Marketing Stunts That Work: How to Maximize Media Exposure for Your Brand

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In the fast-paced world of marketing, brands are constantly pushing boundaries to capture consumer attention. From immersive experiences to viral social media campaigns, 2025 has delivered some of the most creative marketing stunts we’ve seen yet. Here are four standout campaigns that generated buzz, engaged audiences, and left a lasting impression.

Top 4 Marketing Stunts of 2024

1. Severance’s Grand Central Takeover
2. The Ordinary’s Floating Skincare Spectacle
3. Tubi’s Super Bowl Interface Interruption
4. Kia’s Post-Apocalyptic EV Campaign

Severance’s Grand Central Takeover

Apple TV+ took experiential marketing to the next level by transforming New York’s Grand Central Station into a scene straight out of its hit show Severance. Stars, Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette, performed mundane office tasks within a glass cube, mirroring the show’s eerie premise of separating work and personal lives. This immersive stunt blurred the lines between fiction and reality, sparking viral discussions across social media and reinforcing Severance’s unique brand identity. 

The Ordinary’s Floating Skincare Spectacle

London locals were in for a surprise when skincare brand The Ordinary sent a giant version of its bestselling product floating down the Thames River. A social media engagement strategy complemented this visually striking stunt–anyone who snapped a photo of the floating bottle and tagged @theordinary on Instagram received free samples at select London stores. The campaign was a perfect mix of spectacle and digital engagement, proving that sometimes, bigger really is better. 

Tubi’s Super Bowl Interface Interruption

Streaming service Tubi pulled off one of the most unexpected Super Bowl ads in recent memory. The cleverly crafted spot mimicked an accidental channel change, making millions of viewers believe their TVs had been hijacked mid-game. The stunt involved the prompting of the TV homepage and directing itself to the Tubi app and opening it. The prank triggered an immediate social media frenzy, demonstrating the power of surprise and disruption in modern advertising. By leaning into humor and shock value, Tubi successfully made itself one of the most talked-about brands of the event. 

Kia’s Post-Apocalyptic EV Campaign 

Kia Australia tapped into dystopian aesthetics to promote its electric vehicle lineup, creating a visually compelling ad that imagined a post-apocalyptic world where Kia EVs thrived. This metaphor for Kia’s cars was a great way to introduce an exciting and fun-to-watch concept to also demonstrate Kia’s creativity and brand expression. The bold campaign highlighted the brand’s commitment to innovation and adaptability while capturing the public’s imagination. As a result, Kia saw record sales in 2024, solidifying its place as a ladder in the evolving EV market. 

Final Thoughts

These marketing stunts illustrate the power of creativity, strategic planning, and audience engagement. Whether through immersive experiences, viral social media tactics, or unexpected humor, brands that are pushing the envelope can capture public attention and make a lasting impression. As we move forward, one thing is clear: the best marketing campaigns are the ones that make us stop, watch, and talk. 

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