The top April 2016 commercials are hyper-targeted towards extremely specific demographic groups. This includes Millennial-targeted popcorn ads, family-friendly furniture commercials, as well as insurance ads that use the language of "bros." In order to stay relevant, many advertisers are making the most of YouTube influencers, emojis and political commentary.
As a rejection of traditional commercial advertisements, some playful brands are even experimenting with interactive pre-roll ads and fast-forwarded commercials. Two commercials that truly reject established norms include Trolli's 'Inside Inside Inside James Harden's Head' and a series of ads from e-payment provider Klarna that show how "smooth" its service can be with off-the-wall visuals and messaging. As ever, humor is a large part of what makes commercials of this style a success.
Top 35 Commercial Ideas in April
From Costumed Adoption Campaigns to Hairy Pollution PSAs:
Laura McQuarrie — Apr 23, 2016 — Pop Culture
34
Quirky ePayment Commercials
Klarna's Offbeat Ads Communicate How Smooth Payments Can Be
33
Family-Focused Furniture Ads
The New Leon's Ads Emphasize the Role of Furniture in People's Lives
32
Reminiscent Candy Campaigns
Zedd and Aloe Blacc Team Up to Celebrate The M&Ms 75th Anniversary
31
Male-Targeted Insurance Ads
This Geico Insurance Ad Uses 'Brocabulary' to Speak to Bros
30
Hairy Pollution PSAs
This Ad by 'WildAid China' Conveys the Dangers of China's Air Polluttion
29
Email Subject-Generating Services
Adobe Campaign Helps Marketers Select High-Impact Subject Lines
28
Iconic Skate Brand Milestones
The Story of Vans Campaign Celebrates 50 Years of Off the Wall
27
Quirky Candy Ads
Janes Harden Stars in a Mind-Bending New Ad from Trolli
26
Lie-Detecting Test Drives
Smart Has People Test Drive a Vehicle While Taking a Lie Detector Test
25
Female-Targeted Sports Ads
This Ad for Dick's Sporting Goods Caters to Fitness-Minded Women
24
Uplifting Sportswear Ads
Sport Chek's Newest Workout Commercial Connects with Female Yogis
23
Community-Building Cocoa Videos
KitKat's Influencers Explore Sustainable Chocolate Production
22
Empowering Emoji Campaigns
The #LikeAGirl Campaign Demonstrates the New for More Diverse Emojis
21
Bro-Focused Food Commercials
This Jack in the Box Commercial is Designed to Appeal to Millennials
20
Cereal Brand Bee-Saving Initiatives
Honey Nut Cheerios Wants to Help You #BringBackTheBees
19
Costumed Adoption Campaigns
This Stunt Dressed Up Stray Dogs as Purebreds for Halloween
18
Expressive Automotive Ads
This Chevrolet Ad Explores the Facebook Emojis with 'From Like to Love'
17
Millennial-Targeted Popcorn Ads
This Smartfood Campaign is the First Major Effort from the Brand
16
Artistic Teen Campaigns
Autumn de Forest Stars in this Empowering Nordstrom Kids Commercial
15
Boy Scout Milk Campaigns
This Cookies and Milk Campign Pairs Girl Guide Cookies & Boy Scout Milk
14
Backtracking Earth Hour Ads
This Earth Hour 2016 Ad Shows a Woman in 2090 and Backtracks to Today
13
Adventurous Astronaut Commercials
Dos Equis Sends the Most Interesting Man in the World to Space
12
Fast-Forwarded Insurance Ads
Geico's Newest Pre-Roll Ads Do the Skipping for Viewers
11
Comforting Fast Food Commercials
This KFC Commercial Emphasizes the Importance of Comfort Food
10
Comforting Insurance Commercials
AAA's Auto Insurance Ad Reveals How It Improves Overall Life
9
Humorous Health Insurance Ads
United Healthcare's 'Our Song' Ad Depicts a Romantic Day Gone Wrong
8
Dubbed Superstore Ads
This Ad for Kohl's Uses Voice-Overs of Oscar-Winning Acceptance Speeches
7
Comprehensive Email Marketing Services
iCubes Helps Brands Conceive and Execute Email Campaigns
6
Political Marshmallow Campaigns
This Digital Campaign Pits Peeps Candy Against the Groundhog
5
Family-Focused Toy Store Ads
The Toys "R" Us Holiday Ad Focuses on Family Rather Than Products
4
Anti-Processed Food Campaigns
This Dairy Company Declares War on Big Food with Its New Ad
3
Soulful Holiday Duets
This Apple Holiday Commercial Features Stevie Wonder and Andra Day
2
Targeted Marketing Software
Square Marketing Varies Email Promotions Based On Customer Categories
1
Sci-Fi Holiday Campaigns
This Target Holiday Commercial Targets Star Wars Fans
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Playful Billboard Campaigns
Dreamies Treats Unveil a Show-Stopping 3D Billboard Campaign
Cheeky Adult Wipe Campaigns
goodwipes Launched a OOH Campaign at the 2025 NYC Marathon
Viral Non-AI Christmas Ads
Intermarché’s “Le mal aimé” Ad Was Made by an 80-Person Team
Anti-AI Beer Billboards
Heineken's Latest Ads Poke Fun at AI Friendship Devices
Gen X Beauty Campaigns
Bluemercury's Up Next Campaign Celebrates Women 40+
Summer Soda Brand Campaigns
Sprite 'Turns Up the Refreshment' With its Immersive Campaign
Gen Z Advertising Initiatives
Tubi Targets Younger Viewers with Ad Innovations at IAB NewFronts
Authentic Mother's Day Commercials
Amazon Boxes Take Center Stage in a Heartfelt Campaign
Nostalgic Y2K-Inspired Commercials
Dove Reinterprets 'Don't Cha' with the 'Hot Like Us' Campaign
AI-Satirical Ad Spots
Dollar Shave Club Uses Generative AI To Skewer Tech Hype
Shoppable TV Ads
Samsung and Amazon Enable Remote-Based Shopping Directly on TV
Humorous Actress-Led Phone Ads
T-Mobile Taps Zoe Saldaña, Marco Perego, and Jeff Bridges
Diversity-Celebrating Brand Campaigns
Champion Launches a Global ‘Champions for Champion’ Campaign
Pet-Powered Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Animal Intelligence Redefines "AI"
Authentic Connection Campaigns
Heineken's Hijack Socialization Encourages Out-of-Home Gatherings
TV-Ready GenAI Ads
Channel 4's Generative AI Solution for TV Advertising Breaks Down Barriers
Next-Gen Jelly Bean Campaigns
Jelly Belly Bean Appétit Entices a New Generation of Fans
Film Franchise Pizza Collaborations
Papa Johns and Disney Launched Its Toy Story 5 Personal Pizzas
Halloween Essentials Campaigns
IKEA Turns Home Essentials into Shields for Scary-Movie Nights
Interactive Advertising Installations
Intimissimi's 'Feel the Billboard' Uses Tactile Advertising
Functionally Focused Dog Campaigns
The Honest Kitchen's Inflatable Dogs Challenge Beauty Standards
Anthropomorphic Hair Ads
Hair Ballad is Manscaped's First Super Bowl Commercial
Drug-Themed April Fool's Gags
Innocean Berlin's Glory Over Pain Corporation Campaign is Satirical
Gen-Z-Targeted Phone Spots
Samsung Spotlights the Galaxy S25 Ultra in its 'Recipe Ideas' Ad
Limited-Edition Chocolate Launches
Hershey’s Debuts Winter Games Tie-In On TikTok Shop
Festive Snack Packaging Designs
Kellanova Debuts Its Seasonal Assortment of Snacks
Pop Culture Chocolate Products
These New Kinder Products Embrace Collaborations
Retail Advertising Campaigns
IKEA Hides Price Tags to Highlight Material Quality in a New Campaign
Brighton Retail Launch Ads
IKEA Brighton Uses Seagull Splatter Campaign to Win Local Attention
Cheeky Sports-Inspired Diaper Campaigns
Huggies Aligns Family Planning with a Major Sports Event
Self-Discovery Soda Ads
Pepsi The Choice Features a Polar Bear Finding His Taste Preference
Dystopian AI Ads
The Debut Anthropic Super Bowl Ad Rejects Sponsored AI Answers
Foggy Self-Care Billboards
eos' Windows of Self-Care Let Passersby Interact with Unique Personas
AI-Embracing Asian Cuisine Ads
The Teriyaki Madness What's with Bob? Ad Was Created with Genre.ai
Gen-Z-Targeted Language Platform Campaigns
Duolingo Introduces its Character-Driven 'Duolingo Ads'
Licensed Flavor Collaborations
Conagra Blends Celebrity and Brand Partnerships Into Snacks
Gen Alpha Animated Toy Promotions
MrBeast Launches YouTube Shorts Series to Drive Toy Sales
Experiential Marketing Campaigns
MIKE AND IKE, HOT TAMALES, and Marvel Team Up for Campus Tour
Cheeky Baking Apparel
Betty Crocker Turns Cake Mix Nostalgia Into Wearable Merchandise
Sparkling Juice Campaigns
Welch's Break Out The Fancy Juice Celebrates Daily Moments Made Special
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Bold Beauty Campaigns
IPSY Reframes Beauty as a Hobby with the 'I Play Beauty' Campaign
Creator-Led Skincare Ads
The BYOMA Shorttime Show Celebrates Short Kings and Queens
Decluttered Ad Campaigns
IKEA Unpackaged Goods Organizes Branded Products into Storage Containers
Soccer-Centric Soda Spots
Pepsi's 'Refresh the Game' Campaign Brings Soccer Icons Together
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Timely Delivery-Centric Billboards
Pizza Pizza Creates a Truck-Side Billboard Inspired by the LRT
Gamified Snack Packaging
Hershey’s Released Pokémon Chocolates with 151 Collectible Foil Designs
Gen Z Soda Campaigns
Enjoy the Moment with a Coca‑Cola Targets a Generation That Wants to Unplug
Human-Grade Pet Food Campaigns
The Honest Kitchen Debuts a Pet Parenthood Campaign
Satirical Skincare Campaigns
Sephora Launches 'Skin Obsessed' Campaign with Taika Waititi
Music Scene-Informed Luxury Campaigns
Burberry Taps Twiggy for Spring 2026 Advertising Campaign
Cinematic Sneaker Campaigns
Adidas Originals Superstar Campaign Features Icons Such as Jennie
Conversational Search Ad Features
Google Unveiled AI Max for Search Campaigns
Eating Ritual Campaigns
Müller You Know How You Like It Celebrates Unique Snacking Methods
Sensorial Soda Campaigns
Sprite's 'Hurts Real Good With Sprite' Targets Gen Z
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Emotion-Led Household Brand Campaigns
Royale’s ‘There for All’ Campaign Emphasizes Daily Moments
Fiber-Focused Cereal Ads
Raisin Bran Uses its Super Bowl Spotlight To Promote Gut Health
Next-Gen Athlete-Starring Ads
Nike Presents its Cinematic 'Why Do It?' Ad Campaign
Extra-Vibrant Soda Packs
Poppi's VIBES Party Pack Gives Favorite Flavors a Limited-Edition Look
Musician-Led Beverage Campaigns
poppi Tapped Charli xcx and Rachel Sennott for the Super Bowl
Humorous Healthcare Campaigns
Zocdoc And 72andSunny Reframe Doctor Search With Playful Anxiety
Revived 90s Commercials
Gushers' FruitHead Short Horror Film Reimagines a Nostalgic Ad
Social-First Gameshows
This Year's Walkers' Do Us a Flavour Campaign Was Reimagined for TikTok
Humorous Mother's Day Campaigns
bubly Addresses Mother’s Day Mishaps with the 'Gift Glow Up Shop'
Trash-Centric Musical Campaigns
The Glad x Sesame Street Collab Stars Oscar the Grouch
Playful Hockey Campaigns
Beard in a Box Campaign Lets Hockey Fans Join the Playoff Beard Tradition
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Connected TV Ad Features
Walmart Connect Launches Its CTV Activation
Early Allergen Exposure Ads
The Square Baby Super Bowl Spot Promotes a Science-Backed Message
Athlete-Backed Beverage Campaigns
PepsiCo and NFL Players Debut 'Tailgate Crashers'
Bubble Wrap Billboards
Tombola's Interactive Billboards Engage Passersby with a Sensory Activity
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Lyrics-Inspired OOH Campaigns
Taskrabbit Interprets Pop Culture Songs for Summer Home Tasks
Humorous Chocolate Spots
Toblerone Introduced its ‘Chocolate Like Nobody’s Watching’
Comedian-Supported Deodorant Ads
Pete Davidson Stars in AXE's Latest Advertising Campaign
Humorous Payment Platform Campaigns
The Great PayPal Checkout Spotlights the Pay Later Services
Humorous Wet Wipes Campaigns
goodwipes Partnered with Hallie Batchelder on Wet January
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
Interactive Scented Billboard Ads
LOLA MullenLowe Presents a Scented Lynx/Axe Campaign
Football-Focused Sofa Campaigns
Pepsi Presents the Refresh the Game Campaign with Icons
AI-Powered Satirical Ads
Dollar Shave Club Uses Generative AI To Skewer Corporate Culture
Divergent Chewing Gum Campaigns
Trident's TriDifferent Inspired Gen Z to Break Away from Sameness
Basketball Film-Inspired Pizza Campaigns
Pizza Hut Debuts Space Jam-Inspired Menu Bundle & Recipes
Millennial Nostalgia Banking Campaigns
Allt Bank Playfully Jabs at Millennials' Financial Habits
No-Nonsense Frozen Snack Campaigns
Yasso's Foolproof Freezer Challenges April Fool's Day Pranks
No-Fee Food Delivery Ads
Grubhub Will Eat the Fees is Grubhub's First Big Game National Commercial
AI-Aged Executive Spoof Ads
AiCandy's Energym Ad Reimagines Tech Moguls as Instructors
Pop Culture-Inspired Mayo Ads
Hellmann’s Releases 'Sweet Sandwich Time' Ahead of the Big Game
Emotional Mothers Day Ads
Apple's Mother’s Day Campaign Showcases Spatial Video's Emotional Power
AI-Centric Brand Campaigns
Openai Rolls Out ChatGPT’s First Major Brand Campaign
Ai Customer Campaigns
The Mint Mobile Ad Featuring Ryan Reynolds Stars Genuine User Tilly Norwood
Caveman-Centric Running Campaigns
Craft Sportswear's Brand Film Channels the Primal Joy of Running
Athletic Event-Timed Tech Campaigns
TCL Ran a Comprehensive Ad Campaign During the Olympics
Vibrant Cafeteria-Inspired Campaigns
Lunchtime Becomes a Joyous Time in 'The Lunchables Effect'
Illusory Ice Cream Pop-Ups
Häagen-Dazs Celebrated St. Patrick's Day with an O'Häagen's
Cut-Out Easter Treat Disguises
Cadbury Created Print Ads That Hide Easter Eggs as Everyday Items
Health-Boosted Candies
Baby Bottle Pop's Adulthood Survival Collection Recognizes Popular Callouts
Absurd Gummy Ads
Skittles Gummies' "Uncomfortably Soft" Ads Were Shot Without AI and CGI
AI-Enhanced Y2K Ads
Starwash by Carl's Jr. Recalls a 2000s Ad with Paris Hilton
Salty Soulmate Ads
Pringlelina: A Love Story Continues the Tale Pringles Started at the Big Game
Social-to-Outdoor Campaigns
Tribesigns Extends TikTok's Super Wish Campaign to Times Square
Product-Inspired Halloween Looks
Aldi and EllaDoesFX Created a Look Inspired by Professor Peppy
Culinary Tradition Food Campaigns
The Merchant Gourmet 'Yes Chef!' Campaign is Running Now
Cheeky Snack Soulmate Campaigns
Sabrina Carpenter Stars in Pringles' Pringleleo Campaign
Tasty Easter Activation Campaigns
The Mars Wrigley The Big Easter Bunny Off is Ready for Spring
Festive Creator-Led Series
Pepsi Pioneers is a Five-Part Christmas Series for Gen Z
90s-Era Snack Product Campaigns
The Pringles One You Pop Campaign Revives the Tagline for Gen Z
No-Nonsense Haircare Campaigns
The No Gimmicks Campaign by LolaVie Focuses on Proven Products
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Post-Game Breakfast Campaigns
McDonald's Flipped Its Ads Sideways for Super Bowl Recovery
Extra-Terrestrial Chocolate Ads
Kinder Bueno's Super Bowl Ad Makes a Moment "Yes Bueno"
Comedic Social-First Campaigns
Bonobos Debuts a Cheeky Ad Called the Sweat Stakes
Interactive Game Advertisements
Samsung Ads GameBreaks Encourage Deeper Engagement
Celeb-Packed Humorous Beer Campaigns
Bud Light's Keg Commercial is Airing for Super Bowl LX
Tax-Focused Marketing Campaigns
Intuit Debuts the Second Iteration of 'Now This is Taxes'
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Nostalgic Beauty Campaigns
Dove's #UnseenBeauty Initiative Challenges Y2K Beauty Standards
AI-Personalized Streaming Ads
Amazon Customized Prime Video Ads Using Shopping Behavior Data
Fan-Focused Hockey Campaigns
The ESPN Chirpline Lets Fans Vent During the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Game Day Laundry Campaigns
Dreame Ran a 30-Second Ad for Its Washer-Dryer Set at the Super Bowl
Heartfelt Bank Ads
Synchrony Bank’s Lemonade Stand Campaign Spotlights the Power of Saving
Cheekily Satirical Sweetener Ads
In The Raw Embraces Satire with a Comedic Hero Film
Interactive Streaming Ads
Spotify Turns Listening into Engagement with Carousel Ads
Playful Brand Messaging Campaigns
Chicago Town Pizza Unveiled the 'It IS that deep' Ad
Sports Advertising Moments
Genius Sports Found Emotional Sports Moments Can Double Ad Recall
Summer-Forward Food Billboards
Waitrose Launched its 'Let Your Summer Side Out' Campaign
Timely Actor-Backed Beer Campaigns
Miller Lite Debuts 'Legendary Moments Start with a Lite'
Consumer Brand Launches
Labor Smart Announced Culturally-Driven Product Collaborations
Winning Comment Campaigns
Dos Equis Invites Fans to Submit Legend Lines to Appear in a Commercial
Nostalgic Boy Band Commercials
T-Mobile Tapped Backstreet Boys for the Super Bowl This Year
Musical Grocery Service Ads
A 30-Second Instacart Bananas Spot Will Air During the Super Bowl 2026
Cheeky Celeb-Inspired Tool Campaigns
Bosch Launches 'Just a Guy' for the Super Bowl
Tastemaker-Starring Father's Day Campaigns
Psycho Bunny Launches 'This Is Generational Wealth'
Satirical Feminist-Forward Ads
A Spotlight on Underpaid Women Shakes Up Belgium’s Employee Day
Visual Discovery Campaigns
Pinterest Autumn-Winter Ads Highlight Castlecore Dreams and Fuzzy Vibes
Grandmotherly Lunchmeat Campaigns
Eat Your Buddig Spotlights a No-Nonsense Caretaker
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform