Super Bowl 57 has come and gone, with excitement both on and off the pitch. The Philadelphia Eagles took on the Kansas City Chiefs in Glendale, Arizona. If you haven't seen the score yet, I won't spoil it but there are a lot of disappointed Eagles fans today.
The halftime show has become legendary in its own right, bringing impressive performances from some of the biggest music acts. This year, Rihanna predictably wowed the crowd and dropped in a little reveal of her own.
Alongside the football and the fanfare are some of the most coveted ad breaks in the world. Companies pay eye-watering sums – up to $7 million for a 30-second slot – to have their ad shown to a worldwide audience. And with that level of investment, it's no surprise that we see some of the best ads at the Super Bowl, complete with A-list stars aplenty.
While some of the ads were leaked ahead of time, the biggest reveals happened during the game, with everything from electric cars to chips covered. Here are just some of our favourites from the night.
RAM Premature Electrification
A very clever ad from RAM that is bound to hit their target market just right. It's a take on a medical ad, suggesting that most electric cars don't have the going power needed. Has RAM really waited this long to produce its first EV due to range worries, or is it more to do with gauging interest from its users?
T Mobile: New year. New neighbor.
John Travolta reprises his role as Danny from Grease for this slightly cheesy but equally brilliant T Mobile version of Summer Loving, accompanied by Zach Braff and Donald Faison. It's everything you'd expect from a Super Bowl ad, and that home internet sounds like a good deal too.
General Motors and Netflix: Everybody in
Netflix and General Motors doesn't sound like a natural pairing but this ad with Will Ferrell driving the upcoming GMC electric truck through various popular Netflix shows is a subtle way to show off their new vehicle. Looks like it's going to be a big year for the electric pickup.
PopCorners: Breaking Bad
It's hard to believe it, but this year marks ten years since the Breaking Bad franchise came to an end. The show gained mass popularity on Netflix and gripped audiences for five seasons, even spawning the spin-off series, Better Call Saul. This ad recreates one of the early seasons' most iconic scenes, reuniting old cast members to marvel over the quality of PopCorners chips. Say. Their. Name.
Pepsi Zero Sugar with Ben Stiller and Steve Martin
With two separate ads, Ben Stiller and Steve Martin extol their acting skills and then ask, is it real or acting? They both really love the taste of Pepsi Zero Sugar, but do they? Or is it all just down to their acting? You can see the Steve Martin Pepsi ad here.
Hellmann's: Brie and Hamm
Brie Larson, Jon Hamm, Pete Davidson (he really is everywhere...) – hardly the people you'd first associate with Hellmann's mayonnaise. But hey, anything can happen in a Super Bowl ad – sprinkle in a touch of wordplay and you've got yourself a modern day classic. I have questions about Davidson's decision to slather the outside of a sandwich in mayo, but this is neither the time, nor the place...
Doritos: The Love Triangle
There's an adage that a good story can be told in six words, and while that's not exactly what we have here, Doritos have still done a remarkable job of cramming a lot into a 16-second ad. Rapper Jack Harlow is hounded into a car, grabbing a pack of Doritos only to be asked about a "love triangle".
Booking.com: Somewhere, Anywhere
Melissa McCarthy is at her musical best here, flying through destinations on the hunt for holiday. It's a performance worthy of the halftime show itself, with elaborate costume changes to match perfectly with each location.
Workday: Rockstar
Ozzy Osbourne, Paul Stanley, Joan Jett, Billy Idol and Gary Clark Jr. Now that is the cast for a Super Bowl add! Taking a stand against improper use of the Rockstar moniker in corporate environments, the quintet take turns detailing the hard work it took for them to earn that title. "I've trashed hotel rooms in 43 countries", cries Idol. "I've done my share of bad things... also, your share of bad things", says Ozzy.
Heineken: Ant Man and the Wasp
Heineken took the opportunity to promote their 0.0 alcohol free beer with Paul Rudd as Ant Man. In the clip, the former Friends star, turned Marvel movie main man, is approached by the Wasp. "Don't judge me!" he cries, turning to reveal the alcohol free label.
M&M's: Ma&Ya's
If I told you six months ago that 2023 would kick off with a row over the "sexiness" of a cartoon chocolate characters new shoes, you'd probably have had me sectioned. To be fair, reading that back, I'd have had me sectioned, but such is the timeline we're living in. M&M's are the talk of the town right now, and, according to their Super Bowl ad, they're about to undergo a redesign in collaboration with American comedian, Maya Rudolph.
We'll keep updating this list with the best ads as they get released.
