One of the main goals of effective marketing is to get consumers talking about your product, and it is from that philosophy that these provocative advertising efforts take their cues.
Featuring some of the most daring and controversial campaigns of recent history, this provocative advertising collection explores how sometimes, dancing dangerously close to the edge of propriety can produce some truly memorable messages.
Implications - Some of the memorable ads featured within this list include the cringe-worthy bite mark art ads, gritty celebvertising featuring Megan Fox and the hilarious seductive sumo advertising campaign. There is a lot of creativity that goes into creating these awesome ads, so sit back and enjoy advertising at its finest.
30 Provocative Advertising Efforts
30
Clutching Cancer Campaigns
The Love Yourself First Ads Get Touchy-Feely to Promote Awareness
29
Erotic Game Advertisements
These Phantasm Ads Feature Naughty Boy Thoughts
28
Ban-Inducing Advertising
Some Banned Superbowl 2011 Commercials Aim To Fail for Publicity
27
Hotel Debauchery Shoots
The Silencio Shoot by Lynsie Roberts is Devilishly Daring
26
Gritty Celebvertising
Armani SS11 Showcases All of Megan Fox's Best Assets
25
Animaltarian Advertisements
This Deutscher Tierschutz Message is Gory and True
24
Filthy Contraceptive Ads
This Muddy Tulipan Condoms Campaign Rings in Sensual Spring
23
Crime Boss Campaigns
The Kopenhagen Fur 2011 Promo Pics for Copenhagen Fashion Week
22
Chiseled Clothing Campaigns
The Abercrombie & Fitch SS11 Ads Star James Preston
21
Cannibalistic Caffeine Campaigns
These Cafe Taina Coffee Ads Keep You Alert
20
Bulletin Board Bombshell Ads
The Rag & Bone SS11 Campaign Invites Contact with Models
19
Clown's Play Prophylactics
L'eXtase Extra Long Condoms are Big Enough to Sculpt
18
Suggestive Heart-Shaped Branding
The 'Love Thy Body' Campaign is a Provocative Marketing Strategy
17
Bite Mark Art Ads
The Mint Z Advertisements Show Off Creative Chewing
16
Seductive Sumo Advertising
This 2011 Subaru Forester Commercial is Heavy-Hitting Hilarity
15
Steamy Sportswear Campaigns
The Puma Love Run Campaign Was a Daring Dash of a Marketing
14
Hitler-Esque Burlesque Ads
The Viktor Rydberg Cabaret Campaign is Tasteful Yet Revealing
13
Masochistic Health Marketing
The Cancer Society of Finland Army Ad Aims Where it Hurts
12
Bloody Holiday Branding
Gianfranco Pampaloni's Valentine's Day Store Display is Really Bizarre
11
Evil Candy Ads
The Aquafresh Milk Teeth Toothpaste Fights Little Kid Cavities
10
Trashy Burger Ads
The Heal the Bay Campaign by RLR Advertising Urges People to Recycle
9
Beautifully Tragic Zombie Trailers
This Dead Island Official Trailer Will Blow Your Mind
8
Controversial Junk Food Ads
The Doritos Super Bowl 2011 Commercial Raises Eyebrows
7
Shattered Alcoholism Ads
The Alcoolicos Anonimos De Minas Gerais Campaign Hits Hard
6
Crucified Contemporary Campaigns
These 'Museum MADRE' Ads Will Gather Attention
5
Banned Religion Ads
The Rejected Super Bowl Ad Featuring Christian Bible Readings
4
Steamy Celeb Advertising
This Kim Kardashian 2011 Super Bowl Sketchers Commercial is Racy
3
Misunderstood Auditory Ads
The 'Mini' Hearing Aid Ad is a Comical Way to Make You Listen
2
Dream-Wrecking Ads
The Psifter Mattress Commercial is the Humorous Truth
1
Unlikely Celebrity Spokespersons
The 2011 Super Bowl GoDaddy Commercial Features Joan Rivers
Related Ideas
Nostalgic Winter Intimates Campaigns
SKIMS' Holiday Campaign Was Inspired by Vintage Magazines
Horror-Themed Phone Campaigns
Samsung's Join the Flip Side Takes Cues from 90s Horror Movies
Sour Candy Challenges
1UP Candy's Kit Challenges Sour Candy Fans to Keep a Straight Face
Fabulous Fashion Ad Campaigns
The Balmain Spring 2024 Ad Campaign Features Gisele Bündchen
AI-Driven Dreamy Fashion Campaigns
ETRO's Spring 2024 Ad Campaign Uses Artificial Intelligence
Playful Pet Accident Campaigns
IKEA Unveils the Don't Worry, You Can Afford It Campaign
Celebrity-Fronted High-Fashion Campaigns
Versace's 2024 Icons Campaign Embodies the Brand's Ethos
Sneaker-Stealing Campaigns
Rob It To Get It by Distance Challenged Customers to Outrun a Sprinter
Anti-Consumption Natural Ads
The 'Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants' Ad Aims to Reducing Consumption
AI-Generated Fashion Campaigns
Casablanca Spring/Summer 2023 Conveys a Hopeful Future
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
Collage Art Footwear Campaigns
The Merrell 1TRL SS23 Campaign is Titled ‘My Trail’
Voting-Themed Fashion Ads
Reformation's 'You've Got the Power' Campaign Stars Monica Lewinsky
Distorted Burger Campaigns
Burger King's A.I.LLOWEEN Features Unsettling People Eating Burgers
Empowering Body-Confidence Sports Ads
Dove's 2024 Super Bowl Ad Will Inspire Young Girls
Non-AI Beauty Campaigns
The Code by Dove Fights Beauty Standards Manufactured by AI
Age-Appropriate Skincare Campaigns
Dove's #TheFaceof10 Addresses Unsafe Gen Alpha Skincare
Sporty Fashion Spring Campaigns
adidas Originals Introduces the 1000 Back Campaign
Employee Fragrance Campaigns
Lidl's Fragrance Campaign Features Local Talent with Celebrity Names
AI-Generated Soup Can Art
The Campbell’s 'pAIntings' Initiative is Inspired by Artistic Greats
Lazy Cereal Campaigns
SURREAL Cereal Cheekily Pokes Fun at New Year's Resolutions
Playful Graphic Streetwear Collections
DIVINITIES and BoTT Return with a New Stylish Drop
Cinematic New Year Campaigns
Prada Releases Its High-Fashion Campaign for Chinese New Year
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Heated QSR Anniversary Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Celebrates Milestone with a New Campaign
Moderate Drinking Campaigns
The Magic of Moderate Drinking Encourages Responsible Consumption
Fast Food-Inspired Beachy Campaigns
Leo Burnett Italia Unveils a New Summery McDonald's Campaign
Candid Furniture Campaigns
Life is Not an IKEA Catalog Shows a Different Side of Home Products
Curious Whiskey Campaigns
Four Roses' Don't Mention It Campaign Targets Younger Whiskey Drinkers
Advocate-Themed Cannabis Branding
Best Blnz's Branding is Created by Design Studio Pentagram
Authenticity-Emphasizing Beer Campaigns
Firestone Walker Brewing Company Launches This is 805 Beer
Naughty Holiday Campaigns
Diesel's XXXMas is Inspired by Erotic 90s Aesthetics
Provocative AR Campaigns
NotCo's 'Not So Happy Animals' Presents Food Logos in a New Light
Provocative Spread Pop-Ups
The Marmite Dark Room Entices Gen Z to Experience an Iconic Spread
Gen Alpha Marketing Campaigns
Claire's is Targeting TikTok Growth for its Latest Ads Spending
Cozy Luxury Winter Campaigns
The Burberry Winter 2023 Campaign Has Launched
Art Museum-Inspired Campaigns
Kachorovska's Latest Campaign is Located in a Ukranian Museum
Cinematic Fashion Campaigns
Norse Projects Partners with Mikkel Karstad for Its New Campaign
AI-Created Burger Ads
Burger King Had ChatGPT Generate a Poster to Clap Back at a Competitor
AI Travel Campaigns
Away's Extraordinary Is Out There Uses AI to Show Real-World Destinations
Scent-Inspired Streetwear
The Fresh af Collection Shares Styles That Celebrate 25 Years of Febreze
Architecture-Inspired QSR Ads
This New McDonald’s Campaign Encourages Eating at Home
Nudist-Themed Sporty Fashion Campaigns
PUMA and NOAH Join Forces on a New Collection
Connected Gamer Campaigns
Heineken's Just Another Night Out Shatters Anti-Social Stereotypes
Suggestive Spread Campaigns
The Marmite First Timers Campaign Targets Gen Z
Mental Health-Protective Films
Dove's Cost of Beauty: A Dove Film Protects Teen's Mental Health
Luxury-Inspired Chocolate Campaigns
The Toblerone 'Never Square' Campaign Takes a Cheeky Approach
Sporty Visual Fashion Campaigns
PUMA and NOAH Join Forces on a New Sporty Campaign Series
Craveable Soda Packaging
Sprite is Reviving Its Obey Your Thirst Campaign for a New Generation
Futuristic Shapewear Ads
Skims' First-Ever TV Ad, Skims Lab, Stars Kim Kardashian in Every Role
Indulgent Vodka Seltzers
PLAY HARD Seltzers Speak to a New Generation of Style & Flavor Seekers
Humorous Collab Fashion Campaigns
Barbour and Maison Kitsuné Launches a New Campaign
Fine Art-Inspired Fashion
Pacsun & The Met Collaborated on a Covetable Apparel Capsule
Inclusive Fragrance Campaigns
The 'Where Will They Take You' Campaign Highlights Influencers
Heiress-Created Homeware Collections
Walmart is Launching Paris Hilton's Be An Icon Collection
Star-Studded Luxe Fashion Campaigns
Alexander McQueen Presents its Dramatic FW23 Campaign
Cartoon Underdog Soda Campaigns
Tractor Beverage Company Launches a Moving New Campaign
Recycled Beer Bottle Ads
Corona's Campaigns Encourage Consumers to Recycle Empty Packaging
Sweating Billboards
Netflix's Billboard Conveys the Intense Action of Extraction 2
Smile-Reflecting Toothpaste Campaigns
Colgate & Oglivy Create the #FreeYourSmile campaign
Confetti-Filled Snacking Commercials
Frito-Lay Launches the Taste of Super Bowl Campaign
Supersized Delivery Sweepstakes
DoorDash's Big Game Ad Shares Stuff from All the Ads with a Winner
Celebrity-Fronted Fashion Campaigns
The New Calvin Klein Campaign Features Many Celebrities
Collossal Crocodile Campaigns
The Lacoste 'Play Big' Campaign Features Artists and Athletes
Creative-Backed Footwear Campaigns
G.H. Bass Introduces Its Stepping Out Campaign
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Cup-Stealing Clothing Collections
Stella Artois' Steal Artois Collection Honors Bar Culture
Rugged Legacy Beer Campaigns
Coors Banquet Reinvigorates Start Your Legacy Campaign
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Comfort-Focused Footwear Ads
The ALDO Spring 2024 Campaign Highlights Its Pillow Walk Technology
Reinvigorated Cognac Campaigns
Larsen Cognac Challenges Traditional Images & Outdated Views
Erectile Dysfunction Medication Ads
Phoenix Wants to Help Canadian Men ‘Rise Again’
Playful Creativity-Focused Campaigns
Sharpie® Launches the World is Your Canvas Tour
Humanitarian-Inspired Luxe Fashion Campaigns
Prada Presents In Conversation with a Flower for FW23
Maturity-Inspired Fashion Campaigns
Kachorovska Recently Launched Its Fall/winter 2023-24 Campaign
Adorable Holiday Campaigns
Burberry's Holiday Campaign Spotlights Dogs and Ducklings
Meme-Inspired Sauces
Heinz's Limited-Edition Sauce Drops Revisit Fleeting Moments of Fame
Unfiltered Beauty Campaigns
#NoFilterJustMilani Champions Beauty Online and in Real Life
Cringe-Worthy Photo Campaigns
Sour Patch Kids is Challenging Fans to Choose "Cringe or Candy"
Kindness-Encouraging Soda Campaigns
The Coca-Cola 'The World Needs More Santas' Ad is Festive
Syringe-Based Billboards
Dove's Injectable Billboard Addresses Toxic Beauty Standards
Gen X Candy Campaigns
Klondike's Bar-cade Campaign Engages Gen X Consumers
Nostalgic Fragrance Campaigns
Impulse & Frankie Bridge Faithfully Recreated Iconic 90s Looks
Empowering Fashion Films
Victoria's Secret World Tour Reimagines the Iconic Show as a Feature Film
Cheeky Martini Ads
Grey Goose's Classic Martini Cocktail Ad Pokes Fun at Celeb Creative Directors
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
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
Expansive Graphic-Detailed Streetwear
Drama Call Presents its New Collection for the Season
Shoppable Luxury Fashion Films
Tom Ford Allows Consumers to Seamlessly Shop Its Spring 2024 RTW
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
Cookie-Twisting Commercials
The OREO Super Bowl 2024 Spot Revisits Pivotal Moments in History
Swipable Curated Ad Inspiration
Swipify Lets Users Swipe Through the Latest Ad Campaigns
Influencer Snack Bar Campaigns
Nature Valley Launches a Social-Oriented Digital Marketing Campaign
Music-Inspired Campaigns
The New Pepsi Campaign Features Bad Bunny
Footballer-Backed Global Campaigns
Pepsi Unveils the 'Where There's a Ball There's a Way' Campaign
Conversational Campaign Creators
Creating Google Ads Campaigns is Simpler with AI Chat Features
Creator-Celebrating Campaigns
The Frito-Lay My Joy Campaign Celebrates Creators of All Backgrounds
Empowering Car Ads
CarMax's New Ad Campaign Takes a Witty Approach
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
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Authentic Fashion House Campaigns
Gucci's Spring/Summer 2024 Collection Celebrates Real Women
Condiment-Celebrating Hot Dog Ads
HEINZ Just Launched the 'Hot Dogs are Not a Contest' Movement
Irreverent Ethical Soap Campaigns
Pure Rush Soap's New Ad is a Fresh Take on Sustainable Branding
Orange Wine Campaigns
Nomadica's Skin Contact Campaign Shows the Fun, Sexy Side of Wine
Novela-Inspired Liqueur Ads
Kahlúa's Spots Bring Excitement to Everyday Occasions
Hyper-Local Gym Ads
GymBox's Made for London Life Ads Juxtapose City Living and Gym-Going
Cheeky Series Star Campaigns
MTN DEW Debuts a New Superbowl Ad with Aubrey Plaza
First-Taste Burger Boxes
McSpicy x Frank's RedHot Released "the Hottest Drop"
Vacation Rental Campaigns
Airbnb Debuts an Animated Ad That Celebrates Booking a Place to Yourself
Gut-Friendly Kombucha Campaigns
Health-Ade's Thrill Your Gut Highlights the Benefits of Kombucha
Perception-Redefining Brand Campaigns
Hennessy's Made for More Campaign Boasts a Striking Vision
Hilarious Fandom Cheese Campaigns
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Launches First-Ever Paid Ad Campaign
Celebrity-Backed Fragrance Ads
Axe Targets Generation Z with its New Star-Studded Campaign
Promotional Influencer Videos
Activision Recruits Multiple Creators to Appeal to Gen Z Consumers
Joy-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
Ulta Beauty Launches the Joy Project, a Ground-Breaking Study
Review-Based Marketing Campaigns
These Amazon Campaigns Bring Real Reviews To Life
Creature-Themed Graphic T-Shirts
Mr Jones Watches Debuts its First Line of Unisex T-Shirts
Pet-Inspired Proposal Initiatives
Chewy Celebrated Engaged Couples with Their Pets
Inclusive Chosen Family Campaigns
Calvin Klein's 'This Is Love' Campaign Emphasizes True Family
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
Cow-Themed QSR Campaigns
Chick-fil-A Debuts a New Virtual Game and Merchandise Collection
Provocative Caviar Brands
For National Caviar Day, the Caviar Category is Being Boldly Reinvented
London Creative Loafer Campaigns
G.H. Bass Taps Creatives for the Stepping Out Campaign
Happiness-Prioritizing QSR Campaigns
Dave & Buster's Launches the 'Adult Unlearn' Summer Campaign
Unconventional Foodie Magazines
Food& Magazine Explores the Weird and Wonderful World of Food
Celebratory Odd Designs
Ridiculous Design Celebrates Weird and Wonderful Ideas Within Design
Comforting Oat Bar Ads
Humanaut Launches a Campaign for Bobo's, Highlighting Home-Baked Taste
Cocktail-Inspired Togetherness Activations
Smirnoff's Global Connectivity Initiative Launched
Subtle Marketing Pop-Ups
FOMO Nudge Encourages Users to Buy with Subtle Pop-Ups
Grocery Store Ad Spots
Morrisons, the UK Supermarket Chain, Celebrates Its Low Pricing in This Ad
Empowering Summer Campaigns
Falabella Launched the Mi Cuerpo No Necesita Tu Opinión Campaign
Secure Firearm Campagins
The Ad Council, Brady, and Densu Unveil the Safe Stories Campaign
Boomer-Focused Voter Advertisements
Perth Creatives Launch the New Groom-a-Boomer Voting Campaign
Generative AI Beverage Ads
The Coca‑Cola® Masterpiece Campaign Leverages AI to Create Visual Magic