The Five Tearjerkiest Commercials

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | June 15, 2010 |

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | June 15, 2010 |

There’s nothing more satisfying for a filmmaker than the ability to use cheap, manipulative tricks in order to crassly elicit your tears. Over the years, no one has perfected this art better than commercial directors, who can use the power of cheap contrivances to jerk the tears right the hell out of your face and compel you to buy their product. Look! Here’s a dying man! Buy our insurance. Awwww … look at those puppy dog eyes. Please send a donation! Support the troops. Drink Bud Light!

After countless hours of YouTube research, I officially declare these five commercials as the tear jerkiest. So, here’s Pajiba’s Official Five-Minute Challenge — If you can watch these five TV ad spots without misting up, then you deserve to be labeled cynics. There should be something here to hit all of your weak spots: Geeks, patriots, animal lovers, and saps. I’ll even throw in a bonus one for the Canadians.

5. Anheuser-Busch

4. Google

Bonus Coke Commercial for Canadians

3. ASPCA

2. GNP Seguros

1. The One That Will Push You Over the Edge