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
Luxury Bag Pop Ups
Hermès Debuted a Designer Bag Installation Pop Up in Manhattan
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Cleverly-Disguised Fountain Cups
Pepsi's Latest Campaign Stunt Introduced 'Undercover Cups'
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
Stress-Reducing Garbage Initiatives
The Hefty Brand Launches its 'Trash Time Out' Campaign
Spontaneous Summer Picnics
Absolut Vodka & Sprite's HANGOUT-OF-HOME Inspires Unplanned Gatherings
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
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
Parisian Airport Pop-Ups
Moët Hennessy's Paris Concept Event Featured Travel Exclusives
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
History-Centric Advertisements
Royal Ontario Museum's Epic Natural History Ad is Inspiring
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
In-Game Billboard Advertising
Gameloft Enables Partners to Advertise Natively in its Games
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
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
Star-Studded Tech Campaigns
Jewellery Pros and Music Talent Promote the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
QSR Menu Billboard Campaigns
Burger King Shows Real Burger Sizes with Real Size Campaigns
Seasonal Phone Booth Activations
Spotify's Q4 is Calling Urges Brands to Start Holiday Advertising
Collossal Crocodile Campaigns
The Lacoste 'Play Big' Campaign Features Artists and Athletes
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
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Heated QSR Anniversary Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Celebrates Milestone with a New Campaign
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
Star-Supported Animated Character Campaigns
Hello Kitty and Bruno Mars Commemorate an Anniversary
Young Travellers-Targeting Campaigns
Progressive Insurance Has Introduced a New Campaign
Meditative Trash Campaigns
Hefty's Trash Time Out Provides Support During the Holiday Season
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
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
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
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
Soda Logo Rebranding Campaigns
Pepsi's New Logo Goes Across the Globe with a Bright Light Show
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
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
Celebrity-Fronted Gardening Campaigns
Miracle-gro Introduces the Gro Like Martha Campaign
Condiment Spill Insurance Campaigns
Heinz Introduces the Ketchup Insurance Initiative
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"
Shoppable CPG Ads
Instacart-Powered Shoppable Video Ads are Coming to YouTube
Rebranded Food Delivery Apps
Skip Revamps Its Brand Identity to 'Skip to the Good Part'
Secret Salon Campaigns
Salon X Lets Consumers Experience a Secret Product Line
Spoof Sparkling Water Cans
Liquid Death's Can of Art Pokes Fun at a Controversial Work of Art
College-Inspired Haircare Pop-Ups
Monday Haircare Hosted an Interactive Pink Truck
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
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Nostalgic Bodycare Revivals
Lush Brought Back 45 Previously Discontinued Retro Products
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Theatircally Filmic Champagne Campaigns
Piper-Heidsieck Debuts its 'Twist the Script' Campaign
Eco-Minded Millennial Ads
Coors Seltzer's 'Call to Inaction' Campaign Aims to Save Water
Co-Branded Custom Ads
Lexus and Universal Pictures Partner for the 'Experience OZmazing' Spot
Creative Auto Campaigns
The Electric Capri Campaign Revives a Legend with Modern Flair
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
Playful Creativity-Focused Campaigns
Sharpie® Launches the World is Your Canvas Tour
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
Global Holiday Campaigns
David Beckham Stars in SharkNinja's 'Ninja the Holidays' Campaign
Super Bowl Drive-Thru Commercials
Taco Bell Debuts Its Live Más Drive-Thru Cams Campaign
Nostalgic Fast Food Campaigns
'cheeky Maccas' Celebrates Australian Summer with a Road Trip
QSR Burger Chain Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Unveils the Whopper Island Rebranding
Quirky Plant-Based Food Ads
Gosh! Food's Falafel Advertisement is Surprising
Marketing Idea Generators
Thunderbucket Provides Marketing Ideas and Observations at Speed
Pop Culture-Inspired Rentals
Airbnb Unveils the New 'Icons' Experiences for Short-Term Guests
Confident Fashion Rebranding Campaigns
Boohoo Launches the People Will Talk... Campaign
Hollywood Couple Travel Campaigns
Experience Abu Dhabi Debuts a Cinematic Campaign
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
All-Dark Marketing Campaigns
IKEA Introduces its Darkest Campaign Yet with Try Oslo's Help
Tongue-In-Cheek Soda Campaigns
Pepsi Jokes at Coca-Cola in It's Tastes Better Campaign
Shoppable Luxury Fashion Films
Tom Ford Allows Consumers to Seamlessly Shop Its Spring 2024 RTW
QSR X-Ray Campaigns
KFC Spain Presents a Chicken X-Ray Campaign to Combat a Stigma
Documentary-Style Hotel Campaigns
W Hotels' 'Hotel Tales' is a Captivating New Campaign
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
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
Inspiring Daily Bodycare
method's Unleash Your Inner Shower Celebrates Personal Transformations
Nostalgic Lip Balm Collections
Camp Burt Introduces its '84 Summer Merch Collection
Socially Supportive Retailer Promotions
Wawa 'Buy a Kids Meal, Make an Impact' is Supportive
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
Kindness-Promoting Marketing Campaigns
Once Upon a Coconut Launches 1 Million Acts of Kindness
Global Hospitality Campaigns
Raffles Hotels and Resorts Debuts 'The Butler Did It' Campaign
Hockey Hero-Celebrating Campaigns
The Crown Royal Celebrates Canada's Unsung Hockey Heroes
Playful QSR Campaigns
Cossette Forms the New McDonald's Campaign to Closest Restaurant
Global Storytelling Initatives
Vans Announces its Narrative-Centric Always Pushing Campaign
Inclusive Voting Campaigns
The Body Shop Worked with Apathy is Boring to Improve Voter Turnout
Cheeky Series Star Campaigns
MTN DEW Debuts a New Superbowl Ad with Aubrey Plaza
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
First-Taste Burger Boxes
McSpicy x Frank's RedHot Released "the Hottest Drop"
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Playful Hotel Campaigns
BWH Hotels Launches a Campaign to Reclaim Stolen Treasures
Frozen Pizza-Centered Campaigns
Dr. Oetker Debuts the Frozen Pizza Publicist Campaign
Drone Marketing Initatives
LEGO Takes to the Sky with Drone Show and Aerial Messages
Dynamic Auto Marketing Campaigns
Hyundai Promotes Its Electrical Vehicle Line-up
Influencer Management Tools
Ogilvy Offers a Safety and Risk Management Tool for Marketing Brands
Skateboarding-Inspired Ads
Vans Launched the ‘Always Pushing’ Ad Highlighting Skating Culture
Customer Gifting Suites
Grey Bandit's Gifting Suite Gave Customers the Influencer Treatment
Disruptive Hairstyling Campaigns
Bed Head's The Lab of Life Breaks the Fourth Wall
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
Event Shuttle Rideshare Services
Uber Shuttle is Targeted Towards Sporting Events and Concerts
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
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
Celebratory Odd Designs
Ridiculous Design Celebrates Weird and Wonderful Ideas Within Design
Playful Hamburger Campaigns
McDonald's is Asking the Public to Catch Hamburglar in the Burgercuda
Love-Centric Public Service Announcements
Ad Council & R/GA Debut the Love Has No Labels Campaign
Imaginative Children's Holiday Campaigns
Aretto and Hamleys Partner on an Engaging Campaign
Self-Service Event Promotions
Industry Dive Adds Self-Service Offerings to Include Event Promotion
Local Eatery-Elevated Soda Campaigns
Pepsi is Running Immersive Experiences for the Super Bowl LIX
Celebratory Pizza Promotions
Little Caesars Summer of Hot-N-Ready Giveaways & Getaways is Tasty
Flaming Fare Dining Experiences
This Flaming Grill Dining Experience Requires Protective Gear
Butter Aviation Promotions
Utterly Butterly Reignites its On-Pack Promotion with AeroSuperBatics
Viral Baby Hotel Partnerships
The Four Seasons Hotel Partners a Viral Baby for a Weekend