The Top 10 Most Egregious Product Placements in Film

By Jo Piazza Posted Apr 25th 2010 01:00PM

'Iron Man 2' is expected to be this summer's biggest blockbuster. While Paramount and Marvel Entertainment hope it will bring audiences into movie theaters, the film's marketing partners are hoping it will single-handedly boost America out of the recession. The Robert Downey Jr. action-adventure is part of a $100 million marketing bonanza, according to Ad Age, as brands like Burger King, Dr. Pepper, Audi, 7-Eleven and Royal Purple Motor Oil have signed on to promote the movie and shill their products through a variety of tie-ins and cross-promotions. Selling out has officially become the way to get movies made. And there isn't anything more American than that. In anticipation of this marketing madness, we bring you our list of top ten most egregious product placements of all time.

GM and 'Transformers'
When Michael Bay stepped in as director of 'Transformers,' he knew cars would play a huge part in the action-packed robot movie, so he shopped the vehicle placement around to car manufacturers looking for the highest bidder. GM emerged on top, offering $3 million. At one point in the flick, Bumblebee, the beloved little autobot, transforms into a sexy 2009 Camaro.

Audi and 'Transporter 2'
Sometimes it seems action movies were created simply as extra-long commercials for fast cars. The second installment in Jason Statham's 'Transporter' series certainly felt that way, as private chauffeur/ex-special forces agent Frank Martin transports dubious packages and people in his Audi A8 W12.

AOL and 'You've Got Mail'
Didn't think you could product place in a romantic comedy? You're oh so wrong. Even this movie's title was AOL-centric. It totally drove home a message to singles -- if you don't use AIM, you will indeed die alone ... just like you've always feared.

Apple and 'Mission Impossible'
Saving the world is easy when you're using a Mac. If Ethan Hunt had been using a PC, well, the rogue assassins would have won.

Taco Bell and 'Demolition Man'
In the American dystopia of 2032, Taco Bell remains the last fast food franchise standing after winning the "Franchise Wars." This blatant product placement allows futuristic ball buster Sylvester Stallone to consume much needed chalupas on the go. Important side note, the "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" chihuahua was not cryogenically frozen and therefore did not advance to 2032. Sad.

FedEx and 'Cast Away'
We've never been able to decide if this product placement was good or bad for the FedEx image. The FedEx plane did crash (not a good thing), but in the end Tom Hanks delivers the package (good thing).

American Airlines and 'Up in the Air'
Jason Reitman's much-lauded dramedy may never have been made had it not been for product placement and the various trades Reitman made with American Airlines to obtain filming locations in return for product infiltration.

TiVo and 'Tropic Thunder'
Matthew McConaughey's super agent Rick Peck will do anything for his client, Tugg Speedman, including hand delivering a TiVo into the Laotian jungle. Unfortunately, this hilarious placement hasn't saved the TiVo from being cannibalized by cable company-provided DVRs.

Reese's Pieces and 'E.T.'
This one is product placement 101 and everyone's favorite example of post-modern placement. When America fell in love with that adorable extra-terrestrial, we fell in love with those peanut butter filled chocolates, too. Sales for the candies shot up 65% the summer 'E.T.' was released.

Omega, Samsonite, British Airways, Finalandia, Norelco, Revlon and Kodak and 'Die Another Day'
The Bond franchise has always been known for its powerful product placements. It's Bond's little secret that his entire life is sponsored by various consumer goods. MGM enlisted more than 20 marketing partners, who contributed more than $100 million in promotional support for this movie. Feel dirty? Sip some Finlandia vodka whilst applying some Revlon lipstick and you'll feel much better.

Tags: Cast Away, Demolition Man, die another day, iron man 2, mission impossible, transformers, transporter 2, Tropic Thunder, up in the air, youve got mail

Comments

(22)

Sunday 25 April

By borinki kojenkas

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you forgot Cocaine and "Great Balls of Fire," the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic of 1989 starring Dennis "DQ" Quaid, a film that could not have been made without Cocaine which--even though it does not appear onscreen--fuels one of the worst performances in the history of motion pictures and propelled the star into rehab...Coke: The Pause that Refreshes

By Border rat

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Duncan ... maybe on one of the "little people" shows? lol

By vake

"I Robot" had more product placement than you could shake a stick at:
1. "Vintage 2003" Converse sneakers
2. FedEx delivery robot
3. Audi Car
4. Will Smith's stereo (think it was an RCA, can't remember)
I'm sure there was more.

By Tonya

Jo Piazza, you spelled Finlandia wrong in the article. They wouldn't be happy with this PR with a mis-spelled name. :)

By Time Forgot

They always forget the worst offender in these Product Placement Stories, Leonard Part 6. The worst Bond offender was Moonraker, but the nice Norelco Beauty shot in Die Another Day was a singular obvious offender in that movie.

By Greg

You totally missed "The Thomas Crown Affair" when Renee Russo stops the movie dead for a full minute to chug a Pepsi One. Those other movies above at least worked their placement into the storylines. Russo had no reason to drink that Pepsi on camera for anything other than outrageous product placement.

By gobluespartyon

Castway was one of the boringist movies of all time too much Tom Hanks and talking to a freaking Vallyball named Wilson LOL. I thought this was interesting read with the product placement in movies which I don't mind at all.

Sunday 09 May

By Chris

Boring? I loved Cast Away, including (even especially) the oft-maligned, but very believable ending.

Rick your a spammer and this has nothing to do with bailouts. You're a loser that needs to get a life.

By xve298

You Forgot Blade Runner one of the first to use product placement!!

By Dave

No one mentioned the best undercut 'GOTCHA' in movie history. The video release of 'Top Gun' was spnsored by Pepsi, but in the briefing room near the end of the movie (before the final Mig/Tomcat fight scene) there was VERY OBVIOUSLY a Coke machine in the background. Thanks Pepsi for letting Coke get away with using you!.....LOL

By hello roxie

what about Wayne's World? when Wayne & Garth are telling Rob Lowe that they won't sell out and blatantly use Reebok, Pepsi, Pizza Hut & Nuprin in that scene

Friday 30 April

By Barry

That was the joke. And it was funny. I don't see that as an example of bad product placement, but more of clever product placement.

By Max

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Dont forget Talledega Nights: Ricky Bobby!

Monday 26 April

By adhoc99

Add TV show of 2 yrs ago "SHARK"...wherein his daughter asks Dad "Can I really keep the ROGUE?"....her new car, asked after she screwed up in some unimportant way but Dad "forgives" her. Blatant and disgusting.

By Vecter

How about the PanAm Clipper space ship in "2001 A Space Odyssey".Of course it didn't do them much good, their long out of business.

By jim

Does anyone remember Smokey and the Banbit? The whole moviw was based on a shipment of Coors beer and a Pontiac Firebird.

Tuesday 27 April

By garyschwei

And one that I helped to put together... the famous "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" scene set in The Sharper Image store in "When Harry Met Sally."

By Nate

Really the Matrix didn't make the list did you not see the Matrix Reloaded? Every vehicle in there was a GM...sweet

By CJ

Mission to Mars. Remember when they used the Dr. Pepper to find the pinhole in the hull?

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