Fake Brands From Movies We Wish Were Real
The test of a true filmmaker is how well they can transcend you into the world they have created.
One thing we’ve always enjoyed is the extent to which some filmmakers go to flex their imagination. Whether it’s with an addictive jingle, or a creative way to dodge royalty fees for brand or product placement, here are some of our favorite fake brands from movies we wish were real.
Strangè - Boomerang
Cue the hot-shot marketing exec - we all know this type - a wildly successful, young, independent workaholic. In the 1992 rom-com, Boomerang, we follow advertising dynamo Marcus Graham (played by comedic all-star Eddie Murphy) through his career as he seems to ace every obstacle thrown his way. His most-notable task, capturing the visual allure and essence of world-renown model Strangé (played by the dynamic powerhouse Grace Jones) into a signature perfume. Spoiler alert: this specific ad pitch isn’t the one that wins over the board room in the film, but this first take is so bizarre and outlandish that you can’t help but look away.
Jack Rabbit Slim - Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino’s tour de force, Pulp Fiction, is an iconic display of the writer and director’s imagination. From its A-list cast to its non-linear storyline, there’s so much about Tarantino’s Palm d’Or-winning masterpiece that is both unforgettable and romantic. Take the film’s iconic setting where Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega’s first dinner together takes place. The fictional restaurant called Jack Rabbit Slim’s is a culmination of all things 50’s Americana that have been chewed up and spat out through the lens of Tarantino with no detail to spare. The rollerblade service, booths boasting shiny rear fenders of classic American cars, role-playing by wait staff, and of course, live music. If only we could try that $5 milkshake…
Soul-Glo - Coming to America
Eddie Murphy made the list, again! What can we say? He’s kind of a creative genius. The 1988 comedy hit Coming to America is responsible for some of the most coveted and quotable moments in pop culture, namely the storyline’s underlying success, Soul Glo- a hair product that gave a boost in confidence and infinite sex appeal and desire to the Jheri Curl. More notably was the product’s faux commercial which featured steamy models with amazing, dripping curls backed by a jingle that generations still sing to this day. As a matter of fact, American guitarist, songwriter and music producer, Nile Rodgers, credited the jingle as his “single proudest moment.” That just goes to prove that unforgettable moments like these aren’t just for show.
Paper Street Soap Co. - Fight Club
“The first rule of fight club is…” The cult-classic from the mind of Chuck Palahniuk, directed by David Fincher, is a thrilling ride from start to finish, and at the center of it all is Paper Street where personalities collide and mischief springs. Its byproduct? Paper Street Paper Co. - an illegitimate soap company devised by Tyler Durden using rendered, human fat only to be sold back to high-end retailers. Okay, maybe this brand would be a little off on the moral compass in real life, but Durden’s anti-capitalistic, anarchist love affair gives brand affinity a whole new meaning.