For most of us here in Boston, it’s tough to get pumped for Super Bowl XLVIII. A Broncos-Seahawks contest isn’t exactly the matchup we were hoping for. But that doesn’t mean Super Bowl Sunday is an entire loss. Before you start sobbing due to lack of Brady, there are a few things that will help us all survive Sunday’s game.
First, we have the puppy bowl.
The ridiculous cuteness will soothe our Super Bowl woes.
And then there’s the food…
But while eating our feelings is great and all, what will really make the Super Bowl worth watching will be the advertisements. We all know the Super Bowl is the essential advertising Olympics, a high-stakes brand smackdown to rival the game itself. Super Bowl commercials often transcend the world of sports to become pop culture phenomenons. And that is the ultimate marketing touchdown.
This year, the brand battle has already begun. Numerous teaser commercials have been released as trailers for the main advertising feature on Super Bowl Sunday. The smart marketing move has us burning with anticipation to witness a Dannon Oikos Full House reunion and Bud Light’s ping-pong-playing Arnold Schwarzenegger.
All of the brands who’ve thrown their hats into the advertising ring this Sunday are hoping to nail those precious seconds of screen time and enter the Super Bowl commercial Hall of Fame.
As a reminder of just how high the bar is set, we present ten of the best Super Bowl commercials of all time. We’ve combed through the archives, considered both industry opinion and popular favorites, and compiled this list of the most beloved and buzzed about moments in Super Bowl ad history.
The hilarious, puzzling, and poignant ads are all listed below in no particular order. We want to hear how you would rank them, so sound off in the comments below!
And without further ado…
Volkswagen “The Force” 2011
According to Unruly Media’s Viral Video Chart, “The Force” is the most viral Super Bowl commercial of all time with over 5 million shares. The commercial’s appeal is no secret – who hasn’t tried to summon “The Force” following a first-time Star Wars viewing? Simple, charming, and nostalgic – Volkswagen got it right.
Budweiser “Football” 1996
The Budweiser Clydesdales are a Super Bowl advertising institution. The anticipated and beloved brand mascots make a splash every year – this year’s “Puppy Love” has already gone viral. While plenty of the Clydesdale Super Bowl ads have been memorable – from the Zebra referee to the poignant nod to 9/11 – the above 1996 ad was what put the Budweiser horses on the map.
Apple “1984” 1984
While most Super Bowl ads lead with humor, Apple’s “Sledgehammer” was a bit different. The eerie, Orwellian commercial directed by Ridley Scott was groundbreaking. Not only was the spot an advertising innovation, but it also heralded a new age of computers, airing two days before Macintosh hit the market.
E-Trade “Monkey” 2000
E-Trade struck Super Bowl marketing gold with ther 2000 ad featuring a monkey dancing and two dudes clapping to the tune La Coucaracha. While the puzzling scenario certainly caught viewers’ attention, it was the closing statement “Well, we just wasted 2 million bucks…What are you doing with your money?” that made an impact. The clever commentary on Super Bowl ad hype was marketing genius and people are still talking about the E-Trade Monkey.
McDonald’s “H-O-R-S-E” 1993
A sports superstar showdown is a foolproof formula for winning over Super Bowl audiences. In McDonald’s ad, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan play a game of HORSE, the precious prize being a juicy Big Mac. It was probably the most epic game of HORSE ever played. And we loved it. So much in fact, McDonalds tried to recreate the Bird-Jordan magic, pitting star quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Joe Flacco in a contest for Mighty Wings.
Budweiser “Frogs” 1995
It’s so simple – almost stupid – but it turned out to be brand marketing brilliance. The three frogs ribbiting “Bud…weis…er” was one of the most memorable ads of the year and turned into a two year campaign.
Monster.com “When I Grow Up” 1999
Monster.com’s “When I Grow Up” features children sharing what they want to do when they grow up. Sounds mundane, right? Well, not when the kids declare such aspirations as to “file all day,” “claw my way to middle management,” and “have sunshine blown up my dress.” The ad’s disarming realism hit home for many and had people talking long after game day.
Reebok “Terry Tate Office Linebacker” 2003
Linebacker Terry Tate tackling unsuspecting professionals and yelling such criticisms as “You know you need a cover sheet on your TPS reports, Richard!” Need I say more? The hilarious Reebok commercial generated millions of downloads, making it one of the first Super Bowl commercials to go “viral,” says RealClearSports.
Budweiser “Wassup!” 2000
It was the “Wassup” heard round the world. Budweiser’s 1999 Super Bowl commercial sparked a pop culture phenomenon. Annoying? Yes. Good marketing? Also, yes.
Coca-Cola “Mean Joe Greene” 1979
If any Super Bowl ad deserves the award of most classic, it’s Coke’s 1979 spot “Mean Joe Greene”. In the spot, an adorable young fan squeezes smile from the infamous tough guy “Mean” Joe Greene by offering him a Coke. Decades later, the spot still melts hearts as Mean Joe turns into generous Joe and trades the little boy a coke for his jersey. And how can you beat that 70s-tastic jingle? As a nod to the classic ad, Coca-Cola aired a remake starring Troy Polamalu for Super Bowl XLIII.
Did we miss your favorite Super Bowl advertisement? (My vote – Britney Spears’ nostalgic Pepsi spot – didn’t make the cut either.) Let us know in the comments below!
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