Panda Express Aunties Are Now Action Heroes in New Spot from Opinionated

Panda Express is putting family love in the driver’s seat, and sometimes, even through the front door.

The restaurant chain has rolled out its latest campaign, “Action Aunties.”

The newest chapter in its “Have You Eaten Yet?” platform that turns everyday relatives into instant action stars.

Developed with agency Opinionated, the spot follows a young woman lamenting her late-night hunger before a brigade of stunt-ready aunties bursts into her home to make sure she eats.

Cici Lau, a veteran actress with credits in films like “Legally Blonde,” leads the cast of aunties, bringing comic timing and intensity to the role.

To make sure the spot was on point with the action, professional stunt doubles and drivers choreographed the mayhem, from slipper-wearing car slides to a full door-kicking entrance.

All of these just to show how the Aunties scramble to feed their niece some of Panda Express' popular dishes like Orange Chicken and Broccoli Beef.

Other aunties with their own respective Panda Express takeouts were also seconds late, leading all of them to quarrel. 

"Aunties, you're too old to be fighting like this," the young lady tells them all.

In shock, all the aunties question their niece's comment, "Old?!" 

The work runs nationally across broadcast, connected TV, social media platforms, and online video.

It builds on the strong reception of earlier “Have You Eaten Yet?” chapters, including “The Invitation” for Lunar New Year and “Karaoke Aunties” later in the year.

Both leaned into family connection while broadening Panda Express’s brand marketing strategy to reach wider audiences.

With this installment, the brand is continuing to carve out a distinctive voice by using humor and culture to create awareness. 

And its use of action tropes makes for both an entertaining and memorable short film, while staying rooted in the theme of food as love.

Our Take: Can Comedy Build Lasting Loyalty?

Panda Express has shown through its previous efforts that it's capable of creating memorable stories with a comedic touch. 

This time, it doubles down on absurdity without losing its heart.

It’s easy for action parody to veer into gimmick territory, but this work stays grounded by tying every punch, kick, and car stunt back to the idea of feeding someone you love.

To me, this is what makes it resonate. And it's also a testament to how this family-built brand has grown over the decades.

Last year, it was listed as 107th in America's Top 500 Private Companies with an annual revenue of nearly $6 billion. 

And I think with this series, Panda Express has found a sweet spot. 

Showcasing a lighthearted spectacle that establishes comfort food as its core promise will certainly cement it more in the hearts of its fans.

And if a campaign can make you laugh and crave orange chicken in the same 30 seconds, that’s great marketing.

In other news, McDonald's recently revived its "McDonaldland" platform to serve nostalgia and capture new fans.