Advertising and marketing have inspired many films and television series over the years.
Some stories take viewers inside busy agencies where creative teams compete for major accounts. Some focus on public relations, branding, consumer culture, or the people who shape public opinion.
The titles on this list cover different parts of the industry. A few are serious dramas based on real business practices. Others use comedy or satire to examine the way companies sell products and ideas.
Together, they provide an entertaining look at an industry that influences everyday life in countless ways.
Mad Men (2007–2015)
Few television series have left a bigger mark on popular culture than Mad Men. Created by Matthew Weiner, the show follows Don Draper, a talented advertising executive played by Jon Hamm, as he works at several Madison Avenue agencies during the 1960s. The cast also includes Elisabeth Moss, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, and Vincent Kartheiser.
The series combines office politics, personal drama, and the rapid growth of the advertising business during a period of major social change in the United States. Campaign pitches, client meetings, and creative disputes form a large part of the story, which gives viewers a close look at how agencies operated during that era.
Many scenes in Mad Men have become famous among marketers. Don Draper’s presentations are remembered for their emotional appeal and sharp understanding of consumer desires. Even years after its final season, the series remains the title most people associate with advertising on screen.
The Crazy Ones (2013–2014)
Robin Williams spent much of his career in films, which made The Crazy Ones an unusual project. The sitcom takes place inside a Chicago advertising agency run by Simon Roberts, played by Williams, and his daughter Sydney, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Each episode revolves around clients, campaign ideas, and the chaotic process behind creative work. Simon’s unpredictable personality turns even routine meetings into disasters, much to the frustration of his employees. James Wolk, Hamish Linklater, and Amanda Setton complete the main cast.
The series lasted only one season, though many viewers remember it for Williams’ energetic performance. Unlike the serious tone of Mad Men, this show treats agency life as a source of comedy. Even so, it depicts the pressure that comes with winning clients and producing ideas under tight deadlines.
What Women Want (2000)
At first glance, What Women Want looks like a romantic comedy. The story follows Nick Marshall, an advertising executive played by Mel Gibson, who suddenly gains the ability to hear women’s thoughts. Helen Hunt stars as Darcy McGuire, a successful executive who becomes both his rival and love interest.
The unusual premise gives Nick access to information that marketers spend millions trying to collect. He learns what women think about products, advertising campaigns, and the people around them. Those discoveries help him improve his work while forcing him to confront his own flaws.
The film was a major box office success and became one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies of its era. Beneath the comedy, it touches on audience research, consumer insights, and the challenge of understanding customers without relying on assumptions.
Thank You for Smoking (2005)
Jason Reitman’s Thank You for Smoking centers on Nick Naylor, a tobacco industry spokesman played by Aaron Eckhart. His job is simple: defend cigarettes in television interviews, public debates, and media appearances. The problem is that almost everyone else sees him as the villain.
The film is less about advertising in the traditional sense and more about persuasion. Nick rarely argues that smoking is healthy. Instead, he redirects conversations, changes the subject, and finds ways to control the narrative. Those tactics make the movie a fascinating study of public relations and media strategy.
Maria Bello, J.K. Simmons, Robert Duvall, and William H. Macy round out the cast. The script moves quickly and delivers plenty of sharp dialogue. More than twenty years after its release, the film remains one of the smartest comedies ever made about selling an unpopular message.
The Joneses (2009)
Years before social media influencers became a major business, The Joneses explored a similar idea. David Duchovny and Demi Moore play members of a fake family that moves into an affluent suburban neighborhood. Their real job is to promote products through everyday life.
Cars, clothes, electronics, and household goods become part of a carefully planned sales strategy. Neighbors admire the family’s lifestyle and begin purchasing the same products without realizing they are targets of a marketing campaign.
The concept may have sounded extreme in 2009. Today it feels surprisingly close to modern influencer culture. Instagram creators, TikTok personalities, and lifestyle bloggers have turned personal image into a marketing tool, which gives the film a relevance it did not have at the time of its release.
Emily in Paris (2020– )
Created by Darren Star, Emily in Paris centers on Emily Cooper, a young marketer from Chicago who relocates to Paris for work. Lily Collins plays the title character, while Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Ashley Park, and Lucas Bravo round out the main cast.
The series spends much of its time inside a luxury marketing agency where Emily tries to introduce American ideas to French clients. Social media campaigns, brand partnerships, publicity events, and celebrity endorsements become regular parts of the story.
Critics have debated many aspects of the show, including its presentation of Paris and the marketing industry. Despite those debates, the series became one of Netflix’s biggest hits. For viewers interested in luxury branding and digital marketing, few recent shows devote as much screen time to those subjects.
House of Lies (2012–2016)
Consulting firms rarely receive much attention in film and television, which makes House of Lies a distinctive entry on this list. Don Cheadle stars as Marty Kaan, a management consultant whose team helps corporations solve business problems while pursuing lucrative contracts.
Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz, and Josh Lawson play members of Marty’s team. Together they travel from client to client, pitching ideas and searching for new opportunities. The series mixes comedy and drama while portraying a highly competitive business environment.
Although the main focus is consulting, marketing appears throughout the show. Client presentations, corporate image, sales tactics, and persuasion form a major part of the narrative. The series also pulls back the curtain on the relationship between consultants and large companies.
Crazy People (1990)
Advertising serves as the target of satire in Crazy People, a comedy starring Dudley Moore as Emory Leeson, an agency copywriter who grows tired of traditional marketing language.
His frustration leads him to create brutally honest advertisements. Instead of exaggerated promises, the campaigns tell consumers exactly what they are getting. One famous example promotes a Volvo by admitting that the car is boxy but safe.
The ads prove surprisingly successful, though Emory’s behavior convinces others that he has lost touch with reality. Much of the film takes place inside a psychiatric hospital where he continues developing ideas with other patients.
The movie never achieved the status of major advertising classics, but its central joke remains memorable. Honest advertising has long fascinated marketers, and this film turns that concept into an entire story.
99 Francs (2007)
Based on the novel by Frédéric Beigbeder, 99 Francs presents a far darker view of the advertising industry than most titles on this list. Jean Dujardin stars as Octave Parango, a successful copywriter who enjoys money, status, and excess.
Octave understands how advertising influences consumer behavior, and he has few moral concerns about using that knowledge. As the story unfolds, his confidence begins to crack, leading him into a personal and professional crisis.
The film contains surreal sequences, sharp satire, and direct criticism of consumer culture. Its tone differs greatly from the polished world of Mad Men or the lighthearted humor of The Crazy Ones. Viewers looking for a more cynical examination of advertising may find this one particularly interesting.
Josie and the Pussycats (2001)
When Josie and the Pussycats arrived in theaters, many critics dismissed it as a simple teen comedy. Over time, the film gained a reputation as one of the smartest satires of branding and commercial culture produced during the early 2000s.
Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson, and Tara Reid play members of a struggling band that suddenly receives a chance at stardom. Their rise is tied to a corporate scheme that uses pop music to influence consumer behavior.
Product logos fill nearly every scene. The sheer volume of branded items becomes a joke in itself. What seemed excessive in 2001 now feels like a deliberate commentary on the relationship between entertainment and marketing.
The film developed a loyal following after its release and has received far more appreciation in recent years than it did during its original theatrical run.
