It is that time of year again, some say the most wonderful time of year. It’s also the time that many retailers put their hard-earned money in Santa’s sack, with Christmas campaigns tempting shoppers with stories of the season.
Not only is Christmas an ideal time to introduce brands to new customers, but it is the perfect reason to reconnect with existing shoppers.
As the festive season approaches we see more and more memorable adverts arrive on cinema screens to showcase what the big retailers have to offer – but which is the best Christmas advert for 2019?
Check out our compilation of popular and heartwarming Christmas ads from across the globe and decide for yourself!
John Lewis & Waitrose – Excitable Edgar
The John Lewis advert marks the start of the festive season and this year’s offering will melt your heart – as well as the ice.
John Lewis’ 2019 Christmas advert is about a young dragon named Excitable Edgar. Edgar is a dragon living in a small town who can’t play with the other children at Christmas because his ‘firey’ breath keeps melting all the snow.
The grown-ups also begin to turn on him when he accidentally sets fire to the town’s Christmas display.
But with a bit of ingenuity, one local girl proves that Edgar’s fire can prove useful after all.
It’s John Lewis’ first joint campaign with Waitrose and it reportedly cost £7million to make. It’s no surprise that it’s flaming good.
Walkers – All Mariah Carey wants this Christmas
This festive ad is full of everything we expect of Christmas – from red sequined dresses to elves and even Mariah Carey! Walkers have pulled out all the stops for their Christmas campaign and have called it their “biggest ever Walkers Christmas advert”.
The advert comes on the 25th anniversary of Mariah’s 1994 album Merry Christmas. And it’s said to have cost the retailers a whopping £9million to have her face on 50 million packets of crisps.
Tesco – #DeliveringChristmas
Tesco’s Christmas advert features a delivery driver travelling through time in a Back to the Future influenced celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary.
The UK’s largest supermarket has kept its festive advert closely under wraps and sent social media into a frenzy when a Tesco van was spotted on top of a house in Cheshire, England.
Tesco is the last of the major retailers to release their advert, which they have said is intended to highlight its role ‘delivering Christmas to the nation for the past 100 years’.
In the ad, a Tesco delivery driver called Joel, is transported with his van full of food to various years throughout the past century, after his van gets caught up in Christmas lights.
Visa – #WhereYouShopMatters
Visa‘s Christmas advert calls on shoppers to support the UK high street in the face of struggling sales and an increase of online shopping.
The campaign features 13 real shopkeepers including a bookseller, greengrocer, antique dealer and café owner.
Visa said the message is to encourage shoppers to think more about where they’re buying from.
Sainsburys – Nicholas The Sweep
Sainsbury‘s heartwarming Christmas advert tells a story of how Santa started out as a chimney sweep who was accused of stealing a clementine.
The retailer is marking 150 years in the business and so has set its festive ad outside the first Sainsbury‘s store in Drury Lane in 1869.
Sainsbury‘s says that the tale is a “totally true story” but in reality “Nicholas” has been created in the spirit of Christmas and there’s no real evidence of the retailer’s founders ever having saved a child in this way.
The ad is directed by award winning Ninian Doff, who has also directed a handful of commercials for brands such as Hula Hoops, 02 and GiffGaff.
Aldi – Leafy Blinders
Aldi has used Kevin the Carrot for the fourth year in a row in its Christmas advert.
New character Russell Sprout, and his Brummy gang of “Leafy Blinders“, are boiling with rage about Kevin and his family of carrots stealing the show as the star Christmas vegetable.
The sprouts are dressed in tweed caps, much like characters from popular Netflix drama – Peaky Blinders.
Tiny Tom – a little tomato – comes to Kevin’s rescue after the sprouts tie him up.
Amazon – The Singing Boxes are Back!
Amazon‘s Christmas ad features a whole host of people singing and dancing to Solomon Burke’s classic track, “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love”.
The heartwarming, feel-good advert shows families, friends, colleagues and strangers from all walks of life coming together while singing and dancing along with the cheerful Amazon boxes.
At the same time, people are giving or delivering gifts to loved ones that are, of course, inside Amazon boxes.
Boots – #GiftLikeYouGetThem
Boots shows customers how to get presents for the most difficult loved ones in your life.
The ad introduces Boots’ new range of in-store gift edits – called “Bootiques” – there to take the hassle out of Christmas shopping.
There will also be an online option to create your own Bootique so you can hint to loved ones what you want this Christmas.
Asda – Let’s Make Christmas Extra Special
Asda’s festive campaign is all about making Christmas extra special – but there’s a heartwarming story behind its advert.
The ad follows a young girl – Tilly – inspired by stories from her Grandad about Santa’s leftover magic.
The advert focuses on people who go the extra mile during the festive season, making it a special time for all.
M&S – Go Jumpers for Christmas
The best thing about Christmas is obviously knitwear, and that’s something Marks and Spencer has tapped into brilliantly for their latest ad. Directed by Jake Nava, the director behind Beyoncé’s Single Ladies video, this promo will have you jumping around with your jumpers in no time at all.
Emma Willis and Paddy McGuinness star in this year’s M&S Christmas advert.
The pair are seen at a snow-covered “M&S Food Christmas Market” where they sample festive treats at different stalls.
Other famous faces that appear in the market include popular television presenters Amanda Holden and Rochelle Humes.
Very – Get More Out of Giving
Very.co.uk showcased an emotional advert which celebrates the joy of community as stars from previous years returned to the tv screens.
It follows the residents of Chester Street as they give up their time to make sure their elderly neighbour Sidney isn’t alone at Christmas.
It is accompanied by a cover of Rudimental’s 2012 hit Feel The Love recorded by The Social Singing Choir.
McDonald’s – #ReindeerReady
This year’s Christmas advert follows adorable little girl Ellie as she befriends a lovable reindeer called Archie.
The 90-second advert follows the animated journey of Ellie who is at home and eager to play a game of ‘reindeers’ with her older sister Jenny – only Jenny is uninterested in playing games with her younger sister and slams the bedroom door on her.
Celebrate the magic of Christmas through the eyes of Ellie, in this advert which illustrates scenes recognized by parents across the world, as the whole family comes together to get Reindeer ready.
Click here to watch more 2019 Christmas commercials.
Don’t miss out on your chance to target consumers this festive season! Contact us for cinema advertising opportunities alongside blockbuster movies at the cinemas and spread the festive cheer.
Sources:
HouseBeautiful, Mirror UK
A number of interesting on-screen campaigns screened across the Motivate Val Morgan circuit in UAE and KSA during the months of September and October 2019.
From Expo 2020, Ford, Yas Island, Fly Dubai, Malabar Gold, Uber, Marina Home, Cheesecake Factory and Magnum in the UAE, to Downy, Mercedes, Emirates, Carolina Herrera, Nespresso and Burgerizzr in Saudi Arabia, and many more …..
Here are some of the commercials for your viewing pleasure:
Narciso Rodriguez
The 15 sec. ad screened at Oscar Cinema – Al Wahda Mall, VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif, Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, Mall of the Emirates, Nation Towers Abu Dhabi and Yas Mall and Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and Jebel Ali Recreation Club in UAE from 3rd September – 30th September 2019.
The same ad also screened in Saudi Arabia at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall, Red Sea Mall, Kingdom Tower and The Roof and AMC Cinemas – KAFD from 3rd September – 30th September 2019.
Visa
The 15 sec. ad screened at Roxy Cinemas – City Walk, Reel Cinemas – Dubai Marina Mall, The Springs Souk, The Dubai Mall, The Pointe and VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif and Mall of the Emirates in UAE from 5th September – 2nd October 2019.
Uber
The 30 sec. ad screened at Reel Cinemas – Dubai Marina Mall and The Dubai Mall and VOX Cinemas – Mercato, Mall of the Emirates and Yas Mall in UAE from 5th September – 2nd October 2019.
The same ad also screened in Saudi Arabia at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall, Red Sea Mall and AMC Cinemas – KAFD from 5th September – 2nd October 2019.
Mercedes GLE
The 60 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif, Marina Mall Abu Dhabi and Mall of the Emirates in UAE from 5th September to 18th September 2019.
The same ad screened in Saudi Arabia (with a different end slide) at VOX Cinemas – Red Sea Mall and Kingdom Tower and AMC Cinemas – KAFD from 5th September to 18th September 2019.
Marina Home
The 15 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Abu Dhabi Mall, City Centre Mirdif, Mall of the Emirates and Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall in UAE from 19th September to 25th September 2019.
Downy
The 15 sec. ad screened at Reel Cinemas – Dubai Marina Mall and The Dubai Mall and VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif and Mall of the Emirates in UAE from 3rd October to 9th October 2019.
The same ad screened in Saudi Arabia at VOX Cinemas – Red Sea Mall, The Roof, AMC Cinemas – KAFD and Muvi Cinemas – Mall of Arabia from 10th October to 16th October 2019.
StudioRepublik
The 30 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif and Mall of the Emirates and Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall in UAE from 3rd October to 16th October 2019.
Magnum
The 20 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Mall of the Emirates in UAE from 3rd October to 30th October 2019.
Expo 2020
The 60 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Sharjah, Yas Mall, City Centre Deira, Burjuman, City Centre Mirdif and Mercato, Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall, Oscar Cinema – Al Ain Club, Al Barrari Mall, Al Foah Mall, Al Wahda Mall, Al Raha Mall and Al Shaab Village, Cine Royal Cinema – Dalma Mall, Roxy Cinemas – City Walk and Cinemacity – Zero 6 Mall in UAE from 17th October to 13th November 2019.
Samsung Galaxy Fold
The 30 sec. ad screened at Roxy Cinemas – City Walk and The Beach, VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif, Mall of the Emirates, Yas Mall and The Galleria Al Maryah Island and Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and The Pointe in UAE from 24th October to 20th November 2019.
Emirates
The 30 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Burjuman, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, Mercato, Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, Mall of the Emirates, Yas Mall and City Centre Sharjah, Cinemacity – Zero 6 Mall and Cine Royal Cinema – Dalma Mall in UAE from 3rd October to 30th October 2019.
The 30 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Red Sea Mall, Al Qasr Mal and The Roof and AMC Cinemas – KAFD in Saudi Arabia from 24th October to 20th November 2019.
The Cheesecake Factory
The 15 sec. ad screened at Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and VOX Cinemas – Mall of the Emirates and Yas Mall in UAE from 17th October to 6th November 2019.
The same ad screened in Saudi Arabia (with a different end slide) at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall, Red Sea Mall and AMC Cinemas – KAFD from 24th October to 13th November 2019.
Dolce & Gabbana
The 30 sec. ad screened at Oscar Cinema – Al Wahda Mall, Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif, Mall of the Emirates and Yas Mall in UAE from 3rd October to 30th October 2019.
The same ad screened in Saudi Arabia at VOX Cinemas – Red Sea Mall and Kingdom Tower and AMC Cinemas – KAFD from 3rd October to 23rd October 2019.
Ford
The 60 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Mercato, Mall of the Emirates, Nation Towers Abu Dhabi and Reel Cinemas – Dubai Marina Mall and The Dubai Mall in UAE from 12th September to 9th October 2019.
The same ad screened in Saudi Arabia at VOX Cinemas – Red Sea Mall and Kingdom Tower and AMC Cinemas – KAFD from 19th September to 16th October 2019.
Mohamed Bin Rashid City
The 60 sec. ad (in English and Arabic) screened at VOX Cinemas – Burjuman, Mercato, City Centre Mirdif and Mall of the Emirates, Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and Jebel Ali Recreation Club and Roxy Cinemas – City Walk in UAE from 17th October to 13th November 2019.
The same ad also ran at Oscar Cinema – Al Wahda Mall in UAE from 28th October to 13th November 2019.
Healthpoint
The 30 sec. ads screened in rotation at Oscar Cinema – Al Foah Mall, Al Shaab Village and Al Wahda Mall, Cinemacity – Zero 6 Mall, Cine Royal Cinema – Dalma Mall, Khalidiya Mall and Deerfields Mall and VOX Cinemas – City Centre Fujairah, Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, Nation Towers, Al Hamra Mall, Yas Mall, City Centre Sharjah and Al Jimi Mall in UAE from 17th October to 13th November 2019.
Fly Dubai
The 30 sec. ads screened in rotation at Oscar Cinema – Al Wahda Mall, VOX Cinemas – Burjuman, City Centre Mirdif, Mercato and Mall of Emirates and Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall in UAE from 26th September to 16th October 2019.
One of the ads from above also screened in Saudi Arabia at VOX Cinemas – Red Sea Mall, Al Qasr Mall and West Avenue Mall from 26th September to 9th October 2019.
YAS Island
The 60 sec. ad (in English and Arabic) screened at VOX Cinemas – City Centre Ajman, Burjuman, City Centre Mirdif, Mercato, Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Fujairah, Al Hamra Mall and Yas Mall, Oscar Cinema – Al Foah Mall and Al Wahda Mall, Cine Royal Cinema – Dalma Mall and Khalidiya Mall and Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and Al Ghurair Centre in UAE from 3rd October to 30th October 2019.
Al Shindagha Museum
The 30 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif and Mall of the Emirates and Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and Al Ghurair Centre in UAE from 12th September to 2nd October 2019.
Malabar Gold
Malabar Gold booked a 52 week on-screen campaign to follow all Asian movies at the following locations in the UAE: VOX Cinemas – Marian Mall Abu Dhabi, Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall, City Centre Deira, Burjuman, City Centre Mirdif, Cineplex Grand Hyatt, City Centre Shindagha, City Centre Sharjah, City Centre Ajman, City Centre Fujairah, Al Hamra Mall, Al Jimi Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Mercato, Cine Royal Cinema – Khalidiya Mall, Dalma Mall and Ruwais Mall, Oscar Cinema – Al Wahda Mall, Al Ain Club and Al Shaab Village, Cinemacity – Arabia Centre and Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and Al Ghurair Centre, in UAE.
As part of this 52 week campaign, the 60 sec. ads above screened in September and October 2019.
Ghost Recon
Ghost Recon booked a 30 sec. follow a movie on-screen campaign alongside Joker at VOX Cinemas – Mall of the Emirates in UAE.
The ad also screened in Saudi Arabia at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall from 3rd October to 30th October 2019.
Splash
Splash booked a 30 sec. on-screen campaign to follow Asian movies War at Housefull 4 (for a period of two weeks from the date of release) at VOX Cinemas – Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, City Centre Deira, Mall of the Emirates, Al Hamra Mall, Burjuman, City Centre Mirdif and Cineplex Grand Hyatt in UAE.
The same commercial screened in Saudi Arabia at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall, Red Sea Mall and Al Qasr Mall, AMC Cinemas – KAFD and Muvi Cinemas – Mall of Arabia from 3rd October to 27th November 2019.
Atlantis
Atlantis booked a 30 sec. follow a movie on-screen campaign alongside Maleficent at VOX Cinemas – Mall of the Emirates, Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina Mall, The Pointe and Roxy Cinemas – The Beach in UAE.
Hermes
Hermes booked a 30 sec. follow a movie on-screen campaign for its fragrance Twilly alongside the following movies: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Goldfinch, Downtown Abbey and Ad Astra, at the following cinema locations: Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina Mall, Jebel Ali Recreation Club, Rove Downtown, The Springs Souk, The Pointe and Al Ghurair Centre and Roxy Cinemas – The Beach and City Walk.
Mobily
The 15 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall, Red Sea Mall, West Avenue Mall and Al Qasr Mall, and AMC Cinemas – KAFD in Saudi Arabia from 3rd October to 16th October 2019
Leejam
The 10 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall, Red Sea Mall, West Avenue Mall, Al Qasr Mall, Kingdom Tower and The Roof, AMC Cinemas – KAFD and Muvi Cinemas – Mall of Arabia in Saudi Arabia from 12th September to 2nd October 2019
Burgerizzr
The 10 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall, Al Qasr Mall, West Avenue Mall and The Roof in Saudi Arabia from 19th September to 16th October 2019
Carolina Herrera
The 10 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall, Red Sea Mall and AMC Cinemas – KAFD in Saudi Arabia from 19th September to 16th October 2019.
Riyadh Season
The 30 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall, Red Sea Mall, Al Qasr Mall, The Roof, West Avenue Mall, AMC Cinemas – KAFD and Muvi Cinemas – Mall of Arabia in Saudi Arabia from 28th October to 10th November 2019.
Saudi Energy Efficiency Centre
The 15 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas– Riyadh Park Mall, Red Sea Mall, Al Qasr Mall, The Roof, Kingdom Tower, West Avenue Mall, AMC Cinemas – KAFD AND Muvi Cinemas – Mall of Arabia in Saudi Arabia from 10th October to 13th November 2019.
Nespresso
The 30 sec. ad screened at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall and Red Sea Mall from 10th October to 6th November 2019 and AMC Cinemas – KAFD in Saudi Arabia from 10th October to 4th December 2019.
Contact a member of our sales team for more information on on-screen advertising across our circuit in the Middle East.
