The 5: Commercials to Make You Cry

The 5:  Ads that Pulled Your Heartstrings

Most commercials are shit, but some are like tiny little movies that sell things.  And we hate to admit it but every now and then, a commercial catches us with a lump in our throat.  Here are five commercials that tugged at our heartstrings, and even made a few of us outright cry.

 * * *

  • Hallmark – “Active Duty” 2011.  Hallmark has the patent on tearjerker commercials. Here’s one where they use some basic elements to get us crying. A soldier stationed far from home. It’s Christmas time. He’s a dad. And then to top it all off, they bring in the greatest Christmas special of all time.  Watch it here.
  • Proctor and Gamble “Olympics – They’ll Always Be Kids” 2012.  If the Olympic Summer Games weren’t enough to make us emotional, Proctor and Gamble put together an ad that thanks all the Olympic moms. Mom and Patriotism, that’s a perfect recipe for tears. Here we see our Olympic athletes as little kids in a commercial that takes the gold in the tearjerk. Watch it here.
  • Pedigree – “Dog Adoption” 2009.  Animals are a sure thing when it comes to commercials that make us cry, especially dogs. Pedigree dog food was sponsoring an adoption campaign. Here we see a sweet dog who’s daydreaming about how sweet life would be if he just had home and was out of that cage.  Watch it here. 
  •  Google Chrome – “Dear Sophie” 2011.  Dads and their daughters. Just the sound of that makes people sentimental. This Google Chrome ad from last year takes us from sentimental to weeping in a minute and a half. It’s a dad using Google to put together all his beautiful memories to share with his daughter when she’s older. They grow up so fast. (sniff)  Watch it here.
  • State Farm – “I’ll Be There” 2009.  State Farm insurance is brutal on the emotions in this commercial. They bring it all. Homes destroyed, cancer survivors, the elderly displaced and soldier moms coming home. And if you aren’t crying yet, just wait. They put it all to the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There”.  Watch it here. 

* * *

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2IQ4jpsoOA]
.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSn5Z7EC4ME]
.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c_pgT4TEnI]
.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vkVHijdQk]
.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDCWAmSomGc]