These Super Bowl commercials stole the show! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the most influential commercials to air during the Super Bowl.
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00:00 "Look, I'm hungry. What do you say I buy you a Big Mac?"
00:02 "I'll buy."
00:03 "No, I'll buy."
00:04 "Play the suit, boys."
00:05 Welcome to WatchMojo,
00:07 and today we're looking at the most influential commercials to air during the Super Bowl.
00:11 These are the true MVPs.
00:13 [Music]
00:17 Number 20.
00:19 "Bohemian Rhapsody - Mountain Dew"
00:21 [Music]
00:27 Let's be honest.
00:28 Every time the "Scaramouche, Scaramouche" part of "Bohemian Rhapsody" comes up,
00:32 there is a part of us that instinctually thinks,
00:34 "Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew."
00:36 It sounds strange considering how well-known the 1975 song is.
00:40 However, this parody version gets us so pumped
00:42 that it feels more like an extension of Queen's magnum opus than a satire of it.
00:46 The folks behind the ad clearly wanted to trigger excitement,
00:49 as reflected through the high adrenaline imagery.
00:52 Watching this commercial evokes the same rush we'd get from a rock concert,
00:56 and no song is worthier of thunderous applause than "Bohemian Rhapsody."
01:00 It's such an exhilarating commercial that we almost forget about the branding,
01:04 yet still come to associate the song with a soda.
01:06 [Music]
01:17 Number 19.
01:18 "Baby - E*Trade"
01:19 "A lot of people are like, 'Aren't you too young to invest in the markets?'
01:22 And, you know, A, don't worry about it."
01:24 Initially played by Manolo Gonzalez,
01:26 the E*Trade baby made his debut over a decade and a half ago.
01:30 If that doesn't make you feel old,
01:32 the fact that this baby is now a teenager will.
01:35 Commercials with babies are usually safe bets,
01:37 but talking babies can veer into creepy territory.
01:41 Thankfully, the E*Trade baby was a wise investment.
01:44 Between comedian Pete Holmes' voiceover,
01:46 the imperfect lip-syncing,
01:48 and Gonzalez's natural charisma,
01:50 this ad campaign hit the ground running with a mix of cuteness and surrealism
01:54 that cleverly got E*Trade's message across,
01:56 "Our service is so simple that even a baby can use it."
02:00 Beyond E*Trade,
02:01 these commercials demonstrated the power of YouTube,
02:03 being among the earlier Super Bowl ads to go viral on the platform.
02:07 "Check it. Click."
02:09 "I just bought stock."
02:10 "You just saw me buy stock."
02:12 "No big deal."
02:13 Number 18.
02:14 "Castaway - FedEx"
02:16 "Hi."
02:17 "I was marooned on an island for five years with this package."
02:20 Super Bowl commercials have become increasingly reliant on movie send-ups,
02:24 some better than others.
02:26 Roughly two decades later,
02:28 this Castaway parody remains the gold standard.
02:30 Rather than just reference moments and lines from Robert Zemeckis' film,
02:34 the commercial produces an alternate ending sharp enough to be an SNL sketch.
02:38 Having made it off the island,
02:40 our Castaway delivers the package that got him through the past five years.
02:44 Turns out that he probably could've escaped in five days
02:46 because a satellite phone is just one of the helpful items inside.
02:50 "What's in the package?"
02:52 "Nothing really. Just a satellite phone, GPS locator,
02:56 fishing rod, water purifier, and some seeds."
02:59 Considering that the film had such a life-affirming ending,
03:03 seeing this commercial go in the opposite direction is a hilarious whiplash.
03:07 The fact that FedEx was involved in both only adds to the comedy.
03:11 Number 17.
03:13 "Parisian Love - Google"
03:15 Technology has changed how we interact with the world around us.
03:18 In some cases, this creates distance,
03:21 but in others, it can bring people together in unexpected ways.
03:24 "I need her to make me some cocoa and tell me that everything
03:27 that's going badly in my life will sort itself out."
03:29 "What kind of advice do you need? Can I help?"
03:35 Examining one's search history,
03:37 you may find a digital footprint that tells a deeper story.
03:41 This is the setup for Google's "Parisian Love" ad,
03:43 which was released in November 2009,
03:46 before finding a wider audience through the 2010 Super Bowl.
03:49 In a triumph of visual storytelling,
03:52 we focus on a Google search engine inquiring about studying in Paris.
03:56 Priorities change as a French woman comes into the searcher's life,
03:59 making Paris their new home.
04:01 Without even revealing the person behind the keyboard,
04:04 the audience is swept off their feet in this love story for the digital age.
04:09 "If I hadn't been Fox Books, and you hadn't been at the shop around the corner,
04:15 and you and I had just met..."
04:17 "I know."
04:19 Any commercial that features "Lose Yourself" is already off to a strong start.
04:27 "That's who we are. That's our story.
04:31 Now it's probably not the one you've been reading in papers."
04:35 Acquiring the rights to a popular song is one thing,
04:37 but what matters most is how the music is employed.
04:40 Just as it did in the film "8 Mile,"
04:43 Eminem's Oscar-winning song is an ideal match for this gritty yet empowering commercial.
04:47 Whereas most Super Bowl ads strive to paint the prettiest portrait possible,
04:51 this one submerges us in the hard-hitting backdrop of Detroit.
04:54 It may not be the rosiest locale,
04:57 but it takes nerves of steel to craft a car with the fortitude of the Chrysler 200.
05:02 Although ultimately portraying Detroit in a positive light,
05:05 there's an honesty to the commercial that leaves us with a newfound respect for the city.
05:09 "This is the Motor City. This is what we do."
05:12 15. The Force/Volkswagen
05:15 A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,
05:19 people had to wait until the Super Bowl to watch Super Bowl commercials.
05:22 "An elegant weapon for a more civilized age."
05:27 The Force was something of a game-changer.
05:30 The ad follows a mini Darth Vader attempting to use the Force.
05:33 After several failed attempts,
05:35 the Padawan seemingly fires up a Volkswagen,
05:38 when in reality, his father is having a little fun.
05:42 [explosion]
05:44 [triumphant music]
05:48 Volkswagen knew they had a promising ad, but it ran 60 seconds.
05:52 With a 30-second spot reserved for game day,
05:55 ad agency Deutsch had an inspired idea.
05:57 Why not post the long version online a few days early?
06:01 It was unconventional, but by the time kickoff commenced,
06:04 the ad had gained 17 million views,
06:07 forever entwining social media with the Super Bowl.
06:10 "I'm basically emptying our account,
06:11 but it's worth it to have a commercial during the Super Bowl."
06:14 14. When I Grow Up/Monster.com
06:17 When a Super Bowl commercial is presented in black and white
06:20 with children talking directly into the camera,
06:22 you expect something unabashedly profound.
06:25 This commercial surprised viewers with its cynical edge, however.
06:29 Rather than reach for the stars,
06:30 these kids reach for middle management at most,
06:33 listing their less-than-thrilling career aspirations.
06:36 "When I grow up, I wanna file all day."
06:39 In place of seasoned child stars,
06:42 director Brian Buckley opted to cast amateurs,
06:44 adding another level of realism to the brutally honest script.
06:48 In its own way, the commercial does motivate viewers to pursue a better job.
06:52 Rather than use obvious tactics to inspire us, though,
06:55 this commercial flips those cliches on their heads.
06:58 This approach resonated with many,
07:00 as Monster.com went from an average 1.5 unique monthly visitors
07:04 to 2.5 million.
07:06 "When I grow up, I wanna be underappreciated."
07:09 "Be paid less for doing the same job."
07:11 Number 13. It's a Tide ad.
07:14 Tide.
07:14 The Super Bowl is known for showcasing the most creative commercials on TV.
07:18 While some ads live up to that reputation,
07:21 others blend in with each other.
07:23 Like, how many Super Bowl commercials open with a celebrity driving a car?
07:27 Our guess is in the 50% range.
07:30 When David Harbour drove onto the scene in 2018,
07:33 we expected more of the same.
07:35 Harbour suddenly shifts gears,
07:36 moving to other familiar settings like a bar and a ranch.
07:39 "Or a hilarious beer ad."
07:41 [Laughter]
07:42 What exactly is this ad for?
07:45 Tide, of course.
07:46 Harbour proceeds to invade other commercials,
07:48 demonstrating how any ad can be a Tide ad.
07:51 "It's a Tide ad."
07:52 By pointing out how formulaic a lot of commercials are,
07:55 this ad created something truly fresh,
07:57 much like your clothes after using Tide.
07:59 "So, does this make every Super Bowl ad a Tide ad?"
08:06 "I think it does. Watch and see."
08:09 Number 12.
08:10 Just My Shell. M&M's.
08:12 "What's wrong with him?"
08:13 "He thinks you're naked."
08:15 "My shell is brown. It just looks like my milk chocolate is showing."
08:18 It's not what's on the outside that matters,
08:20 it's what's on the inside.
08:22 When you're at Chocolate Candy, though,
08:24 it can get a little confusing if your shell matches your interior.
08:27 This Super Bowl commercial introduced the world to Ms. Brown,
08:30 the most sophisticated and intellectual M&M.
08:33 Ms. Brown's serious demeanor perfectly complements Red's childish antics
08:37 when a misunderstanding arises.
08:39 Assuming that Brown showed up without her shell,
08:41 Red decides to reveal it all.
08:43 Being an M&M, there isn't much for the censors to crack down on.
08:47 The commercial manages to be risque without actually showing us anything graphic.
08:51 It's an ad that works on multiple levels,
08:54 with kids laughing at the colorful characters,
08:56 while adults ponder, "Can an M&M be sexy?"
08:59 "So, it's that kind of party. Hit it!"
09:02 "I'm sexy and I know it."
09:04 Number 11.
09:05 "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" - Old Spice
09:08 There is no denying that most of the ads you see during sporting events
09:12 are directed at men.
09:13 We'd say that this commercial is for the ladies,
09:16 but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn't love
09:18 "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like."
09:20 "Anything is possible when your man smells like Old Spice and not a lady.
09:23 I'm on a horse."
09:24 It isn't just Isaiah Mustafa's dashing good looks
09:26 or the smell of Old Spice that draws us in.
09:28 It's the rapid-fire delivery with lines that are still quoted
09:31 over a decade later.
09:33 "Hello, ladies. Look at your man. Now back to me.
09:35 Now back at your man. Now back to me.
09:37 Sadly, he isn't me."
09:39 This Emmy-winning commercial wasn't targeted at one gender,
09:42 but rather a generation raised on quirky yet clever humor.
09:46 Despite not airing during the actual game as intended,
09:49 the ad quickly became a phenomenon,
09:51 again showing how the internet can drastically extend
09:54 a Super Bowl commercial's reach and shelf life.
09:56 "Sound good? Fantastic. Goodbye."
09:59 Number 10.
10:00 "Pug Attack" - Doritos
10:01 People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
10:05 Likewise, people standing behind a glass door
10:07 shouldn't tease dogs with Doritos.
10:09 That last saying isn't as commonly used,
10:12 but it gained more prominence thanks to this outrageous commercial.
10:15 "Oh, babe, check this out."
10:17 [Dramatic music]
10:19 "Hey, come on. You want a little tootie?"
10:21 Through their Crash the Super Bowl contest,
10:23 Doritos has allowed consumers to create some of the 21st century's funniest ads.
10:27 For some, this commercial from J.R. Burningham and Tess Ortballs
10:31 will subvert expectations.
10:33 Others might see the payoff coming.
10:35 Either way, it's incredibly satisfying,
10:37 not to mention hilarious,
10:39 watching the jerky boyfriend get his comeuppance
10:41 while the dog gets his deserved treat.
10:44 We also love that the boyfriend is more concerned about the Doritos
10:47 than his girlfriend's damaged property or his potential injuries.
10:50 [Glass shattering]
10:52 [Glass shattering]
10:53 [Glass shattering]
10:55 "That's my Doritos!"
10:57 Number 9.
10:58 "Terry Tate - Office Linebacker" - Reebok
11:00 "Hey, buddy."
11:02 [Grunting]
11:03 "Break was over 15 minutes ago, Mitch!"
11:06 We regret to inform you that Terry Tate isn't an actual linebacker,
11:10 or person.
11:11 He's a character portrayed by actor Lester Spate.
11:14 Then again, this might come as a relief.
11:16 Now we can go into the office on Monday without fear of being tackled.
11:20 This commercial and the shorts that precede it
11:22 foreshadowed much of the humor that director Rossen Marshall Thurber
11:25 would bring to dodgeball.
11:26 "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball."
11:29 "What?"
11:30 [Swoosh]
11:31 [Glass shattering]
11:33 As preposterous as the setup is,
11:35 we believe Spate in this role.
11:38 We also believe the pain that he inflicts upon his co-workers,
11:41 which is integral to the comedy.
11:43 Just as funny as the physical comedy bits
11:45 are the verbal smackdowns that Terry unleashes,
11:48 as well as everyone's indifference
11:49 as long as they're not the ones being hurled around.
11:52 "You wanna play game scene? Well, when it's game time,
11:54 it's pain time, baby! Woo!"
11:57 Number 8.
11:57 "Monks - Xerox"
11:59 "Ever since people started recording information,
12:01 there's been a need to duplicate it."
12:03 By the time Monks premiered,
12:05 the Super Bowl had been an annual event for nearly a decade.
12:08 Although there had been prominent Super Bowl ads before,
12:11 the commercial break was still generally seen
12:13 as an opportunity to use the bathroom.
12:15 After Monks, more people realized
12:18 that the commercials could be more entertaining than the game.
12:21 Tasked with devising a Xerox ad,
12:23 inspiration hit Alan Kay in the middle of the night.
12:26 Calling his partner Lois Corey around 4 a.m.,
12:28 Kay had two words,
12:30 "A monk!"
12:31 Played by Jack Eagle,
12:33 brother Dominic finds that the days of duplicating text by hand are over,
12:37 turning to a higher power,
12:38 the Xerox 9200.
12:41 It's a brilliant premise smartly executed,
12:43 setting a tone for modern Super Bowl commercials.
12:46 "Brother Dominic, how are you?"
12:48 "Could you do a big job for me?"
12:51 "The Xerox 9200 duplicating system,
12:54 unlike anything we've ever made."
12:55 Number 7.
12:56 "Cat Herders"
12:57 Electronic Data Systems.
12:59 "This man right here is my great-grandfather,
13:01 he's the first cat herder in our family."
13:03 When a Super Bowl commercial features cute cats,
13:05 the work is practically half done.
13:07 This commercial goes the extra mile, however.
13:10 The cats might be the hook,
13:11 but the ad wouldn't be nearly as memorable
13:13 without the breathtaking Western backdrops
13:15 or the straight-faced cowboys.
13:17 Making the ad even funnier,
13:19 actual cowboys were enlisted to discuss
13:21 how serious cat herding is without a hint of sarcasm.
13:24 While most of the cats were computer-generated,
13:26 roughly 60 were real, with trainers on site.
13:30 Everything about the commercial's production,
13:31 from the cinematography to the seamless effects,
13:33 astounds us.
13:35 The fact that such craft went into a ridiculous idea
13:37 is what propels cat herders into the all-timer club.
13:41 EDS went defunct in 2009,
13:43 but cat herding remains an eternal pastime.
13:46 "It ain't an easy job,
13:47 but when you bring a herd into town
13:49 and you ain't lost a one of 'em,
13:50 ain't a feeling like it in the world."
13:52 Number 6.
13:55 "You're not you when you're hungry."
13:57 Snickers.
13:58 - Mike, what is your deal, man?
13:59 - Oh, come on, man, you've been riding me all day.
14:01 - "You're not you when you're hungry"
14:03 evolved into one of Snickers' most successful ad campaigns,
14:06 although it's hard to top the commercial
14:08 that kicked things off.
14:09 Part of that is because we went in with no expectations.
14:13 Seeing Betty White get slammed down into the mud,
14:15 we were intrigued yet confused.
14:18 We were even more perplexed when one of the players
14:20 referred to the Golden Girls star as Mike.
14:23 Everything falls into place
14:24 when Mike's girlfriend hands him a Snickers,
14:27 supplying the boost needed to revert back to his usual self.
14:30 - I use Snickers.
14:31 Better?
14:33 - Better.
14:35 - During the final stages
14:36 of Betty White's illustrious career,
14:38 this commercial provided a career highlight
14:40 that only gained her more fans.
14:42 The same goes for Abe Vigoda.
14:44 Alas, Snickers couldn't get him off the hook.
14:46 - That hurt.
14:47 - "You're not you when you're hungry."
14:49 Number 5.
14:50 The Showdown.
14:51 McDonald's.
14:51 - What's in the bag?
14:52 - Dutch.
14:53 Big Mac, fries.
14:55 Play you for it.
14:56 - A year after helping Bugs Bunny on the court,
14:58 Michael Jordan went up against Larry Bird
15:00 with the ultimate prize on the line, a Big Mac.
15:03 The two square off in a game of horse.
15:04 - No, donkey.
15:06 - A line that Bird himself contributed.
15:08 Jordan and Bird keep finding new ways to up the ante,
15:11 but neither appears capable of missing.
15:14 By the time they start shooting from a skyscraper,
15:16 there's seemingly nowhere else to go.
15:18 Turns out there is, as this commercial received a sequel
15:21 that took them to space with Charles Barkley.
15:23 We guess you could call this a tie,
15:25 but Bird eventually got his Big Mac
15:27 at the expense of LeBron James and Dwight Howard.
15:30 It comes full circle like a net.
15:32 - Great show, guys.
15:34 And thanks for lunch.
15:36 - Who's that?
15:37 - I have no idea.
15:37 Number 4.
15:38 Cindy Crawford.
15:39 Pepsi.
15:40 From Michael J. Fox to Britney Spears,
15:42 Pepsi always brings out the A-listers
15:44 and their A-game when it comes to the Super Bowl.
15:47 Yet it doesn't get more iconic
15:48 than Cindy Crawford drinking a Pepsi.
15:50 Sporting a white tank top and jean shorts
15:52 so recognizable the outfit could be a Halloween costume,
15:55 Crawford arrives at a soda machine.
15:57 Two boys appear enamored by the thirsty supermodel,
16:00 although they truly have eyes for the sleek new Pepsi can.
16:03 - Is that a great new Pepsi can or what?
16:06 - Introducing a whole new way
16:08 to look at Pepsi and diet Pepsi.
16:10 - While Crawford brings a sex-positive allure to the ad,
16:13 it also possesses an innocent naivety
16:15 that's sure to leave a smirk on your face.
16:17 The commercial has been recreated numerous times,
16:20 including by Crawford herself,
16:22 but the original belongs to every generation.
16:25 - This is the Pepsi for this model.
16:27 And his mom.
16:30 Hi, Cindy.
16:32 Show 'em how it's done.
16:33 - Number 3.
16:34 Frogs.
16:35 Budweiser.
16:36 - Bud.
16:37 Bud.
16:39 Bud.
16:39 - You never know what direction Budweiser's
16:41 gonna take come game day.
16:42 Will they bring us something silly like
16:44 - Squad dog!
16:45 - Or will they lift our spirits
16:48 as they did with the Clydesdale respect ad following 9/11?
16:51 If we had to single out the ad
16:53 that left the greatest impact on pop culture,
16:55 the credit must go to three frogs named Bud, Wise, and Er.
17:00 The ad simply consists of the frog trio croaking their names,
17:03 which spells out Budweiser when uttered in succession.
17:07 It's hard to explain why this commercial works,
17:09 but the inspired mix of puppetry,
17:11 sound effects, and quirky humor
17:12 resulted in an unforgettable Super Bowl moment.
17:15 - Bud.
17:16 - Wise.
17:16 - Er.
17:17 - Wise.
17:18 - Er.
17:19 - It also established director Gore Verbinski's reputation
17:21 for turning strange concepts into treasure.
17:24 Number 2.
17:25 Hey kid, catch.
17:27 Coca-Cola.
17:28 - Mr. Green?
17:28 - Yeah.
17:29 - You need any help?
17:32 - For all the memorable commercials
17:33 that the Super Bowl has given us,
17:35 only a handful of them involve football.
17:37 This ad reminds us what the event is all about.
17:40 Mean Joe Green is looking more like
17:42 sad Joe Green following a game.
17:44 A young fan attempts to boost his confidence,
17:46 but Mr. Green remains blue.
17:49 The kid makes one last attempt to reach his idol
17:51 by offering him a Coke.
17:53 Chugging down the whole bottle,
17:55 Green's woes wash away,
17:56 returning the favor by granting the kid his jersey.
17:59 ♪ In the whole world, smiling with me, Coca-Cola ♪
18:03 Although the ad had aired a few times prior,
18:06 Super Bowl XIV would turn it into a certified classic
18:09 that continues to touch our hearts.
18:11 We cannot help but smile every time we see it.
18:14 ♪ Have a glass of mean Joe, smile ♪
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18:35 Number one, 1984, Apple.
18:39 - Today we celebrate the first glorious anniversary
18:43 of the information purification.
18:46 - Super Bowl commercials have seen various turning points
18:48 over the decades,
18:49 although none elevated the art form like this masterpiece
18:52 from director Ridley Scott.
18:54 Before 1984, commercials were seen as, well, commercials.
18:58 Rarely did anyone stop to analyze their craft
19:01 or deeper meaning.
19:02 As Anya Major charged down the halls of a dystopian society,
19:05 hurling a sledgehammer at the giant screen
19:07 that's enslaved humanity,
19:09 advertising was never the same.
19:12 This wasn't a commercial.
19:13 It was an experience cinematic enough to be a short film.
19:16 Drawing inspiration from George Orwell's novel
19:18 and films like "Metropolis,"
19:20 this ad correctly foretold that Apple would be the future.
19:24 It also changed how we all look at Super Bowl commercials,
19:26 inspiring us to think different in more ways than one.
19:30 - And you'll see why 1984 won't be like 1984.
19:35 - Which Super Bowl commercial
19:36 do you think best hit its target?
19:38 Let us know in the comments.
19:40 - It's time for a cold refresher.
19:42 - Tie that.
19:43 - Did you enjoy this video?
19:45 Check out these other clips from WatchMojo
19:47 and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell
19:49 to be notified about our latest videos.
19:51 (upbeat music)
19:53 (upbeat music)
19:56 (upbeat music)
19:59 (upbeat music)
20:01 [music fades out]