The Best Ad Campaigns of 2025 That Stuck With Us

The new year is here, but some ads from 2025 still live rent-free in our heads.

As the holiday mood gives way to routine, some campaigns continue to shine, proving that great storytelling transcends the calendar.

Last year gave us ads that made us laugh, feel nostalgic, pause for a second, or rethink a brand entirely. So, let’s rewind and revisit the best ad campaigns that made 2025 one to remember.

1. The Most Inspirational Ad Campaign

Ad: No Decision Without Us | World Down Syndrome Day 2025

Following last year’s campaign “Assume That I Can,” World Down Syndrome Day shifts the focus from breaking stereotypes to claiming agency.

The story begins with a young woman with Down syndrome whose parents choose her clothes and ends with her confidently making her own choice. She stands alongside individuals with different disabilities as they raise their fists under the powerful message “No Decision Without Us.”

What sets this year’s spot apart is its broader representation. It shows people with Down syndrome, individuals with visual and hearing impairments, wheelchair users, and people with prosthetic limbs start meaningful conversations about inclusion at work, in public spaces, and in everyday life.

Why it’s successful:

The campaign builds naturally on last year’s message, turning inspiration into empowerment through music. Its storytelling is authentic, emotional, and visually compelling, reminding viewers that true inclusion means participation rather than permission.

2. The Cleverest Collab Ad Campaign

Ad: Meal of Misfortune | Wendy’s x Wednesday

Set on a gloomy, rainy day, Wendy’s ad opens with the Addams Family car pulling up to one of its restaurants.

Wednesday types the receipt on a vintage typewriter, narrating that she’d usually be against this kind of “corporate partnership,” until Wendy’s let her create her own Frosty. The spot ends with her unveiling her custom Frosty and the line, “There’s nothing happy about this meal.”

Why it’s successful:

This is a perfectly executed crossover between Wendy’s and Netflix’s Wednesday series. The campaign combines dark humor with their branding, playing off Jenna Ortega’s cultural impact and Wednesday’s recent popularity. The result is turning a fast-food promo into one of the year’s most entertaining collaborations. Not to mention that both characters share the same pigtails and dry wit, which made the pairing oddly perfect.

3. The Most Empowering Campaign

Ad: So Win | Nike

This is Nike’s first major ad in 27 years. The campaign, dedicated to women in sports, delivers a black-and-white anthem celebrating female athletes who refuse to be limited.

Featuring stars like basketball player Caitlin Clark and runner Sha’Carri Richardson, the spot combines powerful narration that flips a stereotype with Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” playing in the background.

Why it’s successful:

It stands out because it feels genuine rather than promotional. The black-and-white visuals and narration give it real power, while the use of emotion and grit makes the message stick. By focusing on real athletes and moments of resistance, Nike turns “So Win” into a statement about confidence, equality, and owning your voice.

4. The Most Nostalgic Campaign

Ad: Home, But Not Alone | Home Instead

Home Instead leverages holiday nostalgia by bringing back Macaulay Culkin as Kevin, 35 years after Home Alone. In the ad, Kevin is outside wrapping his yard in bubble wrap “to keep mom safe” as she’s getting older, still over-preparing in true Kevin fashion.

He jumps when he spots a figure with a shovel, only to realize it’s Old Man Marley’s granddaughter. The two share a moment that mirrors the original film, and she gently encourages him to talk to his mom about getting help at home.

Why it’s successful:

Viewers get the familiar humor, references, and warmth of Home Alone, while the ad naturally shifts into a conversation about caring for aging parents. It’s heartfelt, familiar, and makes a sensitive topic feel approachable. Plus, Macaulay Culkin reprising his iconic role as Kevin is always a crowd-pleaser.

5. The Most Entertaining Super Bowl Spot

Ad: Seal & Becky G | Mountain Dew

Mountain Dew brought pure fun to the Super Bowl with a quirky ad starring Becky G and Seal. After taking a sip of Mountain Dew Baja Blast, Becky falls into a tropical world where she lands on a boat and finds Seal performing a parody of “Kiss from a Rose,” now “Kiss from a Lime.”

The result is a playful combo of color, music, and humor that perfectly captures the brand’s bold energy.

Why it’s successful:

This ad campaign stands out because it embraces the bizarre. With surreal visuals, playful humor, and a nod to the over-the-top style once made famous by Old Spice, Mountain Dew doesn’t try to make sense, and that’s exactly why it works. By leaning fully into absurdity and pop nostalgia, it created one of the most memorable and talked-about Super Bowl spots of the year.

6. The Most Thought-Provoking Ad Campaign

Ad: Beep (starring Ambika Mod) | Make My Money Matter

This ad campaign by Make My Money Matter turns a simple card tap into something quite unusual. Each “beep” sets a plant on fire, showing how everyday banking choices can fuel environmental destruction.

British actress and comedian Ambika Mod plays a cashier processing payments as flames spread around her. The spot closes with the line: “Our planet is burning, and our banks are fuelling the fire,” calling people to act now.

Why it’s successful:

It’s bold, unsettling, and straight to the point. By showing the hidden cost of our financial habits, Beep makes climate responsibility personal. Instead of relying on performative messaging, this ad puts real change front and center.

7. The Most Shocking Public Safety Ad

Ad: Blood on Your Hands | RSA (Road Safety Authority)

The RSA returned to hard-hitting storytelling with “Blood on Your Hands” to remind people that drunk driving doesn’t just affect one person but implicates everyone who stays silent.

The ad follows a man meeting friends at a local pub, where the night seems ordinary until their hands slowly become stained with blood. When he finally leaves with a friend who is clearly intoxicated, the man watches him drive away as the message “Don’t let your friends drink and drive” appears.

Why it’s successful:

The ad above is simple yet brutally effective, leaving some viewers with shivers running down their spines. The realism and slow pacing make it feel heavier, reflecting the shock value of early 2000s road safety campaigns. By showing that silence can be just as dangerous as the act itself, the RSA revives a style of advertising that confronts viewers head-on with something shocking and uncomfortably honest.

8. The Most Cinematic Ad

Ad: The Detective | Nespresso

Nespresso’s “The Detective” plays like a mini-movie, with a style reminiscent of an Agatha Christie mystery.

George Clooney returns as the funny coffee-loving detective, joined by Eva Longoria, Camille Cottin, and Kim Go Eun on a luxurious train. The story follows a fun search for missing coffee pods, or “jewels,” employing Clooney’s humor and charm.

Why it’s successful:

Nespresso stands out for turning a simple coffee ad into a full story. The light mystery keeps you hooked, while the beautiful setting and humor make it feel effortless, from start to end. It’s proof that with the right cast and fun twist, even a few missing coffee pods can turn into an enjoyable experience.

9. The Most Gen Z Ad Campaign

Ad: We’re Here | Instacart

Now, Instacart brings together iconic brand mascots like the Pillsbury Doughboy, Mr. Clean, Cheetos’ Chester, and even the Old Spice Guy, all racing toward a family’s home, only to transform into grocery bags at the door.

Just when it seems perfect, the dad asks, “Did you get the milk?” The mom forgot, but Instacart’s cow speeds toward the house in a cart to save the day as the tagline “We’re here” drops.

Why it’s successful:

By mixing classic brand icons with modern humor and fast-paced storytelling, Instacart speaks to Gen Z and older audiences alike. It’s weird, funny, and refreshing, which is everything a modern ad should be to capture the attention of Gen Z.

10. The Most Heartfelt Campaign

Ad: Dream Job | Google

Google’s “Dream Job” follows a man preparing for an interview using Gemini Live on his Pixel phone. As he practices typical interview questions, the ad cuts to moments from his life as a new dad, like feeding his child, comforting her, and teaching her small lessons as she grows up.

The ad shows that these experiences are what truly prepared him for this moment.

Why it’s successful:

This could have easily been another futuristic, tech-driven ad like OpenAI’s “The Intelligence Age.” Instead, Google takes a more thoughtful approach, using AI to highlight human experience rather than overshadow it. By combining everyday moments with technology, it tells a story that feels personal and genuinely relatable.

11. The Funniest Performance

Ad: Five Star Theater: “Slippers” | Amazon

Amazon’s “Five Star Theater” takes real customer reviews and gives them the Hollywood treatment. In “Slippers,” one of many short videos Amazon has released so far, Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a dramatic review of a man who secretly wears his mother’s fuzzy slippers.

The setting perfectly reflects the holidays, and the addition of a pianist in the background, along with his reactions to Cumberbatch’s monologue, makes it even more enjoyable.

Why it’s successful:

It’s clever, absurd, and perfectly self-aware, as reviews should be. By turning something as ordinary as an Amazon review into a dramatic monologue, the campaign celebrates the humor in everyday customer stories. Cumberbatch’s over-the-top delivery also makes it unforgettable and proves that even product reviews can be pure entertainment.

12. The Best “Have a Break” Moment

Ad: KitKat x Formula 1 | The Official Chocolate Bar of F1

KitKat’s spot shows an overworked office employee wandering through a park, glued to his phone and clearly running on empty. As he sits on a bench, a pit-crew team dressed in bright red KitKat suits suddenly appears, just like an F1 box crew.

They take his phone, hand him a KitKat, swap his shoes for comfy slippers, give him a quick massage, and tidy him up before stepping back. In seconds, the man goes from stressed to relaxed as the voiceover reminds us, “Have a break, have a KitKat.”

Why it’s successful:

By pairing Formula 1’s high-speed pit-stop energy with KitKat’s classic “have a break” message, the ad delivers a clever visual joke that works for both F1 fans and everyday viewers. It’s simple, relatable, and a fresh take on a timeless slogan.

13. The Most Unexpectedly Cool Campaign

Ad: New Coca-Cola Zero | Coca-Cola Korea

Coca-Cola’s Zero new ad opens at what feels like a dull outdoor festival, until V from BTS, the globally famous K-pop group, pulls up in the iconic red Coca-Cola truck and says, “Looks like we need something thrilling, right?”

When V presses the red Coca-Cola button inside the truck, the side swings open to reveal a burst of energy: people celebrating with Coke Zero, confetti in the air, lights flashing, and music taking over. The line “Need something thrilling? Try the new Coca-Cola Zero” neatly seals the moment.

Why it’s successful:

It’s a modern twist on a classic formula that resonated far beyond Korea. With BTS’s global influence and Taehyung’s global appeal, the campaign turned a local product launch into a worldwide moment. The use of nostalgia, energy, and modern style captures the spirit of Coca-Cola while proving that great storytelling (and star power) can transcend borders.

New Ad Campaign Inspiration Delivered

Looking back, the best campaigns of 2025 all had one thing in common. They knew exactly what they wanted to say, and they trusted the audience to get it.

Some leaned on nostalgia, others on humor, discomfort, or pure fun. None of them tried too hard to explain themselves. They just told a good story at the right moment, either through humor or honesty.

And maybe that’s why they stuck. Like Kevin finally realizing he doesn’t have to do everything alone, these ads remind us that the simplest ideas often work best when they’re done with care.

If 2025 set the bar, 2026 has some big shoes to fill.