When it comes to fast food advertising, consumers have seen it all — or so we thought. From using heated tampons to simulate steam in TV commercials to those savage (and hilarious) social media feuds between some of the industry’s biggest brands, such ads are meant to both inform and entertain. But we certainly weren’t ready for the strange twist in the latest Subway commercial.
Originally produced for Subway Brazil in the summer of 2016, the theatrical commercial was recently discovered on Twitter thanks to Ryan Simmons, a video director for SB Nation.
The movie-like TV spot, dubbed “Timeline,” opens with the birth of a baby boy. The Subway commercial follows the infant as he comes of age, with viewers witnessing milestones like his first steps, first shave, and first kiss. It doesn’t even feel like a fast food ad… until the now-grown-up baby boy walks into a Subway for lunch. “Every day, life asks you the same question,” the voiceover says, Vice reported. “What are you going to try today?”
The twist left us scratching our heads, considering no one could have really anticipated which brand was behind the commercial until the very end.
In fact, Simmons was so sure no one would guess it was a Subway commercial that he (presumably jokingly) offered $100,000 to anyone who could figure it out.
It was probably the strangest thing to come from Subway since it put an end to its famous “$5 Footlong” deal back in September.
Twitter, of course, responded to the unearthed Subway commercial the only way it knew how.
How about this question: WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK
— I Think; Therefore, I Am...I Think (@russmaloney) June 27, 2019
Early guesses were as unrelated to Subway as you could imagine.
Lol no, I went “Life insurance, wait no the army, wait”
— Patrick M (@MrBikferd) June 27, 2019
Actually, we could totally see this being a Hanes commercial.
For quite a while I thought it was going to be a "cotton, fabric of our lives" spot!
— Robin Elizabeth (@robin_ec) June 27, 2019
The twist was a bit reminiscent of the reveal at the end of M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Village.”
Haley Joel Osment could have brought that tagline to life.
— Patrick M (@MrBikferd) June 27, 2019
Some of the best Twitter reactions included stills from the Subway commercial itself.
Admittedly, that sweet onion sauce is pretty delish.
When she gives you that Sweet Onion sauce pic.twitter.com/1eGRFqiIME
— Yung_Sahara (@LongMasterWolf) June 27, 2019
RIP, sweet $5 footlongs.
When you discover the footlongs have only been 11 inches all these years. pic.twitter.com/F2YMqM2Xph
— Ian Wallace (@IWWWallace) June 27, 2019
Yeah, we don’t quite know what to say about that peeping incident either.
7:55 AM when you can't wait for that breakfast BMT pic.twitter.com/qYF7vKOp9h
— Andy Gator (@AndyinMN) June 27, 2019
Pretty sure the teenager would not have appreciated Subway telling him what to do.
They are not saying "Subway, here you can eat fresh, if you want fresh food," what they are saying is the COMMAND - "eat fresh" lol
— TWEET2MUCH007 (@tweet2much007) June 30, 2019
But a hot meatball sub would hit the spot right now.
A Subway spokesperson touted the commercial’s “storytelling and creativity” in a statement to Vanity Fair.
“This video was created with our team in Brazil in 2016,” the statement reads. “We’re excited for the storytelling and creativity that takes place around the world, from this story in Brazil to dedicated Franchisees in the United States and our culinary innovation taking place around the world. Stay tuned to SubCulture and Subway.com for more stories.”
BRB, bookmarking Subway.com so we can stay up-to-date on the sandwich chain’s commercial releases.
i remain 100k richer
— Ryan (@rysimmons) June 27, 2019
You don’t have to rub it in, Ryan. But in all seriousness, thanks for sharing — it was totally worth watching.
