There is so much product placement in movies, and it doesn’t always have to be glaringly obvious, as many viewers may not even notice it. However, whether it’s blindingly obvious or completely subtle, it’s always there, as the sponsors make up a big part of the movie’s budget.
The best type of product placement isn’t when a character is drinking from a bottle with the brand logo facing the camera, but when it’s somehow incorporated into the scene. Whether it’s being self-aware and incorporating product placement in to the narrative, making the product the star of the movie, or being so secretive about it that it’s almost like a game trying to spot the product, these are the most ingenious uses of product placement.
Wayne’s World (1992)
As Wayne’s World features one of the best pizza scenes in a movie, it wasn’t without getting paid a pretty penny to promote Pizza Hut. In one of the most hilarious scenes in the movie, Wayne breaks the fourth wall when he refuses to sell out by promoting brands on the show, he then holds up a pizza with the Pizza Hut box on full display.
But it doesn’t end there, as he says, “the beast doesn’t include selling out,” while eating crunchy Doritos and drinking Pepsi.
Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
Everybody has their own favorite transformer, whether it’s the cute and quiet Bumblebee or the leader of the pack Optimus Prime, but it’s doubtful that anyone’s favorite is Oreobot. Michael Bay’s movies strayed from the original canon in many ways, and that includes transformers in the form of product placement too.
Though it might rub some fans the wrong way, it’s one of the most inventive ways in trying to make viewers crave Oreos rather than simply having a character eat them.
Skyfall (2012)
After MGM went bankrupt, the future of James Bond actually looked as if it was in disarray. However, it came back bigger than ever with the billion-dollar grossing Skyfall. And what made the movie development so possible was Heineken.
Heineken spent close to $40 million to be featured in the movie, and what makes it so clever, or annoying to some die-hard 007 fans, is because viewers expected him to order a martini, shaken not stirred. But instead, the super spy ordered a nice cold bottle of lager, right before falling into a pit of Komodo dragons.
Back To The Future Part II (1989)
Pizza Hut loves a product placement or two, as not only is the fast food chain promoted in Wayne’s World, but the second Back to the Future movie too. However, though it might not be as good as fans remember, there’s even more creative uses of product placement.
When Marty first lands in the future, he gets a pair of Nike sneakers that light up and tie themselves. The shoe actually became a reality in the 2010s, as Nike finally had the technology to make them.
The Italian Job (1969)
In The Italian Job, the red, white, and blue Mini Coopers are arguably the main characters just as much as Charlie Croker is. Though the British auto company got off to a flying start in terms of popularity, the movie changed everything for the motor company.
After the release of The Italian Job, everybody was buying Mini Coopers, making it worth the 14 Minis that were destroyed during the production of the movie.
Bullitt (1968)
Just like The Italian Job, it’s the Ford Mustang that’s the real star of the show, even if the icon Steve McQueen is the lead actor. The most famous chase scene in cinema history is in Bullitt, lasting for a whole ten minutes, as McQueen speeds through the streets of San Francisco in a Mustang GT390, outrunning a Dodge Charger.
If it wasn’t for the car, Bullitt probably wouldn’t be as much of a classic as it is, and if it wasn’t for the movie, Ford probably wouldn’t have sold thousands of the vehicles.
The Internship (2013)
To many movie critics, the most infuriating thing about The Internship, even more than the jokes and thin plot, was the way the whole movie was essentially one big commercial for Google. It isn’t as if Google has to promote itself, as it's one of the biggest companies in the world, and it’s hardly like anybody is using Bing or Ask Jeeves anymore, but the whole movie is about two guys vying for a job at the tech company.
Every scene makes Google look like the best company in the world, and considering how it’s based in their incredible offices, it surely had thousands of graduates applying straight after watching the movie.
Fight Club (1999)
David Fincher's Fight Club is one of the reasons why 1999 was arguably the best year in film, as its twist ending is still one of the most jaw-dropping moments in cinema history, but the movie is jam-packed with secrets and Easter eggs from the very beginning.
One of those secrets is that there is a Starbucks coffee cup hidden in every scene of the movie. Though it might not be the best commercial for caffeine, as the movie is essentially about a guy who starts a terrorist organization after having insomnia.
Superman II (1980)
When Superman is having a fight with General Zod on the street in Superman II, there is a Marlboro van in sight. In fact, it’s the most visually striking thing on the screen. As the scene is in the evening and everything is fairly dark, the bright sheen of the Marlboro van sticks out like a sore thumb.
However, as Zod throws Superman into the van and the hero tears through it, it could be read as the movie’s stance on the nasty habit. It might be a stretch, but directors love putting secret messages in their movies.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (2006)
On top of the iconic dinner scene that Carly was supposedly working on for hours, which sees a feast of Dominoes, KFC, and Coca-Cola, there is a great montage of promotions as the credits roll at the end of the movie. As Ricky Bobby and his best friend Cal are two NASCAR racing champions, they often get paid to promote their sponsors.
The montage hilariously sees Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly improvize their way through promoting Bob Dawson’s Pork Rinds, Big Red Gum, and others. But interestingly enough, despite getting promoted, none of the brands paid a penny for it.