There is a marketing rule that states “ What is seen is sold” meaning if you want your business to grow or your product to sell out, you better be good at its marketing. Product awareness is the key to any successful business. Although quality is the top priority, how would the world know what you or your product got if you ain’t good at selling? Advertising your products through digital, print, and now social media is a whole industry.
There are businesses in the market that help you grow your business through thoughtful marketing, advertising, and commercials. However, quoting another saying which is “The more good you put, the more meat you pull” means if you want to leave a real impression on the audience, there is a huge amount attached to it. When I say amount, it means millions, not thousands. And today, we are going to explore such hefty advertisements that cost the companies millions.
World’s Most Exclusive TV Advertisements That Took Millions to Made
You must be wondering about the opulent TV commercials; well, here is a list of these advertisements that cost a fortune to create.
Rank | Name | Year | Cost (million USD) |
1. | Chanel No. 5 “The Film” | 2004 | 33 |
2. | Guinness – Domino Run | 2007 | 16 |
3. | Alexa Loses Her Voice | 2018 | 14.9 |
4. | President George W. Bush’s Political Ad | 2004 | 14.2 |
5. | Aviva Insurance Rebranding Campaign | 2008 | 13.4 |
6. | Chrysler “Imported from Detroit” | 2011 | 12 |
7. | Carlton Draught Skydiving Ants | 2008 | 9 |
8. | Pepsi Featuring Britney Spears | 2002 | 8.1 |
9. | Microsoft – “Empowering” | 2014 | 8 |
10. | Kia – “The Truth” | 2014 | 8 |
11. | Jaguar – “British Villains” (2014) – $8 | 2014 | $8 |
12. | Honda Accord Cog Commercial | 2003 | 7 |
1. Chanel No. 5 “The Film” (2004) – $33 million
Despite being launched in 2004, this ad for Chanel No. 5 perfume remains by far the most costly commercial we are aware of. You don’t get an expensive perfume commercial featuring Nicole Kidman and directed by Baz Luhrmann—both at the peak of their careers—without dropping some series dimes! $33 million, to be exact! The advertisement clearly brings strong memories of “Moulin Rouge!”, a project on which these two prominent artists worked together. Kidman stars in the commercial as a world-renowned actress and expensive artists who disappears for a few days to have a romantic rendezvous with a stranger. It’s definitely theatrical and feels more like a big-screen movie trailer than simply a perfume advertisement.
Unlike most of the advertisements on this list, The Film did not debut during the Super Bowl. Instead, it premiered in theaters with… Bridget Jones, The Edge of Reason. Because the commercial has a plot, a regular-yet-super-attractive man enjoys an almost disastrous encounter with a runaway world-famous actress, we’re betting it was one of those Pixar shorts shown before the picture. The only major difference is that this “short” cost nearly as much as the full-length picture it preceded.
Company | Famous Personality | Production Cost | Reason for Expense |
Chanel | Nicole Kidman | $33 million | Three-minute mini-movie directed by Baz Luhrmann, featuring glamorous costumes by Karl Lagerfeld. |
2. Guinness – Domino Run (2007) – $16 million
Just because an ad is pricey does not mean it is necessarily creative. But this $16 million ad from Guinness is a hilarious joy. Guinness is an old beverage maker that has been working for almost eight decades. They went all out to celebrate their 80th birthday in one of the most amazing commercials we’ve ever seen.
Filmed on a site in the tiny Argentinean village of Iruya (not cheap!), the advertisement opens with a cascading cascade of dominoes that progresses to refrigerators and burning vehicles colliding, all building up to a giant statue of a Guinness pint. Combining high material costs with the requirement for precision to get every picture exactly perfect, this commercial shows how a hefty budget is great, but with an amazing concept, it is even better. let` read more about the expensive celebrity photographs.
Company | Famous Personality | Production Cost | Reason for Expense |
Guinness | None | $16 million | Elaborate domino chain reaction featuring thousands of objects, culminating in a pint of Guinness. |
3. Alexa Loses Her Voice (2018)- $14.9 million
The 2018 Super Bowl included this star-studded advertisement for the Amazon Echo, which is believed to have cost $14.9 million. Its idea hinges upon Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa, losing her voice. As a result, her replacement must be one of the company’s backups. Jeff Bezos appears before we hear the voice of understudies. Naturally, they are among the most well-known voices in the entertainment sector. Sir Anthony Hopkins, Cardi B, Rebel Wilson, and Gordon Ramsay all contributed their own unique perspective on the challenge.
It cost around $15 million, or around $17.7 million in today’s money. It was a creative effort that certainly had people talking; it was the most-watched ad on YouTube that year, with 50 million views. Amazon hasn’t cut off its marketing budget since this ever-lasting commercial, and they’re a regular on the list of the most expensive commercials as Super Bowl ads.
Company | Product | Production Cost | Premise | Appearances |
Amazon | Amazon Echo | $14.9 million | Alexa loses her voice, and Amazon must find replacements. | Jeff Bezos, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Cardi B, Rebel Wilson, Gordon Ramsay |
4. President George W. Bush’s Political Ad (2004) – $14.2 million
President George W. Bush presided over the first eight years of this millennium. During that period, the United States suffered the deadliest terrorist attack in recent history, sparking a war on terrorist activity on a scale never seen before. In his 2004 reelection campaign, he needed to put his best foot forward. To do this, his team determined the one thing that all Americans could relate to. The 9/11 crime enraged Americans, and in their grief, they banded together to fight terrorism. Hidden in all of this was how vulnerable they all felt after being hit with such destruction in their nation.
In his campaign ad, President Bush appears alongside Ashley Faulkner, a child who lost her mother in the 9/11 attacks. For months, the campaign was carried out across the country and cost a lot of money. The campaign showed him as siding with all Americans, rather than just one. They clearly showed how much they all needed him to serve another term as president.
Campaign | Famous Personality | Production Cost | Reason for Expense |
The re-election campaign for President George W. Bush | President George W. Bush and Ashley Faulkner | $14.2 million | Heavy national airtime and emotional appeal focusing on 9/11 aftermath and unity. |
5. Aviva Insurance Rebranding Campaign (2008) – $13.4 million
When the British insurance business Norwich Union changed its corporate identity to Aviva in 2008, they wanted everyone to notice. So, they paid more than $13 million to get Bruce Willis, Ringo Starr, Elle McPherson, and Alice Cooper to appear in an advertisement about how essential their name changes had been on their path to prominence. Let`s read more about the most expensive fashion show.
This appears to be the least expensive ad on this list. It’s not a glossy, high-end spectacle with stunning images of automobiles, drinks, or Don Cheadle’s llama; it’s essentially a group of famous people chatting to the camera. Even when they’re digitally put into their own movies or news footage, it doesn’t look good. But there are four celebs! Four really renowned people! You can’t claim the money isn’t on the screen. It’s there in plain sight, and it looks like Ringo Starr.
Company | Famous Personalities | Production Cost | Reason for Expense |
Norwich Union rebranding to Aviva Insurance | Multiple celebrities who changed their names, including Bruce Willis and Ringo Starr | $13.4 million | Extensive celebrity endorsements and widespread ad campaigns during the global financial crisis. |
6. Chrysler “Imported from Detroit” (2011) – $12 million
This advertisement, like many of the most costly ones ever created, ran during the Super Bowl. In a 2011 advertisement starring rapper Eminem, Chrysler announced their latest model, the Chrysler 200. Throughout the commercial, which seems like a short film, viewers learn about Detroit through one of its most well-known exports. It’s where Chrysler and Eminem have a rich and colorful history. The ad’s philosophy is best expressed in the phrase “The hottest fires make the hardest steel.” It cost around $12.4 million, according to ESPN. It’s particularly important given that manufacturing occurred right away after the automaker’s big bailout. This was obviously a big move for Chrysler to get back into the game and give Americans a sense of optimism in local brands.
Company | Famous Personality | Production Cost | Reason for Expense |
Chrysler | Eminem | $12 million | Powerful message about Detroit’s comeback, featuring local residents and Eminem’s impactful voice. |
7. Carlton Draught Skydiving Ants (2008) – $9 million
Americans may be unfamiliar with Carlton Draught, an Australian beer brand, but after seeing this unforgettable 2008 commercial, it will be difficult to forget. In this $9 million TV commercial, we witness a squad of skytroopers doing an amazing skydiving dance in a stadium. They astonish the crowd with their synchronized performance. But something goes wrong when the huge pint of beer meant to be part of the performance goes feral. The gigantic prop leaves a trail of destruction in its wake, causing millions of dollars in damage. But would the phony hurt it caused cost more than the actual expense of the Carlton Draught ad?
Company | Famous Personality | Production Cost | Reason for Expense |
Carlton Draught | None | $9 million | CGI-intensive visual effects featuring an army of skydiving ants forming shapes in mid-air. |
8. Pepsi Featuring Britney Spears (2002) – $8.1 million
This wasn’t the first super-expensive advertisement, but it had the most cultural influence, meaning this advertisement was everywhere. It felt like forever. People get so tired of it that whenever you turn on the TV, it is Britney and Pepsi all over it. When this commercial aired during the 2001 Super Bowl, Britney Spears was at the peak of her powers. A serious evaluation of this statistic reveals how little that amount is to Pepsi.
The company’s largest annual expense is on marketing and keeping up the supply chain. In this perspective, $8.1 million is a particle of dust in an endless world. In this perspective, $8.1 million is a particle of dust in an endless world. Pepsi’s sales increased dramatically as a result of the positive feedback. Why was all of this so expensive? First, there’s Britney Spears, who makes a lot of money, and then there’s the Pepsi sets, which take us back five decades.
Company | Famous Personality | Production Cost | Reason for Expense |
Pepsi | Britney Spears | $8.1 million | Britney Spears at the peak of her career, showcasing Pepsi’s brand evolution through the decades. |
9. Microsoft – “Empowering” (2014) – $8 million
This is only the beginning of a long list of Super Bowl advertising. And it makes sense: if you’re spending millions of dollars simply to have your commercial run during the Super Bowl, you may as well go all out on the spot itself. This ad, which aired during the 2014 Super Bowl, shows the different breakthroughs made by Microsoft technology. It focused on technologies such as artificial legs and hearing aids that strengthen people’s daily quality of life.
The commercial stars former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason, who has ALS and communicates with friends and family using Microsoft technology and software. Despite its 8 million price tag, this is one of the least spectacular advertisements on this list, but it might be the most successful. And it’s certainly the most affecting.
Company | Famous Personality | Production Cost | Reason for Expense |
Microsoft | Steve Gleason | $8 million | Super Bowl airtime and focus on real-world impact of Microsoft technology, featuring ALS advocate Steve Gleason. |
10. Kia – “The Truth” (2014) – $8 million
A common tradition in higher-end ads is to hire a well-known actor and have them repeat one of their most famous roles. Kia used this identical tactic in a 2014 advertisement. Laurence Fishburne will resume his role as Morpheus from “The Matrix.” Instead of promising to release young Neo from the dream prison world created by his machine masters, Mr. Morpheus seemed to be more interested in putting an affluent couple into a luxury Kia Sedan. He then entertains them with opera by purchasing a Kia. As the music builds to a crescendo, the commercial begins to resemble a high-budget action film. Making automobiles soar off the streets into the air and gathering huge costs of 8 million dollars.
Company | Famous Personality | Production Cost | Reason for Expense |
Kia | Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus | $8 million | Super Bowl airtime and high-profile actors like Laurence Fishburne, feature a humorous twist on The Matrix. |
11. Jaguar – “British Villains” (2014) – $8 million
The last entry on this list paid to recruit one renowned actor, while this entry paid to employ three: Tom Hiddleston, Mark Strong, and Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley. Yes, the same Tom Hiddleston who played the character of LOKI (God of Mischief) in multiple Marvel motion pictures. The advertisement depicts all three as assumingly elegant British bad guys, each quietly (and menacingly) emphasizing that great villainy comes with tremendous flair and style. Of course, the three dryly remark that they all drive Jaguars. That ad is able to get more than a million views over YouTube and why won’t it, afterall, the marketing team of Jaguar made sure of it.
Company | Famous Personalities | Production Cost | Reason for Expense |
Jaguar | Tom Hiddleston, Mark Strong, and Sir Ben Kingsley | $8 million | Three renowned actors portray suave British villains, showcasing Jaguar’s association with luxury and style. |
12. Honda Accord Cog Commercial (2003) – $7 million
This is possibly the most enjoyable advertisement you’ve ever seen. The 2003 Honda Accord had one of the finest launches to the British market in the course of new model debuts. This ad was so effective that Honda decided to air it internationally. The 100% real video takes a mind-numbing 606 takes to get right. Knowing this, you’ll find the remark “Don’t you love it when things simply work?” quite amusing.
The entire video consists of only two sequences from all of those takes. The video begins with a cog, which gradually expands into larger cogs. You eventually get to view all of the car’s pieces and features before seeing the actual vehicle. By the end, you’ve been shown every detail of the automobile in a Frankenstein-style preview. Honda throws in a new sound system, which has more than 10 speakers. Watching the ad, you’ll find that the large budget was definitely worth it, from all of the pieces to the end result.
Company | Famous Personality | Production Cost | Reason for Expense |
Honda | None | $7 million | Incredibly intricate chain reaction with hundreds of parts and cogs, illustrating the Honda Accord’s precision engineering. |
Conclusion
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