Why Brands Pay Millions for Hollywood Directors (Scorsese, Anderson, Waititi)

Do you know what The Wolf of Wall Street and a Squarespace commercial have in common? The same director: Martin Scorsese.

Brands are increasingly tapping cinematic masters to cut through the noise. When product differentiation (whether it’s vodka, a car, or a burger) becomes harder to achieve, the magic of cinema steps in.

I’ve curated 6 examples where Hollywood direction turned a 30-second spot into a piece of art.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlL9Q3rGLxY

1. Martin Scorsese × Squarespace

The Insight: Squarespace perfectly capitalized on a cultural moment. Shortly before filming, Scorsese became an unexpected TikTok star thanks to his daughter, Francesca. The brand leaned into this hype: not only did they cast Martin, but they also hired Francesca to direct the teaser where she teaches her dad how to build a website. This is a brilliant example of pivoting from boring product demos to building a living, breathing brand narrative.

Squarespace's ads from video:

2. Joseph Kosinski × BMW

The Insight: Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick, F1) stepped in as a producer to return BMW to its roots. This spot continues the brand's legendary film series, The Hire, featuring high-octane chases and action. It’s a blockbuster in miniature, proving that quality remakes work not just in Hollywood, but in the automotive industry too.

3. Edgar Wright × McDonald’s

The Insight: The director of Baby Driver stays true to form—editing strictly to the beat of the music and utilizing visual comedy. The creative team found a genius, simple insight: human eyebrows look like the Golden Arches. Wright turned this visual rhyme into a dynamic, ironic office musical without a single word of dialogue needed.

4. Wes Anderson × Montblanc

The Insight: This is a case where a director is hired purely for their unique aesthetic. Symmetry, pastel tones, "dollhouse" sets—Anderson’s signature style (The Grand Budapest Hotel) is instantly recognizable. The collaboration went beyond the video: Wes Anderson actually designed a pen for Montblanc, seamlessly bridging cinematic aesthetics with brand values.

5. Taika Waititi × Belvedere

The Insight: A complete brand repositioning. Belvedere wanted to move away from the stiffness of "premium" vodka marketing. Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) was the perfect choice. He made the serious "James Bond" (Daniel Craig) dance in a leather jacket and grills. The choreography, by the way, was done by JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s Single Ladies), specifically designed for TikTok virality.

6. Chloé Zhao × Budweiser

The Insight: The Oscar winner for Nomadland brought her signature "magic realism" to the Super Bowl. Budweiser wanted to return to traditional values. Zhao shot a nostalgic story featuring beautiful sunsets (magic hour) and a focus on simple human emotions, creating the feeling of a classic American film about hope.

A Quick (But Useful) Plug At my agency, Lava Media, we specialize in video advertising. If your brand needs comprehensive video marketing—from creative strategy and director sourcing to distribution—we can help. 👉 Learn more about Lava Media

Bonus: 5 More Cult Directors in Advertising

If the main six aren't enough, here are five more examples of cinema legends changing the ad game.

7. Ridley Scott × Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra «Behold»

Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien) accepted the challenge to shoot a short film entirely on a smartphone. It’s not just a camera demo; it’s a full-fledged thriller with chases and moody atmosphere. Scott proved: "It's not the tool, it's the vision."

8. David Fincher × Nike «Fate»

Perhaps the most philosophical Nike spot ever made. Fincher (Fight Club) masterfully tells the story of two NFL legends—LaDainian Tomlinson and Troy Polamalu. Parallel editing shows their fates intertwining from birth to their collision on the field. An epic Ennio Morricone soundtrack turns this into a masterpiece of sports drama.

9. Yorgos Lanthimos × Gucci

If you’ve seen Poor Things, you’ll recognize the handwriting immediately. Absurd poses, strange human interactions, horses in the subway, and unnatural stillness. Lanthimos fit perfectly into the Gucci aesthetic—a world where high fashion meets art-house surrealism.

10. Kathryn Bigelow × Apple iPhone 13 Pro «Hollywood in your pocket»

Kathryn Bigelow is the first woman to win a Best Director Oscar (The Hurt Locker). She is a master of tension. Apple invited her to showcase "Cinematic Mode." Bigelow shot a mini-movie juggling genres (western, sci-fi, thriller) to prove that a professional cinema camera with rack focus is now literally in your pocket.

11. Jonathan Glazer × Sony Bravia

Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest) created one of the most beautiful commercials in history. To demonstrate the vibrant colors of Sony TVs, they actually exploded thousands of liters of paint in an abandoned Glasgow neighborhood set to Rossini’s music. A triumph of practical effects over CGI.

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