10 of Pepsi's Best Ads Ever, From Celebrity Gladiators to "Okurrr"

In 2004, Pepsi released one of its most star-studded and memorable ads ever; it featured legendary pop stars Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and Pink, along with Enrique Iglesias. The commercial famously stars the trio of singers as Roman gladiators who find themselves in the center of a colosseum battling one another for the amusement of a domineering ruler, played by Iglesias. When the three face one another, however, they put down their swords and fighting gear and each sings a verse of the Queen classic "We Will Rock You" — in their own unique styles. Their powerful vocals overthrow the ruler, the crowd cheers, and everyone celebrates with a Pepsi. Iconic is honestly an understatement.

After establishing herself as one of the greatest pop singers of all time, Spears appeared in a number of Pepsi commercials throughout the 2000s. One of her most popular ones, Pepsi "Now and Then," hit TVs in 2002 and is still remembered to this day. The commercial begins in the 1950s, with a then 21-year-old Spears dressed for the era and singing a classic Pepsi jingle. From there, Spears travels through decades, including the 1960s and 1970s, and even re-creates Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible" ad from 1989.

Nothing was quite as popular as "okurrr" in 2019. The word, widely popularized by rapper Cardi B, was used by everyone, from celebrities like the Kardashians to contestants of "RuPaul's Drag Race," and it made its way into a Pepsi commercial that same year. In the ad, Cardi B is in a diner and hilariously chimes in to an interaction between a customer and a waitress, where the latter asks if a Pepsi is OK instead of a Coke. "Is Pepsi okurrr?" Cardi says. "Did you just say, 'Is Pepsi okurrr?'" The whole restaurant tries to figure out exactly how to roll their R's like Cardi, with a little help from "RuPaul" favorite Monét X Change.

In the 1980s, English singer Robert Palmer exuded sex appeal with his notable songs, including "Addicted to Love" and "Simply Irresistible." The music video for "Simply Irresistible" featured Palmer surrounded by women as he belted the song's lyrics, and it was re-created in 1989 by Pepsi for the Super Bowl that year. Pepsi's "Simply Irresistible" mirrors that of the original music video, but includes the models drinking Pepsi with shots of cans landing in ice pieced in between the fun.

By 2013, Beyoncé was already a legend in music. She had multiple Grammy wins under her belt, a successful career with Destiny's Child, and a solid solo career. The "Irreplaceable" singer was no stranger to Pepsi, but that year, she starred in the "Mirrors" commercial by the brand, which featured the Pepsi Max drink. In the ad, Beyoncé dances in front of multiple mirrors and stares in awe at past versions of herself from different eras, from "Crazy in Love" to "Single Ladies." You can't beat watching multiple Beyoncés jam out to "Grown Woman."

Pepsi is known for collaborating with huge celebrity figures in its commercials, and in 2018, it reunited with stars from previous ads for the "Celebrating Every Generation" commercial. Narrated by Jimmy Fallon, the ad explores Pepsi's legacy across multiple decades by highlighting past notable commercials with Cindy Crawford and NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon; it also remembers Michael Jackson and Ray Charles, who both starred in ads decades prior. "Celebrating Every Generation" stands out as one of Pepsi's greatest.

Leave it to Pepsi to include not one but two icons in one commercial. In 1987, the brand featured music legends David Bowie and Tina Turner singing a special rendition of Bowie's 1983 hit "Modern Love," with a unique plotline. Bowie is a mad scientist who is frantically adding different elements, like a woman's shoe and a picture of legs, to a giant machine in order to create the perfect woman. When he spills a bottle of Pepsi all over the equipment, the machine malfunctions and creates Tina Turner (to Bowie's delight). The pair joyously dance and sing together, before embracing at the end of the ad. It's a perfect combination of two high-energy, vivacious artists capturing the magic of what made the '80s so great.

In the early 1990s, blues and R&B singer Ray Charles was the face of Pepsi. He helped popularize the slogan "You got the right one baby, uh huh" after appearing in a number of commercials for the brand, including the "Wise Guy" ad. In the commercial, Charles plays the piano, turns to the camera, and reveals that his favorite drink (the only one that "does it for Ray") is a Diet Pepsi. When Charles takes a sip of the drink, clearly a Coke, he immediately can taste the difference and jokingly says, "Now, who's the wise guy?" After getting the Pepsi, he utters the catchphrase, "Now that's the right one, baby!" Nothing flashy in this commercial; just classic fun.

If you read the last name Eisenberg and perhaps thought of actor Jesse Eisenberg, you would be right by making that connection. Hallie Eisenberg — known for movies like "Paulie" and "How to Eat Fried Worms" — is the actor's younger sister, and she happened to star in several Pepsi commercials throughout the 1990s. One of her most notable, and arguably one of Pepsi's as well, stars Eisenberg as a young customer in a restaurant, accompanied by her grandfather. When she asks for a Pepsi, the server ("The Sopranos" actor Vincent Pastore) gives her a Coke, thinking she won't notice. After taking a sip, Eisenberg has the voice of a man that is reminiscent of Marlon Brando's character in "The Godfather" and urges the server to give her the Pepsi, or else.

Michael J. Fox was on fire in the 1980s. With acting credits in "Family Ties," "Back to the Future," and "Teen Wolf," it was only right that the star got his own Pepsi commercial in 1987. When his beautiful young neighbor arrives at his doorstep asking for a Diet Pepsi, Fox discovers he's all out of the coveted drink and embarks on quite the journey to get his hands on the soda. He leaves his apartment through a fire escape, runs through traffic, and carefully walks by a biker gang, all to get a can of Pepsi from a machine across the street. He returns with a single can, only to find another woman who wants some Pepsi, as well.