As the crisp autumn air settles in and the moon rises a little earlier each night, we spooky girls know that one of the best parts of the Halloween season — besides the haunted houses, pumpkin spice everything, and excuses to wear black 24/7 — is the flood of eerie, enchanting, and downright clever Halloween ads.
These aren’t just any ads; they’re the ones that send shivers down your spine while making you smile, and maybe even inspire your next costume.
So, light your black candles, pour yourself a glass of witch’s brew, and let’s take a trip down memory lane with the five best Halloween advertisements of all time.
Why It’s Spooktacular: You can’t talk about Halloween ads without giving a nod to Snickers. In their 2012 Horseless Headsman ad, they took a beloved Halloween legend — the Headless Horseman — and gave it a hilarious twist. Instead of terrorizing the town, this unfortunate specter spends his night stumbling around, trying to scare kids… but it doesn’t go well. His attempts are met with confusion, frustration, and humor as he realizes, “Maybe I’m just not me when I’m hungry.”
Why Spooky Girls Love It: It’s the perfect blend of classic spooky vibes with a dash of humor that doesn’t take itself too seriously — just like our favorite Halloween looks. Plus, who doesn’t love the idea of a legendary ghoul having an off-night?
Reese's: Count Dracula (1990)
Why It’s Spooktacular: The broadcast of this Halloween classic marked the start of spooky season for many in the 1990s, answering the pertinent question of how Count Dracula would eat a Reese's peanut butter cup. He sucks the inside out, of course. That's just sweet. Because, after all, there's no wrong way to eat a Reese's.
Why Spooky Girls Love It: It combines many of our favorite flavors of Halloween — camp comedy and candy — into one bite-sized package.
IKEA: The Shining (2019)
Why It's Spooktacular: IKEA used the Stanley Kubrick classic The Shining for inspiration as they promoted late-night shopping their 2019 Halloween ad.
Why Spooky Girls Love It: It's simple, spooky, and fun — with a legendary and instantly recognizable reference at its heart.
M&M’s: Ghosted (2019)
Why It’s Spooktacular: M&M’s have always been the cheeky, colorful fun of the candy world, and their Halloween ads are no different. In this installment of their story, Red and Yellow are celebrating surviving the holiday without being eaten... only for Yellow to start floating away, revealing the bite that has been taken from his back.
Why Spooky Girls Love It: It’s the perfect blend of humor, playfulness, and creepy cute — which is basically our Halloween mantra.
Burger King: Scary Clown Night (2017)
Why It’s Spooktacular: Burger King’s 2017 Halloween campaign was a nod to Stephen King's It, just as the movie was making waves, and a gentle jibe at rival mascot Ronald McDonald. They offered fast food fans a free Whopper if they came to a Burger King in a creepy clown costume on Halloween night, and promoted it in this spooky ad.
Why Spooky Girls Love It: This ad tapped into one of our favorite Halloween horror themes — creepy clowns. Please note: Spooky girls like their Whopper served with a side of chills.
Final Thoughts
Halloween ads aren’t just commercials; they’re a celebration of everything we spooky girls love — creativity, a little fear, and a lot of fun. So, the next time you’re sipping your pumpkin spice latte in your favorite witchy attire, take a moment to appreciate the ads that make this season even more enchanting. Happy Haunting!
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