16 Snack Foods That Had Wild Commercials
This listicle features 16 snack food commercials that were so strange, bold, or unforgettable that they became pop culture moments.
- Daisy Montero
- 5 min read
These snack food commercials went beyond selling a product. They were loud, strange, and full of personality. Some made us laugh, others made no sense, but all of them stayed in our heads long after they aired.
1. Bonkers Candy – “Fruit That Smacks You”
Sks2002official on Wikimedia Commons
Bonkers candy commercials in the 1980s showed giant pieces of fruit suddenly falling on people. The over-the-top reactions and laughter made the ads unforgettable to kids at the time. The tagline “Bonkers! Bonks you out!” became a strange but catchy part of candy history.
2. Pizzarias Pizza Chips – “Tastes like real pizza, only louder”
Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France on Wikimedia Commons
Keebler’s Pizzarias chips were marketed as a snack that delivered the bold taste of pizza in every bite. The commercials featured teenage elves and high-energy scenes to match the loud flavor. The phrase “Tastes like real pizza, only louder” made the product sound as exciting as it tasted.
3. Slim Jim – “Snap into a Slim Jim!”
Fend on Wikimedia Commons
Slim Jim commercials became iconic thanks to wrestler “Macho Man” Randy Savage shouting the famous catchphrase. The ads were full of bright colors, quick camera cuts, and loud energy. They made eating a Slim Jim feel like a wild and action-packed experience.
4. Twisties (Space Girls Campaign)
Q8682 on Wikimedia Commons
Twisties ran a campaign where aliens abducted a kid just to get a bag of snacks. The commercial mixed humor, science fiction, and a sense of adventure. It left viewers with the feeling that this snack was worth chasing across the galaxy.
5. Nik Naks – “Eat the Freak”
Mx. Granger on Wikimedia Commons
The UK snack Nik Naks embraced weirdness in its advertising. One ad showed a snack bursting from someone’s stomach and dancing to the song “Le Freak.” It was bizarre, funny, and impossible to forget once you saw it.
6. Gushers – Morphing Fruit Heads
Thomson200 on Wikimedia Commons
Gushers commercials in the 1990s showed kids’ heads turning into giant pieces of fruit after eating them. The special effects were both fascinating and a little strange. They made the candy seem magical and full of surprises.
7. Bagel Bites – Quirky “Pizza Anytime” Jingle
Sturmen on Wikimedia Commons
Bagel Bites became famous for their catchy “pizza anytime” jingle. The commercials were filled with cheerful energy and playful food shots. Many people can still sing the tune years after the ads stopped airing.
8. Ragu Chicken Tonight – Flappy-Arm Dance
Breville USA on Wikimedia Commons
Ragu’s “Chicken Tonight” commercials featured people flapping their arms like chickens while singing the product name. The silly dance was hard to ignore and quickly became a talking point. It was one of those ads that made you laugh, even if you did not buy the product.
9. Juicy Fruit – Mountain Biking Anthem
theimpulsivebuy on Wikimedia Commons
Juicy Fruit commercials in the 1990s paired scenes of mountain biking with a catchy theme song. The ads made chewing gum look exciting and adventurous. They were aimed at making everyday gum feel like part of an extreme lifestyle.
10. Got Milk? – Peanut Butter Mishap
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
The “Got Milk?” campaign became famous with a commercial showing someone stuck eating peanut butter without milk to wash it down. It was simple but instantly relatable. The ad’s humor and frustration made the message clear in just a few seconds.
11. Eggo Minis – Hip-Hop Twist
Thomson200 on Wikimedia Commons
Eggo Minis ads in the 1990s used hip-hop music and bright visuals to stand out. The commercials showed kids enjoying the snack with fun beats in the background. They made waffles seem cool and trendy, not just a breakfast food.
12. Sunny Delight – Sporty Boys, “Healthy Junk”
Roxane17 on Wikimedia Commons
Sunny Delight commercials often showed active kids grabbing a bottle after sports. The ads made the drink seem both fun and a better choice than soda. They mixed bright colors and cheerful music to make it appealing to families.
13. Hostess Cupcakes – Shark Character
Willis Lam on Wikimedia Commons
Hostess once gave their cupcakes a shark mascot in their commercials. The idea was strange but playful, combining sweetness with a toothy grin. It was an unusual pairing that made the ad stand out.
14. Monster Munch (UK) – Missing Costumes Hunt
Mx. Granger on Pexels
When Monster Munch relaunched in the UK, they ran a campaign about missing mascot costumes. They even offered a cash reward to find them. The ad blurred the line between marketing and real-life fun, making it memorable.
15. Pringles – “Once You Pop, You Can’t Stop”
Glane23 on Wikimedia Commons
Pringles built its reputation on a fun, addictive-sounding slogan. The commercials showed people unable to resist grabbing more chips once they opened the can. The playful tone and bright visuals made the brand feel like the life of any party.
16. Cheetos – Chester Cheetah’s Mischief
Mr. Brian from Kagoshima CIty, JP on Wikimedia Commons
Chester Cheetah starred in commercials where he often found sneaky ways to get his paws on Cheetos. His cool voice and laid-back style made him a standout mascot in snack advertising. The mix of humor and attitude made these ads instantly recognizable.