Decades-old Chilean beer commercials spliced into iconic scenes from the original Star Wars trilogy have resurfaced online, captivating viewers some 20 years after their initial broadcast. Initially mistaken for fan-made creations, the ads have been confirmed as genuine through legal documents discovered on the Chilean Consejo de Autorregulación y Etica Publicitaria website, detailing Lucasfilm’s objections to the campaign.

Launched in December 2003 during a broadcast of the Star Wars trilogy by Chilean Channel 13, the Cerveza Cristal Beer commercials were seamlessly integrated into the films, defying conventional ad breaks. OMD Santiago, the agency behind the campaign, earned accolades at the Cannes International Advertising Festival in 2004 for their innovative placement strategy, despite facing backlash from Lucasfilm for potentially misleading audiences.

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These ads, including one depicting Luke Skywalker receiving a beer instead of his father’s lightsaber, have gone completely viral on social media, users praised the unconventional approach to advertising, some even saying it makes the film better. What do you think of this unconventional advertising?

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