6 Weird Retro Commercials That Freaked Us Out

The world of advertising has always tried to grab attention, but sometimes the results were just bizarre. Retro commercials from past decades often featured strange visuals, unsettling music, or odd characters that left viewers feeling more disturbed than entertained. Here are six commercials that still give us weird vibes.

1. Little Baby’s Ice Cream (2012)

This commercial was meant to sell ice cream, but the eerie visuals made it more nightmarish than appetizing. The ad shows a figure made entirely of ice cream eating itself, all while staring straight into the camera with wide, unblinking eyes.

The weird factor is amplified by the unsettling music and creepy narration. Instead of leaving viewers craving a sweet treat, the commercial left most people uncomfortable and questioning the creative direction behind the ad.

2. Quiznos Subs’ Spongmonkeys (2004)

Quiznos introduced strange-looking, singing creatures called Spongmonkeys in a series of ads that were supposed to be funny but instead were just plain weird. With their googly eyes and off-putting voices, the Spongmonkeys didn’t exactly make people hungry for sandwiches.

While the ad aimed for humor, it instead disturbed many viewers. The bizarre visuals, combined with the odd singing, left the commercial stuck in people’s minds for all the wrong reasons.

3. Skittles’ “Beard Guy” (2008)

This Skittles ad showed a man whose long, flowing beard had a life of its own, feeding him Skittles while he interacted with people. The idea was meant to be quirky, but it quickly became unsettling as the beard seemed to have a creepy control over him.

The strange concept didn’t exactly translate into a memorable ad for candy. Instead, it left people feeling uncomfortable, wondering what they just watched rather than craving a bag of Skittles.

4. Coca-Cola’s “Mean Joe Greene” (1979)

While this commercial became iconic, its original feel left some viewers confused. NFL star “Mean” Joe Greene limping off the field and accepting a bottle of Coca-Cola from a kid might have seemed heartwarming, but Greene’s expressionless stare and slow movements gave it a strange vibe.

Although it’s remembered fondly today, the first airing of this ad had some viewers unsure of what to make of the interaction between the kid and the tough football player. It felt more awkward than uplifting at times.

5. Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” (2010)

Old Spice ads took a surreal turn with this fast-paced commercial featuring a shirtless man shifting between bizarre scenes. One moment he’s in a shower, the next he’s on a horse. The randomness was meant to be humorous, but for some, it just came off as odd.

The absurdity of the constant scene changes combined with the intense narration made this ad stand out. Some viewers found it funny, but others were left scratching their heads, trying to figure out the point.

6. L’Oven Fresh Bread’s Singing Bread (1999)

This commercial featured slice of bread singing an oddly emotional song about how fresh and tasty they were. While the idea may have seemed fun in concept, the execution was strange, with animated bread slices harmonizing in a way that felt more creepy than entertaining.

The jarring combination of food and emotion didn’t sit well with many viewers, making the ad feel more uncomfortable than lighthearted. Instead of celebrating fresh bread, most people just remembered how weird the whole thing felt.