Celebrities Who Made Ads Go Viral - List

In the ever-evolving world of advertising, going viral is the holy grail. It means your message isn't just being seen—it's being shared, discussed, and remembered. Over the last two years, a select group of celebrities have achieved this rare feat, creating commercials that transcended advertising to become genuine cultural moments.

From Hollywood legends reuniting on screen to pop stars lending their voices to stop-motion art, here are the celebrities who made ads go viral in 2025 and 2026.

🍩 1. Ben Affleck & Matt Damon (Dunkin')

The biggest viral success of recent years has undoubtedly been the Dunkin' campaign starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The "DunKings" saga has taken over the internet, blending Hollywood nostalgia with fast-food marketing in a way that feels fresh, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt.

Watch the full "DunKings" video here:

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The DunKings Phenomenon

The campaign kicked off with a bang. In this extended commercial, Affleck and Damon revive the spirit of their iconic partnership—but with a hilarious, caffeinated twist. Affleck, a Massachusetts native and lifelong Dunkin' fan, is in his element, and Damon's deadpan reactions are comedy gold. The "DunKings" concept—Affleck attempting to launch a pop career with Damon as his reluctant collaborator—spawned countless memes and parodies.

The 2026 Saga: "Good Will Dunkin' : The Pilot"

Building on this success, Dunkin' released a sitcom-style extended cut titled "Good Will Dunkin' : The Pilot." This brilliant concept parodies their Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting, with Affleck and Damon reprising the essence of their roles in a Dunkin' setting.

Watch the 2026 "Good Will Dunkin' : The Pilot" here:

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The genius of this approach is that it doesn't feel like advertising. It feels like catching up with old friends. Their genuine chemistry, honed over decades of real friendship, translates through the screen, making viewers smile before they even notice the iced coffee in their hands.

Why They Went Viral

• Authenticity: Affleck's genuine love for Dunkin' (he's from Massachusetts, after all) makes the partnership believable.

• Nostalgia: The Good Will Hunting references delight fans without alienating others.

• Self-deprecation: Both actors are secure enough to poke fun at themselves, making the ads charming rather than arrogant.

🍕 2. Andrew Leeds (Domino's)

Not every viral ad needs an A-list celebrity. Sometimes, a relatively unknown actor with perfect comedic timing can capture the nation's attention. That's exactly what happened with Andrew Leeds and the Domino's Emergency Pizza campaign.

Watch the Domino's Emergency Pizza commercial here:

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The Emergency Pizza Concept

In this commercial, Leeds plays a well-meaning dad whose kitchen disaster triggers the need for emergency pizza delivery. His reactions—ranging from panic to relief—are hilariously relatable to anyone who has ever struggled with cooking.

Leeds's performance is a masterclass in physical comedy. His expressions shift from confidence to confusion to despair as the cooking disaster unfolds. When he finally gives up and reaches for the phone to order Domino's, the audience feels his relief.

Why He Went Viral

The Domino's campaign resonated because it taps into a universal experience. Everyone has had a cooking disaster. Everyone has faced the disappointment of a ruined meal. By acknowledging this shared experience, Domino's positioned itself as the solution to a common problem, and Leeds's relatable portrayal made it all work.

🧴 3. Michael Cera (CeraVe)

The CeraVe campaign starring Michael Cera is possibly the most brilliant example of "trolling" in recent advertising history. The premise was simple: because "Cera" appears in the brand name, the internet collectively decided Michael Cera must be the founder.

Watch the Michael Cera CeraVe ad here (video currently unavailable):

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The Campaign That Tricked the Internet

The brand leaned into the joke with mockumentary-style ads featuring Cera "explaining" his fictional skincare empire. The Super Bowl ad took this concept to the biggest stage possible, cementing the meme in pop culture.

Throughout 2025, the meme evolved organically. Users created elaborate origin stories, fake timelines, and increasingly absurd theories about Cera's secret life as a dermatologist. The brand's willingness to play along rather than fight the joke turned a simple campaign into a multi-year cultural phenomenon.

Why He Went Viral

• Internet culture integration: CeraVe understood that sometimes the best strategy is to join the conversation rather than control it.

• Perfect casting: Michael Cera's awkward, endearing persona made the joke work.

• Longevity: Each new phase of the meme cycle brought fresh engagement.

🌯 4. Halsey (Chipotle)

Chipotle has built a reputation for pairing stunning visuals with incredible music, and the "Unfolded" campaign featuring Halsey is a perfect example. This stop-motion animated short film shows how a Chipotle bag unfolds to reveal a whole world of sustainable farming.

Watch the "Unfolded" short film here (video currently unavailable):

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The Song: "She's a Rainbow"

The background music is a cover of The Rolling Stones' classic "She's a Rainbow," performed by Halsey. Their version strips back the original's psychedelic rock energy and replaces it with a softer, more intimate feel that complements the animation perfectly.

Halsey's involvement is significant. As an artist who has spoken openly about social and environmental issues, they align perfectly with Chipotle's messaging around sustainable food systems. The collaboration feels authentic—not just a paid endorsement, but a shared commitment to values.

Why It Went Viral

• Artistic quality: The stop-motion animation is genuinely beautiful, not just effective advertising.

• Emotional resonance: The music and visuals combine to create a feeling of hope and connection.

• Shareability: Viewers wanted to share the art, not just the ad.

☕ 5. Sabrina Carpenter (Dunkin')

Dunkin' scored another viral hit with Sabrina Carpenter and the "Strawberry Daydream Refresher" campaign. The ad fused pop music with coffee culture, creating an aesthetic that took over social media, particularly TikTok.

Watch Sabrina Carpenter's Dunkin' ad here (video currently unavailable):

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The Strawberry Daydream Phenomenon

This commercial features Carpenter's signature style—playful, colorful, and undeniably catchy—applied to a summer drink campaign. The visuals are bright and dreamy, perfectly matching the "Daydream" concept.

The Aesthetic Impact

Beyond the commercial itself, the campaign spawned a trend on social media. Users began creating their own "Strawberry Daydream" content—outfit posts, room decor, and even makeup looks inspired by the ad's color palette. Carpenter's influence as a pop star and style icon made this organic extension possible.

Why She Went Viral

• Aesthetic appeal: The commercial's visual style was instantly recognizable and replicable.

• Artist alignment: Carpenter's bubbly, colorful persona perfectly matched the drink's vibe.

• Trend creation: The campaign didn't just follow trends—it started one.

What Makes a Celebrity Ad Go Viral?

Looking at these five examples, several patterns emerge:

1. Authenticity Matters

Whether it's Ben Affleck's genuine love for Dunkin' or Halsey's commitment to sustainability, viewers can tell when a partnership is real. Forced endorsements don't go viral—authentic ones do.

2. Humor Helps

Andrew Leeds and Michael Cera both benefited from genuinely funny concepts. Ads that make people laugh get shared.

3. Visual Appeal Counts

Sabrina Carpenter's aesthetic and Chipotle's stop-motion animation demonstrate that beautiful visuals are inherently shareable. People want to look at beautiful things.

4. Internet Culture Integration

Michael Cera's campaign succeeded because it understood how the internet works. Rather than fighting memes, it embraced them.

5. Emotional Connection

All these ads make viewers feel something—nostalgia, recognition, hope, joy. Emotion drives sharing.

The Future of Viral Celebrity Ads

As we move through 2026, the trend toward authentic, culturally aware celebrity partnerships will likely continue. Brands are learning that audiences are too smart for obvious manipulation. The only way to truly go viral is to create something worth sharing on its own merits.

Whether it's Hollywood legends reuniting, a character actor finding his moment, or a pop star defining a season's aesthetic, the celebrities who succeed are those who understand that advertising, at its best, is entertainment.

Final Thoughts

The celebrities who made ads go viral in 2025-2026—Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Andrew Leeds, Michael Cera, Halsey, and Sabrina Carpenter—each brought something unique to their campaigns. But they all shared one crucial quality: authenticity.

In an age of cynicism and performative activism, audiences have become expert detectors of insincerity. These celebrities succeeded because they showed up—not just with their names, but with their time, their vulnerability, and their genuine commitment to the projects they represented.

The next time you see a commercial that makes you laugh, cry, or reach for your phone to share it, pay attention. You might just be witnessing the next viral moment in the making.