Star Wars TV Commercials (Non-Kenner)



Classic Era:


*1977*

Burger Chef - Star Wars posters (with C-3PO & R2-D2, Jawas, Sandpeople, Darth Vader & Stormtroopers)
Wonder Bread - Star Wars trading cards


*1978*

Burger King - Star Wars glasses
U.S. Department of Health, Education, & Welfare - Star Wars Immunization PSA (with C-3PO & R2-D2)


*1979*

U.S. Department of Transportation - Star Wars Drunk Driving PSA (with the cantina creatures)


*1980*

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Star Wars Anti-Smoking PSA (with C-3PO & R2-D2)
Burger Chef - The Empire Strikes Back posters


*1982*

Parker Brothers - Frogger + Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back video game (Atari 2600) [UK]


*1983*

Burger King - Return Of The Jedi glasses
Presto Magix - Return Of The Jedi rub-down transfers
Pepperidge Farm - Star Wars cookies
Parker Brothers - Return Of The Jedi: Death Star Battle video game (Atari 2600)


*1984*

Kellogg's C-3PO's cereal (with C-3PO & R2-D2 and unknown alien)

 

*1987*

Star Tours - "Now Open at Disneyland"

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Revival Era:


*1990*

Star Wars Trilogy VHS promo


*1991*

Nintendo - Star Wars video game (NES) (November - with Darth Vader and Stormtroopers)


*1994*

Super Nintendo - Super Return of the Jedi video game (SNES)
Energizer - Darth Vader vs. The Energizer Bunny (with Darth Vader and the Emperor)


*1995*

Kellogg's Froot Loops - Free Kenner Han Solo action figure
Kellogg's Apple Jacks - Free Dark Horse Star Wars comic
Kellogg's Corn Pops - Free The Making of Star Wars VHS videotape
Star Wars on video "One Last Time"
Star Wars on video "A Mighty Warrior"
Star Wars on video "In THX"
Star Wars Trilogy on video "One Last Time"
Star Wars Trilogy on video "In THX"


*1996*

Bantam Books - Star Wars Darksaber novel
Decipher - Star Wars Customizable Card Game
Tunes - Death Star/Darth Vader (with Darth Vader and Imperial Officers) [UK]
Museum of Science and Industry - Special Effects: Anything Can Happen now showing in IMAX
Shadows Of The Empire multimedia trailer
Nintendo - Shadows Of The Empire video game (December - N64)


*1997*

Bantam Books - Shadows Of The Empire novel
Milton Bradley/Hasbro - Space Shooter Milennium Falcon, Vader's TIE Fighter and Battle Belt
Tiger Electronics - Imperial Assault 3D figure hand-held game with Vader joystick
Tiger Electronics - Darth Vader Voice Changer
Fox Kids Star Wars Trilogy sweepstakes (win a private screening of all three special edition movies)
Disneyland - Star Wars Days 1997
Taco Bell - Star Wars Special Edition: 'Intergalactic Draw' sweepstakes
Pizza Hut - Star Wars Special Edition: The Pizza Head Show
Pepsi - Star Wars Special Edition: Darth Vader vs. Theater Usher (with Darth Vader)
Taco Bell - Star Wars Special Edition: 'Feel The Force' game (with various masked characters)
Taco Bell - Star Wars Special Edition toys 1
Taco Bell - Star Wars Special Edition toys 2
Taco Bell - Star Wars Special Edition toys 3
Taco Bell - Star Wars Special Edition toys 4
Doritos - Star Wars 3D motion cards
Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition VHS


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Prequel Era:


*1999*

KFC/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell - 'Defeat The Dark Side' game 1
KFC/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell - 'Defeat The Dark Side' game 2
KFC/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell - 'Defeat The Dark Side' game 3
KFC/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell - 'Defeat The Dark Side' game 4
KFC/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell - Episode I toys 1
KFC/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell - Episode I toys 2
KFC/Pizza Hut/Taco Bell - Episode I toys 3
KFC - Episode I bucket toppers
Taco Bell - Episode I toys
Pepsi - Marfalump: Down In Front
Pepsi - Marfalump: Weirdest Date
Pepsi - Marfalump: Taxi
Star Wars Episode I Racer video game (N64)
New Jedi Order: Vector Prime novel


*2000*

Disney-MGM Studios - Star Wars Weekends (with Darth Maul)
Lego - Star Wars Legos (with Boba Fett and Darth Maul)
Episode I VHS 1
Episode I VHS 2
Episode I VHS 3
Star Wars Trilogy VHS


*2001*

Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter novel (February)
Hi-Vision - George Lucas (with Darth Vader and Stormtroopers) [Japan]
Episode I DVD
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader video game (GameCube)


*2002*

Episode II DVD
Episode II novel
Doritos - Star Wars 3D's
Star Wars Jedi Starfighter video game (PS2)
Star Wars Bounty Hunter video game 1
Star Wars Bounty Hunter video game 2


*2003*

Orange - Carrie Fisher's pitch ('gold spot' theater commercial) [UK]
Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike video game (GameCube) 1
Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike video game (GameCube) 2
Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike video game (GameCube) 3
Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike video game (GameCube) 4
Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic video game (XBox)


*2004*

ESPN - Space Anchors (with Chewbacca, C-3PO & R2-D2, Darth Vader and Stormtrooper)
Star Wars Trilogy DVD
Star Wars Battlefront video game 1
Star Wars Battlefront video game 2
Star Wars Battlefront video game 3


*2005*

Orange - Darth Vader's pitch (April - 'gold spot' theater commercial, with Darth Vader and Stormtroopers) [UK]
7 Eleven - Darth Dew flavored Slurpee drink (May - with Darth Vader)
Burger King - Chewie's New Job (May - with Chewbacca)
Burger King - Darth Meets King 'Choose Your Destiny' game (May - with Darth Vader)
Burger King - Darth Wants Money 'Choose Your Destiny' game (May - with Darth Vader)
Burger King - Only Hope 'Choose Your Destiny' game (May - with C-3PO & R2-D2)
Burger King - Star Wars toys (June - with Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Jawas, Jedi, Chewbacca, C-3PO & R2-D2)
Cingular - Star Wars ringtones (with Chewbacca)
Cingular - Star Wars THQ Wireless promo
m&ms - Dare To Go To The Dark Side (with Darth Vader)
Netflix - I Am Your Father
Pepsi - Diet Pepsi starring Yoda (with Yoda and Chewbacca)
Pringles - Win The Jedi Challenge
Target - Lord Vader & Heidi Klum (with Darth Vader)
Playskool - Darth Tater Mr. Potato Head
Master Replicas - Force FX lightsaber
JAKKS Pacific - Star Wars TV game
Star Wars Galaxies video game (PC) 1
Star Wars Galaxies video game (PC) 2
Star Wars Episode III video game (multiple systems) 1
Star Wars Episode III video game (multiple systems) 2
Star Wars Episode III video game (multiple systems) 3
Star Wars Episode III video game (multiple systems) 4
Star Wars Episode III video game (multiple systems) 5
Star Wars Episode III video game (XBox)
Star Wars Battlefront II video game (multiple systems) [UK]
Lego Star Wars video game 1
Lego Star Wars video game 2
Lego Star Wars video game 3


*2006*

Star Wars Empire At War video game (PC)
Cinemax - Star Wars HD promo 1
Cinemax - Star Wars HD promo 2
Cinemax - Star Wars HD promo 3


*2007*

Bounty - Household Droids
LEGO - Star Wars Imperial Landing Craft
LEGO - Star Wars MTT Troop Carrier



Unknown (MORE INFO NEEDED!):

Star Wars Underoos
Lazer Tag Striker & Star Wars set

Kenner/Hasbro/Micro Machines Star Wars Commercials


*1978-1979*

SW Early Bird Certificate Package
SW Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot, R5-D4, Greedo
SW Creature Cantina
SW Darth Vader TIE Fighter, X-Wing Fighter
SW Death Star Space Station
SW Droid Factory
SW Imperial Troop Transporter
SW Land of the Jawas
SW Landspeeder
SW Large Size Action Figures: Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca
SW Large Size C-3PO [unknown]
SW Large Size Boba Fett (& Darth Vader)
SW Mini-Action Figure Collector's Case
SW Patrol Dewback
SW Radio Controlled Jawa Sandcrawler
SW Radio Controlled R2-D2
SW Collection [aired during Holiday Special 11/17/78]


ESB Action Figures 1: IG-88, Bossk, Lando Calrissian
ESB Action Figures 2: Han Solo, Rebel Soldier, Lando Calrissian, Bespin Guard
ESB Action Figures 3: FX-7, Rebel Soldier, Imperial Snowtrooper, Chewbacca
ESB Action Figures 4: Zuckuss, AT-AT Commander
ESB Action Figures 5: Yoda, R2-D2
ESB Action Figures 6: Lando Calrissian, Han Solo, Ugnaught, Lobot
ESB Collection
ESB Darth Vader Collector's Case 1
ESB Darth Vader Collector's Case 2
ESB Darth Vader's Star Destroyer
ESB Hoth Ice Planet
ESB Imperial Attack Base
ESB Imperial TIE Fighter, Millennium Falcon
ESB Mailaway 4-LOM + Bespin Guard, AT-AT Commander, Imperial TIE Pilot
ESB Mailaway Bossk + Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Boba Fett
ESB Mailaway Display Arena + Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca
ESB Mailaway Survival Kit + Yoda, AT-AT Driver
ESB Millennium Falcon
ESB Rebel Armored Snowspeeder
ESB Rebel Transport
ESB Slave I
ESB Star Destroyer Playset [unknown]
ESB Take-Apart C-3PO, Hoth Leia, Bespin Han Solo
ESB Tauntaun (Open-Belly), Wampa
ESB Tauntaun
ESB Turret & Probot Playset
ESB Twin-Pod Cloud Car, Cloud Car Pilot
ESB Twin-Pod Cloud Car
ESB Wampa, R2-D2 with Sensorscope
ESB Yoda Puppet [unknown]
ESB Micro Collection Bespin [unknown]
ESB Micro Collection Hoth [unknown]
ESB Micro Collection [unknown]

ESB/ROTJ Mailaway Admiral Ackbar + 4-LOM, Zuckuss, Imperial TIE Figher Pilot 1
ESB/ROTJ Mailaway Admiral Ackbar + 4-LOM, Zuckuss, Imperial TIE Figher Pilot 2


*1982*

ROTJ Collection (with C-3PO and Chewie appearance) [unknown]?
ROTJ Action Figures 1[unknown]?
ROTJ Action Figures 2 [unknown]?
ROTJ Take-Apart C-3PO, Hoth Leia, Bespin Han Solo [1982]
ROTJ Mailaway Nien Nunb + Darth Vader, Lando Calrissian, 4-LOM
ROTJ Preview Contest
ROTJ Micro Collection X-Wing and TIE Fighter [unknown]
ROTJ Micro Collection Death Star [unknown]
ROTJ Micro Collection Hoth [unknown]
ROTJ Rebel Transport [unknown]

*1983*

ROTJ Sy Snootles and the Rebo Band, Jabba the Hutt Playset


*1985*

DROIDS Droids Collection


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*1995*

Micro Machines - Millennium Falcon
Kellogg's Froot Loops - Free Kenner Han Solo action figure
Kenner - The Power Of The Force collection '95 #1
Kenner - The Power Of The Force collection '95 #2


*1996*

Kenner - The Power Of The Force collection '96
Micro Machines - Transforming Action Sets
Kenner - Shadows of the Empire: Xizor, Boba Fett, Slave 1, Luke, Dash Rendar, Outrider


*1997*

Kenner - Big Detail/Big Size: The Power Of The Force collection '97
Micro Machines - Mini Action Sets


*2002*

Hasbro - Star Wars Action Figures


*2005*

Hasbro - Darth Vader voice changer
Hasbro - Star Wars Attacktix Battle Figure Game
Hasbro - Star Wars action figures (football theme) [UK]



Unknown (MORE INFO NEEDED!):

Micro Machines - Action Fleet
Micro Machines - Action Fleet Death Star playset
Micro Machines - Millennium Falcon Sweepstakes (win a gold Star Destroyer)
Kenner - Return of the Jedi collection - Jabba the Hutt playset, C-3PO, Gamorrean Guard
Kenner - The Power Of The Force: Kenner figures, Snowspeeder
Kenner - The Power Of The Force: vehicles, lightsaber, X-Wing
Kenner - The Power Of The Force: vehicles and figures
Kenner - The Power Of The Force: A-wing, Vader's TIE fighter, Emperor, Hoth Rebels
Kenner - Luke and Vader electronic lightsabers
Kenner - Star Wars Wonder World tank

Cool, I've been wondering if you were going to go somewhere with this.

That said, it looks like this is going to be a HUGE undertaking. Best of luck to you...

Thanks, daveytod... and thanks again for contributing to the big list earlier.

Anybody else who can add to this or help me out with air dates, post here or e-mail me at 'skotk AT hotmail dot com'.

--SKot

Glad you're up to trying this, SKot. A VERY worthwhile project.

These are the video game commercials that I can think of off the top of my head. I have them only as .avi's unfortunately.
1982 - Parker Brothers Frogger/Star Wars-Empire Strikes Back for the Atari 2600-UK
1983 - Parker Brothers Return of the Jedi: Death Star Battle video game

Unknown years:
Super Return of the Jedi for the Super Nintendo
Shadows of the Empire for the N64

Didn't know about this one. With a little research, I found it was actually earlier: 2003.

I also found out that both of these were actually not TV commecials, but theater commercials, shown in the coveted 'gold spot' after the trailers and just before the main feature. However, I want to include them here since there aren't many of that type yet, and because there's no other category to put them in.

--SKot

Is that the one with the annoying kid in the black tuxedo, where you can also win the entire Kenner Star Wars collection? If so, I believe that was a Kenner promotion.

--SKot

Thanks - I've added these to the list. I suspect I may have to split off another category for the video game commercials, because there's so many of them in later years.

--SKot

There are many more in recent years than in the classic era, but part of that is that there weren't that many Star Wars games back in the classic era. I found this site that has several available for download... Some I've already listed, but many more can be found here... http://gameads.gamepressure.com/tv_games_commercials.asp?SEARCH=Star+Wars
The dates aren't on the site, but I'm going by the release date of the games as listed on www.gamefaqs.com, so the dates could be off slightly.

Star Wars (NES) (1991)
Star Wars Episode III (Multisystem) (5 different spots) (2005)
Star Wars Episode III (XBox) (2005)
Star Wars Empire at War (PC) (2006)
Star Wars Battlefront II (Multisystem) (UK) (2005)
Lego Star Wars (3 spots) (2005)
Star Wars Galaxies (2 spots) (2005)
Star Wars Battlefront (3 spots) (2004)
Star Wars Rouge Squadron III:Rebel Strike (4 Spots)(GC) (2003)
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic (XBox) (2003)
Star Wars Jedi Starfighter (PS2) (2002)
Star Wars Bounty Hunter (2 Spots) (2002)
Star Wars Episode I Racer (N64) (1999)
Star Wars Rouge Squadron II: Rouge Leader (GC) (2001)

I also have some scans of print ads for several Star Wars games, mostly from the Atari 2600/5200 era, if you are interested.

I remember a cool Lego commercial from probably 2000 that had Boba Fett and Darth Maul in it. I'd watch that again.

I had that for a while, Im not sure if I still do but I cant find it in my normal places.

Sounds good, have you seen the lucasfan pages?

Yep, and I just mentioned the project to Mike Streeter (who runs the Lucasfan pages). He had some input in the original list I compiled.

Keep 'em coming!

--SKot

That's a good thought to consider for inclusion as extras later.

I've got a lot more of the unknown date non-Kenner commercials sorted out as to what year they should have been aired now. It's looking better with each edit.

--SKot

Weren't The Empire Strikes Back posters issued by Burger King and not Burger Chef? I was a huge fan of Burger Chef and the only posters I ever saw there were the Star Wars posters.

Also, Burger King issued glasses for all three movies so there should be some commercials for those. The years would of course coincide with the release years of each movie.

I seem to recall the Proctor & Gamble commercial for the free posters with the purchase of certain Proctor & Gamble products. This would have been for Star Wars in 78.

General Mills cereal had commercials for the Star Wars stickers in boxes of The Monter Cereals, Coco Puffs and etc. These also would have been in 78. General Mills ran commercials for the cereals that had Star Wars trading cards in them. Again in 78.

Cheerios ran commercials, for the posters that were inside their cereal. This was 78 as well.

I think those are about the only ones that I can remember. Most of the cereal commercials were of course ran on Saturday mornings. I do remember seeing a few of them, but I don't recall specifics. Hope these help.

Indeed they do! Now that we've mentioned them, maybe they'll turn up.

--SKot

Glad I could help SKot. I'll try and stimulate the grey matter some more and see if I can remember any more commercials that I've seen. Since that was so long ago, I don't think I can remember much more than I already have.

I do remember that General Mills did offer as a send away off of cereal boxes, a Star Wars tumbler, but I don't know if they ran a commercial for it or not. If they did, it was probably piggy backed with thier regular commercials for the stickers, cards and posters that were in their cereals.

Have you thought to try and track down any TV promos for the Holiday Special? I'm sure there were some. Those would be a hoot to see after all these years.

I'm sure that you are aware that there are DVDs out there with several of the vintage Kenner commercials. I checked your list and there were commericals for the Millenium Falcon, X-Wing and Tie Fighter from 79 and 79. The footage for the X-Wing and Tie Fighter commercial was first seen in the Star Wars collection commercial that ran during the Holiday Special. The entire X-Wing and Tie Fighter commercial did run by itself later.

There was also a commercial for the Star Wars Early Bird pack. Part of the commercial was shown in the Empire of Dreams documentary and I do recall seeing the commercial several times on TV in 78.

I seem to recall seeing a commerical for the first Kenner lightsabers with the inflatable blades. Boy those were really hokey. In fact, I'd almost bet that there was a commericial for everything that Kenner had at the time. I hope that you can turn up more Kenner commercials for Return of the Jedi toys. I only have a couple on my DVD. I have tons of Empire Strikes Back toy commericials but I'd like to have more from Star Wars and Jedi. The Escape From Death Star, Destroy The Death Star and Adventures of R2-D2 games commericals come to mind. I did see commercials for all of those games. Boy, the more I think about it, the more seems to come back to me.

By the way, I think that this is a great project. It will be interesting to see how much footage you are able to find. Best of luck to you. I can't wait to see the results. If I think of anything else, I'll post it here.

I have a pretty big collection of SW commercials of varying quality - I'll upload it later for whoever wants it, just in case it could be useful.

http://www.bubblegoose.com/ClassicCommercials/commercials.html
http://www.x-entertainment.com/downloads/

Some of the SW commercials can be found at the sites above - again, the quality is kind of low, but I don't know if anything better is out there.

I am trying to track down any SW video game commercials or advertisements for a project I am working on. If anyone could help me with that, I'd appreciate it. Some of our two projects will be overlapping.

Here is a link to about 50 commercials for Kenner Toys and video games. The link will be valid for about 7 days. Hopefully, some of the material here will be of some use.

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=D2CA996763D5C4FD

Great... thanks again! And remember, hard evidence is even better, so if you or anyone else can put me in touch with actual footage (even if it's poor quality - at least we can see the commercial existed), then we'll have something more to put on the list.

I'm thinking about putting up a simple page with screen caps for each clip that I've been able to get my hands on. That way not only can you see what each one looks like, but you can also get an idea as to the quality of the source I have (and those with a better source can get in touch!).

--SKot