Arnold Schwarzenegger – Tekada Alinamin V Energy Drink

During the late 80s and early 90s, Arnie could be found on Japanese TV advertising all kinds of products. These ranged from instant noodles, to gym equipment and energy drinks. Arnie’s endorsement of the Japanese energy drink Alinamin V, characterized by his playful antics, became a beloved segment on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

Chuck Norris – T-Mobile

Chuck Norris visits the Czech Republic for the holidays for in a series of adverts screened there for T-Mobile. Exactly why Norris is visiting a Czech family is never really explained, but he does seem to have a lot of fun watching them try to impress him. Disappointingly however, we don’t get to see Norris punch anyone in the face. What a waste.

Bruce Willis – Daihatsu Miro

Bruce Willis donned full Japanese dress to advertise the Daihatsu Miro. The ad seems to be a parody of itself, with Willis being the obvious A-lister just brought in to add his name to the product. Perhaps the irony of such a big action star advertising a tiny car was the intent? Either way, Willis’ Japanese accent is top notch in this one.

Leonardo DiCaprio – Telecom Italia

In what seems to be the easiest payday of his life, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in an arty commercial for Italian cell phone company, Telecom Italia. In the ad, Leo lays on some grass, playing with a bug. He sets the bug down, checks his phone, then lays back down again. That’s it. Probably wasn’t even filmed in Italy. What a gig.

David Duchovny – Sibirskaya Korona beer

In this, quite frankly, epic commercial for Russia’s Sibirskaya Korona beer, David Duchovny explores the alternative idea of his life if he were Russian. He becomes a cosmonaut, a singer, an Arctic explorer. He makes friends and his Russian pronunciation is flawless. Forget the beer, make this thing into a movie.

Tommy Lee Jones – Boss Coffee

You’re a Japanese coffee brand looking for a star to feature as a teacher in your new advertising campaign. Of course, who else but Tommy Lee Jones? And if that isn’t box office enough, give him super strength and lasers for eyes! The benefits of Boss Coffee seem somewhat controversial here, as Jones injures several students and damages a classroom.

Kevin Bacon – EE

Kevin Bacon leaps from a plane and is tumbling to the ground, seemingly out of control. Just as it seems all hope is lost, he pulls a cord and his parachute unfurls and saves him. Text printed on the parachute reads ‘EE Stay Connected Data’. What parachutes have to do with cell phone plans or Kevin Bacon remains a mystery in this UK ad campaign.

Hulk Hogan – Hitachi air conditioners

Hulk Hogan seemingly cashed in on his 80s and 90s fame, racking up many endorsements while the going was good. However, none may be stranger than Hogan’s Hitachi air conditioner advert. We see a topless Hogan singing a nursery rhyme to a baby and the ad ends with Hogan holding an air conditioning unit like he’s going to body press slam the thing. Thanks Japan!

Katy Perry – Just Eat

With more costume changes than a Vegas show, this commercial for UK meal delivery company Just Eat featuring Katy Perry is a real tour de force. Perry sings the track Did Somebody Say, which is lyrically imbued with all of the food Perry wants from this delivery service. The song ends with the epic line ”chicken wings when I’m ready, bon appetite from me Katy Perry”.

Snoop Dogg – Vybe Mobile

In this German cell phone ad, the visual of Snoop Dogg fashioning a crooner-style wig isn’t even the weirdest part. He climbs out of a refrigerator, dancing girls appear from a washing machine and Snoop’s soft German lyrics have to be seen to be believed. What the ad was aiming to achieve is unclear, yet it certainly is memorable.