Hollywood Advertisements Are Disintegrating Upon Impact - MovieMaker Magazine

      Once upon a time, branding a product with a movie star's image was akin to printing money. It didn’t matter if they were familiar with the product; if George Clooney looked into the camera and nodded while holding a coffee cup, people would follow suit. But today? Followers are dwindling, engagement is plummeting, and celebrity-led ad campaigns feel less like "blockbusters" and more like poorly executed student films.

      A cultural shift has occurred. We still binge-watch their shows, analyze their red carpet appearances, and quote their memorable lines. But relying on them to market products? That era may be coming to an end. Especially when some of Hollywood’s biggest stars are entering partnerships that are so bizarre they sound like random word combinations gone wrong.

      Let’s explore the aftermath of this decline.

      

      From Oscar Winner to Crypto Punchline

      

      Matt Damon once brought America to tears in Good Will Hunting and sparked spy theories in The Bourne Identity. Then he appeared in a shiny Crypto.com advertisement stating, “Fortune favors the brave,” prompting a collective facepalm from the internet.

      Damon wasn’t alone; many Hollywood A-listers jumped on the crypto trend during its rise. However, Damon’s ad struck a different chord. It aired just before the market crash, as everyday people were losing their savings. He wasn’t merely endorsing a product; he was promoting a financial philosophy wrapped in a visually stunning package.

      Reddit users roasted him. Twitter users created memes. Even the Oscars felt insufficient for redemption. The damage to his credibility was significant, and the ad? It aged poorly, like milk left out in the heat.

      

      

      The Infamous Brie Larson Nissan Commercial

      

      Do you recall when Brie Larson, known for playing Captain Marvel, starred in a Nissan ad that aimed to challenge the patriarchy while promoting fuel efficiency? It didn’t resonate well.

      The commercial depicted Brie swooping in to save a female executive from being ignored in a boardroom, tossing her keys, and whisking her away in a brand new Nissan Sentra. It was intended to be empowering; instead, it felt like a parody of empowerment crafted by someone who had seen a feminist tweet in 2017.

      People didn’t just roll their eyes; they dove into Reddit threads questioning whether Brie genuinely believed in the campaign or merely cashed a paycheck. The ad was tone-deaf, the messaging clunky, and the feedback harsh. It turns out you can’t force inspiration through a car commercial, no matter how many gear shifts you cut to.

      

      Jennifer Lawrence’s Cringe Dior Spot

      

      Jennifer Lawrence has been one of the most relatable A-listers in years. She trips at the Oscars, makes awkward comments in interviews, and for a time, we loved it. But her 2023 Dior campaign? It was akin to asking your funny cousin to read Dostoevsky aloud with a straight face.

      Filmed in moody grayscale, the ad featured Jennifer looking somber in a windswept field while delivering a monologue about “timeless strength.” She donned a stiff blazer and gazed directly into the camera as if she had been held hostage by Vogue. It felt oddly sterile for someone known for her chaotic persona.

      Ironically, the entire aesthetic would have made more sense if it had been linked to something intentionally extravagant, like a high-stakes RoyalReels casino theme or an opulent designer slot fantasy. Instead, it came off as a couture fever dream devoid of life. Fans were perplexed. Some joked that she appeared to be auditioning for a remake of The Leftovers. Others suggested it was “AI Jennifer” trying to market a $4,000 handbag. Either way, the relatability was lost, as was the connection.

      

      

      The ScarJo SodaStream Saga

      

      Scarlett Johansson is familiar with controversy, but her 2014 SodaStream ad caused more than just a stir. The ad itself was fine; Scarlett appeared cool, carbonating drinks, and being her polished self. However, the backlash wasn't about her performance—it was political.

      At that time, SodaStream’s main factory was located in the West Bank, and ScarJo, then a global ambassador for Oxfam, found herself at odds with the organization's stance on Israeli settlements. She opted to keep the ad, resign from Oxfam, and faced a barrage of headlines portraying her as tone-deaf or opportunistic.

      The campaign turned out to be a lose-lose situation: it was awkward for SodaStream, painful for Oxfam, and damaging to ScarJo’s carefully crafted star image. All she wanted was to carbonate some water.

      

      

      Ben Affleck’s Dunkin’ Moment Was Too Real

      

      Not all advertising missteps stem from excessive polish. Some fail because they are just too relatable.

      Ben Affleck, America’s perpetually tired ex-Batman, became a meme due to his love for Dunkin’ long before the brand collaborated with him. So when the partnership was