16 Video Advertisements to Watch Over and Over

We’re all a little bit like lizards. We have this inevitable instinct to track moving objects with our eyes, regardless of our desire. This is why, for almost a hundred years, video has been a big part of our culture and, thus, advertising. 

We have reached the point where video advertisements are the most engaging and effective form of marketing content. They grab the attention, provoke emotion, tell whole stories within minutes, and do not force us to read. This is why video ads dominate platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. 

This article explores the psychology behind video ads, the hooks, and the narratives that make them successful. You'll see how to use this powerful tool for businesses and how to create compelling ads with the right strategies.

Meta video advertisements

They drive engagement, followers, and conversions and build the social media presence. Let’s look into a few examples of video content businesses use to be closer to their target audience on Meta’s platforms (Facebook and Instagram).

1. Dollar Shave Club

This ad is great because it’s nothing but a display of the product but with some movement. And this movement of opening the box is fascinating—probably some instinctive reaction caused by Christmas morning. 

Why it works?

The cheeky and ambiguous text adds a dash of humor. Not too much, just enough to become a hook — something to think about while your eyes are following the box lid moving. Another hook here is called the “Curiosity gap,” and the repetitive movement of the lid triggers it. The text-to-screen ratio is good, and the visuals are engaging without overloading. 

What can you learn? 

It’s a very simple product demonstration, but it works because it shows the box content you will receive, and there’s added movement in the video, keeping you focused. Add the music you use in your ads for consistency.

2. Adidas and the 2024 Olympics

If one world-class athlete is not enough to push the target audience towards a purchase, how about a whole bunch of them? Adidas gathered pictures of athletes at their highest emotional peaks and made a very inspirational video about how You Got This.   

Why it works?

By showing a diverse group of athletes at their most intense moments, Adidas delivers an inspiring message: we’re all human, and we all win and fail (social proof). This ad channels emotions that are so strong that the message at the end can be replaced with any inspirational quote without loss of effect or meaning.

What can you learn? 

Bring aboard your video ad a narrator that fits your tone and conveys the message. AI-generated voices might lack this emotional undertone and be unable to present the full range of human emotion.

The slideshow format opens many opportunities for telling a hero’s story. It doesn't have to be built around famous people — you can easily make an inspirational video advertisement with public-domain images. It won’t be as current, but it can be even stronger, given the nostalgia and true emotional effects. 

3. The Ordinary reels

From the very beginning of its existence, The Ordinary kept its advertising extremely low-key. Their actual positioning is stripping all the unnecessary, leaving only the essential. This reel is very easy for anyone connected to product manufacturing to replicate, and the outcome will be unique. 

Why it works?

This ad falls perfectly under the brand's strategy by showing a stripped-down process that places the viewer's focus on transparency and simplicity.

What can you learn? 

Sometimes, storytelling does not imply complexity. This is the bottle, this is the serum—the results can be seen on your face. Despite its simplicity, this video uses several biases related to social proof: “Your favorite serum” is a well-known and massively loved product. Everyone knows how effective this line is; nothing more needs to be said.

4. Ilona Maher, Maybelline, and Sports Illustrated

A beautiful woman wearing makeup and posing in a swimsuit is a very common thing to use in advertising; this is how literally anything could be advertised in the 20th century.

By making a video about this specific model, both Maybelline and Sports Illustrated magazine made a statement that could as well be an advertisement for Dove. The message is powerful, and millions of people agree with it: beauty takes many forms and doesn’t have to cater to a group of couch potatoes. 

Why it works?

Ilona Maher is powerful, athletic, and beautiful. She makes the femininity concept look more accessible and empowering. The choice of the model is the hook here.

What can you learn? 

This is how you flip the table: nothing is different about this ad. It’s a standard for beauty products. And yet, simply having an unconventional (although beautiful) woman as a model shifts the expectations of femininity and grace. So, there you go: standard setting and a unique detail create a hook and stir the conversation.

5. Bobbi Brown tells stories

This ad is in this section by spirit but not by length. In this video ad, a famous makeup creator, Bobbi Brown, narrates through all the shades of her new line. The description of every shade is very well-written and makes you visualize all the beautiful things. Sun-kissed, glow, shine, golden hour—fascinating. 

Why it works?

Storytelling is the hook here, and Bobbi Brown is a natural storyteller. Working in the beauty industry, she had to learn the art of vivid product description.

What can you learn? 

You can also weave the narrative of your product and combine it with the actual demonstration. Learn from beauty influencers a bit of the storytelling craft: a lot of adjectives and metaphors, smooth voice with emotional depth, swathing and smudging the product to show it on a model.

6. Drawing masterclass show-n-tell

This ad is for a drawing masterclass, offering to teach the art of bright and colorful prints. It is narrated by the artist herself, building an artistic intimacy moment. Despite being somewhat of a standard for art ads, this video has hundreds of thousands of views. And there’s a simple reason for this.

Why it works?

The ad starts with a strong hook of urgency and scarcity — it immediately offers a huge discount to anyone who will sign up. It goes on while the artist compares this class to other classes on the market and goes on to tell what to expect from her class, mentioning the specific results as well.

What can you learn? 

The structure of hook->value->results is a great one to implement in any product or service ad. It will work better with captivating visuals since too much talking can otherwise turn boring.

Alternatively, you can remind of a discount in the middle of the video and finish off with a strong CTA. You can make it “while stock lasts” to generate a sense of urgency due to the big discount.

Check out more ad examples in our other blog articles:
- Facebook ad examples
- Facebook video ad examples

TikTok video advertisements

TikTok has caused a cultural shift with the short-form video content, and other social media platforms followed shortly. Let’s see how brands use this platform’s best-known trends: humor, authentic emotions, ASMR sounds, and relatable situations.

7. Pickle with GEICO

We’re opening with a highly absurd ad about being in a pickle. Probably, it’s a shoutout to all the Rick and Morty fans. The child is the only one who realizes how weird a metaphor is humorous. 

Why it works?

It’s a plain joke about an everyday situation. Maybe it's a bit too obvious, but it works for a wider target audience.

What can you learn? 

You can achieve a similar result by playing with any other phrasing we often use. Any standard expression we often use in our conversations and any beat-up metaphor can be turned into an absurd humor punchline.

A whole campaign for a shoe brand can be made around the person having two left feet, for example. It will be fun to watch and might drive conversions (due to humor and relatable experience alike).

8. Chipotle sizzle

“You’re making me hungry." Anyone would feel the urge for some chicken after hearing this sizzle and watching the chicken being cooked. Very simple but effective combination of visual and sound, almost to the point you can smell it, too.

Why it works?

It plays on our basic instincts and mouthwatering sensory details—the sizzling sound and visuals of chicken cooking. Instead of a traditional story, it highlights the simple, yummy process of preparing Chipotle’s chicken.

What can you learn? 

ASMR is in fashion, so focus on sensory. If you’re advertising food, showcase the sights and sounds of cooking; it sparks cravings and builds a strong connection between that hunger and the brand.

9. Paint your Life 

This is the video advertisement that a million people liked and thirteen thousand people shared. It is based on user-generated content and shows people being very emotional about the painter’s results. 

Why it works?

It shows a true emotion, heartbreaking and relatable. 

What can you learn? 

This ad is performing so great, not because it had a big budget or Taylor Swift in it. This is the essence of user-generated content. The reactions of real-life people are filmed by their loved ones who ordered the painting. It’s a moment of immense sorrow mixed with appreciation and joy. 

10. Uber Teens

Oh, no! This is so relatable: didn’t we all do very unthoughtful (code for stupid) things when we were young? Besides having a relatable narrative, it also shows the practical use of the service.

Why it works?

It’s a classic example of the problem-solution narrative. This ad shows a relatable moment of a teenage experiment going wrong. It builds tension as the mishap unfolds, eventually positioning Uber as the perfect solution for concerned parents.

What can you learn? 

When you're targeting parents, present your services as a practical way to keep their teens safe, making it feel like a must-have for family peace of mind. If it’s a product, highlight how it’s about safety, help, and a little bit of control.

YouTube and TV video advertisements 

YouTube and TV ads represent the more traditional approach to video marketing, allowing for longer-form content and higher production values. They aim for wide demographics and nation-wide (or even worldwide) reach. Let’s see how brands achieve a cultural impact by combining wide reach and traditional marketing in online advertising.

11. Etsy and gift ideas

Among the celebrity-filled ads, Etsy stood out with what Adweek called a “delightfully silly story” about Americans panicking as they try to come up with a fitting return gift for the French, who had just gifted them the Statue of Liberty. The ad was created by the Orchard Creative agency.

Why it works?

Remember this stress right before the holidays? Thoughts about a present, not perfect, but at least not lame, kept us all up at some point. This ad narrative builds on the relatable anxiety of gift-giving, blown up to a national scale.

What can you learn? 

The whole idea of this ad is to use a highly relatable experience. The mention of the national symbol and the magnitude of the present adds a layer of clever humor that sets it apart from any typical “wondering about the perfect gift?” ad. By blowing relatable experiences out of proportion, you get the humorous effect and trigger the problem-solving narrative.

12. Dove’s take on female sports

An incredibly simple yet great ad from the Unilever brand that delivers its message with the soundtrack "It's a Hard-Knock Life" from the Broadway musical Annie. With each beat of the song, a girl takes a hit or falls during play — a subtle metaphor for how body confidence can impact life outcomes.

Why it works?

The ad catches your eye/ear with a cool visual and a familiar song, getting your attention right away. It uses powerful images to show a story about pushing through both physical and emotional challenges.

What can you learn? 

The ad works because it’s simple but really hits you emotionally. This effect can be achieved by including user-generated content in your ad. By presenting “home videos” with the struggles young female athletes face, the brand connects with the audience on a personal level.

13. DoorDash promo code

People love puzzles. And people love prizes. Combine the two, and you might stir up excitement like DoorDash did, where viewers tried to find a promo code that gave them a chance to win every item advertised during the Big Game.

The online platform created one of the most ambitious giveaways in Super Bowl history, aiming to change its perception from just a delivery service to a 24/7 personal assistant who can bring you stars from the sky.

Why it works?

It works so well because it gets the audience actively involved, turning passive viewers into participants. By giving people the chance to win every item advertised, DoorDash cleverly uses other brands’ ads to boost its own appeal and visibility.

What can you learn? 

Everyone likes treasures. The excitement of a big prize and the fun of a treasure hunt keep viewers hooked. It turns watching commercials into an interactive game. Hide an “easter egg," offer a hidden discount or a promo code one needs to find, or put a tenner with your menu under a brick in the public park and share the location on social. 

14. Dollar Shave Club

Old but gold, this ad was released in 2012. Using wit and a bold, no-b****it tone to promote razor subscription service. It was close to achieving what Beyonce failed to do — they almost broke the internet.

Why it works?

This video advertisement was a huge hit because of its direct, no-nonsense approach and edgy humor. It keeps things simple with a straight-talking explanation of the product and service, delivered with some casual f***ing swearing.

What can you learn? 

This ad stands out because it’s authentic and funny, using a low-budget, high-impact strategy. Nobody gets your deadpan sense of humor? If your target audience is anything like you, they’ll get it. Not everything is meant to be complicated; some video advertisements look better simply because they are straight-up.

15. Rexona 

Another video ad from the golden times of bid production budgets, Stunt City by Lowe London. It’s so full of action and suspense; starting your morning in a less extreme setting feels like bliss.

Why it works?

This ad uses exaggerated, over-the-top visuals to clearly show the product’s benefits. By making it look like Rexona can handle the craziness of Stunt City, it suggests the product will easily handle your regular day-to-day life.

What can you learn? 

The wild action scenes and the crazy idea of a whole city built for stunts are hard to replicate. But you might try exaggeration and turn everyday tasks into high-intensity events, making the product seem perfect for even the most extreme situations. This idea could work for a wide range of products.

16. Carlton 

This ad was so epic that it was built around the fact that it was epic. The post-irony of people chanting “It’s a big ad” to Carmina Burana while running around a massive valley is simply precious.

Why it works?

It’s ironic, it’s epic, it’s fun. 

What can you learn? 

You don’t need hundreds of actors or expensive CGI. The fundamental effect of video advertising can be equally well achieved with drone videos of mountains, sea waves, or historical monuments — anything that provides perspective in space and time. And don’t take yourself too seriously; honest self-irony is a very human quality that works as a humor hook when it’s paired with the epic scale and things blown out of proportion.

Looking for more advertisement examples? Check out our collection here.

Conclusion 

Reptile brain, childhood memories, shrinking attention span — no matter the reason, video advertisements work great. They tell stories, evoke emotions, and build the urge to eat some Chipotle chicken.

Don’t be overwhelmed with the number of narratives, hooks, and styles of video ads. Some of them align with your strategy better than others, and some are closer to your positioning. You’ll get there by trying.