywood Couple Travel Campaigns
Experience Abu Dhabi Debuts a Cinematic Campaign
Sun Care Awareness Tours
Sun Bum Launches the 'Trust The Bum Tour'
Stuttering Awareness Initiatives
The Canadian Stuttering Association & john st. Launch a Campaign
Do-Good Pizza Taste Tests
The Good Tastes Better Social Experiment Sees Purpose Impact Perception
Concert Ticket Scavenger Hunts
Dove Hot Seats Shares Sought-After Tickets with Fans
Energetic RTD Coffee Campaigns
Channing Tatum Stars in STōK Cold Brew Coffee's 'Hollywood Magic'
Hair Salon-Powered Sports Campaigns
Great Clips Ties Its Latest Campaign to the Stanley Cup
Local Eatery-Elevated Soda Campaigns
Pepsi is Running Immersive Experiences for the Super Bowl LIX
High-Concept Brand Campaigns
The ‘Legitimate You’ Campaign Proves Every Brand Can Look Pro
QSR X-Ray Campaigns
KFC Spain Presents a Chicken X-Ray Campaign to Combat a Stigma
Branded Pub Crawls
The No Lay's, No Game 'Lay's Crawl' Entices Soccer Fans to Pubs
Cinematic Martial Arts Promotions
Premier Foods and Sony Pictures Celebrate Karate Kid: Legends
Cat-Starred Watch Campaigns
Hublot Taps Karl Lagerfeld's Choupette for the Big Bang Watch Ad
Social-First Car Campaigns
Škoda's Reddit Car Share Amplified the Voices of Passionate Fans
Time Capsule-Style Branding Campigns
Coors Light & Patrick Mahomes Present a Unique Project
Online Lifestyle-Inspired Street Festivals
The Xiaohongshu Street Life Festival is Exciting
Minimizing Phone Usage Initiatives
Heineken's Latest Campaign Addresses Phone Use at Music Events
Creative Cancer Awareness Campaigns
F Cancer Debuts the 'Pick Up Your Poop' Campaign
Socially Supportive Retailer Promotions
Wawa 'Buy a Kids Meal, Make an Impact' is Supportive
Cheeky Recliner-Focused Campaigns
The Lovesac Company Changes the Social Image of the Recliner
Stigma-Breaking Motherhood Billboards
Molly Baz and Bobbie Send a Message of Empowerment
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Rental App Holiday Campaigns
Airbnb Presents its Santastrophe Campaign Following Santa Claus
Customer-Exclusive Brand Trips
Cocokind is Hosting a Customer Brand Trip to Napa Valley in 2025
Travel Lifestyle Brand Ads
Away’s 'Travel Changed Me' Film Captures the Power of Exploration
Critical Spicy Snack Campaigns
The New Flamin’ Hot Campaign Puts Its Spice to the Ultimate Test
Global Hospitality Campaigns
Raffles Hotels and Resorts Debuts 'The Butler Did It' Campaign
Playful QSR Campaigns
Cossette Forms the New McDonald's Campaign to Closest Restaurant
Hockey Hero-Celebrating Campaigns
The Crown Royal Celebrates Canada's Unsung Hockey Heroes
Global Storytelling Initatives
Vans Announces its Narrative-Centric Always Pushing Campaign
Celebrative BIPOC Campaigns
Toyota Launches its 'You Can't Stop My Drive' Campaign
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
No-Nonsense Grooming Campaigns
The Rock Face Makes Scents Campaign Pokes Fun at Marketing Cliches
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Frozen Pizza-Centered Campaigns
Dr. Oetker Debuts the Frozen Pizza Publicist Campaign
Interactive Unboxing Activations
Peperami Created a Dynamic Chicken Tikka Skewers Experience
Drone Marketing Initatives
LEGO Takes to the Sky with Drone Show and Aerial Messages
Skateboarding-Inspired Ads
Vans Launched the ‘Always Pushing’ Ad Highlighting Skating Culture
Influencer Management Tools
Ogilvy Offers a Safety and Risk Management Tool for Marketing Brands
Chilling Domestic Abuse Campaigns
BBDO Bangkok's Second Chance Campaign Taps Gigi Supitcha
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Ad Inspiration Archives
Nobody Reads Ads Showcases Print and Outdoor Ads With Notable Success
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
Philanthropic Media Initiatives
New to The Street Has Introduced For the Causes™
Classic Ad Campaign Revivals
Seagram's 7 Crown is Reviving Old Ads for Its New Campaign
Humorous Losers-Focused Campaigns
Miller Lite Introduces the League Losers Billboards
Self-Service Event Promotions
Industry Dive Adds Self-Service Offerings to Include Event Promotion