‘Tis the season once more! The arrival of the Christmas ad season is consistently met with great anticipation, and this year proved no exception. Retailers worldwide unveiled their festive commercials, aiming to captivate the hearts and minds of consumers.
From Apple’s heartwarming ad showcasing ‘The Beatles’ to M&S’s star-studded commercial featuring Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, and Chevrolet’s touching spot in support of the Alzheimer’s Association, these are among the standout Christmas ads of 2023.
Explore the comprehensive list of 2023 ads that evoke the holiday spirit and resonate with our emotions.
Apple – Fuzzy Feelings
Apple’s ‘Fuzzy Feeling’ unveils a festive tale—a discontented employee, her less-than-jolly boss, and a compelling message intricately woven with The Beatles’ classic tune. Creative magic unfolds as always!
Chevrolet – A Holiday to Remember
Chevrolet collaborates with the Alzheimer’s Association in their latest ad, shedding light on the experiences of those living with Alzheimer’s and their families, particularly during the holiday season.
Coca-Cola – Anyone Can Be Santa
In this festive season, Coca-Cola gently nudges us to embrace our inner Santa. Check out the enchanting 2023 Christmas ad, where the spirit of kindness overflows in a cascade of heartwarming moments.
John Lewis – Snapper: The Perfect Tree
John Lewis’s nontraditional Christmas ad communicates a clear message for the festive season: forge new traditions. Explore the ad featuring Alfie, who buys a seed to grow his unique Christmas tree at a market.
Capital One – Quicksilver Holiday Night Fever
Capital One cleverly uses nostalgia and familiarity, anchoring our attention with John Travolta and the iconic JoBee Gees soundtrack, ‘Stayin’ Alive,’ preventing us from skipping past.
Tesco – Helping you #BecomeMoreChristmas
The father-son dynamic adds a relatable touch, blending humor with familial bonds.
ALDI – Share the Love
Aldi’s “Share the Love” showcases a star-studded ensemble from the vegetable kingdom, including Kevin the Carrot, Gluttonous Grape, Naughty Green Kiwi, Plumty-Dumptys, Spoilt Little Sprout, Ebanana Scrooge, and Marcus Raddishford.
M&S – Say HELLO to Right & Left Mitten
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney don charming mittens for an M&S Christmas journey that is a must-watch, filled with heartwarming moments.
Amazon – Joy Ride
Amazon’s heartwarming Christmas ad, ‘Joy Ride’ celebrates enduring friendships and shared experiences as three elderly friends rekindle their youthful spirit, all in the backdrop of The Beatles’ ‘In My Life.’
Dior – The Garden of Dreams
Dior’s enchanting Christmas ad, ‘The Garden of Dreams, featuring Anya Taylor Joy unfolds a captivating narrative within a dreamlike setting, seamlessly blending luxury fashion with festive magic, creating an immersive and stylish holiday experience.
Lidl – A Magical Christmas
Lidl’s heartwarming 2023 Christmas ad, ‘A Magical Christmas,’ follows a raccoon on a whimsical journey to bring joy to a boy, emphasizing the power of small gestures and encouraging customers to donate toys for local children in need.
Sainsbury’s – “This Christmas, one little girl asks one BIG question.”
A curious girl steps up to the in-store tannoy at Sainsbury’s to ask: “What does Santa eat for his Christmas dinner?” Her question sparks a flurry of responses from Sainsbury’s workers, each offering their suggestions of festive dishes, showstoppers and treats.
ARGOS – Dancer
Connie’s lively table-dancing and Trev’s sweet character set a festive mood in Argos’s short, enjoyable ad, showcasing their products in a relatable and fun way.
Boots: Give Joy
Boots excels in capturing the essence of Christmas by highlighting the joy of giving. In their quirky ad, a girl poses an unusual question to her mom, akin to Sainsbury’s approach: “Who gives presents to Santa?”
Sources: DMI, USA Today, Creative Boom
The Super Bowl is a high-stakes game, and the ads and trailers aired during the event, in addition to the half-time performance, is as exciting as the game itself. With millions tuning in every year, the Super Bowl has become a prime advertising opportunity for big- companies, and studios hoping to whip up excitement for their upcoming blockbuster releases.
From the trailers of Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness and Jurassic World Dominion, to ads from brands such as BMW and Booking.com, here’s what wowed the viewers and fans at Super Bowl LVI:
Ambulance
In this breakneck thriller from director-producer Michael Bay, decorated veteran Will Sharp desperate for money to cover his wife’s medical bills, asks for help from the one person he knows he shouldn’t—his adoptive brother Danny – a charismatic career criminal, Danny instead offers him a score: the biggest bank heist in Los Angeles history.
Release Date: 07 April 2022
Starring: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jake Gyllenhaal, Eiza González
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
When Dr. Robotnik comes back, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to both build and destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.
Release Date: 07 April 2022
Starring: Ben Schwart, Idris Elba, Jim Carrey
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Since he tampered with a forbidden spell (No Way Home) that opened the door to the multiverse, Dr.Strange has been unhinging the reality –which leads to an important question from Wanda. Why is he considered a hero when he does it, but she a villain? Get ready to experience ‘a new dimension of Strange’. Probably the much awaited trailer of the Super Bowl.
Release Date: 05 May 2022
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Rachel McAdams
Jurassic World Dominion
Even though the plot in this third installment from the franchise is kept under wraps, one thing is sure: Jurassic Park/World fans will be thrilled to see Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and the original Jurassic Park trio all together in one movie!
Release Date: 10 June 2022
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern
Nope
Oscar winner Jordan Peele disrupted and redefined modern horror with Get Out (2017) and then Us (2019). Now, he reimagines the summer movie with a new pop nightmare: the expansive horror epic, Nope.
Release Date: 21 July 2022
Starring: Keke Palmer, Barbie Ferreira, Daniel Kaluuya
See the full line-up of blockbusters releasing in 2022 in our Sizzle Reel.
Porsche/Top Gun: Maverick
Porsche is bringing the speed in Top Gun: Maverick. Playing on the original movie’s “I feel the need for speed” quote, the trailer showcases snippets of the movie in-between promotional footage of some of Porsche’s cars.
BMW
Zeus (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is underwhelmed by all earthly electric things and becomes a shell of his former self. But right when we think all hope is lost, his wife, Hera (Salma Hayek), introduces him to the all-electric BMW iX and helps mighty Zeus reclaim his spark.
Squarespace
Zendaya plays the role of Sally, who is looking to grow her seashell business, so she creates a store on Squarespace, which helps her become a seaside sensation.
Booking.com
In this ‘Big Game’ ad, Idris Elba takes you on a special journey into the heart and soul of Booking.com. In a way that only he could pull off. While staying on-script – mostly.
Lay’s
Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd remember some beautiful moments together that all revolve around Lay’s Potato Chips. Stay tuned until the end.
Verizon
We have officially entered the era of Cable Guy nostalgia. Jim Carrey reprises his role from the movie only to learn that cable is a thing of the past.
Kia
Every dog deserves to find their forever home. Even Robo Dog, who risks it all in Kia’s ‘Big Game’ ad to live fully charged with the all-electric Kia EV6. Kia’s Robo Dog is probably the ad that made the viewers tear up as they feel affectionate towards the #Robodog.
Amazon
What if Alexa could read your mind? That’s the issue plaguing real-world couple Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost in this ad for Amazon’s home-based helper.
Flamin’ Hot Doritos and Cheetos
A group of animals are in the forest beatboxing the song “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa, with a bunch of Flamin’ Hot chips nearby. What more could you want?
Nissan
The ad introduces Nissan’s brand-new range of 2023 high-tech models – Nissan Z and the all-electric Nissan Ariya. Eugene Levy stars as a high-octane pedal-to-the-metal action star, along with Brie Larson, Dave Bautista, and Danai Gurira.
Chevrolet
Continuing the all-electric vehicle trend of the evening, Chevrolet channeled ‘The Sopranos’ for a commercial starring Jamie-Lynn Sigler set to the show’s iconic theme.
Watch all the Super Bowl 2022 commercials here.
Source: Gamespot
Chevrolet – American automotive manufacturer, booked a Car Display with Motivate Val Morgan – through Benchmark, at VOX Cinemas – Mall of Egypt.
The car display featured the all-new Chevrolet Malibu 2020, and was positioned in the foyer area of the cinema from 25th November 2019 – 1st December 2019.
With a sophisticated, appearance and remarkable driving dynamics, the 2020 Malibu is ready to take you wherever the road leads.
Read more on the Chevrolet Malibu 2020 here.
Interested in booking a similar campaign? Contact us for more information on off screen opportunities across our cinema circuit.
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Back in December 2017, Saudi Arabia announced the lift of a 35-year-old ban on commercial theaters as part of the country’s 2030 vision to modernize and move the country forward.
In April 2018, Saudi Arabia’s first cinema (operated by AMC Entertainment) was launched, followed by the launch of a 4 screen VOX Cinemas at Riyadh Park Mall –featuring an IMAX, 2 VOX Kids and 1 VIP screen.
As the official cinema advertising partner of VOX Cinemas, Motivate Val Morgan received an overwhelming response from advertisers within hours of the cinema chain launching in the Kingdom.
The first advertisers to book on-screen ads through Motivate Val Morgan at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall were recognized and awarded certificates for embracing the medium and including cinema as part of their media mix in Saudi Arabia:
HotelsCombined
The First Advertiser in Saudi Arabia
Agency – Adcomm
Campaign Start Date – 10th May 2018
Campaign End Date – 04th July 2018
General Motors Overseas Distribution LLC for Chevrolet & GMC Yukon
The First Advertiser in the Automobile Category
Agency – Carat Middle East
Campaign Start Date – 10th May 2018
Campaign End Dates– 18th July 2018 (Chevrolet) and 04th July 2018 (GMC Yukon)
Emirates Airlines
The First Advertiser in the Airline Category
Agency – Havas Media Middle East
Campaign Start Date – 24th May 2018
Campaign End Date – 06th June 2018
Landmark Retail Investment for Homecentre
The First Advertiser in the Furniture and Furnishing Category
Agency – OMD KSA
Campaign Start Date – 24th May 2018
Campaign End Date – 06th June 2018
Tawuniya
The First Advertiser in the Insurance Provider Category
Agency – OMD KSA
Campaign Start Date – 07th June 2018
Campaign End Date – 01st August 2018
Richemont (Dubai) FZE for Cartier
The First Advertiser in the Luxury Jewellery Category
Agency – MediaCom UAE
Campaign Start Date – 14th June 2018
Campaign End Date – 20th June 2018
ADIDAS
The First Advertiser in the Sports Performance and Lifestyle Category
Agency – Spark Foundry MENA
Campaign Start Date – 14th June 2018
Campaign End Date – 08th August 2018
Huawei
The First Advertiser in the Mobile Category
Agency – Initiative Media ME
Campaign Start Date – 05th July 2018
Campaign End Date – 30th January 2019
NETFLIX for Sacred Games S1
The First Advertiser in the Entertainment on Demand Category
Agency – MEC KSA
Campaign Start Date – 05th July 2018
Campaign End Date – 18th July 2018
Majid Al Futtaim Properties LLC for MAF Properties Community
The First Advertiser in the Real Estate Category
Campaign Start Date – 24th May 2018
Campaign End Date – 18th July 2018
Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce
The First Advertiser in the Tourism Category
Agency – Starcom UAE
Campaign Start Date – 02nd August 2018
Campaign End Date – 22nd August 2018
Binzagr CO-RO LTD for Suncola
The First Advertiser in the F&B Category
Agency – OMD KSA
Campaign Start Date – 30th August 2018
Campaign End Date – 03rd October 2018
Saudi Telecom Company (STC)
The First Advertiser in the Telecommunications Category
Agency – UM7
Campaign Start Date – 20th September 2018
Campaign End Date – 29th September 2018
Alshaya International Trading Company KSA for IHOP
The First Advertiser in the Restaurant and Café Category
Agency – BPG MAX
Campaign Start Date – 23rd September 2018
Campaign End Date – 29th September 2018
Toshiba
The First Advertiser in the Electronics Category
Agency – Equation Media
Campaign Start Date – 11th October 2018
Campaign End Date – 07th November 2018
Rado
The First Advertiser in the Watches Category
Agency – BPG MAX
Campaign Start Date – 15th November 2018
Campaign End Date – 12th December 2018
Glade Air Freshener
The First Advertiser in the Home Care Category
Agency – PHD
Campaign Start Date – 13th December 2018
Campaign End Date – 09th January 2019
The First Advertiser in the Technology Category
Agency – OMD
Campaign Start Date – 20th December 2018
Campaign End Date – 24th April 2019
Dubai Shopping Festival
The First Advertiser in the Events, Exhibitions & Conference Category
Agency – Starcom
Campaign Start Date – 20th December 2018
Campaign End Date – 16th January 2019
Olite & Afia International Company
The First Advertiser in the Healthy Cooking Oil Category
Agency – Starcom Jeddah
Campaign Start Date – 18th March 2019
Campaign End Date – 24th March 2019
Downy, P&G
The First Advertiser in the Fabric Softener Category
Agency – Starcom Jeddah
Campaign Start Date – 20th June 2019
Campaign End Date – 03rd July 2019
Motivate Val Morgan warmly congratulates the advertisers highlighted above, and encourage other advertisers in specific categories – who are yet to advertise on cinema screens in Saudi Arabia, to get in touch with a member of our sales team for more information on advertising opportunities.
It is probably no exaggeration to say the past year has been the most momentous year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s history with the announcement of a wide range of social reforms – boosting entertainment and allowing women to drive, to take effect in 2018.
In December 2017, Saudi Arabia lifted a 35-year ban on commercial theaters as part of the country’s 2030 vision (stamped by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) to modernize and move the country forward. Four months after, in April 2018 we witnessed the launch of Saudi Arabia’s first cinema in over three decades (operated by AMC Entertainment), which was followed by the launch of a 4 screen VOX Cinemas at Riyadh Park Mall – featuring an IMAX screen, 2 VOX Kids screens and 1 VIP screen.
As the official cinema advertising partner of VOX Cinemas, Motivate Val Morgan received an overwhelming response from advertisers within hours of the cinema chain launching in the Kingdom. The first advertisers to book on-screen ads through Motivate Val Morgan were Hotels Combined, Chevrolet, GMC, Emirates Airlines, Homecentre and Cartier, to name a few.
On 24th June 2018 followed the end of a decades-long ban on women driving – enabling women (18 years of age and older) to apply for a driver’s license.
For the vast majority of women in the kingdom, the move allowing them to drive represents a new dawn, offering greater freedom of mobility, access to wider job opportunities, and the reclamation of rights.
Timing their cinema campaigns with the lifting of the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia were Audi and Hyundai.
Audi
To mark the monumental day in history, in which woman in Saudi Arabia got into the driver’s seat for the first time ever, Audi created this gripping and inspirational video.
Audi booked a 1-week on-screen campaign to play on all screens of VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall from 28th June to 4th July 2018.
Hyundai
Hyundai’s #whatsnext campaign is a message from people all over the world, welcoming the women of Saudi Arabia behind the wheel.
Hyundai booked a 6-week on-screen campaign to play on all screens of VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall from 5th July to 15th August 2018.
An amalgamation where a once banned and re-established medium, screens an advertisement welcoming a deeply symbolic move to put women back in the driver’s seat!
Have a tactical campaign you would like to execute on cinema screens in Saudi Arabia?
Contact a member of our sales team for more information.
Sources: Al Arabia (English), Gulf News, Gulf Business and YouTube (YallaMotor)
