Product placement in Hollywood dates back to the silent film era. But it wasn’t until E.T. craved those colorful little Reese’s Pieces that brand marketing really took off.
Now, 31 years later, it’s so pervasive we hardly even notice it – a Pepsi can here, an iPhone there. We use both in real life, so why shouldn’t they appear on the big screen?
HERE is a look at ten of the most in-your-face placements in recent history.
The 1982 summer blockbuster E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial blazed the modern-day trail for product placement, effectively putting Hershey’s Reese’s Pieces on the map. It was on-screen love at first sight between the film’s namesake character and the little round candies – and movie-goers ate it up. Director Steven Spielberg actually courted the brand in exchange for promotion of his film, though his first choice was Mars’ M&Ms, who turned down the offer.