What are the most nostalgic commercials of all time? It’s a subjective topic, but I know several that inspired conversations with my friends and family members. They might be touching and connect on an emotional level, while others are simply catchy and have a jingle that you’ll never forget.
Guinness World Records dates the nation’s first TV advertisement back to 1941. It was a Bulova ad that aired on NBC during a Dodgers and Phillies game. It led to the famous line, “America runs on Bulova Time.” How much did this ad cost them? A meager $9. Considering a 30-second ad in 2019 averaged $105,735. With inflation, that $9 ad Bulova paid for would be the equivalent of just under $157 in 2019.
The most expensive TV ad to date was made in 2004 and it cost $33 million. The 2004 Chanel No. 5 ad was made by Baz Lurhmann and featured Nicole Kidman. Do you remember it? I don’t, so it clearly didn’t become one of the most nostalgic commercials of all time.
When I was a kid, billboards were fascinating to me. A billboard ban exists in my state, so they’re not something you see when you’re on the interstate. It’s a billboard for sunscreen that stands out as an unforgettable ad to me. I mention this as it ties into one of the commercials you don’t forget. While many believe that the baby was Drew Barrymore, she wasn’t born yet. A young Jodie Foster was in the television commercial.
What are the best commercials of all time? Look through my alphabetized choices below. I’ve included the years they came out when that information was readily available. (Some of the commercials you don’t forget showcase brands that are 100+ years old. Check them out.)
Burger King (Late 1970s)
mouth-watering delicious homemade burger used to chop beef on the wooden table.
The Burger King continually showed off his magic at creating new or tempting foods, and the Duke of Doubt remained skeptical the entire time. The Burger King ads were goofy, but the scripts and comic antics of the Duke of Doubt created unforgettable ads.
Chia (1990s)
If anyone had told me back when Chia came out that it would become a dietary staple of mine, I never would have believed it. In the 1990s, Chia came out with a line of Scooby-Doo and Looney Tunes Chia pets that were quirky, and the “Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia” jingle is memorable, too.
Coca-Cola (1971)
“I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing…” The message in this ad was one of unity and embracing diversity. Coca-Cola brought young people from around the world together to perform the song. I loved it and still have fond thoughts of that ad as it progresses into buying the world a Coke.
Coca-Cola (1979)
Coca-Cola has some great ads, including this Clio Award winner. “Mean” Joe Greene is injured and limping back to the locker room when a kid stops him and offers him his bottle of Coke. Greene refuses but eventually accepts it and walks off. The kid is sad and walks away, but Greene has a surprise in store for the kid with the famous “Hey, Kid. Catch!” line. It’s a touching ad.
Denny’s (1997)
Two Looney Tunes-style characters are mid-chase when a Denny’s representative steps in and takes the frying pan away. He introduces them to the real reason to use a skillet. If you’re a Looney Tunes fan, the commercial makes you want to go watch the cartoon.
Dentyne (Late 1970s)
“They love your dress. They love your hat. Your breath could knock Godzilla flat.” That was the opening line to a hilarious Dentyne gum commercial, and it’s one of several similar ads.
Dr. Pepper (1980)
David Naughton (“An American Werewolf in London) appeared in a minute-long Dr. Pepper ad in the 1980s, walking around San Francisco in a musical-style performance while singing the soda’s jingle.
Folgers (1987)
The Folgers commercial where Peter comes home is a favorite holiday commercial. I love when the family rushes down the stairs and is surprised to find Peter there. It brings a tear to the eye. Folgers would go on to create another of the best commercials of all time. A boy’s father teaches him to use the coffee can to save money for the things he wants. Decades pass, and that boy is now a father and carries on the tradition.
Fritos Corn Chips (1979)
This ad is the most nostalgic to me as it has a song my mom would often sing to us when we were kids. A little boy is grumpy as he just has a sandwich for lunch. When an adult adds Fritos, his mood changes and he’s soon giggling. As this happens, a remade version of The Good Chemical’s “Muncha Bunch” plays, and you learn that “Fritos make lunch munch better.”
Hallmark (Uncertain)
Charlie the postal worker brings a family mail each day, but the lonely older neighbor always checks her mailbox to find it empty. The neighbor sends a card to make sure she has something in her mailbox. It forms a friendship that always brings tears to my eyes. “Want to make someone feel special again? Cards work.” It’s at the top of my list of the best commercials of all time.
Honeycomb (1979)
This ad still makes me snicker. The Honeycomb cartoon team is up against the Big Clock People who are convinced their cereal is better until they have one much bigger Honeycomb. It ends with a showcase of the finger-writing pen that was free inside every box.
iPad (2019)
As another of my top picks for unforgettable ads. Apple makes me cry every time I watch it. A family goes to their dad/grandfather’s house for the holidays as he’s newly widowed. To cheer him up, the overly active girls use the iPad to create a touching gift for the whole family.
Johnson & Johnson’s Band-Aid (1980)
When I was a kid, I remember singing “I am stuck on Band-Aid” over and over when I needed one. Different people were featured singing the jingle, including a Native American woman singing it in her native language, which was an attempt at DEI in the 1980s.
Kool-Aid (1970s)
I can’t find the date it aired, but there’s a Kool-Aid commercial where a woman thinks back to making Kool-Aid with her mom. She’s grown up and makes it with her daughter now. I get the feels as my mom made us Kool-Aid, only she taught us to reduce the sugar to 2/3s of a cup. I did the same with my kids, so that ad reminds me of my own mom-daughter relationships.
Life (1970s)
“He won’t eat it, he hates everything. He likes it. Hey, Mikey.” Any kid who watched TV in the 1970s remembers that line and probably remembers what little Mikey looks like, too. He loved Life cereal and didn’t like giving up his bowl.”
Mr. Bubbles (1974)
The Dirty Bert and the Bathtub Ring Gang vs. Mr. Bubbles was always a favorite. Watching it again reminds me a lot of “School House Rock” today. The animation is similar, but I haven’t found anything on who created the cartoon. It’s a memorable ad either way.
Pepsi Light (1983)
I loved Pepsi Light and no longer drink soda, but I wish it would return. This commercial featured the NFL’s New York Giants singing the “We love Pepsi Light. One calorie.” jingle. It was a humorous and catchy nostalgic TV ad.
Pizza Hut (1985)
Bob (Dave Thomas) and Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis) of “SCTV” fame appear in this Pizza Hut commercial. As soon as Bob shouts “Pizza Raid” and steals toppings, I start laughing. It’s one of the best pizza commercials I’ve seen.
Rolo (1996)
A boy teases a baby elephant with a Rolo chocolate, which leaves the baby elephant sad. Years later, the pair are reunited, and there’s proof that an elephant does not forget. It’s quick and hilarious.
Tootsie Pop (Late 1960s)
As kids, we all went to the local general store, bought Tootsie Roll pops, and licked them to see if we could answer the nostalgic ad’s question. “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?” None of us were ever successful.
Earlier, I brought up Folgers for having one of the most nostalgic commercials of all time. See if that company made the list of “The 10 Biggest Coffee Brands in America.”