When it comes to film, product placements are used as a way to subtly get a brand name into the public eye. By working a product into a specific scene or even into the script, filmmakers are not only able to earn sponsorship money but also help the brand and themselves grow on a large scale. Many movies feature iconic product placements, like Recess Pieces in E.T. or Ray Ban sunglasses in Risky Business.
Update August 29, 2023: This article has been updated with even more films with excessive product placement.
However, when a movie indulges a little too much in product placement to the point where it becomes overwhelmingly obvious, it can sometimes backfire. Here, we take a look back at some of the movies with the most blatant and excessive product placement to date.
15 Transformers (2007)
We open our list with the ultimate car-lover film. 2007's Transformers includes many mentions of different car and gas brands, including Porsche, Chevrolet, and Gilmore Gasoline. Aside from that, another major product placement came from Burger King, Mountain Dew, and Nokia phones. The sequels would certainly feature even more product placement, but the first film set the template for the series.
14 Happy Gilmore (1996)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Happy Gilmore is the next movie that seems to take product placement a little too far. In a now iconic scene, Happy Gilmore is seen enjoying a sandwich from Subway. What starts off as him casually enjoying his sub over a conversation morphs into a full-blown commercial for Subway in the movie, complete with a Subway t-shirt, sandwich, and very happy endorsement!
13 He's All That (2021)
2021's He's All That saw TikTok star Addison Rae make her acting debut. It seemed like nearly every scene had some form of product placement in this gender-swapped remake; whether the teens are boasting about how much they love Pizza Hut or openly browsing Old Navy's website, recognizable brands were scattered throughout. As one of the biggest social media influencers in the world, it makes sense that so many brands would want their product seen alongside the star.
12 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
If there is a brand that is constantly shown in Spider-Man: Homecoming, then it is Sony. In general, the trilogy with the neighborhood superhero, who is embodied by Tom Holland, is known for its Sony product placements, but the first one out of the three tops them all. Considering that Sony and Marvel joined forces when creating Spider-Man: Homecoming, it is anything but shocking that Sony took the chance to show their products.
11 Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
This 2004 stoner-comedy has product placement written all over it; I mean, just look at the title! Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle follow two buddies as they attempt to overcome their weed-induced hunger, specifically at the fast-food chain White Castle. With the two friends salivating at the thought of a White Castle burger, the restaurant chain certainly got some good (but slightly excessive) promo in this film.
10 The Lego Movie (2014)
The Lego Movie is essentially one long advertisement for Lego. Every character, building, and, essentially, the entire world is made of little plastic building blocks. It also draws attention to other franchises, like DC, which is owned by Warner Bros., who distributed The Lego Movie. In a way, the entire film is product placement! Regardless, the movie's little yellow characters are as cute and entertaining as ever.
9 Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
The sequel movie Ralph Breaks the Internet seemed to have endless possibilities for product placement. As Ralph surfs the internet, he has the potential to fall upon any brand website, social media website, and blog site he chooses! However, some of the sites he visits include YouTube, eBay, and Snapchat, a rather obvious endorsement of some of the biggest companies to date.
8 Space Jam - A New Legacy (2021)
The original Space Jam was a movie based on product placement, as it was an adaptation of a famous commercial with Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes. The sequel, Space Jam - A New Legacy, takes it to a new level. Starring NBA legend LeBron James, the entire movie is basically our favorite player rocking Nike clothing. Nike released an entire Space Jam-inspired shoe collection.
The movie is also a giant ad for Warner Bros. as a studio and its intellectual properties. Not only does it feature the Looney Tunes but it crams in characters from DC, Rick and Morty, and many more while composting the Looney Tunes into movies like Mad Max: Fury Road and The Matrix. It feels like one giant ad for Warner Bros. then a new streaming service, HBO Max, even down to the basketball court having the same purple color scheme as the app.
7 Man of Steel (2013)
Man of Steel was the start of the DCEU. In the comics, DC has always been an alternate history with its own fictional cities. In a way to ground the story in a world the viewer would recognize, Man of Steel decides to feature plenty of real-world locations and draws heavy attention to them. The fight in Smallville sees Superman and General Zod's forces fight in an IHOP and crash into a 7-11. Martha Kent notably works at a Sears with a train thrown into it. Multiple brands are featured in Man of Steel, and the product placement became a big joke at the time of its release.
6 Castaway (2000)
Sure the product placement in Castaway is overt, but it's also pretty iconic. For one, a FedEx plane is the main catalyst for the major conflict in the film. One of the biggest unanswered questions of the movie is what's really in Chuck Noland's unopened FedEx package, a mystery that still has fans wondering even 23 years later. And who can forget Chuck's island best friend Wilson, the Wilson Volleyball?
5 I, Robot (2004)
I, Robot follows Will Smith as Del Spooner, living in a highly advanced society where robots and people live in tandem. Throughout the movie, Converse sneakers become a central point, with Del Spooner raving about how cool they are in multiple scenes. When Del receives a vintage pair, he comes to cherish them and compliments their beauty, even including a close-up shot of him lacing them up as he prepares for adventure. He even says "vintage 2004", a convenient way to market a shoe that was out on the shelves when the movie was released.
4 Barbie (2023)
Greta Gerwig's latest and arguably the biggest project, Barbie, has been the topic of conversation all around the world. While the movie stands out with its diversity and feminist approach, which has gained Gerwig significant approval and praise, the rather excessive product placements in Barbie are hard to ignore. It actually comes as no surprise, considering that the entire movie is based on the pink world of Barbie dolls, which was created by the toy company Mattel. Apart from the obvious, however, there are multiple other products which are included in plain sight. Whether it is Barbie's pink Chevrolet, her Chanel bag, or Birkenstock's, various products can be spotted throughout the entire movie.
3 Zombieland (2009)
2009's Zombieland was not shy about showcasing its brand endorsements. In one of the biggest scenes that features the gang in a Grocery store, noticeable products are everywhere. From Tide laundry detergent to Pepsi soda, the store is loaded with recognizable brands. In another obvious example of product placement, one of the main characters, Tallahassee, is in constant search of Twinkies; one probably does get pretty hungry when fighting off killer zombies!
2 Wayne's World (1992)
Wayne's World has one of the funniest sequences that draws attention to the nature of product placement. When Wayne (Mike Myers) is told he needs to allow his sponsor a spot on the show, Wayne explains how he will not bow down to corporate sponsors...while he opens a box of Pizza Hut pizza. Wayne refuses to sell out while eating a bag of Doritos and smiling. When Wayne asks his friend Garth (Dana Carvey) what he thinks, Garth says it is sad how people only do stuff because they get paid while being all decked out in Reebok apparel.
It gives Wayne a headache, to which Garth offers him two Nurphin pills, and then he enjoys a Pepsi, saying the slogan "the choice of a new generation." The entire scene is a comical highlight of product placement that calls attention to itself while satirizing it.
1 Josie and the Pussycats (2001)
This movie might have some of the most individual product placements of all the entries. Josie and the Pussycats is a satire film made to comment on modern culture and consumerism, so it makes sense that nearly every shot features some brand, company, or product. Some of the brands featured include Tide, Target, 7-Eleven, Victoria's Secret, T. J. Maxx, and the list goes on! Much like Wayne's World, this is all for satire, but it was one that might have gone over some audience members' heads, and some saw it as the very thing the movie was criticizing.
Comments
Post a Comment