Successful TV spots are always known for their attention-grabbing and memorable quality -- whether pulling at viewers' heart strings or making them laugh unexpectedly -- and these September 2016 commercials do just that.
In addition to standouts like comedic air safety ads that parody pre-flight instruction videos, other notable examples include parody reality show competitions that are actually used to promote a popular cereal. Additionally funny kid's fashion ads are another standout that make young viewers in anticipation of back to school shopping trips.
When looking at the month's more sentimental ads, notable examples include empowering Muslim campaigns that dispel negative stereotypes linked to religion and gender along with friendship-themed auto commercials that simultaneously celebrate the latest Olympic games in Rio.
Top 80 Commercial Trends in September
75
Future Olympian Ads
This 'Fatherly' Ad Shows Kids with Incredible Talent and Supportive Parents
74
Parody Pop Ads
In Reference to a Cindy Crawford Pepsi Ad, 'SumOfUs' Reveals the Brand's Eco Damage
73
Retro Automobile Ad Collections
'Automobile Design Graphics' Gathers Artful 20th Century Brochures
72
Parent-Centered Cannabis Ads
The CDPHE Tells Parents to Educate Their Kids on Safe Marijuana Use
71
Theatrical Flavor Commericals
These Texas Pete Ads Show the Power of the Flavor Its Products Offer
70
Poetic Multicultural Smartphone Ads
This iPhone Commercial Features the Voice of Maya Angelou
69
Vertical Video Ads
The 'Flipboard' App Has a New Video Feature for Advertisers
68
Identity-Celebrating Ads
This Clairol Hair Color Ad Stars Transgender Model Tracey Norman
67
Criminal Car Rental Ads
This Commercial Features Prisoners Escaping with a Rented Car
66
Scanning App Commercials
This Commercial Was Created for a Scanning App Targeted at Students
65
Personified Food Pop-Ups
This Human Fast Food Vending Machine Surprises People at a Laundromat
64
Pleasure-Focused Chocolate Commercials
This Dove Chocolate Ad Follows a Woman Living for Pleasure
63
Marginalized Athlete Ads
Powerade's Ad Tributes Shakur Stevenson's Rise to the Olympics
62
Anti-Abuse Beer Ads
'Cerveza Tecate' Defines Men By How They Treat Women in This Commercial
61
Visualized Home Temperature Commercials
Mitsubishi Electric's Ads Show Custom Home Temperatures
60
Shakespearean Toothpaste Commercials
Crest's Back-to-School Ad Touts the Benefits of Oral Care
59
Abandoned Shopping Cart Ads
'RetailMeNot' Humorously Depicts Unpurchased Online Shopping Carts
58
Comedic Kids' Fashion Ads
This Old Navy Back to School Ad Features Amy Schumer as the Cool Aunt
57
Animal-Themed Olympic Ads
The BBC Sport Olympic Ad Features Jungle Animals Performing Athletics
56
Promoted Social Media Videos
Pinterest is Rolling out a 'Promoted Videos' Feature for Advertisers
55
360-Degree Fragrance Films
Charlotte Tilbury's Debut Fragrance is Being Teased with a VR Film
54
Friendship-Themed Auto Ads
Toyota's Olympic Campaign Celebrates the Beauty of Friendship
53
Realistic Back-to-School Ads
The New Staples Ad Deals with Kids Destroying Their School Supplies
52
Confessional Canine Campaigns
Schmackos' 'Canine Confessions' Hears from Different Breeds
51
Split-Screen Luxury Ads
The Seabourn Cruise Line Ad Shows the Unique Experiences Offered Onboard
50
Unconventional Beauty Ads
This Dove Commercial Follows the Story of an Androgynous Model
49
Fast Food Luggage Ads
Bojangles Gave Travelers Full Meals on Airport Luggage Conveyor Belts
48
Enchanting Theme Park Ads
The 'Wongderland' Commercials Show Services That are Made from Dreams
47
Boundary-Pushing Olympic Ads
Nike's 'Unlimited' Campaign Goes Beyond the Brand's Signature Tagline
46
80s Feline Commercials
'Temptations' Uses Nostalgia & a Cat Band to Promote its Kitty Treats
45
Sporty Social Media Campaigns
Ford's New Snapchat Ad Plays on the Spirit of the Olympic Games
44
Monstrous Corn Dog Ads
Foster Farm's Commercial Depicts a Small Boy with a Huge Appetite
43
Cat-Centered Car Ads
Honda's Cat Ads Show Furry Felines Falling in Love with Vehicles
42
Heartfelt Ramadan Taxi Ads
This 'Go-Jek' Ad Focuses on Families to Show the Importance of Drivers
41
Media-Mocking Soccer Ads
This adidas Commercial References Media Soccer Coverage Satirically
40
Multi-Role Phone Commercials
Christoph Waltz Humorously Portrays the New Samsung Phone's Many Uses
39
Targeted Insurance Ads
'CoverFox' Hunted Users to Bombard Them with Funny Insurance Reminders
38
Personified Beef Ads
This Wendy's Commercial Shows That Frozen Beef Patties Aren't Welcome
37
Kid-Driven Car Ads
BMW Korea Got Little Kids to Drive a Car Around a Race Track
36
80s School Supply Ads
This Walmart Commercial Shows Kids Reinterpreting a Whitesnake Song
35
Olympic Outfitter TV Ads
This Commercial Showcases Ralph Lauren's Olympic Apparel
34
Simplified Furniture Ads
'Let's Relax' by IKEA Reminds That Furniture is Meant to Be Functional
33
Humorous Innuendo Ads
SiriusXM Canada's 'Dick's Pizza' Ad is a Cheeky Way to Promote a Contest
32
Adventurous Telecom Campaigns
Rogers' 'Roam Like Home' Campaign Spotlights International Coverage
31
Cannabis Drink Commercials
This Ad for the 'Legal' Drink Explores Flavor Through Song
30
Smartphone Storage Jab Ads
Google Photos' Ad for 'Free Up Space' Teases iPhone Users
29
Slow Motion Clothing Commericals
Uniqlo Lifewear's Ad Considers Why People Wear What They Do
28
Forgettable Celebrity Ads
Footlocker Uses C-List Stars to Prove That It's Important to "Stand Out"
27
Inconsiderate Donor Ads
'Donate Life' Shows Even Rude People Can Save Lives with Organ Donation
26
Undercooked Chicken PSAs
This Campaign Warns Consumers About the Dangers of Undercooked Chicken
25
Rapper Apparel Commercials
The YG 4HUNNID Collection Was Showcased with a Promotional Music Video
24
Luxe Pop-Up Commericals
The Givenchy Essentials Video Preps Consumers for a Temporary Tokyo Store
23
Familial Fast Food Commercials
McDonald's South Africa Focuses on Sibling Love in This Commercial
22
Celebrity Music Video Ads
Football and Grime Come Together in This New adidas Commercial
21
Sweaty Olympic Ads
Gatorade Sweat is a Selling Point for Its Beverage in This Commercial
20
Olympic Payment Technology Ads
The Olympics Commercial Shows the Ways Customers Can Pay With Visa
19
Car-Focused Clothing Ads
This Commercial Considers the Outcome of Dressing Well Everyday
18
Empowering Muslim Campaigns
Hijup.com Shows How Women Wearing Hijabs are Fighting Controversy
17
Celebrity Storytelling Ads
'Wild Turkey Bourbon' Shows Its History Through Authentic Short Films
16
Emotional Pregnancy Vitamin Ads
Elevit Exposes How Chinese Mothers Have to Go to Ultrasounds Alone
15
Collegiate Computer Campaigns
Windows 10's 'College Students' Ad Depicts Two Regular Students
14
Puppy Origin Commercials
The Humane Society of the US Exposes the Sad Prevalence of Puppy Mills
13
Travel-Oriented Olympic Ads
Air Canada's 'Fly the Flag' Ad Celebrates the Beauty of Travel
12
Child-Written Promotional Campaigns
Target's Back-to-School Ads were Written and Directed by Kids
11
Customer-Focused Rental Ads
Enterprise UK Emphasizes Customer Service Through Cultural Differences
10
Anti-Vegetable Burger Ads
This Video Promotes the Complete Lack of Greens in the Wendy's Baconator
9
Olympic-Inspired Cereal Ads
This Ad Features the Lucky Charms Leprechaun Helping a Pole Vaulter
8
Anti-Police Brutality Campaigns
Campaign Zero's Star-Studded PSA Addresses US Racial Injustice
7
Auditory Tequila Campaigns
This Herradura Tequila Ad Visualizes the 'Sound of Smoothness'
6
Unbranded Beer Commercials
The 'Golden Challenge' Ad Features Long Jump Record Holder Bob Beamon
5
Designer-Focused Furniture Ads
This Video Tributes the People Featured in the New IKEA Catalogue
4
Comedic Air Safety Videos
Air New Zealand Promotes Safe Flying Through a Hollywood Parody
3
Stereotype-Defying Healthcare Ads
Planned Parenthood Highlights Its Health Services in This Ad
2
Missing Letter Ads
NHS Blood and Transplant Drop Letters from Everyday Signs to Encourage Donors
1
Comprehensive Clinic Commercials
The New Planned Parenthood Ad Reveals the Clinic's Many Services
Related Ideas
Nostalgia-Driven Cereal Promotions
Kellogg’s Toy Story 5 Cereal Boxes Reintroduce In-Pack Toys
Toy-Doll-Starring Travel Spots
Expedia Debuts its 'Going Places with Ken' Campaign
Summer Soda Brand Campaigns
Sprite 'Turns Up the Refreshment' With its Immersive Campaign
Back-To-School Period Care Campaigns
Clean Period Care Brand Cora Launches Its First Commercial
Gen Z Advertising Initiatives
Tubi Targets Younger Viewers with Ad Innovations at IAB NewFronts
Festival-Inspired Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Burberry Celebrates the Energy of British Music Culture
Nostalgic Y2K-Inspired Commercials
Dove Reinterprets 'Don't Cha' with the 'Hot Like Us' Campaign
Diversity-Celebrating Brand Campaigns
Champion Launches a Global ‘Champions for Champion’ Campaign
Data-Driven Sports Culture Ads
Air Transat's OOH Campaign Compares and Contrasts Ticket Prices
Chef-Made Ready Meals
Convenience Food Brand Hide Launches Its First OOH Campaign
Telenovela-Inspired Safety Videos
Philippine Airlines Unveiled 'Care That Comes From The Heart’
Subtly Spooky Halloween Decor
The Target 2025 Halloween Collection Debuted Ahead of Summer
Nostalgically Shot Fashion Campaigns
Celine Debuts Its Pre-Fall 2026 Advertising Campaign
Next-Gen Jelly Bean Campaigns
Jelly Belly Bean Appétit Entices a New Generation of Fans
Fashion-Inspired Food Marketing
Magnum Blends Beauty, Music and Luxury Culture into Its Brand
Halloween Essentials Campaigns
IKEA Turns Home Essentials into Shields for Scary-Movie Nights
Cinematic Indian Food Ads
Chef Bombay Debuts Its Latest Campaign — Summer Spice
Supermarket Tourism Campaigns
K-Supermarket's Tripadvisor Listings Share a Taste of Food Culture
Gen-Z-Targeted Phone Spots
Samsung Spotlights the Galaxy S25 Ultra in its 'Recipe Ideas' Ad
Globalized Tournament Campaigns
Coca-Cola Debuts 'Uncanned Emotions' for the 2026 World Cup
Urban Landscape-Inspired Campaigns
The Casablanca Fall 2025 Advertising Campaign is Interesting
Licensed Flavor Collaborations
Conagra Blends Celebrity and Brand Partnerships Into Snacks
Festive Snack Packaging Designs
Kellanova Debuts Its Seasonal Assortment of Snacks
Telenovela-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Big Game Ad Airs Ahead of Halftime
Fun-First Self-Care Commercials
Tree Hut is Making Its Super Bowl Ad Debut with Uncontain Yourself
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
Self-Discovery Soda Ads
Pepsi The Choice Features a Polar Bear Finding His Taste Preference
Artistic Hip-Hop-Inspired Cereal Campaigns
Froot Loops Launches 'Follow Your Ears'
Gut-Healthy Cereal Campaigns
Raisin Bran's Will Shat with William Shatner Tackles the Fiber Gap
Consumer-Focused Packaging Strategies
Hershey's Unveils Elevated Packaging at Sweets & Snacks Expo
Family-Focused Cleaning Campaigns
ECOS Celebrates Life's Beautiful Chaos with Little Messes Ad
Dessert-Shot Fashion Campaigns
Stella McCartney's Summer 2026 Campaign is Shot in Qatar
TV-Inspired Detergent Campaigns
Tide Draws Parallels Between Stranger Things & Letters to Tide
Cheeky Baking Apparel
Betty Crocker Turns Cake Mix Nostalgia Into Wearable Merchandise
Youth Culture-Inspired Back-To-Campus Ads
Urban Outfitters Launches 'All Together Now'
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Decluttered Ad Campaigns
IKEA Unpackaged Goods Organizes Branded Products into Storage Containers
Absurd Gummy Ads
Skittles Gummies' "Uncomfortably Soft" Ads Were Shot Without AI and CGI
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
Kickoff Footwear Commercials
Skechers' Big Game Ad Stars Sofía Vergara
Month-Long Sales Competition
Bazooka Brands® Teases The Great Candy Battle: MomTok Edition
Gen Z Soda Campaigns
Enjoy the Moment with a Coca‑Cola Targets a Generation That Wants to Unplug
Music Scene-Informed Luxury Campaigns
Burberry Taps Twiggy for Spring 2026 Advertising Campaign
Urban Commute-Inspired Campaigns
Burberry's Fall 2026 Campaign Takes Cues from the London Commute
Cinematic Condiment Campaigns
Mike's Hot Honey Has Debuted Its First National Advertising Campaign
Fiber-Focused Cereal Campaigns
This WK Kellogg Co National Cereal Day Campaign Celebrates Fiber
Sensorial Soda Campaigns
Sprite's 'Hurts Real Good With Sprite' Targets Gen Z
Fiber-Focused Cereal Ads
Raisin Bran Uses its Super Bowl Spotlight To Promote Gut Health
Sophisticated Cinematic Ad Campaigns
Church’s Fall 2026 Advertising Campaign Taps Theo James
Esteem-Boosting Campaigns
The Dove Super Bowl Ad Champions Girls’ Body Confidence in Sports
Paparazzi-Style Cereal Shots
Photos of William Shatner Eating Raisin Bran Tease a Big Game Ad
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
After-Dark Pizza Ads
Morrisons' Market Street Halloween Pizza Ads Transform at Night
Nostalgic Summer Snacks
Entenmann's Launches Childhood-Inspired Seasonal Treats
Trash-Centric Musical Campaigns
The Glad x Sesame Street Collab Stars Oscar the Grouch
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Back-To-School Fashion Campaigns
JCPenney Introduced its 'Back-to-It' Campaign
Cartoon-Branded Auto Releases
Chrysler Spotlights the Pacifica Minivan with the Iconic PEANUTS
Nostalgia Meal Campaigns
The Boomer King Menu Celebrates Retro Television Culture
Early Allergen Exposure Ads
The Square Baby Super Bowl Spot Promotes a Science-Backed Message
Seasonally Scented Personal Care
Old Spice Fallidudes Introduces Characters Like Frankenstud
Athlete-Backed Beverage Campaigns
PepsiCo and NFL Players Debut 'Tailgate Crashers'
80s-Inspired Bag Campaigns
BÉIS-ERCISE Spotlights a Bright New Color in BÉIS' Sport Collection
Wrestler-Themed Chocolate Commercials
This Tony’s Chocolonely Advertisement Spotlights Social Good
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
Chicken Wing Teasing Campaigns
This Pizza Hut Wings Campaign Pokes Fun at Competitors
Performance-Inspired Ad Campaigns
The McQueen Fall 2026 Advertising Campaign is Cinematic
Social-First Gameshows
This Year's Walkers' Do Us a Flavour Campaign Was Reimagined for TikTok
Coordinated Convenience-Focused Promotional Campaigns
7-Eleven Runs Promotions for Two Events
Throwback Grocery Campaigns
Economic Nostalgia Inspired Instacart's Summer Like It’s ‘99
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Football-Focused Sofa Campaigns
Pepsi Presents the Refresh the Game Campaign with Icons
Better-For-You Snack Campaigns
Catalina Snacks Debuts 'The Bright Side of Better' Campaign
Joyful Sport Campaigns
Dove's Super Bowl Ad, The Game Is Ours, Celebrates Girls' Confidence
No-Nonsense Frozen Snack Campaigns
Yasso's Foolproof Freezer Challenges April Fool's Day Pranks
Better-For-You Snack Branding
Unique Snacks Undergoes Another Brand Update
Summer Snacking Retailer Ranges
ALDI August Finds Embrace LTOs, Protein and Snack Culture
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
Pop Culture-Inspired Mayo Ads
Hellmann’s Releases 'Sweet Sandwich Time' Ahead of the Big Game
Convenient Meal Campaigns
Ben's Original Debuts Its New Campaign — Keep It Original
back-to-school retail campaigns
Target rolls out its back-to-school & back-to-college campaigns
Creative Eerie-Themed Soccer Campaigns
Nike Football Reimagines Soccer with 'Scary Good'
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'
Culinary Tradition Food Campaigns
The Merchant Gourmet 'Yes Chef!' Campaign is Running Now
High-Energy Chip Campaigns
Doritos Loaded Teams Up with Gordon Ramsay & George Russell
Autumnal Cartoon Cosmetic Collections
Native and Peanuts Partnered for a New Fall Collection
Limited-Edition Beer Campaigns
San Miguel launches a Limited-Edition Beer Campaign for Summer
Summerween-Themed Retail Ranges
These ALDI Summerween Products Embrace Warm Weather Autumn Vibes
90s-Era Snack Product Campaigns
The Pringles One You Pop Campaign Revives the Tagline for Gen Z
Condiment Portfolio Campaigns
Kraft Heinz Debuts Its United Tastes of America Campaign
Outdoor Cooking-Focused Campaigns
Solo Stove Debuts the 'Squash the Beef at the Big Game' Campaign
Subway Cabin Makeovers
British Airways NYC Subway Turns Commute into an In-Flight Experience
Low-Cost Back-to-School Campaigns
Target Back-to-School-idays Offers Discounts Up to 30%
Sports Advertising Moments
Genius Sports Found Emotional Sports Moments Can Double Ad Recall
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
Horror-Inspired Sports Campaigns
Nike Presents the Scary Good Campaign with Satire Themes
Star-Studded Cracker Commercials
RITZ Crackers' Will Debut RITZ Island at Super Bowl LX
Cinematic Cereal Branding
The Wheaties Marty Supreme Cereal Celebrates the Upcoming Movie
Celebrity-Supported Luxe Fashion Campaigns
BOSS Taps Renowned Public Figures for Fall 2025
Extra-Terrestrial Chocolate Ads
Kinder Bueno's Super Bowl Ad Makes a Moment "Yes Bueno"
Self-Expression Retail Campaigns
Tillys Marked Ten Months of Its Discover Your Style Campaign
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
Playful Football-Shaped Crackers
Mondelēz International's RITZ® Returns to the Big Game in 2026
Unbranded Sun Protection Campaigns
The Sun Responsibly Campaign Advocates for Daily UV Protection
Nostalgic Beauty Campaigns
Dove's #UnseenBeauty Initiative Challenges Y2K Beauty Standards
Festival-Themed Retail Snack Campaigns
Kellanova Announced Flavour Fest ’25 in the UK
Social Media-Inspired Salad Campaigns
The Florette #SaladTok Campaign Marks the Summer of Salads
Social-to-Outdoor Campaigns
Tribesigns Extends TikTok's Super Wish Campaign to Times Square
Ramadan-Focused Tech Campaigns
Hisense Delivers 'Innovation That Brings Us Together This Ramadan'
Airport Grocery Pop-Ups
Tesco's Back From Holiday Shop Meets Travelers at the Baggage Carousel
Sleepy Shopper Campaigns
Tre Stelle's Sleep Shopper Campaign Inspired Commuters to Wake Up
Seasonal Value Campaigns
Huey Magoo's Combines Value Meals with Collectible Cups
Premium Autumnal Treat Ranges
These Cadbury Halloween Products Come in a Variety of Options
Asian Film-Themed Promotions
Crocs Launches a Media-Themed Monsoon Campaign in Southeast Asia
Timely Actor-Backed Beer Campaigns
Miller Lite Debuts 'Legendary Moments Start with a Lite'
Island-Inspired Supplement Ads
Bucked Up Launches a Sizable Campaign Called 'Castaway'
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
City-Wide Comedy Campaigns
Cheez-It's Seize the Cheese this Fringe Activates Festival-Goers
British Autumn Campaigns
Burberry Debuted Its Soccer-Themed 'A Good Sport' Collection for Fall
Cheeky Celeb-Inspired Tool Campaigns
Bosch Launches 'Just a Guy' for the Super Bowl
Halloween Season Candy Campaigns
World Business Chicago is Promoting Chicago-Based Candy
Superstitious Soccer Campaigns
Sedano's Supermarkets Launched Where Superstitions Are Born
Interactive Traveler-Focused Campaigns
Tessan Will Spotlight the 100 Travelers Campaign
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Staycation-Themed Retailer Campaigns
Freemans 'Sunny Season' Campaign Focuses on Life at Home
Accessible Summertime Retailer Refreshments
The Latest Tesco Summer Food Range Has Over 230 Items
Accessible Customer Service Ads
Currys' 'Sigh of Relief' Campaign is Humorous and Inclusive
Visual Discovery Campaigns
Pinterest Autumn-Winter Ads Highlight Castlecore Dreams and Fuzzy Vibes
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform
International Traveler-Focused Campaigns
Brand USA Launches Two Complementary Campaigns