The Super Bowl is more than just a championship football game. It’s a million dollar halftime performance, football’s hottest ticket, and a chance for the World’s largest corporations to market their products in new and captivating ways.
While I may not know much about sports and struggle to understand even the simplest of play calls, one thing’s for sure — I’ll be watching the commercials. Every year the competition among commercials increases as companies try and target all audiences with celebrities, philanthropic causes, emotions, and ultimately humor.
Sometimes commercials can be so clouded with these elements that you could sit through the entire 30-second commercial and not even know the company or product being advertised. But hey, that’s showbiz. And when you’re paying five million dollars plus for a 30-second ad, why not go all out?
In case you didn’t get a chance to watch the game or were too busy snacking on all those viewing party snacks to pay attention, here’s a run-down of the best commercials of this year's Super Bowl LII:
1. Doritos Blaze vs. Mountain Dew Ice
From everyone’s favorite Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage’s impersonation of Busta Rhymes and Morgan Freeman’s rendition of Missy Elliot’s Get Ur Freak On, this commercial was bound to capture your attention.
Morgan Freeman’s mere presence is bound to command attention. Plus, Doritos and Mountain Dew make for a killer junk-food combo.
2. “It’s a Tide Ad”
Tide shed light on the fact that so many commercials, whether marketing beer, cars, insurance, etc.- often times look like a particular ad when they were really something else.
With the help of David Harbour’s humor (Stranger Things star), this commercial was all too relatable.
3. Amazon Alexa “loses her voice”
Another star-studded commercial, with celebrities of all different industries filling in for Alexa when she suddenly loses her voice. From Anthony Hopkins, Chef Gordon Ramsey, Rebel Wilson, and Cardi B filling in for the Amazon device- each scenario was more comical than the next. Anything with Cardi B and you’ve got my attention.
4. NFL “Dirty Dancing”
As the NFL is notorious for its players’ extravagant touchdown celebrations, the league decided to poke fun at these celebrations by showcasing Giants quarterback Eli Manning and receiver O’Dell Beckham Jr. performing Dirty Dancing’s “Time of my Life” for their celebratory dance.
With the tagline, “touchdowns to come”, the National Football League utilized humor to touch on a subject involving the criticisms of many players. And who doesn’t want to see two grown men leaping into the air to catch one another?
5. “His Bleep Don’t Stink” Febreeze commercial
Not your typical Febreeze or air freshener commercial. This ad featured a comical story about a man whos “bleep don’t stink” with testimonials from his family and friends.
With the tagline, “Dave isn’t at your Super Bowl party. But everyone else is. Is your bathroom ready?” to draw the audience back to their product. I found this to be a clever and creative way of promoting the brand.
6. Water.org and Stella Artois
A common theme throughout the night: breweries partnering with a philanthropic cause, who would’ve thought? With the help of Matt Damon, Stella Artois revealed their partnership with Water.org in donating clean water to millions of people in developing countries.
By purchasing one Stella chalice, the company pledges to bring clean water to one million people over the span of five years. Drink up, people.
7. NBC Sports “Best of U.S."
While NBC aimed to hype up the upcoming Winter Olympics, they highlighted athletes such as Shaun White, Chloe Kim, and my favorite Lindsey Vonn.
Vonn’s commercial shed light on her difficult comeback and the momentum she carries going into this year’s games. This ad gave me chills, you go girl.
8. “Good Odds” Toyota
Another commercial tugging at America’s heartstrings and also involving the Olympics. This ad highlighted the emotional story of Paralympian Lauren Woolstencraft.
With the tagline, “When we’re free to move, anything is possible” and “Start your impossible”, Toyota provided another inspiring and chilling advertisement.
Bring it on Super Bowl LIII, the competition is high.