May 4, otherwise known as May the Fourth Be With You to “Star Wars” fans around the globe, is now a date of importance recognized by major corporate brands, too.
McDonalds, Volkswagen and JELL-O are just a few of the companies hoping that clever — and some not so clever — marketing campaigns that coincide with the unofficial holiday celebrating a galaxy far, far away can convince nerdy consumers to spend less on plastic lightsabers and more on products completely unrelated to the science-fiction franchise George Lucas created in 1977.
Intel Gaming’s hilarious take on the most quoted “Empire Strikes Back” scene, via an old floppy disk informing present-day cloud technology about its unfortunate family tree, is among the funniest tributes, while 5-Hour Energy’s reference to both sides of the Force is strikingly boring. One retweet in two hours suggests the people agree.
Here are the good, the bad and the ugly attempts to cash in on “Star Wars” fandom.
Princess Leia would love to don these buns! #MayThe4thBeWithYou #StarWarsDay http://t.co/t63VLKu9zw pic.twitter.com/lX9ibN6079
– Pillsbury (@Pillsbury) May 4, 2015
Use the force, Frywalker! #MayThe4thBeWithYou #McDoDesserts pic.twitter.com/WfvKJqA990
– McDo Philippines (@McDo_PH) May 4, 2015
Do… or do not. There is no fry. #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/7A8258ENbc
– McDonald’s Canada (@McD_Canada) May 4, 2015
Those who wield it are a cut above the ordinary. #maythe4thbewithyou #TheForce pic.twitter.com/UhGkIbbtDW
– Volkswagen Canada (@VWcanada) May 4, 2015
#MayThe4thBeWithYou and your little Jedi. pic.twitter.com/N4L6MvQcSm
– JELL-O (@JELLO) May 4, 2015
May the Fourth Be With You. #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/l4RzlTiGU0
– Kia Motors America (@Kia) May 4, 2015
That’s no moon…it’s a #ChevySonic! #MayThe4thBeWithYou today. pic.twitter.com/9wF2DJWoKX
– Chevy Life (@ChevyLife) May 4, 2015
#MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/oeUheBmHNO
– Intel Gaming (@IntelGaming) May 4, 2015
The wingspan of a JetBlue Airbus A321 is roughly the length of 26 lightsabers. #MayThe4thBeWithYou #ThePlaneTruth pic.twitter.com/02qEjAINvU
– JetBlue Airways (@JetBlue) May 4, 2015
Which side are you on? The dark…or the light? #MayThe4thBeWithYou and the ENERGY be in you! pic.twitter.com/iVetQC1vHE
– 5-hour ENERGY® (@5hourenergy) May 4, 2015
I am your lobstah. #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/olBys1aCcs
– Red Lobster (@redlobster) May 4, 2015
A short time ago in a galaxy close, close to ours… #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/smFufKPagN
– BMW (@BMW) May 4, 2015
We said you could bring a COUPLE of friends to the #StarWarsDay party! #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/9CHtPQEaBd
— ToysRUs (@ToysRUs) May 4, 2015
May the 4th be with you. #StarWars #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/qpftSfEZWV
— Carmex (@Carmex) May 4, 2015
Use the fares, Luke. #MayThe4thBeWithYou http://t.co/Bokzb1vJJO pic.twitter.com/B5xdtFehH3
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) May 4, 2015
Let TheWrap know what brands you think did the best and worst job at capturing the hearts of “Star Wars” fans in the comment section below!
