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
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
Playful Pet Accident Campaigns
IKEA Unveils the Don't Worry, You Can Afford It Campaign
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
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
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
Sporty Fashion Spring Campaigns
adidas Originals Introduces the 1000 Back Campaign
Employee Fragrance Campaigns
Lidl's Fragrance Campaign Features Local Talent with Celebrity Names
Hug-Activated Marketing Machines
UNIQLO France and The Pull Launch the Hug to Unlock Ad
Collossal Crocodile Campaigns
The Lacoste 'Play Big' Campaign Features Artists and Athletes
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
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
Eco-Minded Millennial Ads
Coors Seltzer's 'Call to Inaction' Campaign Aims to Save Water
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
Heat-Sensitive Vending Machines
Sprite's Vending Machine Drops a Drink When Temperatures Rise
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
Dynamic CGI Mascara Campaigns
Maybelline New York Unveils an Activation with a Giant Mascara
Branded Departure Boards
"Bumble Airlines" Promotes a Premium Dating App Feature
Experiential Mental Well-Being Events
Batiste's Refresh & Reflect Events Connect & Uplift Students
Cinematic Fashion Campaigns
Norse Projects Partners with Mikkel Karstad for Its New Campaign
AI Travel Campaigns
Away's Extraordinary Is Out There Uses AI to Show Real-World Destinations
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
Playful Restaurant Pop-Ups
The Play-Doh Restaurant of Imagination Turns Kids' Creations Edible
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
Sporty Visual Fashion Campaigns
PUMA and NOAH Join Forces on a New Sporty Campaign Series
Hydrating Outdoor Billboards
Gatorade's BPM Pay Panels Replenish Urban Athletees on the Go
Rapper Smokeless Fire Pit Ads
Snoop Dogg Partners with Solo Stove for Smokeless Fire Pit Campaign
Futuristic Shapewear Ads
Skims' First-Ever TV Ad, Skims Lab, Stars Kim Kardashian in Every Role
Soda Logo Rebranding Campaigns
Pepsi's New Logo Goes Across the Globe with a Bright Light Show
Humorous Collab Fashion Campaigns
Barbour and Maison Kitsuné Launches a New Campaign
Secret Salon Campaigns
Salon X Lets Consumers Experience a Secret Product Line
Heiress-Created Homeware Collections
Walmart is Launching Paris Hilton's Be An Icon Collection
Cartoon Underdog Soda Campaigns
Tractor Beverage Company Launches a Moving New Campaign
Streetwear-Branded Grills
The Supreme Grill is Yet Another Unexpected Release from the Brand
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Celebrity-Fronted Gardening Campaigns
Miracle-gro Introduces the Gro Like Martha Campaign
AI-Powered QSR Campaigns
allplants Leverages AI To Transforms Fast-Food Ads
Sweating Billboards
Netflix's Billboard Conveys the Intense Action of Extraction 2
Smile-Reflecting Toothpaste Campaigns
Colgate & Oglivy Create the #FreeYourSmile campaign
Condiment Spill Insurance Campaigns
Heinz Introduces the Ketchup Insurance Initiative
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
Traveling Fine Art Campaigns
EasyJet's Get Out There Features Mona Lisa, The Thinker and More
Creative-Backed Footwear Campaigns
G.H. Bass Introduces Its Stepping Out Campaign
Travel-Focused Marketing Guides
TikTok Debuts a Playbook for Travel Marketers to Foster Engagement
Reinvigorated Cognac Campaigns
Larsen Cognac Challenges Traditional Images & Outdated Views
Immersive Hybrid Billboards
Meta's Halloween Thrillboards Tease Immersive Meta Quest 3 Experiences
Idol Singer Breakfast Promotions
Mos Burger Offers Dining Experience with Idols via AR
Extraterrestrial Influencer Campaigns
MoonPie's Alien Acquisition Shares Ads for Extraterrestrials
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
Playful Creativity-Focused Campaigns
Sharpie® Launches the World is Your Canvas Tour
Coronation-Themed Sex Toy Campaigns
This SexToys.co.uk Campaign Cheekily Promotes Pleasure
Cringe-Worthy Photo Campaigns
Sour Patch Kids is Challenging Fans to Choose "Cringe or Candy"
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
Integrated Influencer Marketing Platforms
SocialTalk Helps Users Discover, Track, and Connect
QSR Burger Chain Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Unveils the Whopper Island Rebranding
Retro Family Photoshoots
Blue Bunny is Inviting Families to Pop-Up 90s-Themed Photoshoots
Empowering Fashion Films
Victoria's Secret World Tour Reimagines the Iconic Show as a Feature Film
Wasteful Shopping Billboards
Not On The High Street's Billboards Highlight a "Don't Gift Guide"
Secondhand Fashion Editorials
Vinted Styled a Shoot Exclusively with Vinted Finds
Virtual Pub Museums
Heineken Pub Museums Spotlight Important Cultural Locations
Sustainable Festival Stands
Mentos' Pure Fresh Gum Stand Will Be Repurposed Post-Use
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
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
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
Inspiring Daily Bodycare
method's Unleash Your Inner Shower Celebrates Personal Transformations
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
Colorful Vivid Small Automobiles
Fiat Presents a New Colorful Update Transforming its Grey Cars
Offline Newspaper Publications
County Highway Revives Print Culture
Luxury Auto-Branded Travel Experiences
The Porsche Travel Experience is Available in Canada
Multifaceted Swimsuit Cover Models
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Enlists Martha Stewart on its Cover
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Empowering Car Ads
CarMax's New Ad Campaign Takes a Witty Approach
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Playful Travel Fashion Campaigns
The FOSSIL Made For This Campaign Celebrates the Brand's Heritage
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
Irreverent Ethical Soap Campaigns
Pure Rush Soap's New Ad is a Fresh Take on Sustainable Branding
Novela-Inspired Liqueur Ads
Kahlúa's Spots Bring Excitement to Everyday Occasions
Kindness-Promoting Marketing Campaigns
Once Upon a Coconut Launches 1 Million Acts of Kindness
Hyper-Local Gym Ads
GymBox's Made for London Life Ads Juxtapose City Living and Gym-Going
Second Chance Campaigns
eos' Second First Kiss Gives Consumers a Shot at a Do-Over
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"
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
Banned Books Campaigns
Penguin Random House is Hitting the Road with Three Other Organizations
Community-Driven Clothing Companies
'Bombas' Makes a Donation for Each Item Purchased
Digital Audio-Visual Exhibitions
'Future Shock' by 180 Studios and FACT Magazine is Online
Hilarious Fandom Cheese Campaigns
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Launches First-Ever Paid Ad Campaign
Pop Culture-Inspired Rentals
Airbnb Unveils the New 'Icons' Experiences for Short-Term Guests
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
Offline Shopping Campaigns
'Shop Offline' Helps People Rediscover the Joy of Real-World Shopping
Youth Intern Social Stunts
Louis Vuitton Hires a 13 Year Old Intern After Sketches Went Viral
Promotional Influencer Videos
Activision Recruits Multiple Creators to Appeal to Gen Z Consumers
Empowering Visual Content Campaigns
Getty Images and Hiki Launches #AutisticOutLoud
Branded Pregnancy Scans
Marmite is Inviting Parents to Discover the Nature of Their Unborn Child
Review-Based Marketing Campaigns
These Amazon Campaigns Bring Real Reviews To Life
Sitcom-Style Thanksgiving Campaigns
Whipshots & Patti’s Good Life Teamed Up to Make New Traditions
Snacking Mishap Campaigns
The Other Hand by Cheetos Shows Snackers Who Refuse to Put the Bag Down
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
April Fool's Lifestyle Collections
Nugget Introduced Its 'Most Trendiest - High Endiest' Line Yet
Hand Sanitizing Stadium Campaigns
Shimmy Launched an OOH Campaign at Gillette Stadium
Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters
Wunderman Thompson Morocco Creates the Life-Saving Outdoors
Happiness-Prioritizing QSR Campaigns
Dave & Buster's Launches the 'Adult Unlearn' Summer Campaign
Ad-Focused Reaction Tools
Wunderman Thompson Launches 'Reveal' for Gauging Audience Responses
Celebratory Odd Designs
Ridiculous Design Celebrates Weird and Wonderful Ideas Within Design
Mental Health Branding Initiatives
L.L.Bean Digitally Detoxed for Mental Health Awareness Month
Music Content Campaign Tools
Spotify Presents the Showcase Tool for Artists to Promote
Thermostat-Themed Snack Contests
Hot Pockets is Inviting People to Turn Up the Heat This Season
Comforting Oat Bar Ads
Humanaut Launches a Campaign for Bobo's, Highlighting Home-Baked Taste
Wasp Perspective Beauty Campaigns
Boots Launches its Perfectly Imperfect Campaign Video
Cocktail-Inspired Togetherness Activations
Smirnoff's Global Connectivity Initiative Launched
Playful Hamburger Campaigns
McDonald's is Asking the Public to Catch Hamburglar in the Burgercuda
Grocery Store Ad Spots
Morrisons, the UK Supermarket Chain, Celebrates Its Low Pricing in This Ad
Flaming Fare Dining Experiences
This Flaming Grill Dining Experience Requires Protective Gear
Sweat-Themed Comedy Specials
Secret Clinical Deodorant Hosted a Live Comedy Special