The live action of the Super Bowl doesn't end when we walk away from the field. In fact, some of the biggest commercials on the air go on the air when those cameras go off. With the ads that come with the championship game and the prices of ad space increasing over the years, Super Bowl ads are some of the most viewed on our screens, leading to campaigns that last for months and sometimes Often, they remain in our memory for much longer. . Marketers have increasingly struggled to remember the high-octane action of the big game for years, and the results of the best Super Bowl commercials are incredibly charming, funny, and powerful for some of the world's biggest brands. Every commercial break is celebrated at the Super Bowl, and brands spend big bucks to get their wacky, up to 90-second clips shown to the nation in an effort to 'win' the break. Every brand has the opportunity to capitalize on high production value advertising to massively engaged audiences around the world, and the rush to create the craziest, cutest, or most emotional ad has always been relevant. As the biggest publicity event of the year approaches, we look back at some of the most legendary Super Bowl commercials from the past 54 league games.
5. Super Bowl XXVII Advertising: McDonald's
Although key star Michael Jordan also appeared in a Nike campaign in the same commercial niche, McDonald's won the 1993 race for best Super Bowl commercial with its "net only" ad. The Showdown offered viewers a Larry Bird vs. Michael Jordan dunk challenge with the goal of winning a Big Mac meal. With each incredible shot we move closer to that classic line and it becomes increasingly apparent that McDonald's has a winner in its hands. McDonald's didn't care that their star shared the spotlight with Nike, and they were right not to. The Showdown was named the winner of USA Today's Super Bowl ad meter the next day.
4. Super Bowl XVIII Commercial: Wendy's
Launching a direct attack on the Whopper and the Big Mac, the Wendy's Super Bowl XVIII commercial not only celebrated the caliber of Wendy's burger, but also launched a catchphrase that would capture American pop culture, language, and even politics. of the next few years. . "Where is the meat?" was a simple line uttered by a petite granny as she stared at an oversized hamburger bun with a comical little patty in the middle. It would soon be used across the country, as well as in Walter Mondale's ill-fated presidential campaign a few months later. To this day, "where's the meat" is a classic feature of XNUMXs advertising.
3. Ad for Super Bowl XXIV: Diet Pepsi
"Who's the wise? That's what Ray Charles wants to know when his coveted Diet Pepsi is replaced by a Coke in that 1990 Super Bowl XXIV commercial. The ad hit that sweet spot of simplicity and comedy that brings out Bringing out the best of commercials in the commercial break arena, Ray Charles would go on to advertise one of the series of commercials under the "you've got the right one, baby" umbrella, with Diet Pepsi until 1993. Beyond this particular clip, Ray Charles also hosted several Diet Pepsi Super Bowl commercials over the span of three years, and the entire campaign hit a particularly wonderful note.It continues to be seen as the pinnacle of longer ad campaigns, with the Super Bowl commercial break playing an important role in the launch of each new ad.
2. Super Bowl XIV Ad: Coca-Cola
While Pepsi has won the Super Bowl, Coca-Cola wins between the two in our roundup of the best Super Bowl commercials. All it took was a simple "hey kid, grab it!" and the world was conquered. As 'bad' Joe Greene limps off the field, a young fan approaches - this is your typical lovable kid who meets a cranky hero and changes him for the better with a Coca-Cola story we all know and love. Plus, it comes complete with an extra-long photo of the hero emptying the bottle. The ad became one of the most famous Coca-Cola commercials in history, spawning a famous catchphrase that continues to evoke memories today.
1. Ad for Super Bowl XVIII: Apple
Instead of being fancy or using an all-star cast to get their names out to the general public, Apple took a decidedly... Apple path to superstardom at Super Bowl XVIII. Positioned to reveal the Apple Macintosh computer, the abstract 1984 production sees a young athlete destroying a Big Brother screen at a dystopian rally by the Unison March, Thought Police and Surveillance. The ad ended with a reveal of the Macintosh computer and the words "you'll see why 1984 won't be like 1984." In an arena of quick sketches and celebrity endorsements, the ad, called 1984, found itself in an odd position of intrigue and mystery. And yet it remained widely celebrated as a memorable masterpiece that would change advertising forever.
![Divisor]()
Super Bowl 2021 commercials: what to expect
The Super Bowl 2021 series of commercials will not offer the same experience as in previous years. Budweiser, Coke and Pepsi dropped out of the race this time, preferring to focus on redirecting their money to support efforts to combat the pandemic. With each Super Bowl ad space costing more than €50 million this year, it's easy to see why priorities have shifted, and many brands are interested in finding the right shade while pouring millions of dollars into an explosive ad campaign. But what will we have left when we go commercial? In the absence of the bigwigs, we're seeing more newbies taking the stage in 2021. Chipotle and Vroom are among the newbies, but you can also count on action from M&M's, Pringles, Doritos, and Toyota. Read more: