We forced our intern to watch 58 CNY ads! Here are her top picks for 2025

Chinese New Year 2025 lands on the ever-so-awkward Wednesday, which means most people are taking the entire week off! As a result, this year’s CNY ads review almost didn’t happen if not for… INTERN EXPLOITATION!!

So, let’s all give a round of dongdongchiangs to our amazing intern, Shiv, who sacrificed her CNY break to watch 58 CNY ads and curate a list of her favourites just for you.

our intern watched 58 cny ads
Thanks Shiv! You definitely earned your angpao after watching 58 CNY ads

The process was simple: she scoured YouTube for every CNY ad she could find, watched them all, and rated them based on humour, emotional impact, and relatability. Then, after a day’s break, she checked which ones still lived rent-free in her head.

And now, without further ado, here are our intern’s top picks for the best CNY ads of 2025!

Top 3 CNY ads to tickle your funny bones

1. Spritzer – Speak from the Heart

SPRITZER delivered a hilarious and beautifully produced short film this CNY. The premise? Two strangers who can read minds, leading to the female lead posing as the male lead’s “girlfriend” for the festive season. But the real magic comes from the actors’ performances, witty dialogue, sharp camerawork, and slick editing.

There’s plenty of product placement, but it’s cleverly woven into the story. After all, what better way to slip in a brand message than having characters remind each other to drink more water?

Overall, our intern couldn’t stop laughing at this brilliantly executed brand film.

2. redONE Mobile – Woon Worry

This year, quite a few CNY ads featured mixed-race families. Whether it’s a genuine reflection of our multicultural society, a bid for that muhibbah factor, or just because half the Chinese actors were on leave—we’ll let you decide.

That said, plenty of Malaysians celebrate Kongsi New Year, including our editor’s family. And that’s exactly why redONE’s CNY ad hits home—it’s hilariously relatable.

Much like a tray of Yee Sang, the Woon family reunion dinner is a delightful mix, with in-laws from every race adding their own textures and flavours to the celebration. No crackers? Muruku also can lah. Cannot find halal lo mai fan? Ketupat is basically sticky rice kan… Too lazy to wash the dishes? Banana leaf it is lor…

3. MR.DIY – The Family Trial

MR DIY’s ad brings classic Hong Kong TVB drama straight to our screens. The premise is simple: a son tries to convince his father that skipping CNY to earn more money is the right move. But instead of a typical argument, it unfolds as a full-blown courtroom drama, complete with witty exchanges, dramatic objections, and plenty of laughs.

Of course, in true festive spirit, it all leads to the inevitable heartwarming reunion dinner, because at the end of the day, family wins the case.

A simple story, brilliantly told.

Top 3 CNY films to make you bawl your eyes out

1. Mah Sing – Never Forget

If you’re ready to cry your heart out this CNY, this heartfelt short film will do the trick. We won’t spoil the gut-wrenching plot twist, but let’s just say Mah Sing’s ad will leave you reaching for tissues—and maybe even reaching out to your parents.

Because at the end of the day, family is everything. Or as the saying goes:

“Ohana means family, and family means nobody is left behind or forgotten”

Lilo & Stitch

2. RHB – Wealth

If there’s one thing RHB knows how to do, it’s making you cry—and this year is no exception.

Staying true to their tradition of honoring real-life Malaysians who have changed lives, this year’s ad tells the story of Tan Swee Ban, a man who gave up everything—his job, his home, even his health—to run Peace and Harmony Home, a nonprofit nursing center that cares for the sick and elderly.

It’s a story of sacrifice, selflessness, and unwavering kindness that reminds us what it truly means to give. And by the time the credits roll, don’t be surprised if you find yourself sobbing into your CNY cookies.

3. PETRONAS – Tetap Di Sini | Stay

PETRONAS is back with a film that will melt your heart. The story itself is simple—a mom has to leave her son with relatives while she works hard to give him a better life.

But it’s the powerful acting and the raw drama that truly make this ad stand out. It’s one of those ads that hits you right in the feels.

Top 3 most relatable CNY ads

1. Khazanah Nasional – Yáo móu kǎo chòr!

This is another muhibbah CNY ad, and it’s especially perfect for bananas, Chindians, Kwai Chais, Machins (or Chinlays?), and pretty much every Malaysian out there lah! If you’re in need of a crash course on how to do CNY right, this ad’s got you covered!

From how to dress, to how to address your relatives correctly, Khazanah’s ad is a full-on guide to celebrating the festive season like a pro.

After watching, you might even feel the need to brush up on your family tree. Also, pls remember to call your aunties and uncles by the right honorifics ah. Later no angpau for you.

2. Knife Delicious – Always Be There

Every day, we work our hardest to achieve our goals, all so we can make our families proud. But let’s be real – sometimes we fall short of what we hope for. It’s just part of life, right? The good news is, no matter what, our parents always get it. Because, at the end of the day, they love us unconditionally.

And thankfully, this feel-good ad from Knife has a happy ending, reminding us that as long as you “add oil” (get it? jia you? because they make oil!), you’re headed in the right direction.

3. McDonald’s – The Wish

It’s a simple ad, but super relatable for all the bananas and coconuts out there who aren’t exactly fluent in our mother tongues. But hey, that’s the price you pay for being polyglots, right?

At the end of the day, McDonalds remind us that what really matters isn’t how fluent we are, but the sincerity behind our words.

Some honourable mentions that deserves the spotlight

1. Ahma Alvin – Neighbour Ahma

Our intern definitely earned her angpao this year – she even went the extra mile to include some independent short films in the mix. So while this one isn’t technically a CNY ad, we couldn’t skip the chance to give a well-deserved shoutout to Alvin 张小子 for this heartwarming CNY short film.

It starts off as a light-hearted and hilarious story about a guy who needs to tumpang his neighbour’s house for CNY, then takes a turn that will leave you gasping in shock and seething with anger, only to wrap up with a deeply moving resolution. Made by a dedicated team, the passion and effort behind it truly shine through.

2. Harvey Norman – The best deals are Kongsi-ed

This is another super relatable CNY ad. Half the mamas in the world will always think they know better than your wife – after all, they raised you. And let’s be honest, one thing about us women is we love being right.

Harvey Norman didn’t hold back with the product placement in this ad (it’s pretty much front and center), but we aren’t mad. It was funny and gave us major Fresh Off the Boat vibes.

3. AmBank – The Reunion Drive

If you’ve ever had disagreements with your parents over different priorities, or had parents who’ve never directly said “I love you,” this ad is definitely relatable.

But no matter what, at the end of the day, you know your family will always have your back. And that’s exactly the message AmBank delivers so beautifully in this ad.

Overall, the 2025 CNY ads did not disappoint, so much so that our intern ended up with a longer list than we originally asked for! And while the number of ads she watched was not huat (58… m4 fatt, geddit?), we hope this CNY brings you as much joy as we had watching all these ads!

NAH, BACA:
7 fascinating "Chinese" practices that actually began in Malaysia!
About Shiv S 86 Articles
A 23 year old that gets intrigued easily and is curious about everything!