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
Unsightly Oatmeal Campaigns
The Quaker 'Deliciously Ugly' Campaign Celebrates Oatmeal
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
Nostalgic Kitchen Campaigns
Frigidaire is Running the Cheeky 'Daire to Expect More' Campaign
Humorous Menswear Ads
Men’s Wearhouse Goes Full Funny with its 'Love the Way You Look' Campaign
Gen Z Advertising Initiatives
Tubi Targets Younger Viewers with Ad Innovations at IAB NewFronts
Heartwarming Bank Campaigns
Chase's Next Thing You Know Campaign Captures a Full Life
Festival-Inspired Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Burberry Celebrates the Energy of British Music Culture
Authentic Mother's Day Commercials
Amazon Boxes Take Center Stage in a Heartfelt Campaign
Humorous Fun-Forward Ads
Six Flags Rolls Out Its 'Funsultant' Campaign to Prove Fun Is Serious
Nostalgic Y2K-Inspired Commercials
Dove Reinterprets 'Don't Cha' with the 'Hot Like Us' Campaign
Pristine Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's All Flavour, No Mess Spotlights a Tidy Snack
Diversity-Celebrating Brand Campaigns
Champion Launches a Global ‘Champions for Champion’ Campaign
Telenovela-Inspired Safety Videos
Philippine Airlines Unveiled 'Care That Comes From The Heart’
Athlete-Starring Footwear Campaigns
DICK’S Sporting Goods Unveiled its 'Speed Shopping' Campaign
Subtly Spooky Halloween Decor
The Target 2025 Halloween Collection Debuted Ahead of Summer
Individuality-Focused Brand Campaigns
Adidas Originals' New Campaign Champions Timeless Classics
Unusual Fast Food Ads
KFC’s ‘Believe’ Campaign Ad Pushes Chicken Obsession to New Heights
Halloween Essentials Campaigns
IKEA Turns Home Essentials into Shields for Scary-Movie Nights
Gen-Z-Targeted Phone Spots
Samsung Spotlights the Galaxy S25 Ultra in its 'Recipe Ideas' Ad
Urban Landscape-Inspired Campaigns
The Casablanca Fall 2025 Advertising Campaign is Interesting
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
Humorous Mens Fragrance Campaigns
A New Axe Campaign Takes Sweetness to Absurd New Heights
Delivery Driver-Centric Pizza Ads
Pizza Hut's New Commercial is Cheeky and Playful
Brighton Retail Launch Ads
IKEA Brighton Uses Seagull Splatter Campaign to Win Local Attention
Retail Advertising Campaigns
IKEA Hides Price Tags to Highlight Material Quality in a New Campaign
Artistic Hip-Hop-Inspired Cereal Campaigns
Froot Loops Launches 'Follow Your Ears'
Self-Discovery Soda Ads
Pepsi The Choice Features a Polar Bear Finding His Taste Preference
Cheeky Sports-Inspired Diaper Campaigns
Huggies Aligns Family Planning with a Major Sports Event
Gut-Healthy Cereal Campaigns
Raisin Bran's Will Shat with William Shatner Tackles the Fiber Gap
Real Mashed Potato Campaigns
Idahoan Foods Debuted the 'Get Real' Campaign
Humorous Soda Ads
Jelly Roll x Zevia Bring a Nostalgic Twist to Soda Ads with a Hilarious New Spot
Consumer-Focused Packaging Strategies
Hershey's Unveils Elevated Packaging at Sweets & Snacks Expo
AI-Embracing Asian Cuisine Ads
The Teriyaki Madness What's with Bob? Ad Was Created with Genre.ai
Cheeky Food-Focused Soda Campaigns
The 'Share a Pepsi' Campaign Encourages Pairing with Food
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Family-Focused Cleaning Campaigns
ECOS Celebrates Life's Beautiful Chaos with Little Messes Ad
TV-Inspired Detergent Campaigns
Tide Draws Parallels Between Stranger Things & Letters to Tide
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
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Pop Culture-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
Peter Thomas Roth Taps 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'
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
Cake-Themed Commercials
KFC Thailand’s Birthday Ad Turns the World Into Cake
Gen Z Soda Campaigns
Enjoy the Moment with a Coca‑Cola Targets a Generation That Wants to Unplug
Satirical Skincare Campaigns
Sephora Launches 'Skin Obsessed' Campaign with Taika Waititi
Feel-Good Ad Campaigns
Pella’s 'Make Life Brighter' Campaign Celebrates Home and Comfort
Refreshing Basketball-Themed Beverage Campaigns
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Debuts a Fan-Focused Campaign
Cinematic Condiment Campaigns
Mike's Hot Honey Has Debuted Its First National Advertising Campaign
Iconic High Fashion Campaigns
Veronica Beard's Fall 2025 Fashion Campaign is Tilted Iconic
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
Nostalgic TV Bakery Campaigns
The Panera Fall for Your Favorites Meal is Here for Autumn
Music Scene-Informed Luxury Campaigns
Burberry Taps Twiggy for Spring 2026 Advertising Campaign
Traveling Fashion Showcases
The Guess Bus in Sydney is an Example of Experimental Marketing
Mobile Device Durability Ads
The Apple 'Trust Issues' Ad Showcases the iPhone 16 Ceramic Shield
Fiber-Focused Cereal Ads
Raisin Bran Uses its Super Bowl Spotlight To Promote Gut Health
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
Esteem-Boosting Campaigns
The Dove Super Bowl Ad Champions Girls’ Body Confidence in Sports
Revived 90s Commercials
Gushers' FruitHead Short Horror Film Reimagines a Nostalgic Ad
Humorous Healthcare Campaigns
Zocdoc And 72andSunny Reframe Doctor Search With Playful Anxiety
Heart-Warming Pet Owner Campaigns
The CESAR 'Love Like Crazy' Campaign Showcases Pet Owner Love
After-Dark Pizza Ads
Morrisons' Market Street Halloween Pizza Ads Transform at Night
Trash-Centric Musical Campaigns
The Glad x Sesame Street Collab Stars Oscar the Grouch
No-Nonsense Frozen Snack Campaigns
Yasso's Foolproof Freezer Challenges April Fool's Day Pranks
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
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'
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
Reimagined Classic Beer Campaigns
Guinness Gives 'A Lovely Day' a Modern Artistic Refresh
Comedic Body Wash Ads
Moist Humor by Dove Debuted During SNL50: the Anniversary Special
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
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
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
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Better-For-You Snack Branding
Unique Snacks Undergoes Another Brand Update
Convenient Meal Campaigns
Ben's Original Debuts Its New Campaign — Keep It Original
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
Island-Inspired Supplement Ads
Bucked Up Launches a Sizable Campaign Called 'Castaway'
Creative Eerie-Themed Soccer Campaigns
Nike Football Reimagines Soccer with 'Scary Good'
Vibrant Cafeteria-Inspired Campaigns
Lunchtime Becomes a Joyous Time in 'The Lunchables Effect'
Athletic Event-Timed Tech Campaigns
TCL Ran a Comprehensive Ad Campaign During the Olympics
Food-Inspired Street Art
Knorr's Dish Pics Campaign Replaces Unwanted, Unsavory Images
Culinary Tradition Food Campaigns
The Merchant Gourmet 'Yes Chef!' Campaign is Running Now
Canadian-Focused Campaigns
Maple Leaf Foods Sparks Pride with Its 'Look for the Leaf’ Campaign
Choreographed Retailer-Backed Commercials
Gap and Parker Posey Release a Movement-Focused Campaign
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
Outdoor Cooking-Focused Campaigns
Solo Stove Debuts the 'Squash the Beef at the Big Game' Campaign
Low-Cost Back-to-School Campaigns
Target Back-to-School-idays Offers Discounts Up to 30%
Limited-Edition Beer Campaigns
San Miguel launches a Limited-Edition Beer Campaign for Summer
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
Cinematic Martial Arts Promotions
Premier Foods and Sony Pictures Celebrate Karate Kid: Legends
Extra-Terrestrial Chocolate Ads
Kinder Bueno's Super Bowl Ad Makes a Moment "Yes Bueno"
Retro Snack Cake Campaigns
Vachon's Rosettes Campaign Stirs Nostalgia in Gen X and Millennials
Critical Spicy Snack Campaigns
The New Flamin’ Hot Campaign Puts Its Spice to the Ultimate Test
Interactive Game Advertisements
Samsung Ads GameBreaks Encourage Deeper Engagement
Playful Football-Shaped Crackers
Mondelēz International's RITZ® Returns to the Big Game in 2026
Celeb-Packed Humorous Beer Campaigns
Bud Light's Keg Commercial is Airing for Super Bowl LX
Nostalgic Beauty Campaigns
Dove's #UnseenBeauty Initiative Challenges Y2K Beauty Standards
Festival-Themed Retail Snack Campaigns
Kellanova Announced Flavour Fest ’25 in the UK
Game Day Laundry Campaigns
Dreame Ran a 30-Second Ad for Its Washer-Dryer Set at the Super Bowl
Ramadan-Focused Tech Campaigns
Hisense Delivers 'Innovation That Brings Us Together This Ramadan'
Premium Autumnal Treat Ranges
These Cadbury Halloween Products Come in a Variety of Options
Cheekily Satirical Sweetener Ads
In The Raw Embraces Satire with a Comedic Hero Film
Asian Film-Themed Promotions
Crocs Launches a Media-Themed Monsoon Campaign in Southeast Asia
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'
Emotionally Engaging Holiday Advertisements
Teleflora Captured Attention with The Power Of Wishes
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
Text Message Cereal Campaigns
The Weetabix 'Have You Had Yours?' Campaign is Playful
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
Interactive Traveler-Focused Campaigns
Tessan Will Spotlight the 100 Travelers Campaign
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
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
Celebratory Artisanal Pizzas
The California Pizza Kitchen National Pizza Month Promotion is Tasty