Top 10 Times Iconic Characters Were Brought Back In Commercials

Pop Corners
Over a decade after we first saw Walt and Jesse team up to make a less than legal substance in “Breaking Bad”, the duo returned to sell snacks. The duo effortlessly slipped back into their offbeat dynamic for the ad. Just when we thought things couldn’t get any better, Raymond Cruz returned as the unstable and violence prone Tuco. The trio commits to the bit so well that you could mistake this ad as an actual episode of the drama. It also helps that they star in scenes that directly parody iconic moments from the show. By the time we reach the commercial’s credits, we’re ready to grab a snack and rewatch “Breaking Bad”.

Stella Artois
Many of our favorite characters have equally iconic drink orders. While Carrie Bradshaw is known for her love of Cosmopolitans, everyone knows that The Dude loves White Russians. But both icons put aside their favs to try Stella Artois in a memorable ad. While everyone around the characters lose their minds at the change, both Carrie and the Dude enjoy the change of pace. Bridges and Parker only need moments of screentime to perfectly capture their most memorable roles. And the choice to bring in the Interesting Dos Equis ad man to promote Stella was genius. Although we never thought we’d see this trio share the same room, we have to toast the commercial’s creators for making such a memorable spot.

Jeep
During “Groundhog Day”, a weatherman becomes depressed after getting trapped in a time loop where he must endlessly relive the same day. Car company Jeep boldly suggested that Phil would’ve been happier with his situation if he had one of their newest cars. In the funny commercial, he uses their vehicle to go on a variety of fun adventures with a famous groundhog. The hilarious spot also allows room for Stephen Tobolowsky to return as Ned and Brian Doyle-Murray to reprise his role as Buster. Although we wouldn’t want to be stuck reliving the same day, we definitely wouldn’t mind watching this Murray led commercial on a loop.

Rakuten
If someone had told us that this “Clueless” commercial was released in the 90s to coincide with the movie release, we would’ve believed them. It didn’t feel like a day had passed for Alicia Silverstone between the 2023 commercial and the original movie. This is largely due to the excellent way the actress channels Cher’s preppy energy. Not to be outdone, Elisa Donovan also shines by appearing as Amber during a spirited classroom debate. The setup and performances are so fun here that we don’t even care that we’re in the middle of an ad. We’re way too busy reliving the glory days of the 90s right alongside Alicia Siverstone’s Cher.

Nike
Instead of opening on everyone’s favorite quirky time traveling scientist, this Nike commercial slowly builds up to his entrance. We instead focus on Kevin Durant and Bill Hader admiring sneakers that looked identical to the legendary shoes from “Back to the Future 2”. Suddenly, Doc Brown came bursting through the door to get himself a pair. Christopher Lloyd fully brings the doc’s manic energy back to the table. Although his co-star doesn’t appear, it’s revealed that the proceeds from the shoe sales will support Michael J. Fox’s foundation for Parkinson’s research. That fact made Lloyd’s cameo both fun and incredibly heartwarming.

Google Assistant
Filmmakers have tried and failed to make “Home Alone” sequels that recapture the magic of the first movie. Fans who are tired of the disappointing follow ups should give a certain Google commercial a try. During the ad, an adult Kevin McCallister once again wakes up in an empty home. He uses the time to himself to enjoy a familiar looking Chicago house with the aid of his Google Assistant. As the ad goes on, we get homages to the original movie and clever twists on the film’s best moments. The commercial filled us with both nostalgia and Holiday spirit. It’s safe to say that this modern take on Operation Kevin was a complete success.

General Motors
It was always fun to see Dr. Evil meet with his minions and co-conspirators as they discussed their sinister plans. General Motors gave us yet another chance to see them hang out while adding a clever twist. After taking over the car company, Dr. Evil was ready to use his new resources for world conquest. However, his allies mentioned that he needed to address climate change before conquering anything. Dr. Evil’s finally convinced to go electric after a hilarious exchange. While the commercial’s message isn’t the most subtle, it was a clever way to show that General Motors was moving towards sustainable practices. The presence of the villains also got fans hungry to see another Austin Powers film set after Dr Evil’s hostile takeover.

Walmart
When it came time to promote Black Friday and Cyber Monday, one superstore went above and beyond with a series of commercials that were simply fetch. Walmart gave Lindsey Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, and Daniel Franzese dedicated “Mean Girls” spots. They also came together for a familiar show. There are enough Easter Eggs and movie references within the series to fill up an entire burn book. Outside of callbacks, the commercials give us great glimpses at what a few of our favorite characters got up to after their high school days were over. Every single actor brought their A Game to their roles. This series of Walmart ads can definitely sit with us.

Advance Auto Parts
Some “Die Hard” fans wondered what happened to the villain Theo after he was knocked out by supporting character Argyle in the first movie. Fortunately for curious fans, the antagonist returned to try and slay John Mcclane after the hero had trouble with his car battery. The late Clarence Gilyard Jr. did a fantastic job playing a hammy villain. Bruce Willis also homaged our favorite “Die Hard” moments without missing a beat. To make matters better, De'voreaux White’s Argyle returned to help. Not only do the events of commercial work in the “Die Hard” timeline, but they’re brought to life with legitimately great choreography and stunts. We never expected a car battery commercial to give us a stellar follow up to a fantastic action movie.

Before we click over to our top pick, let’s highlight some star-studded honorable mentions.

The Comedian’s Physical Comedy Was A Perfect Match For the Candy Campaign

The Actor Made An Exciting Escape In a Priceless Ad

It Was Great to See A Cult Favorite Character Back in the Spotlight

Who Knew the Rebellious Character Was So Good at Selling Cars?

The Funnyman Harnessed Newman’s Anger to Deliver An Important Message

Xfinity
Generations of movie fans remember the tear-jerking ending of “E.T.”. After the young Elliot spent time befriending an extraterrestrial, the alien left the planet to reunite with his family. The 2019 Xfinity commercial gave us a heartwarming reunion when E.T. returned to see an adult Elliot that was still played by Henry Thomas. We struggled to hold back tears when the two finally embraced after all these years. As the heartwarming commercial continued, Elliot and his family invited E.T. to watch holiday movies, share meals, and to try out V.R. These tender scenes stirred up strong feelings of nostalgia and warmth. While everyone gave great performances, this ad wouldn’t have worked if Henry Thomas wasn’t there to welcome E.T. home.