Emotional content in video advertising captures attention and creates memorable experiences—essential in a competitive advertising landscape. By tapping into humor, advertisers not only entertain but also build stronger connections with consumers, making their brands more relatable and engaging.
In this year-end review, iSpot spotlights the funniest ads of 2024 that left audiences laughing and talking long after.
The funniest ads stood out with engaging visuals and unforgettable characters—whether celebrities, beloved mascots, or quirky figures that perfectly embodied brand identity. These lighthearted moments not only sparked joy but also drove memorability, reinforcing positive brand associations.
Here are the top five funniest ads of the past year, standing out from nearly 12,000 ads tested between January 1 and December 6, 2024.
| Rank | Brand | Ad Title | Funny* Score (1-10) | Likeability Score Gap to Norm* | Top-2-Box Intent Gap to Norm* | Single Best Thing |
| 1 | Snickers | Halloween Decorations :15 | 9.3 | +11 | -4 | Visuals |
| 2 | Popeyes | Extended: The Wait Is Over :60 | 8.5 | +63 | +3 | Characters |
| 3 | Jack Links | Messin’ With Sasquatch: Bungee Jumping :30 | 8.3 | +68 | +5 | Visuals, Characters |
| 4 | Cheetos | The Other Hand :30 | 8.3 | +18 | -3 | Visuals |
| 5 | Allstate | Mayhem Bird :30 | 8.1 | +127 | +2 | Characters |
*Likeability and top-2-box purchase intent are benchmarked against each brand’s respective category norm.
Snickers: Halloween Decorations :15
Funny Score: 9.3
This attention-grabbing spot successfully reminded eight in ten viewers of the Snickers brand, tapping into a mix of emotions to make its point.
For viewers who caught the nod to Snickers’ iconic tagline, “Maybe you just need a Snickers” (an evolution of “You’re not you when you’re hungry”), the ad’s Quirky* visuals delivered a surprising and hilarious punch. However, some found the scene Inappropriate* or failed to connect it to the brand, resulting in an entertaining ad but a less convincing one.
Popeyes made a bold debut in its first ever Super Bowl campaign. In a creatively Surreal* reveal, Ken Jeong’s character “Howie” emerges from a 50-year freeze, hilariously unaware of everything he missed while holding out for better chicken wings. The punchline? The wait is finally over–Popeyes wings have arrived.
Jack Link’s also embraced visual humor in “Bungee Jumping,” featuring a thrill-seeker “messin’ with” the brand’s iconic mascot. The ad kindled Curiosity* and paid off with a +5 point purchase intent edge over the average snack ad (to lead the top funniest ads).
In a playful twist on Cheetos’ defining trait, “The Other Hand” hilariously highlights the chaos that ensues when snackers, sticky-handed from eating the product, are forced to rely on their non-dominant hand.
Meanwhile, one of the year’s most likeable and funniest MVPs, Allstate’s “Bird,” tapped into mayhem humor to soar to the top of other insurance ads. The spot delivered a lighthearted reminder of Allstate’s ability to handle life’s unpredictable chaos.
As you plan for 2025, don’t underestimate the power of pretesting your concepts. Paramount to any successful campaign is ensuring that viewers heard what you had to say—nothing more, nothing less, and nothing misunderstood. Contact iSpot to explore how our pre-testing solutions can help you refine your video ad creative, maximize engagement, and ensure your message lands exactly as intended.
*Indicates one of the 57 emotional reactions iSpot Creative Assessment measures for every video ad.