These terrifying PSAs prove that fear, like shock, is an excellent way to grab attention. The ad campaigns, viral videos, billboards, and interactive installations above are gory, heart-wrenching, and downright frightful, with imagery that won't be immediately forgotten.
From domestic abuse to child trafficking, the environment, and drug use, the terrifying PSAs below are sure to scare you straight.
Implications - Shock factor is a tactic used by marketers to deliver a message that has upsetting topics. Through unique campaigns that evoke emotions within the viewers, advertisers capitalize on those feelings. Additionally, the more shocking the advertisement is, the more likely it will resonate in the audiences' minds, making the idea of terrifying the audience a useful tactic.
30 Terrifying PSAs
Raising Awareness, From Bleeding Billboards to Shocking Skinned Polar Bears:
Marissa Brassfield — May 2, 2010 — Social Good
30
Shockvertising
Does It Work? Jury Still Out
29
Powerful PSAs
Sexual Abuse
28
Cattle Branding Kids
Shocking Ads Portray Impact of Child Abuse
27
Disturbing Anti-Drug Ads
Montana Meth Project
26
Visually Disturbing PSAs
Juvenile Protective Association Ads Show Effect of Verbal Abuse
25
Shockvertising Smokefree Campaign
NHS: Get Unhooked
24
Gory Workplace Safety Ads
Using Awful Accidents to Raise Awareness
23
Gruesome Shockvertising
A Texting While Driving PSA Shows Horrific Realism
22
Child Shockvertising in PSAs
Anti-Smoking Ads Feature Kids with Adult Hands Holding Cigs
21
Child Poverty Shockvertising
The Barnardo Campaign Against Child Poverty Raises Eyebrows
20
Blood Spurting PSAs
The Bangalore Police Ad Campaign Targets Cell Phone Driving Enablers
19
Powerful PSAs
Smoking is Murder
18
Freefalling Safe Sex Ads
Use Condoms Campaign
17
Bleeding Billboards
Shocking Approach to Promote Road Safety in New Zealand
16
Reverse Psychology PSAs
Don't Vote Campaign Shows Killer Oil Prices
15
Stomach-Churning Safety Ads
Australian Worksafe PSA
14
Skinned Polar Bears for Global Warming
Visceral Friends of the Earth PSA
13
Eco Shockvertising
Moms Against Climate Change Tug at Heartstrings
12
Drug Addicts As Animals
Spoof Wildlife Doc as Viral Anti-Drug Ad
11
Abused Women as Dolls
Dar Al Amal Public Awareness Ad
10
Hygienic Shockvertising II
Carre Fresh: Wipe Whatever You've Touched
9
Animal Cavities For Smuggling
Anti-Cocaine PSA Featuring Pablo the Drug Mule Dog
8
Women as Pieces of Meat
Urging Men to Speak Out on Domestic Abuse
7
Suicidal Anti-Smoking PSAs
Thought-Provoking Help Line Ad
6
Adults With Childhood Abuse
ASCA PSAs Show the Need for Counseling
5
Awareness For Signs of Sexual Abuse
'Open Your Mouth' PSA
4
Visceral Shockvertising
The Catalonian National Theatre's Heart-Rending Ad
3
Shocking POV PSAs
'Animal Visuals' Gives You a Bird's Eye View Into Egg Industry
2
Terrifying Rainfall PSAs
The Solidarite Water Billboard Will Shock You
1
Overzealous PSAs
1979 Swine Flu PSA Evokes Laughter Instead of Fear
Related Ideas
Interactive Fashion Horror Games
The Room by Gentle Monster Reimagines Brand Storytelling
Dating Profile Billboards
Simply Spiked BOLD Moves Tackles Dating App Fatigue
Debunking Skincare Campaigns
The Periodic Fable by The Ordinary Exposes Beauty Industry Buzzwords
Snow-Accented Beer Ads
These Stella Artois Ads Create the Illusion of a Frothy Chalice
AI-Satirical Ad Spots
Dollar Shave Club Uses Generative AI To Skewer Tech Hype
Playful Creative Design Billboards
Canva Unveils 3D Billboards to Spotlight its Capabilities
Enigmatically Suspenseful Fashion Campigns
Tom Ford Presents Its Fall 2025 Advertising Campaign
Major Fan-Centric Candy Campaigns
Skittles Debuts the Playful Skittles Obsessed Initiative
Data-Driven Sports Culture Ads
Air Transat's OOH Campaign Compares and Contrasts Ticket Prices
Telenovela-Inspired Safety Videos
Philippine Airlines Unveiled 'Care That Comes From The Heart’
Vibrant Mental Health Campaigns
CDC Has Launched the Playfully Illustrated Free Mind
Pet-Powered Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Animal Intelligence Redefines "AI"
Fashion-Inspired Food Marketing
Magnum Blends Beauty, Music and Luxury Culture into Its Brand
Live-Printed Billboards
HP Showed Off the Power of Its Smart Tank Printers One A4 Sheet at a Time
Halloween Essentials Campaigns
IKEA Turns Home Essentials into Shields for Scary-Movie Nights
Wishlist-Spotlighting Billboards
Sephora Canada Features Customer Wishlists on Holiday Billboards
Panda-Inspired Sport Campaigns
Panda Station Dresses Panda Statues in Tracksuits for an Activation
Interactive Advertising Installations
Intimissimi's 'Feel the Billboard' Uses Tactile Advertising
Horror Franchise Soda Ranges
These Fanta Sodas Showcase Horror Film Characters
Night QSR Campaigns
The Mcdonald’s Night Posters Turn Post-Party Cravings into Glowing Urban Art
Gamified Condiment Experiences
HEINZ’s Ketchup Blast Turns Meals Interactive
Provocative Tequila Campaigns
PATRÓN's ‘Censored Truth’ Sheds Light on Transparency
Urban Landscape-Inspired Campaigns
The Casablanca Fall 2025 Advertising Campaign is Interesting
Globalized Tournament Campaigns
Coca-Cola Debuts 'Uncanned Emotions' for the 2026 World Cup
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
Sensory Retail Experiences
Claire’s Launches ASMR-Inspired Stores for Gen Alpha Shoppers
Soothing Skincare Billboards
Tower 28's Summer of SOS Shares Hypochlorous Acid on the Street
Self-Discovery Soda Ads
Pepsi The Choice Features a Polar Bear Finding His Taste Preference
Foggy Self-Care Billboards
eos' Windows of Self-Care Let Passersby Interact with Unique Personas
Pet-Finding Billboards
Hrvatski Telekom Created Scented Billboards That Attract Lost Dogs
Nightmarish Mobile Campaigns
Liquid Death Created the Cellphone Bill Character for Boost Mobile
Portrait-Inspired Luxury Campaigns
The Balenciaga Heart and Body Campaign Taps Brand Ambassadors
TV-Inspired Detergent Campaigns
Tide Draws Parallels Between Stranger Things & Letters to Tide
Scent Spritz Billboards
goodwipes' Scentsational Summer Billboard Releases Scent Every 30 Seconds
AI Sun Care Billboards
The Burnable Billboard Shows Damage Caused to Human Skin in Real-Time
Emotive Song Campaigns
Sos Songs Uses Technology to Show How Music Reflects Your Emotional State
Bee Habitat Billboards
Disney x National Geographic Bee Billboards Double as Shelters
Marketer-Targeted Albums
The Spotify Tunetorials Campaign Blurs Education and Entertainment
Unconventional Vehicle Control Ads
BMW Launched its 'Heart of Joy' Campaign Featuring an Octopus
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
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Scan-to-Sniff Fragrance Billboards
Rare Beauty's Activation with Shopify Shop Promote a New Scent
Analog-Themed Camera Campaigns
Polaroid Launched 'The Camera for an Analog Life'
Youth Wildlife Initiatives
The WWF Call of Nature Initiative Changed the Sound of Recess Bells
Conceptual Educational Soaps
The Consent Soap Highlights Boundaries Through Physical Interaction
Sensorial Soda Campaigns
Sprite's 'Hurts Real Good With Sprite' Targets Gen Z
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Personalized AI Billboards
Mercado Libre's Custom Billboards Analyze Their Surroundings and Adapt
Feel-Good Hotlines
Harry's Interactive Mural Provides an Opportunity to Check In
Gamified Scent Marketing Experiences
Axe's Grab The Sweet Turned a Bus Stop into a Claw Machine
Humorous Healthcare Campaigns
Zocdoc And 72andSunny Reframe Doctor Search With Playful Anxiety
Scented Canine-Meal Billboards
Ollie and Zola Introduce the 'Dog of Honor' Campaign
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
Anime-Inspired Creative Campaigns
Canva Japan Launched Animated Commercial Films
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Interactive Garment Billboards
The Sweaty Betty All Good in the Hood Campaign is in London
Nature-Connected Lifestyle Campaigns
Wild Planet Has Launched Its 'Go Wild' Campaign
Early Allergen Exposure Ads
The Square Baby Super Bowl Spot Promotes a Science-Backed Message
Confidence-Inspiring Youth Beauty Campaigns
Dove Launches 'The Game is Ours' for FIFA World Cup
Intense Elemental-Inspired Sportswear Spots
Columbia Introduced its 'Engineered for Whatever' Ad
Unfiltered Skincare Campaigns
The Indu Spots Happen Campaign Celebrates Unretouched Teen Skin
Humorous Chocolate Spots
Toblerone Introduced its ‘Chocolate Like Nobody’s Watching’
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Interactive Scented Billboard Ads
LOLA MullenLowe Presents a Scented Lynx/Axe Campaign
Football-Focused Sofa Campaigns
Pepsi Presents the Refresh the Game Campaign with Icons
AI-Powered Satirical Ads
Dollar Shave Club Uses Generative AI To Skewer Corporate Culture
Relatable Mother's Day Campaigns
The Teleflora 'If You've Worried' Ad Focuses on 'Mom Guilt'
Satirical Destination Marketing Videos
The Viral Switzerland is Fake is Cheeky and Tech-Driven
Inaugural Vodka Billboard Campaigns
ALB Vodka Introduces Its First Billboard in New York City
Ice Cream Popsicle Campaigns
Häagen Dazs’ Devoured Campaign Sparks Craving Through Absence
Celebratory Midlife Campaigns
The Stripes Beauty Hotter Than Ever Destigmatizes Menopause
Immersive Queue Displays
Samsung Transforms Everland Wait Lines with Interactive 3D Safari Visuals
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
Animated Footwear Campaigns
Vivobarefoot Unveils Free Your Feet Campaign Through Joyful Animation
Affectionate Cat Campaigns
SHEBA's Ignored to Adored Invites Cat Parents to Build Better Bonds
Bubble Wrap Billboards
Tombola's Interactive Billboards Engage Passersby with a Sensory Activity
Unbranded Sun Protection Campaigns
The Sun Responsibly Campaign Advocates for Daily UV Protection
Emotional Mothers Day Ads
Apple's Mother’s Day Campaign Showcases Spatial Video's Emotional Power
Musical Wellbeing Campaigns
ASICS Launches the ‘Move Your Body, Move Your Mind’ Campaign
Interactive Embrace Billboards
giffgaff's Huggable Poster Conveys the Feeling of Being Valued
Creative Eerie-Themed Soccer Campaigns
Nike Football Reimagines Soccer with 'Scary Good'
Illusory Ice Cream Pop-Ups
Häagen-Dazs Celebrated St. Patrick's Day with an O'Häagen's
Cut-Out Easter Treat Disguises
Cadbury Created Print Ads That Hide Easter Eggs as Everyday Items
Product-Inspired Halloween Looks
Aldi and EllaDoesFX Created a Look Inspired by Professor Peppy
Food-Inspired Street Art
Knorr's Dish Pics Campaign Replaces Unwanted, Unsavory Images
Edible Ranch Billboards
Hellmann's WTF is Ranch? Invited Brits to Try a Beloved American Condiment
Hometown Athlete Branding
Hershey’s Released Limited-Edition Chocolate Bars for Christian Pulisic
Emotional Delivery Campaigns
Shipt’s 'No Order Is Ordinary' Campaign Emphasizes Connection
Body Typography Campaigns
Holland & Barrett Back Your Body Uses Anatomy to Form Letter Shapes
Humorous High-Intensity Campaigns
Nike Launched its Star-Studded 'Rip the Script' Video Campaign
Spontaneous Holiday Experiences
Virgin Red Challenged People on the Street to Turn FOMO into Go-Mo
Ice Cream-Branded ASMR Studios
Magnum Canada's ASMR Studio is Unique and Experiential
Sports Advertising Moments
Genius Sports Found Emotional Sports Moments Can Double Ad Recall
Boldly Inclusive Hair Campaigns
Splat Hair Color Announces That Every Shade Tells a Story
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Horror-Inspired Sports Campaigns
Nike Presents the Scary Good Campaign with Satire Themes
AI-Driven Demand Gen Platforms
Google Has Unveiled Demand Gen That Absorbs Display Ads
Horror Film Fragrances
Osmo Crafted "the Scent of a Nightmare" for the Dream Eater Movie
Silent Nature Campaigns
Jeep Promotes Its Cherokee Hybrid with Quiet Wildlife Photography
AI-Powered Ad Platforms
FOX AdStudio Uses AI to Unify Audience Data and Campaign Performance
Celebrity-Supported Luxe Fashion Campaigns
BOSS Taps Renowned Public Figures for Fall 2025
Courageous Style Campaigns
Coach's Revive Your Courage Activates Gen Z
Destination-Branded Transportation
Themed Taxis Promote Scottish Travel During Major Soccer Events
Anti-Bias Fashion Unveilings
Primark Created "Kim Parr" to Challenge Preconceptions
Gamified Discount Events
Build-A-Bear Uses Mystery Offers to Drive Engagement
Robust Childhood Cancer Campaigns
Childhood Cancer Canada Launches 'Let's Face the Unimaginable'
Shopping-Friendly Ad Formats
Equativ Shoppable Ads Allow Consumers to Seamlessly Make Purchases
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Girded Billboard Posters
Irn-Bru And Lucky Generals Introduced Girders Posters
Nostalgic Beauty Campaigns
Dove's #UnseenBeauty Initiative Challenges Y2K Beauty Standards
Hyperreal Safety Installations
Sunburnt Car by TBWA\Eleven Visualizes In-Car UV Exposure
Purpose-Driven Brand Storytelling Platforms
Hellonation Has Debuted Its Edvertising Model
Embedded Safety Networks
‘Ask for Angela’ Builds Retail-Based Support Systems Across Toronto
Physical-World Data Marketing
WPP Uses Google Earth AI to Predict Real-World Consumer Behavior
Swapped Phone Campaigns
KitKat Phone Break Depicts Devices Traded for Chocolate Wafer Bars
Interactive Streaming Ads
Spotify Turns Listening into Engagement with Carousel Ads
Question-Driven Brand Revisions
NPR Turns its Logo Into Question Words
Neighborhood Storytelling Campaigns
Vitaminwater Expands Neighborhue with Community Mural Stories
Environmental Film Platforms
Patagonia Films Emphasizes the Power of Storytelling
Generational Wellness Campaigns
Sports Research Evolved Its Marketing into a Cultural Movement
Summer-Forward Food Billboards
Waitrose Launched its 'Let Your Summer Side Out' Campaign
In-Store Retail Media Networks
Raley's Expands Shopper Advertising Through Grocery TV
Interactive Prank Tools
Scratch & Reveal Sends Custom Surprises and Jump Scares to Friends
Transparency Driven Shoppers
Akeneo's 'PX Pulse' Highlights Demand For Clearer Product Details
Halloween Season Candy Campaigns
World Business Chicago is Promoting Chicago-Based Candy
Human Trafficking Awareness Campaigns
BODYBAR Pilates Runs the BODYBAR Does Good Campaign
Healthcare Professional Appreciation PSAs
Annie Estrin Pays Homage to Healthcare Professionals
Logo-Based Health Campaigns
NHS Blood and Transplant Launches Logo Campaign for Blood Donations
Public Art Displays
Paul Anthony Smith’s Photographs Appear at 300 City Bus Stops This Summer
Calmly Dimmed Billboard Campaigns
Nescafé Joins Oglivy to Create the Decaf Billboards
Global Creative Billboard Competition
Gymnation Launches ‘Your Ad. Our Billboard’ Competition
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
Purpose-Driven Brand Contests
Publicity for Good is Supporting Goodness with Its Contest
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform
Mardi Gras-Themed Breast Campaigns
Frida Marked Mardi Gras with the Breast Gallery Campaign
Multi-Level Cancer Awareness Ads
The United Breast Cancer Foundation is at Times Square