1. New Coke’s Over-the-Top Launch
When Coca-Cola decided to change its formula in 1985, they didn’t just release a new drink—they unleashed a tidal wave of commercials. One spot featured people sipping the new version with over-exaggerated smiles, as if this soda had just solved all their problems. It came off less like a casual taste test and more like a cult initiation. Watching it today, the awkward attempts to sell “better than ever” soda feels oddly charming.
The hype was so overblown that people almost laugh harder at the acting than the actual drink. It’s the kind of commercial that tries too hard, with upbeat jingles and big hair bouncing around. And since New Coke ended up being one of the biggest flops in soda history, it’s impossible not to chuckle at just how confident these ads were. They really thought they had lightning in a bottle.
2. Pepsi’s Michael Jackson “New Generation” Spot
In 1984, Pepsi went all in by recruiting Michael Jackson at the height of his fame. The ad was a full-on mini concert, with kids dancing in the streets and MJ himself performing. It was flashy, energetic, and packed with more glitter than an entire prom season. At the time, it was groundbreaking, but watching it now feels a little surreal.
The soda barely shows up in the commercial, since it’s more about the spectacle of Michael being Michael. You can’t help but laugh at how Pepsi positioned itself as if it were the secret fuel for moonwalking. It’s campy, it’s dated, and it’s still one of the most iconic soda tie-ins ever. Nothing screams the ’80s quite like sequins, neon lights, and a can of Pepsi.
3. 7UP’s Spot with Fido Dido
By the late ’80s, 7UP tried to stand out with its quirky hand-drawn character, Fido Dido. He wasn’t your typical soda mascot—he was lanky, chill, and constantly spouting goofy one-liners. The commercial looked like it was sketched during homeroom and rushed to air. It was strange, but that was the point.
The randomness of it all made people laugh, even if they didn’t totally understand what was happening. Fido had this slacker vibe that clashed hilariously with the high-energy soda market of the time. Instead of neon explosions, you got doodles and sarcasm. It still stands out as one of the oddest choices in soda advertising history.
4. Mountain Dew’s Daredevil Ads
Mountain Dew’s commercials leaned hard into extreme stunts long before “extreme sports” was a buzzword. One ad had guys leaping off cliffs into rivers, soda can in hand. Another showed wild whitewater rafting scenes cut with people chugging Dew like it was oxygen. It was wild, chaotic, and clearly dangerous.
Looking back, the most hilarious part is that the soda was treated like the ultimate survival tool. Forget helmets or life jackets, all you needed was a cold can of Mountain Dew. The seriousness of the tone makes it even funnier now, because we know no one was ever landing a backflip off a cliff thanks to citrus soda. It was equal parts reckless and ridiculous.
5. Tab’s “Be a Shape” Commercial
Tab was marketed as the “diet” cola, and in the ’80s, their commercials made sure you knew it. One bizarre ad showed women in brightly colored leotards dancing around while singing about keeping their “shape.” It was both catchy and strangely unsettling.
The heavy-handed fitness messaging feels like a time capsule of the era’s obsession with aerobics. What makes it funny today is the seriousness of the choreography paired with soda drinking. Nothing says health like sweating to the oldies with a can of Tab. It’s awkward, a little cringe, but absolutely memorable.
6. Pepsi’s “Choice of a New Generation” with Lionel Richie
Not to be outdone by the Michael Jackson spot, Pepsi rolled out Lionel Richie performing “Running with the Night.” The commercial blended a high-glam concert with cola close-ups, as if Richie couldn’t possibly hit those notes without a sip of Pepsi first. The vibe was pure ’80s excess.
The funniest part is how shamelessly the product is wedged into the performance. The audience goes wild, the lights flash, and then boom—there’s a Pepsi can front and center. It’s unintentionally hilarious because the soda is the least important thing happening. Lionel could’ve been singing about literally anything, but there’s Pepsi, along for the ride.
7. Slice’s “Fruitier” Pitch
Before there was Sierra Mist, Pepsi tried Slice, a soda with “real fruit juice.” One ad featured actors biting into giant fruits before dramatically turning to the camera with soda in hand. The overacting made it clear that no one believed this was healthy.
It’s funny because the commercial tried to pass itself off as practically a fruit stand in a can. With lines about being “fruitier than ever,” it felt like an SNL sketch. And yet, people loved it for a while. The weirdness of watching adults pretend a soda was equivalent to eating an orange makes it a classic.
8. Dr Pepper’s “Be a Pepper” Jingle
Dr Pepper had a catchy slogan in the ’80s: “Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too?” The commercial featured big dance numbers, smiling faces, and lots of jazz hands. It felt like half soda ad, half Broadway audition. Watching it now, it’s more funny than inspiring.
The choreography was so over-the-top that it looked like a parody even back then. People weren’t just drinking Dr Pepper, they were celebrating it like it was champagne. It’s goofy, loud, and still gets stuck in your head decades later. You laugh at it, but you also kind of want to join in.
9. Jolt Cola’s “All the Sugar, Twice the Caffeine”
Jolt knew it wasn’t going to compete by pretending to be healthy, so they leaned into chaos. Their commercial literally bragged about being overloaded with sugar and caffeine. It was marketed like a rocket fuel for the sleep-deprived.
The ad’s intensity is what makes it hilarious. Actors looked jittery just holding the can, like they’d been awake for three days already. While other sodas tried to be glamorous or hip, Jolt leaned into being dangerous. Today it feels like a parody of energy drink culture before it even existed.
10. Pepsi Free’s “Take the Challenge”
Before it became famous for a Back to the Future joke, Pepsi Free ran its own commercials. One of them showed people being shocked that soda could taste good without caffeine. The acting was stiff, and the reactions were overblown to the point of comedy.
The ad really leaned on awkward pauses and fake smiles. Watching now, it’s almost like a sketch where no one knows their lines. The funniest part is how seriously they treated “caffeine-free” as if it were a life-changing invention. It’s hard not to giggle at how much weight they put on something so small.
11. Fresca’s Surreal Commercials
Fresca tried to appeal to the “cool” crowd in the ’80s with commercials full of beach scenes and dreamlike vibes. One ad had slow-motion surfers cracking open cans while synth music played in the background. The whole thing felt like a soft drink had been turned into a music video.
It was strange because it leaned more on mood than the drink itself. The surreal imagery and airy music made Fresca seem like it belonged in an art installation, not a vending machine. It’s laughable now, but also kind of stylish in its own odd way. That weird mix is exactly what makes it unforgettable.
12. RC Cola’s “The Underdog” Spot
RC Cola knew it wasn’t as big as Coke or Pepsi, so one ad leaned into the underdog angle. It showed everyday people choosing RC over the big names, often in dramatic fashion. There were exaggerated reactions like “Wow!” and “Unbelievable!” that felt way too scripted.
The humor comes from how hard RC tried to act like it was stealing the spotlight. In reality, most people still went straight for Coke or Pepsi. The exaggerated energy made the whole thing more comical than convincing. It’s a reminder of how scrappy soda marketing could get back then.
