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A history of product placement -

For just about as long as movies have made money, they've made a little bit extra using product placement. Even the very first winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, 1927's 'Wings,' had a plug for Hershey's chocolate. It's all been downhill from there.

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'Transformers' (2007) -

The first of many action-packed 'Transformers' reboots came in 2007. The new and reimagined version of the classic, beloved Bumblebee character shed his old Volkswagen Beetle skin for a fancy new Chevrolet Camaro. Director Michael Bay and his board of sponsors make absolutely sure you never forget it, even for a second.

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'Man of Steel' (2013) -

Henry Cavill was the star of the show in 2013's 'Man of Steel,' but the incessant cameos of IHOP breakfast restaurants definitely gave Superman a run for his money. The International House of Pancakes even has its own fight scene!

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'Zombieland' (2009) -

Hostess is definitely a company that knows how to play on its strengths (and weaknesses). In the post-apocalyptic wasteland of 2009's 'Zombieland,' Twinkies are one of the last surviving remnants of society, thanks to their infamous and slightly troubling lack of a expiration date. Woody Harrelson's character is on a mission throughout the film to amass a treasure trove of his favorite cream-filled treats.

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'I, Robot' (2004) -

Will Smith's luddite character in 2004's critically acclaimed 'I, Robot' loves shoes almost as much as he dislikes robots. The conspicuous brand placement of Converse's classic leather high-tops led to (surprise ,surprise) the shoe company rereleasing their leather kicks to a ravenously eager consumer market.

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'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' (1990) -

Everyone's favorite teen turtles and pizza have gone together like peanut butter and jelly ever since the first comics hit the shelves. When the turtles made their silver screen debut in 1990, the film's executives made sure to capitalize on their reptilians' obsessions, and made Domino's Pizza the gang of four's official favorite.

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'Back to the Future' (1985) -

Marty McFly's love affair with Nike shoes was made apparent throughout the whole trilogy, with the young time traveler's choice in shoes always being apparent. The company even invented a new, self-tying shoe from the future for the sequel in 1989.

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'Superman: The Movie' (1978) -

When it was released in 1978, 'Superman: The Movie' was the most expensive movie ever made, with a budget of US$55 million. Naturally, the film executives did everything they could to source that money. The result was a superhero form of incessant advertisements, a trend that has certainly become the norm. From Coca-Cola to Marlboro, the Man of Steel has always been happy to give a nod to his corporate sponsors.

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'Top Gun' (1986) -

Would anyone even care about owning a real pair of Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses if it weren't for Tom Cruise looking cool as a cucumber in 1986's 'Top Gun'? Yes, probably, but using the iconic movie as their own 110-minute-long commercial made Aviator sales jump by nearly 40%.

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'The Matrix' (1999) -

Known to some as "the Matrix phone," the Nokia 8110's release lined up perfectly with the turn of the millennium's favorite sci-fi movie. The phone serves as a portal between dimensions in the film, a metaphor that Nokia latched onto when unveiling their new tool for connecting the world.

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'Skyfall' (2012) -

The James Bond franchise is no stranger to product placement, but some of its higher-end sponsors have been around for so long that the films would look strange without them. When, however, the film executives for 2012's 'Skyfall' decided to trade in 007's trademark martini for endless rounds of Heineken, everybody noticed the dollar signs dancing in Daniel Craig's eyes.

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'The Italian Job' (1969) -

The original thrilling crime adventure 'The Italian Job' made Mini Coopers cool for the first time. The small size and versatility of the British cars play an integral role in the film's big heist.

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'Cast Away' (2000) -

It doesn't get more conspicuous than naming your inanimate volley ball best friend after the name of its manufacturer. After the 2000 release of 'Cast Away,' Wilson started selling their own "Wilson" volleyballs, and continue to do so to this day.

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'Goldfinger' (1964) -

Back before 007 broke our hearts by sipping on a Heineken, the James Bond franchise's product placement made a bit more sense and was far more welcomed. First appearing in 1964's 'Goldfinger,' the Aston Martin DB5 has become inseparable from its superspy driver.

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'E.T. the Extra Terrestrial' (1982) -

Reese's Pieces sales skyrocketed by 65% in the weeks following the release of 1982's sci-fi children's classic 'E.T. the Extra Terrestrial.' After seeing that the candy was the only thing that could possibly lure everyone's favorite alien out of his hiding place, consumers realized there must be something to it.

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'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' (2017) -

Despite director James Gunn swearing that it wasn't his intention to use Dairy Queen as product placement in 2017's acclaimed 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,' the restaurant and ice-cream chain still went ahead and released their own limited edition flavor to boost sales after their logos made an appearance in the film.

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'Suicide Squad' (2016) -

On the other side of the superhero behemoth aisle, DC Comics teamed up with Samsung to help make each other make some good cash in 2016's 'Suicide Squad.' One would be hard-pressed to try and find a single device belonging to another brand throughout the whole movie.

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'Wayne's World' (1992) -

Some classic comedy films have had to use product placement out of necessity, but found a way to do it without trying to slide it past their fans. 'Wayne's World' treated their mandatory product placement like a band-aid, stuffing it all into one scene with hilarious self-awareness. Within the course of a minute, the titular Wayne plugs Pizza Hut, Reebok, Doritos, Pepsi, and Nuprin.

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'Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle' (2004) -

It's a once-in-a-generation type of luck that White Castle experienced in 2004, when this stoner comedy put the fast-food chain at the center of their plot. The suffering burger joint took full advantage of their newfound fame, adding new menus and even printing promotional plastic cups.

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'Sonic the Hedgehog' (2022) -

Leaving his classic chili dogs behind, the new, silver-screen version of the world's fastest hedgehog is loyal only to Olive Garden. The 'Italian' restaurant chain is mentioned multiple times throughout 2022's 'Sonic the Hedgehog,' and one character is even given a gift card.

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'The Emoji Movie' (2017) -

'The Emoji Movie' just might take the cake when it comes to shameless advertising. With more product placement than plot, this animated adventure through phones plugs just about every app on the market, from Facebook to YouTube to Candy Crush.

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'Iron Man' (2008) -

Audi was one of the first companies to get in on what would become one of the most successful franchises in history. Starting with 'Iron Man' in 2008, the car company had their cars prominently featured in every 'Iron Man' film since.

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'Forrest Gump' (1994) -

Continuing their winning streak of being included in generation-defining films, Nike struck big with the 1994 release of 'Forrest Gump.' Showcasing the shoe giant's original model, the Nike Cortez, the titular Forrest Gump becomes a running sensation in his seemingly indestructible kicks.

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'Jurassic World' (2015) -

Rebooting a classic and beloved franchise always smells at least a little bit like a cash grab, and 2015's 'Jurassic World' was no different. Most notably, there's barely a car to be seen that isn't a Mercedes Benz. Subsequent Mercedes ads featured dinosaurs and jungle scenes for months after the film's premiere.

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'The Internship' (2014) -

Learning a lesson from Harold and Kumar, the filmmakers for 2014's 'The Internship,' starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, made a deal with Google that worked in everyone's favor. The filmmakers didn't have to pay a dime to film on location at Google's headquarters, and in return the tech giant was able to market itself as a ethically pure corporation that offers utopic working conditions.

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'Transformers: Age of Extinction' (2014) -

Beats by Dre products are just about ubiquitous in music videos, and the brand made a jump onto the big screen in 2014's 'Transformers: Age of Extinction.' While showcasing a new material that can turn into anything, a certain mad scientist decides the best way to show off his new and limitless power is to make a Bluetooth speaker.

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'Sex and the City: The Movie' (2008) -

Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, was notoriously obsessed with shoe designer Manolo Blahnik throughout the the show, and in the movies, too. The shoes even play an important part in Carrie's iconic marriage proposal scene.

Sources: (Flickside) (Screen Rant) (Fortress of Solitude)

See also: Why watching movies is actually good for you

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