With this week’s announcement of the Star Wars: Episode VII cast and this weekend’s annual Star Wars Day (“May The Fourth” Be With You), we’re taking a look back at our five favorite Star Wars themed commercials.
Keep in mind, there have been a number of Star Wars advertisements over the years—some are a direct tie-in to an endorsement, while others are for a Star Wars product.
Among the many companies that aligned themselves with the saga in creative ads are Target, Pepsi, Lipton Brisk Iced Tea, M&M’s, Spike TV, Cinemax, Lego, McDonald’s, and TomTom.
These are our favorites.May the Force be with you.
5. Kinect Star Wars—”Feel The Force” Trailer
This one is from 2012 and stars Parks & Recreation‘s Chris Pratt as Obi-Wan Kenobi facing off against Darth Vader in this XBox 360 commercial promoting Kinect Star Wars.
4. 2012 Volkswagen Game Day Commercial Teaser—”The Bark Side”
Volkswagen had previously had a hit Star Wars ad (see number one on our list) and all eyes were on the company for their 2012 Super Bowl ad. To tease the actual ad that would play during the game, a teaser ad was created using 12 dogs, each resembling a different Star Wars character, to bark the “Imperial March” theme.
3. Star Wars Adidas Originals
For their World Cup campaign, Adidas remade the iconic cantina sequence with Daft Punk, David Beckham, Snoop Dogg, Franz Beckenbauer, Noel Gallagher, Neil Armstrong and more. The result was flawless.
2. Currys PC World Megastore—”Chewbacca Makeover”
UK chain Currys PC World made five Star Wars spots, going so far to hire Anthony Daniels to reprise his role as C-3PO and James Earl Jones to voice Darth Vader. This one’s my favorite—presumably that’s Peter Mayhew in the suit.
1. Volkswagen—”The Force”
First airing during the 2011 Super Bowl, this award-winning commercial is quite simply awesome as a pint-sized Darth Vader uses the Force after discovering the all-new 2012 Passat in the driveway.