The most engaging November 2015 publicity stunts prove that there is always a creative way to go about a promotion. The most unusual campaigns include McDonald’s Japan giving away free meals to people who share a name with one of its new burgers, benches that give away chocolate bars and record-breaking pitchers of iced tea.
Some of the best publicity stunts of all happened on Back to the Future Day, where brands across all industries stepped up to reference time travel with special cars, spoofs and limited-edition releases of all sorts. Universal released a fake trailer for 'Jaws 19,' while Uber and Pepsi launched DeLorean rides in London and Google "leaked" plans from a high-tech car from a mysterious 'Project Flux.'
With December and the release of the newest Star Wars film coming soon, there will definitely be plenty more pop culture publicity stunts to come.
Top 60 Publicity Stunt Ideas in November
59
Candy-Dispensing Public Benches
The Kit Kat Bench Rewarded Those Who Rested for 60-seconds
58
People-Powered Billboard Ads
63 'Red Hat' Employees Built the Many Messages on This Billboard
57
Captivating Fan Experiences
A Series of Wasserman Interactive NFL Experiences Hit London
56
Giant Iced Tea Pitchers
Lipton's 'Be More Tea' Festival Broke a World Record for Largest Iced Tea
55
Charitable Coat Donations
Macy's Clothes4Souls Partnership Offers a Buy One, Give One System
54
Social Media Rum Tastings
Appleton Estate Rum Recently Held a Live Twitter Tasting Experience
53
Co-Branded Car Promotions
Uber & BMW are Teaming Up to Provide Free Rides in the New 2016 7 Series
52
Seatbelt-Enabled Taxi WiFi
The Fiat WiFi System is Accessible When Passengers Buckle Up
51
Digital Basketball Exhibits
Sports and Art Collide at Nike's Museum 23 Tokyo Installation
50
Professional Headshot Tours
LinkedIn is Touring the US to Give Profile Advice and Headshots
49
Technology-Testing Events
Microsoft's Device Night Invites People to Eat, Drink & Try New Products
48
High-Speed Taxi Services
Uber is Offering Free Rides in a $1 Million Mclaren P1
47
Anti-Shopping Retail Campaigns
The REI Opt Outside Hashtag Celebrates Being Closed on Black Friday
46
Rainbow-Colored Commuter Slides
Oreo's WONDERFILLED Campaign Brought Colorful Slides to London
45
Chocolate Fortune Booths
Cadbury's 'Joynormous' Chocolate Giveaway Features Freddie Flintoff
44
Cannon Ball Liquor Stunts
Captain Morgan Will Celebrate 'Cannon Blast' with a Human Cannon Ball
43
Television-Themed Retreats
This Monastery Lets Consumers Binge Watch Their Favorite Shows in Peace
42
Friendly Retail Robots
Pepper the Robot Suggests Wine Pairings and Interacts with Shoppers
41
Fan-Powered Racing Events
This Electric Motor Racing Event Lets Fans Give Racers More Power
40
Charitable Cat Deliveries (UPDATE)
UberKITTENS Encourages People to Adopt Kittens After a Playtime
39
Time-Traveling Car Blueprints
A Mysterious Tweet Released Google's Drivable Time Machine Plans
38
Soda-Sponsored Mobile Kitchens
PepsiCo's 'NSPIRE' is a Touring Kitchen on Wheels
37
Unusual Burger Promotions
McDonald’s Japan is Giving Away Free Meals to People with Certain Names
36
High-Stakes Burrito Competitions
This 30-Pound Burrito Comes with a 10% Don Chingon Share
35
Appreciative Oatmeal Campaigns
This Company is Celebrating National Oatmeal Day in a Big Way
34
Mobile Tea Trucks
This David's Tea Shop on Wheels Drives Around and Doles Out Tea Samples
33
Futuristic Taxi Services
Pepsi and Uber Offered DeLorean Rides on Back to the Future Day
32
LEGO Movie Sets
This LEGO Ghostbusters Firehouse Set Has Ghosts Lurking Within
31
Beer-Pouring Typewriters
Czech Beer Brand Staropramen Created the First Type-Controlled Draught
30
Cultural Cat Festivals
Montreal is Hosting Its First-Ever Festival for Cats and Their Owners
29
Galactic Marketing Events
This Campaign Lined Up 500 Stormtroopers on the Great Wall of China
28
Refugee Search Engines
'Google Fortunetelling' Sneakily Raises Awareness About Refugees
27
Wrap-Around Alert Billboards
This Interactive Digital Billboard Warns What's Around the Corner
26
Racy Spy Snack Ads
This Risque Ad Suggests That It's Time for Bond to Take a Break from the Ladies
25
Movie-Themed Newspapers
USA Today Will Bring Back to the Future's Fake News into Reality
24
Floral Confession Booths
Moonpig's Shed-Inspired Installation Promotes Its Flower Delivery Service
23
Indoor Sledding Stunts
North Face's Dog Sledding VR Experience Launches a Real-Life Race
22
Android Army Publicity Stunts
Stormtroopers Overran the Great Wall at This Chinese Star Wars Event
21
Posessed House Pranks
This Paranormal Activity Prank Spooked Unsuspecting Home Hunters
20
Horror Film Video Games
The VR Paranormal Activity Video Game is Being Shown on the Big Screens
19
Headlight-Shining Billboards
This Audi Billboard Spotlights Pedestrians at Night to Keep Them Safe
18
Burger Giveaway Stunts
Burger King Locations in France Swapped Fresh Tomatoes for Free Whoppers
17
Cupcake-Trading Stations
Zappos' Product Giveaways Have People #PayWithACupcake
16
Live Streaming Pizza Screens
This Interactive Billboard Was Connected to a Restaurant's Kitchen
15
Creative Sandwich Competitions
Jarsberg Cheese Called on Fans to Create an 'Impossible' Sandwhich
14
On-Demand Zombie Experiences
This Halloween, Lyft Will Dispatch Zombies to Un-Liven Up Parties
13
Time Travel Rideshares
These Free Delorean Time Machine Rides Celebrate Back to the Future Day
12
Anti-Pollution Insurance Deals
This Car Insurance Campaign Gave Out Fake Tickets to Polluting Cars
11
Futuristic Film Beverages
These 'Pepsi Perfect' Bottles Celebrate Back to the Future II
10
Slum Apartment Stunts
For This Poverty Campaign, a NYC Apartment Rental is Styled Like a Slum
9
Unexpected Airline Adventures
Westjet Provided Customers with an Upgraded Vegas Experience
8
Serial Vodka Campaigns
Smirnoff's 'Exclusively for Everybody' Ads Have a Serial Progression
7
Eye-Shutting Billboards
This Car Insurance Ad Shuts Its Eyes to Mimic a Good Night's Sleep
6
Automotive Trunk Theaters
The 'Mini Teater' Provides Entertainment from the Trunk of a Car
5
Car-Powered Cafes
The 'Toyota Barista' Stunt Demonstrates How Much Energy Brakes Generate
4
Stuntperson Candy Campaigns
This Cadbury Campaign Searches for the Next Milk Tray Man (or Woman)
3
Vacation-Rewarding Campaigns
Expedia Rewards Vacation-Deprived Canadians with Well-Deserved Trips
2
Time-Traveling Car Promotions
Ford Building a DeLorean-Like Flux Capacitor in Focus & Fiestas
1
Shark Saga Spoofs
This Trailer for 'Jaws 19' Celebrates the Back to the Future 30th Anniversary
Related Ideas
Generative AI Candy Campaigns
The Starburst 'Different Every Time' Campaign is Interactive
Horror-Themed Phone Campaigns
Samsung's Join the Flip Side Takes Cues from 90s Horror Movies
Idyllic Pet Pop-Ups
Uber Eats and PetSmart Created "The Best Pet House Ever"
Illustrative 420 Campaigns
Vizie Unveils His Latest Work for Grassroots' 420 Campaign
Teddy Bear Outerwear
Build-A-Bear Cuddly Couture Shares Cozy, Warm Styles
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
Ketchup Dispenser Billboards
'Smack for Heinz' Helps Fans Complete Meals with a Favorite Condiment
Distorted Burger Campaigns
Burger King's A.I.LLOWEEN Features Unsettling People Eating Burgers
Food-Inspired Apparel Collections
Vandy The Pink Releases New Burger-Themed Apparel Collection
Ice Cream Summer Activations
Halo Top Canada Kicks Off Summer with a Feel Good Summer Campaign
Celebratory Soda Diners
The 125 Pepsi Diner Revisits Iconic Creations of the Last Century
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Fast Food-Inspired Beachy Campaigns
Leo Burnett Italia Unveils a New Summery McDonald's Campaign
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
Craveable Soda Packaging
Sprite is Reviving Its Obey Your Thirst Campaign for a New Generation
Dynamic CGI Mascara Campaigns
Maybelline New York Unveils an Activation with a Giant Mascara
Mood-Boosting Cafe Pop-Ups
Skittles' House of Joy Brightens the Dark Days of February
Experiential Mental Well-Being Events
Batiste's Refresh & Reflect Events Connect & Uplift Students
Year-End Live Music Shows
Spotify Wrapped Live 2023 Shares Performances from Top Global Artists
AI-Created Burger Ads
Burger King Had ChatGPT Generate a Poster to Clap Back at a Competitor
Pet-Inspired Culinary Celebrations
Fancy Feast is Marking International Cat Day with a "Feastival"
Architecture-Inspired QSR Ads
This New McDonald’s Campaign Encourages Eating at Home
Unusual Food Tattoo Challenges
Omaha Steaks Offers Free Lifetime Burgers in Exchange for a Tattoo
Connected Gamer Campaigns
Heineken's Just Another Night Out Shatters Anti-Social Stereotypes
Social Ghosting Donut Campaigns
The Krispy Kreme Ghosted Box Encourages Relationship Rekindling
Soda Logo Rebranding Campaigns
Pepsi's New Logo Goes Across the Globe with a Bright Light Show
Mixed-Reality Cola Billboards
This 3D Coca-Cola Billboard Dispenses Real, Cold Drinks
Branded Snack-Themed Giveaways
Yasso Introduces the Snack-It Racket for National Snack Day
Cartoon Underdog Soda Campaigns
Tractor Beverage Company Launches a Moving New Campaign
Smile-Reflecting Toothpaste Campaigns
Colgate & Oglivy Create the #FreeYourSmile campaign
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Confetti-Filled Snacking Commercials
Frito-Lay Launches the Taste of Super Bowl Campaign
Celebrity-Fronted Fashion Campaigns
The New Calvin Klein Campaign Features Many Celebrities
Scannable Snack Charity Campaigns
This Pringles Movember Campaign Updates the Brand's Mascot
Food Truck Billboards
McDonald's Transformed Billboards into Digital Food Truck Displays
Sci-Fi-Themed Donut Collections
These Pinkbox Doughnuts Star Wars Day Treats Arrive This May
Idol Singer Breakfast Promotions
Mos Burger Offers Dining Experience with Idols via AR
Extraterrestrial Influencer Campaigns
MoonPie's Alien Acquisition Shares Ads for Extraterrestrials
Vegas-Inspired Dining Experiences
Tost by Tostitos is an Exclusive Super Bowl Pop-Up
Meme-Inspired Sauces
Heinz's Limited-Edition Sauce Drops Revisit Fleeting Moments of Fame
Cringe-Worthy Photo Campaigns
Sour Patch Kids is Challenging Fans to Choose "Cringe or Candy"
On-Demand Bubbly Water Campaigns
"Press for Bubly" Keeps Non-Drinkers Committed to Dry January
Discounted Cafe Drink Promotions
Starbucks Yay Day is Happening in November for Rewards Members
Complimentary Burger QSR Campaigns
Carl's Jr. Free Burger Day Will Reward Diners for One Day Only
Gen X Candy Campaigns
Klondike's Bar-cade Campaign Engages Gen X Consumers
Complimentary Soup Trucks
The Good Humor Soup Truck is Sharing Free Soup in NYC
QSR Burger Chain Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Unveils the Whopper Island Rebranding
Chain Restaurant Food Festivals
Chain is the Worlds First Gourmet Chain Food Festival
Retro Family Photoshoots
Blue Bunny is Inviting Families to Pop-Up 90s-Themed Photoshoots
Movie-Themed Fast-Food Campaigns
White Castle Commemorates 'Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle'
Consumer-Driven QSR Burger Contests
The Burger King Million Dollar Whopper Contest is On Now
Celebratory Hot Chocolate Promotions
This Cadbury 200th Anniversary Promotion is Launching Now
Sustainable Festival Stands
Mentos' Pure Fresh Gum Stand Will Be Repurposed Post-Use
Anti-Breakup Festive Campaigns
Smirnoff and Lance Bass Debut 'Red, White & Merry' Love Campaign
Pop Culture-Inspired Rentals
Airbnb Unveils the New 'Icons' Experiences for Short-Term Guests
Affordable Back-to-School Campaigns
Staples Canada Embraces the Theme of '90s Throwback Pricing
London-Inspired Sporty Campaigns
Nike Presents the Pulse of London Campaign Honoring the City
Name Change QSR Promotions
The Subway Name Change Promotion Rewards Consumers Who Change Names
Dramatized Caramel Candy Ads
Reese's Big Game Ad Shows Exaggerated, Relatable Reactions to Change
Sustainable QSR Litter Adverts
McDonald's Malta Presents New Captivating Eco-Centric Campaigns
Ketchup Obsession Campaigns
'It Has to Be Heinz' Spotlights Fans' Intense Love of Heinz Products
Tongue-In-Cheek Soda Campaigns
Pepsi Jokes at Coca-Cola in It's Tastes Better Campaign
Celebrity Offspring Pop-Up Restaurants
Uber Eats Brings Brooklyn Beckham's Cooking to Your Door
QSR Brand Movie Promotions
Dairy Queen Canada Has Launched the Blockbuster Blizzard Treat Giveaway
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Cookie-Twisting Commercials
The OREO Super Bowl 2024 Spot Revisits Pivotal Moments in History
Celebratory Free Pizza Promotions
This Pizza Hut National Pizza Party Day Promotion is Tasty
Virtual Car Meetups
7-Eleven is Inviting Fans to Meet Virtually in Fortnite
Cross-Cuisine QSR Bento Boxes
The McDonald’s Makunouchi Bento Was Debuted for April Fool's Day
Video Game Refreshment Campaigns
The Suntory x Super Mario Campaign is Playful
Gamer Energy Promotions
Xbox Launches a New Promotion with Besthesda Softworks and Lucozade
Influencer Snack Bar Campaigns
Nature Valley Launches a Social-Oriented Digital Marketing Campaign
Unknown Birthday Campaigns
Grey Bangladesh & Tasty Treat Address a Significant Issue in Bangladesh
Spooky Seasonal Soda Promotions
This Fanta Halloween Promotion Offers the Biggest Rewards Yet
Matrimonial Onion Ring Giveaways
BurgerFi is Celebrating Couples on National Onion Ring Day
Spicy Virtual Restaurants
The Hot Ones Pop-Up Restaurant Puts Taste Buds to the Test
Music-Inspired Campaigns
The New Pepsi Campaign Features Bad Bunny
Spicy Pepper QSR Foods
These Burger King Ghost Pepper Menu Items Pack the Heat
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Gamer-Targeted Snack Promotions
Doritos and Xbox Partnered to Celebrate the Release of Starfield
Kindness-Promoting Marketing Campaigns
Once Upon a Coconut Launches 1 Million Acts of Kindness
Blockbuster Shopping Campaigns
Walmart Reunited the Mean Girls Cast for Its Black Friday Ads
Cinco de Mayo Campaigns
Cuervo with Haley Lu Richardson on a Celebratory Campaign
Record-Breaking Cheese Pulls
Doritos Performed the Highest Ever Cheese Pull for National Guac Day
Condiment-Celebrating Hot Dog Ads
HEINZ Just Launched the 'Hot Dogs are Not a Contest' Movement
QSR Movie Merch Collections
Arby’s x GOOD BURGER 2 Merch Celebrates the Upcoming Movie
One-Cent Soda Promotions
The Wendy's Penny Pops Promotion Offers Almost Free Refreshments
Cheeky Series Star Campaigns
MTN DEW Debuts a New Superbowl Ad with Aubrey Plaza
Flame-Grilled Billboards
This Fiery Billboard Promotes the Flame Grilled Whopper-Flavored Doritos
First-Taste Burger Boxes
McSpicy x Frank's RedHot Released "the Hottest Drop"
QSR-Created Fries Campaigns
Burger King is Testing the New Mozzarella Fries And Churro Fries
Pizza Craving Campaigns
Domino's Pizza and WorkInProgress Launch the Emergency Pizza Campaign
Vacation Rental Campaigns
Airbnb Debuts an Animated Ad That Celebrates Booking a Place to Yourself
Coronation-Themed British Sandwiches
Urban Eat Unveils Two Sandwiches Inspired by the Royals
Hilarious Fandom Cheese Campaigns
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Launches First-Ever Paid Ad Campaign
QSR-Backed Holiday Promotions
KFC Launches a Holiday Bucket and Merchandise Shop
Personalized Grocery Billboard Campaigns
Tesco Ireland Gets a New Live-Prompt Campaign
Rewritten Christmas Song Ads
Burger King UK's Hijacking Christmas Will Guide You to the Drive Thru
Tax-Deductible Snack Breaks
KitKat Created a One-Day Event for the End of the Tax Year
Red Carpet Chocolate Giveaways
Kinder Bueno Unveils Hollywood Screening Giveaway with Paramount
Film Partnership Snack Campaigns
Ruffles and Fast X Partnered on a New Campaign
Consumer-Driven QSR Menu Offerings
This Burger King Vote Encourages Fans to Have Their Say
Dressing-Celebrating Pizza Promotions
Jet's Pizza is Hosting RanchFest for National Ranch Day
Post-Football Holidays
Drumstick is Petitioning for #DrumstickMonday After the Big Game
Complimentary Sandwich QSR Promotions
Arby's Free Sandwich Month is Taking Place in April
Risk-Worthy Snack Ads
The Super Bowl Pringles Ad Shares a Snack That's Worth Getting Stuck With
Concert Ticket Giveaways
Susiecakes Recently Ran a Contest, Featuring Taylor Swift Tickets
Snacking Mishap Campaigns
The Other Hand by Cheetos Shows Snackers Who Refuse to Put the Bag Down
Halloween Pizza Promotions
TOOMBSTONE Pizza is Giving Away Pizzas to Jasons
Promotional Pizza Roll Deliveries
Totino’s Pizza Rolls Can Be Ordered on Super Bowl Sunday
Elf-Inspired Cars
Turo Debuts Elfmobiles in NYC to Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Elf Movie
Deserted Island Billboards
Silk & Spice Set Up a Billboard for Fans to Go and Find
Football Weekend QSR Promotions
The Wendy's Deal-ivery Promotion Offers Ample Deals
Plant-Based QSR Campaigns
Burger King's Confusing Times Campaign is Made with DAVID Madrid
Playful Dating Experiment Campaigns
Kraft's Swipe Right for Mayo Campaign Social Experiment
Celebratory Seasonal QSR Deals
Wendy's 12 Days of Holiday Deals Gets Customers Ready for Christmas
Cow-Themed QSR Campaigns
Chick-fil-A Debuts a New Virtual Game and Merchandise Collection
Adorable Cartoon-Themed QSR Meals
McDonald's Hello Kitty Prosperity Meal Celebrates 50th Year
Hobby-Funding Sweepstakes
Starburst's Pink Passion Protection Program Fuels Creativity with Cash
Standalone Celebrity Popcorn Brands
Rob's Backstage Popcorn Split-Off as its Own Brand
Individual Nugget QSR Campaigns
The McDonald's Chicken McNuggets of Love Promotion is Celebratory
Billboard Design Competitions
Halo Burger is Hosting a Billboard Design Contest for a Scholarship
Happiness-Prioritizing QSR Campaigns
Dave & Buster's Launches the 'Adult Unlearn' Summer Campaign
Content-Inspired QSR Meals
McDonald's As Featured In Meal Takes After Meals in Movies and More
Christmasy Convenience Retailer Promotions
The 7-Eleven Holiday Deals are Here for 2023
Theme Park Juice Promotions
The Capri-Sun 'World of Jumanji' Promotion is Adventurous
Pizza-Themed Beer Promotions
This Old Golden Hen Promotion Offers Wood-Fired Pizza Ovens
Complimentary QSR Item Events
The Jack in the Box 24 Days of Jackmas Promotion Arrives in December
Seasonal Grocer Celebrations
Natural Grocers AUTUMNFEST Offers Ample Discounts
Hot Sauce Branding Campaigns
Taco Bell is Letting Consumers Vote for Hot Sauce Sayings
Name-Based Sandwich Campaigns
The Firehouse Subs Name Of The Day Promotion Rewards Customers
Recipe Delivery Promotions
The Gousto The Battle of the Buns Range is Arriving with a Promotion
Festive Value-Minded Retail Campaigns
The Spar BIG Deal of Christmas Campaign Launches This Month
Fall-Themed Burger Menus
These New Wayback Burgers Menu Items Come in Three Options
Mobile Weenie Wedding Chapels
Oscar Mayer Made a Mobile Wedding Chapel for Springtime Ceremonies
Celebratory Pretzel Brand Initiatives
The Philly Pretzel Factory Celebrated Its 25th Anniversary
New Year Sandwich Promotions
This Urban Eat On-Pack Promo Offers Hundreds of Prizes Up for Grabs
Retailer-Rewarding Brand Promotions
This PepsiCo Retailer Competition is Running in the UK
Festive Chip Campaigns
KETTLE Chips' Christmas Campaign Features 24 Days of Prizes