Let’s be honest: Many of us watch the Super Bowl just as much (if not more) for the ads as for the game itself.
This year’s ads may not have been the strongest (and most of them dropped, like, a week ago on YouTube), but the commercial breaks were still stacked with tons of trailers, celeb endorsements, and throwbacks. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorites:
The trailers…
The Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel, and Toy Story 4 teaser trailers got a lot of hype, but they weren’t the only pop promos to air during the game.
The Handmaid’s Tale: Season 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuWg6AyzETg
Well done, Hulu; this teaser was a perfect fit for the show. It starts as a play off Ronald Reagan’s “It’s Morning in America” advertisement, with a voiceover saying more women are going to work than ever, and that “dozens of children will be born to happy and healthy families.” The voiceover becomes increasingly distorted, and June appears. In a voiceover, she says, ” Wake up, America. Morning’s over.” The teaser is promoting the third season of The Handmaid’s Tale, which doesn’t have a release date yet.
Game of Thrones
Another fake-out! This ad is technically a Bud Light ad, too, and starts with the same medieval theme as many of the beer’s other Super Bowl ads. The Bud Light Knight prepares to joust and, in a surprising turn of events, falls to his mysterious, darker opponent. When the victorious knight removes the Bud Light Knight’s helmet (or maybe his head?), a dragon appears! Cue the iconic Game of Thrones theme, a lot of fire, and the message “Game of Thrones: The Final Season” followed by the hashtag #ForTheThrone.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
This movie, based on the horror-inducing book series from the ’80s and ’90s, got four different short spots during the game. Each gives a brief glimpse into the theatrical reimagining of one Scary Stories tale, including “The Big Toe,” “Jangly Man,” “The Pale Lady,” and “The Red Spot.” Directed by Guillermo del Toro, this film debuts in August.
The Twilight Zone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKCIgtstpSQ
Keeping with the horror theme, this ad gave a peak at the new iteration of The Twilight Zone, hosted by Jordan Peele. The ad was yet another fake-out, starting with a shot of the Mercedes-Benz stadium, so it would appear as though the game was coming back. Instead, the picture distorts, the screen reads “CBS is off the air,” and the stadium is suddenly empty. Peele appears mid-field as a voiceover says some vague, but pretty creepy things like, “When truth is not the truth, what dimension are you even in?” Then, Peele walks through a doorframe and disappears (an homage to the original series). The show debuts on CBS all access starting April 1.
All the celebs…
This year’s Super Bowl commercials were full of celebrity guests. Here are a few of the best.
Amazon, Not Everything Makes the Cut
This commercial jokingly showcases some of the company’s “failed” Alexa products and celebrities, including Harrison Ford, Forest Whitaker, Abbi Jacobson, and Ilana Glazer, dealing with the consequences of the poorly conceived products.
Burger King, #EatLikeAndy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUv0L999FBs
This ad features throwback footage of Andy Warhol preparing and eating a Whopper, with the hashtag #EatLikeAndy. The ad sparked a lot of Twitter conversation, with many users unsure who “Andy” was, and the rest furious at those who didn’t know.
Stella Artois, Change Up the Usual
Carrie Bradshaw is back and *gasp* not drinking a Cosmopolitan. Instead, she’s opting for a Stella Artois, as apparently we all should.
bubly, Michael Bublé vs. bubly
This bubly ad cleverly uses Michael Bublé and his similar-sounding last name to advertise the sparkling water brand. Even though Bublé doesn’t feel incredibly relevant outside the Christmas season, it’s a fun pairing.
Hyundai, The Elevator
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5FzKB5TW0Y
Jason Bateman takes us you on an elevator ride of unpleasantries, from jury duty and root canals to giving “the talk” and vegan dinner parties. Car shopping is a stop on the ride, except not when you buy a Hyundai! It’s not the funniest commercial, but tbh those scenarios felt very relatable.
Pepsi, More Than OK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sYElEbRzKA
This ad got a lot of views starting nearly a week before the Super Bowl. And while Steve Carell, Lil Jon, and Cardi B may sound like an unusual grouping, it somehow works. Plus, Cardi’s bedazzled Pepsi can is goals.
And a cute puppy.
Budweiser, Wind Never Felt Better
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6VciSoR1iQ
What would the Super Bowl be without a Budweiser ad featuring a cute dog and horses? I could watch this pupper enjoying the wind all day.
Which ad was your favorite this year?
Photos: Pepsi, HBO, Amazon, Hulu
