These are celebrity commercials done right! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best video advertisements featuring famous faces.
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00:00What's in the bag?
00:02Lunch.
00:03Big Mac?
00:04Fries?
00:05I'll pay you for it.
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best video advertisements
00:10featuring famous faces.
00:12Grab it with authority like you want to be.
00:15There you go.
00:16Feel great?
00:17Y'all see him?
00:18Number 20.
00:19Arnold Schwarzenegger.
00:20Aline Amin v. Energy Drink.
00:21It's hard to overstate just how big of a star Arnold Schwarzenegger was in the 80s
00:25and 90s.
00:26But suffice it to say, having him endorse your project is a huge boon, especially when
00:31he's as committed as he is here.
00:36In this commercial for Aline Amin v. and Energy Drink from Japanese medicine company Takeda,
00:41the muscle-bound movie star emerges from one of the bottles like a sort of genie, cackling
00:46madly as gold coins fly.
00:48Arnold is impressive in a way too few modern actors are, and the special effects hold up
00:53impressively well.
00:54Even if you don't know enough Japanese to understand what's being said, one thing
00:57should be obvious.
00:59Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of a kind.
01:03Number 19.
01:04Jerry Seinfeld v. American Express.
01:07This credit card ad from Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson stars two celebrities, comedian
01:12and sitcom star Jerry Seinfeld and… Superman.
01:25Except in this case, the Man of Steel is less concerned with crime-fighting and more concerned
01:29with more pressing matters, like the amount of mayonnaise on his sandwich and checking
01:33out a Broadway show.
01:39This is much to the chagrin of Seinfeld, who ends up getting his DVD player stolen
01:43and then destroyed.
01:44It's no wonder these two have fantastic chemistry, considering Superman is voiced
01:48by fellow Seinfeld alum Patrick Warburton.
02:00Running for 5 minutes, this is as much a comedic short film as it is an ad, and we wouldn't
02:04be surprised if it inspired many people to get an American Express card.
02:12Number 18.
02:13Michael Cera v. Sarah V. Skin Care.
02:15Have you ever looked at a Sarah V. product and thought about an actor whose surname is
02:19very similar?
02:24So have we, and undoubtedly plenty of other people.
02:27In this hilarious ad, directed by alternative comedy legends Tim Heidecker and Eric Wehrheim,
02:32actor Michael Cera promotes Sarah V. Moisturizing Cream, revealing that it's not just a coincidence
02:37and that he's been behind the skin care brand all along.
02:43That's by no means true, but Cera and Tim and Eric do such a good job of spoofing pretentious
02:47ads, it hardly matters, and the final twist, revealing that Cera was actually making an
02:52unsuccessful pitch for the ad, is further comedic brilliance.
03:00Number 17.
03:02Zendaya v. Squarespace.
03:04Zendaya's rise from Disney Channel star to A-lister is easy to understand just from
03:08viewing her work or watching an interview with her, however, if you want to help someone
03:19understand why in the shortest amount of time possible, send them this ad.
03:34The Emmy-winning actress plays Sally, a sad seaside seashell seller whose sales surges
03:39when she signs up for Squarespace.
03:41Seriously!
03:42In 36 seconds, Zendaya manages to convey a range of emotions, from despondency to determination
03:48to delight.
03:49Oh, and who narrates this tongue-twistery tale?
03:51None other than Andre 3000.
04:01This commercial is just further evidence that Zendaya can truly do it all.
04:06Number 16.
04:07Charlton Heston v. Bud Light.
04:10Charlton Heston was a generation-defining actor, starring in some of the most popular
04:14movies of all time across multiple decades, so he's not exactly the first you'd expect
04:18to see appear in a Bud Light ad.
04:20Therein lies the genius of this commercial.
04:23Part of the I Love You Man campaign, it features the Oscar winner mingling at a party when
04:27a man named Johnny tries to gas him up, but Heston refuses to surrender his beer, responding
04:36with the gravitas he brought to countless productions.
04:43He even flexes his acting skills even further at the end, making every last inflection count.
04:51Number 15.
04:52Liam Neeson v. Clash of Clans.
04:55Speaking of dramatic actors emphasizing their on-screen personas to comedic effect, this
04:59mobile game ad sees the star of Taken and other intense thrillers playing himself, playing
05:04Clash of Clans, and losing to a rival player.
05:14Of course, he doesn't take this lying down.
05:16Instead, he launches into a bloodthirsty yet poetic diatribe about how he will get his
05:21retribution.
05:26This is amusingly contrasted by the reveal that he's killing time at a coffee shop,
05:30and rather meekly correcting a mispronunciation of his name.
05:40If there's ever a Clash of Clans feature film, we hope Neeson is involved in some capacity.
05:50Number 14.
05:52Keira Knightley v. Coco Mademoiselle.
05:54Keira Knightley has embodied a sort of timeless elegance throughout her career.
05:58Therefore, she's the perfect face of a brand as associated with sophistication as Chanel.
06:07In this ad for the French fashion house's perfume, Coco Mademoiselle, the actress gets
06:12dressed to the nines, if not tens, to the sound of Joss Stone's rendition of L.O.V.E.
06:17by Nat King Cole.
06:22It's directed by Knightley's frequent collaborator, Joe Wright, who unsurprisingly has her looking
06:27absolutely fantastic.
06:29And though the ad doesn't say anything about what the fragrance in question smells like,
06:32odds are, if Keira Knightley is endorsing it, it's worth every penny.
06:39Number 13.
06:41Daniel Craig v. Belvedere Vodka.
06:43Daniel Craig might not be everyone's favorite James Bond, but it's hard to argue that he's
06:47not the one with the most range.
06:54In this commercial for Polish vodka brand, Belvedere Vodka, the English actor runs through
06:58a variety of looks, from dapper, to bad boy, to buff, and showing off some sick moves along
07:04the way.
07:09Directed by Taika Waititi, this ad is a visual treat, particularly in its use of color.
07:14But it wouldn't be anywhere near as special without a star as talented and as dedicated
07:18as Craig at the center.
07:30Number 12.
07:31Randy Savage v. Slim Jim.
07:33Even for the non-wrestling fans among us, macho man Randy Savage was a 90's icon.
07:44Everything about him, from his wardrobe to his voice, screamed to look at me in the best
07:48way possible.
07:49And this was put to expert use in these commercials for meat snack Slim Jim.
07:58There are too many ads for us to summarize all of them, but the best ones can be summed
08:02up as everything is boring, and then Randy Savage enters, and it's not.
08:12And the formula never grows old, thanks to the changing scenarios and the performer putting
08:16forth every last bit of energy.
08:18Though Savage may be gone, wildly entertaining ads like this make us feel like he's still
08:22with us.
08:26Number 11.
08:27Terry Crews v. Old Spice.
08:29We've all come to love Old Spice commercials, but this one smells the best.
08:39Released in 2012, this ad features football player turned actor Terry Crews.
08:44Actually, you may as well just place celebrity endorser right there at the top of his resume.
08:48Midway through an ad for Bounce, Crews crashes his way in via jet ski to sell the latest,
08:53and evidently most powerful fragrance in the line of Old Spice body sprays.
09:00Sporting tight yellow shorts and flexing his pecs as only he can, there is no stopping
09:04Crews from endorsing the Old Spice brand, even at the expense of another advertisement.
09:09An ad inside another ad?
09:10Is that called ad-ception or something?
09:13P-p-p-powerful.
09:17Number 10.
09:18Robin Williams v. The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword.
09:21The Legend of Zelda gets endorsed by a legend of the acting world.
09:27One of a string of promotions Robin Williams did for Nintendo, this commercial takes us
09:31through a legendary origin story, narrated by Williams himself.
09:35Known for his immense fandom of the property, Williams went so far as to name his daughter
09:39Zelda, who we actually meet in another Nintendo ad.
09:43Williams' voice convinces us all to run out to buy a Wii, so that we too can wield
09:47the Skyward Sword.
09:54Though this is just one of many in a series of Williams-led Nintendo commercials, everyone
09:57loves a good origin story.
10:03Number 9.
10:04Drake.
10:05Apple Music.
10:06What do you get when you cross a multi-billion dollar company and one of the most popular
10:09names in hip-hop?
10:10Marketing genius.
10:11Much like Taylor Swift's 2016 Apple Music commercial, where she sweats it out to Drake's
10:21hit song Jumpman, the Degrassi star-turned-rap icon responds, choosing Swift's Bad Blood
10:26as the anthem for his workout regime.
10:33Drake proves that music gets the blood pumping, even if you can't exactly hit all the right
10:37notes.
10:38Despite having an unexpected relationship between Swift and Drake, Apple Music extends
10:42its reach, proving that music has no boundaries.
10:45Trust us, there's no bad blood here.
10:47This ad is just distractingly good.
10:55Number 8.
10:56Matthew McConaughey.
10:58Lincoln MKC.
10:59As part of Lincoln's Live In Your Moment campaign, Matthew McConaughey stars alongside
11:03a very powerful 1,800-pound adversary.
11:11Facing off against a bull he calls Cyrus, McConaughey contemplates life, ultimately
11:15taking the long way home because he thinks the bull is telling him to live in the moment.
11:25Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn, the director behind the movie Drive, this ad has a decidedly
11:30cinematic feel, accented by McConaughey's patented facial expressions and husky voice.
11:35Ellen actually parodied this ad on her show, adding herself and some special brownies into
11:39the mix.
11:40But we don't know if that was necessary, because on its own, this ad's alright, alright,
11:50alright.
11:52Number 7.
11:53Charlize Theron.
11:55J'adore by Dior.
11:57Charlize Theron takes us on a journey, as she sells us Dior's Eau de Parfum, J'adore.
12:11Located in a stunning ballroom setting, and featuring a dazzling Theron in a sparkling
12:14gold dress, the commercial feels more like a scene from a blockbuster movie than a perfume
12:18ad.
12:19With London Grammar's captivating tune, Hey Now, providing the soundtrack, Theron braces
12:24us for the new world, noting that while the past and memories can be beautiful, they are
12:28no place to live.
12:32The heroine is breaking free from the constraints of the old world, and we want to follow her,
12:36or at least buy some perfume.
12:38The new world smells sweet, and the future is definitely gold.
12:48Number 6.
12:49Justin Long, Apple Incorporated.
12:54If you grew up in the 2000s, you've heard the famous opening lines from this series
12:57of commercials.
12:58Starting in 2006, Justin Long became the voice of a generation of tech users.
13:03Long stars as the hip, cool, trendy Apple product, while John Hodgman plays the comparatively
13:08bland, boring, and outdated PC.
13:16In one of the many advertisements in the North American Get a Mac campaign, Mac and
13:20PC discuss which tasks which computer handles better, and we bet you can guess which one
13:25comes out on top.
13:26This odd couple pairing of tech spokesmen became beloved, setting the stage for numerous
13:30memorable Mac vs. PC ads to come, and helping to make nerdy cool.
13:41Number 5.
13:42John Cena, Gillette Fusion ProGlide.
13:45If there's one thing WWE superstars are good at, it's intimidation.
13:49John Cena goes into full rampage mode, sparing the lives of No Garbage Can, Folding Chair,
13:55or Bathroom Stall in order to promote the Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor.
14:11The commercial adopts the hidden camera technique, perhaps in a subtle reference to Cena's
14:15catchphrase, You Can't See Me, and shows the muscle man invading some very personal
14:19space to force a few unsuspecting everymen to accept the ProGlide challenge.
14:23Two things are made certain in this ad, Cena can definitely be seen, and when he tells
14:27you to shave, you shave.
14:36Number 4.
14:37Joe Green, Coca-Cola.
14:39The superstar defensive tackle Joe Green shines in our most heartfelt ad, showcasing the true
14:44beauty of sports.
14:50With Green limping his way off the field after a tough game, he's given a coke by a young
14:53fan, whom he later rewards with a game-worn jersey.
14:57Though the ad is simple in nature, it became instrumental in bridging the gap between athletes
15:01and their fans, while also showcasing the fact that sports are more than just entertainment.
15:10Thanks to this commercial, Green's reputation as Mean Joe changed, making him a more approachable
15:15athlete.
15:16A classic ad that's been labeled by many as one of the best ever, this commercial and
15:20its message have transcended generations, and will continue to do so.
15:36Number 3.
15:38Rowan Atkinson, Snickers.
15:40Snickers ads are famous for featuring celebrities in place of everyday people, whose hunger
15:44is making them not act like themselves.
15:50They've featured Betty White, Robin Williams, and even the Brady Bunch over the years, but
15:54who better to showcase the mantra, you're not you and you're hungry, than Rowan Atkinson
15:58as Mr. Bean.
16:00Sporting his tweed jacket and signature skinny red tie, Bean ventures into ancient China
16:04to conduct a secret mission.
16:05However, he cannot remember his formal kung fu training.
16:08Well, until he gets a bite of Snickers, of course.
16:11The ad features a beautiful Chinese landscape, and some pretty stellar visuals.
16:15Just another day in the life of Mr. Bean.
16:22Number 2.
16:23Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, McDonald's.
16:26Getting just one of these NBA stars in your commercial is huge.
16:30Getting both?
16:31Now that's a slam dunk.
16:36In this two-part ad for the fast food giant, the two basketball legends square off in a
16:40shooting contest for the rights to Jordan's Big Mac.
16:43And it's nothing but net, with both Jordan and Bird making increasingly elaborate shots.
16:56It gets so ridiculous, and with no clear resolution, but we could still believe either Jordan or
17:00Bird could land a basket while atop a skyscraper.
17:03After all, they were both part of the 1992 Olympic Dream Team.
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17:31Number 1.
17:32Michael Jackson, Pepsi.
17:34The king of pop shines in this Pepsi ad, bringing a whole new generation together.
17:43The commercial features a reworked version of Jackson's hit, Billie Jean's, The Jingle,
17:47with MJ flashing his iconic dance moves to the surrounding community.
17:57But it gets better.
17:58There's even a guest appearance from a young Alfonso Carlton Ribeiro, who may just give
18:03Jackson a run for his money.
18:13With Michael's brothers there as backup, this iconic piece of marketing proved to be
18:17a record-breaker when it comes to celebrity endorsements, what with the $5 million price
18:21tag and all.
18:22Because of this ad campaign, MJ and Pepsi were inextricably linked during the 80s.
18:27Shamona!
18:36Did we miss your favorite celebrity starring commercial?
18:39Let us know in the comments.