Most Overt Product Placements in Film

'Transformers'

2007's 'Transformers' redefined celluloid customer-baiting by breathing life into once- inanimate cars and trucks. Of course, the blockbuster was just sticking to the source material, which in 1984 set into motion the sexiest product placement opportunity in the history of the movies. Two of audiences' four favorite characters were General Motors products.

' More on This Product Placement

Next: 'The Wizard'

'The Wizard'

By 1989, video games were getting, at best, a mixed reception on the silver screen. Then Nintendo was afforded a unique opportunity to step up and revolutionize the video-game movie, just as it had revolutionized the home-console market. What did audiences get instead? 'The Wizard' -- a combination of 'Rain Man' and 'Tommy' -- and the most shameless attempt at youth marketing since George Lucas trotted out the Ewoks.

' More on This Product Placement

Next: 'Demolition Man'

'Demolition Man'

In 1993's 'Demolition Man,' Sylvester Stallone plays Sergeant John Spartan, a hero cop who doesn't play by the rules. After being framed for involuntary manslaughter, Spartan is cryonically frozen only to be re-animated in the year 2032. Halfway through the film, Spartan is invited by the mayor-governor to a night of fine dining at Taco Bell.

' More on This Product Placement

Next: 'Cast Away'

'Cast Away'

There's a feature-length Federal Express (FDX) commercial. You may have seen it. It's called 'Cast Away.' It was roundly criticized for being one of the most egregious examples of product placement in the history of motion pictures. FedEx's managing director of globalbBrand management, Gail Christensen, told the Sacramento Bee, "It's not product placement. We're a character in this movie." A character that sold product. Hard.

' More on This Product Placement

Next: 'Rocky Balboa'

'Rocky Balboa'

There were plenty of disturbing things about 'Rocky Balboa' -- a movie which could also have been called 'Rocky: The Golden Years' or 'Sylvester Stallone's Embarrassingly Public Mid-Life Crisis' -- but the unholy alliance between the aging Italian Stallion and Golden Palace, the self-proclaimed "number-1 online casino," was easily the most upsetting. The logo is most prominently and memorably plastered on the breasts of the bikini-clad models who signal the start of each round.

' More on This Product Placement

Next: 'E.T.'

'E.T.'

Admit it: You can't think of the movie 'E.T.' without also thinking of Reese's Pieces. Searching "product placement" and "E.T." on Google will return almost 5,000,000 results. Product placement has been used in film since the 1930s (when they were called tie-ups), but it wasn't until 1982's 'E.T.' that it became an organized industry. Reese's Pieces look almost identical to M&Ms (save for their color), and their name isn't mentioned in any of the film's dialogue. Still, the sweets were hard to miss. Within 2 weeks of the movie's release, sales increased 65%.
' More on This Product Placement
Next: 'You've Got Mail'

'You've Got Mail'

Though it's meant to be all in good fun -- a sappy-sweet romantic comedy rushed out just in time for 1998's holiday shopping season -- 'You've Got Mail' is borderline, well, propagandistic. From the obvious AOL (TWX) plug in its title to the hard sell it gives on behalf of Starbucks, the movie scores valuable points for consumerism.

' More on This Product Placement

Next: 'Daredevil'

'Daredevil'

When the script for 'Daredevil' was first tendered by Mark Steven Johnson, who would also direct the movie, the suits at Marvel (MRVL) were said to be tickled. They thought it was moody, edgy and a surefire hit. Well, yes and no. But it was a coup for a certain prized tabloid in Rupert Murdoch's extensive News Corporation (NWS) portfolio. Says reviewer Dennis Schwartz, "Whenever Daredevil wants to know what's happening in town, he has his wisecracking partner read aloud [from the New York Post] one of the articles."
' More on This Product Placement

Next: 'Harold & Kumar'

'Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle'

It can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes after hitting a bong (reportedly) before you rediscover your insatiable hunger for Twinkies. It can take another 30 minutes to realize you're full. Like most side effects of smoking pot, the "munchies" are a delayed reaction. This could explain why it took Harold and Kumar nearly the entire running time of 'Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle' to actually claim their 30 sliders, 5 order of fries and 4 large Cokes. But the greatest delayed reaction of them all was White Castle's gratitude for the free advertising.
' More on This Product Placement
Next: 'Wall-E'

'Wall-E'

When it comes down to it, 'Wall-E' is just a love story. With robots. It's a robot love story. Someone get out the Valvoline. Critics and audiences gave the film rave reviews, but chief among the enthusiasts had to be Apple (AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs. Because Eve, the object of Wall-E's affection, is a sleek, white, futuristic robot that looks just like a floating iPod. And for 98 minutes, Eve whirls around the screen screaming, "I am the future of technology!"

' More on This Product Placement

More: Outrageous Tight-Wads

More on WalletPop.com:
Cheapest Person I Know

Now that you've seen some of the most overt product placements in films, see our roundup of uncommon (outrageous?) ways people pinch pennies. AOL users spilled the beans on the cheapest people in their lives. See what crazy things they do to save some coin.

Next Gallery:He's So Cheap He ...