15 can’t-miss commercials of 2020
They made us laugh. They made us cry. They made us think. Our 2020 collection of memorable ads hit a ton of emotions, marking a year heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. But through it all, creativity rose above and, importantly, reminded us of how much we truly have in common.
NBA: “The Truth Is #BlackLivesMatter”
Silence was not an option for the NBA, whose powerful commercial about Black Lives Matter spoke volumes.
Progressive: WFH/Tech Issues
By now most workers “get” how videoconferencing works, but not without some learning-the-ropes moments along the way. Just ask our friends at Progressive.
Adobe: “Fantastic Voyage”
An everyday subway ride is anything but thanks to the “mystical powers” of Adobe Photoshop – and the Rolling Stones in the background. It’s like they wrote a song just for us.
Apple: “Privacy. That’s iPhone. – Over Sharing”
Sometimes the only way to change risky behavior is to see it re-enacted literally – and hysterically.
Etsy: “Gift Like You Mean It: Nana”
The pandemic may be keeping families apart this holiday season, but it’s no match for the creative expressions of love that come from the global marketplace of handmade items.
GEICO: “Aunt Infestation”
Thank goodness GEICO makes bundling easy – because living with extended family can certainly make life difficult.
Hyundai: “Smaht Pahk”
“Wicked smaht” is the best way to describe this Super Bowl ad for the Hyundia Sonata, featuring Chris Evans, John Krasinski, Rachel Dratch, and David “Big Papi” Ortiz
Jeep: “Groundhog Day”
Turns out waking up on the same day can be pretty great when you’re Bill Murray and you get to drive a Jeep.
Kohl’s: “Give With All Your Heart”
Tissue time: A sweet friendship across generations – and a sliver of property – reminds us that the best things in life aren’t things.
NFL: “Stay Home Stay Strong”
NFL players offer us a glimpse into their lives during the days of quarantine to remind us to “stay together, stay strong.”
Nike: “For Once, Don’t Do It”
In a clever twist on its “Just Do It” ad campaign, Nike’s all-text commercial about racism asks viewers what not to accept anymore.
Procter & Gamble: “When We Come Together”
This Super Bowl ad, featuring Sofia Vergara, Troy Polamalu, Isaiah Mustafa, and Rob Riggle, is the ultimate mashup of P&G brands worked into one storyline. See how many you can spot.
Snickers: “First Visitors”
One video commenter put it best: “This one definitely made me snicker.”
UberEats: “Tonight I’ll Be Eating…”
It’s a showdown between Star Wars’ Mark Hamill and Star Trek’s Patrick Stewart, whose main difference turns out to be the way they pronounce “tomato.”
Xfinity: “The Greatest Gift”
With the holidays almost here, how could we not end our list with a visit from Santa – played by Steve Carell – who’s at a loss for gift ideas “after the year we just had.” To the rescue: Santa’s industrious elves.