These are true classics.
As we head into Super Bowl 2024, we’re getting sentimental. The match-up between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers is going to be one for the books — athletically and commercially. As companies shell out around $6.5 million for a two-minute nugget of ad space, we’re looking back at the greatest hits. We’ve compiled our favorite Super Bowl commercials of all time, from the famous Britney Spears Pepsi commercial to the sweet Betty White Snickers ad.
They can be kooky, sometimes creative, and often seriously inspiring. Watch and see for yourself.
Best Super Bowl Commercials of All Time
Hologic, “Her Health is Her Wealth,” 2022
What’s not to love about Hologic’s 30-second Super Bowl spot from the 2022 game? “Her Health is Her Wealth” features Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated artist, actress, and producer Mary J. Blige — who was also part of that year’s epic Super Bowl Halftime Show. The star power isn’t the only reason we adore this ad — it’s also the message MJB and Hologic are sending. The commercial shows Blige navigating her busy life, as she travels from set to studio to gym to boardroom, and still making time in her schedule for her annual Well-Woman visit. And you know how we feel about making sure you stay on top of your regular health screenings.
Olay, “Make Space for Woman,” 2020
I may be biased, but one of my favorite Super Bowl ads of all time is Olay’s 2020 “Make Space for Women” campaign, starring moi! Inspired by the first all-female spacewalk that happened in 2019, the ad starred Lilly Singh and Busy Philipps as they took a trip into space with retired (real-life) astronaut Nicole Stott. At Mission Control was none other than Taraji P. Henson (who played NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson in the 2016 movie Hidden Figures). I got to break the news to the world that there is “space for women” in space exploration. A female-owned ad agency created the spot, and we were able to promote P&G’s year-long commitment to donating $1 to Girls Who Code for every tweet to @OlaySkin with the hashtag “#MakeSpaceForWomen.” — Katie Couric
Coca-Cola, “Hey Kid, Catch,” 1980
Who doesn’t love this surprising depiction of Mean Joe Greene? I’m a sucker for this ad in which a young fan makes the defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers smile by giving him his coke, and Greene tosses the kid a jersey. Apparently, after this ad aired, Greene said kids were no longer scared of him! Last year, I loved the new GM spot in which Mike Myers revisited one of his Austin Powers roles. — John Molner
Doritos, “Keep Your Hands Off My Mama,” 2010
The hold this Doritos commercial had over us in the 2010s was…intense. Doritos has always had top-tier Super Bowl ads, but this one will forever be my favorite for reasons that are pretty self-explanatory. It just doesn’t get any better than this kid. — Julia Lewis, Producer
Pepsi, “Now and Then,” 2002
What’s better than one Britney Spears? Six Britneys, of course — and that’s exactly what Pepsi gave us in this 2002 spot. The one and only Ms. Spears recreates several generations’ worth of Pepsi ads, jumping through time in 1958, 1963, 1966, 1970, and 1989 before landing back in the present for a peak-era Britney breakdown. For all the teenage boys who were only pretending to care about football (hello, it’s me), this was a welcome dose of true culture to break up all those first downs or whatever. — Ryan Buxton, Deputy Editor
Ali Landry and Doritos, 1998
I don’t know if this is my absolute favorite Super Bowl commercial ever, but it’s the one that I remember most vividly and feels very representative of my youth. This iconic commercial went down in Super Bowl ad history for three reasons — one of which you might not have even realized. First, it introduced us 90s kids and the rest of the world to Ali Landry, who would go on to star in other projects, but most memorably (for me at least) in a 98 Degrees music video with Screech. It also debuted 3D Doritos! And…Sean Hayes! A recipe for success, if you ask me. — Maggie Parker, Deputy Editor
Pepsi, “We Will Rock You,” 2004
Do I drink Pepsi on the regular? Far from it. Was I obsessed with Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and Pink in my youth? Absolutely. So watching the three divas rally together in Pepsi’s 2004 commercial will forever be emblazoned in my memory. Inspired by the film Gladiator, in this commercial, these fierce females hype up a coliseum filled with spectators by belting out the Queen hit (and stadium favorite) We Will Rock You. Oh, and Enrique Iglesias also makes a cameo. Really…what’s not to love? — Alaina Mancini, Managing Editor
Audi, “Green Police, 2010
This commercial got some heat at the time for its representation of the environmental movement, but I think it’s innocently poking fun at how much we struggle to be environmentally friendly. It reminds me of 21 Jump Street and Paul Blart: Mall Cop — probably because of the shorts and segways — and Cheap Trick even re-recorded their super-catchy hit “Dream Police” for the spot. There’s something hilarious about a Green Police officer asking an actual police officer to place his styrofoam cup on the hood of his car. — Ciara Hopkinson, Associate, Katie’s Shop
Volkswagen and Darth Vader, 2012
If I’m entirely honest, I couldn’t care less about the Super Bowl. Yeah, yeah, I know. But, I do enjoy a cute commercial, especially when it involves a little kid living out their Darth Vader dreams. There’s something about the palpable enthusiasm this kid displays that warms my heart whenever I see it. And the little hands! I can’t get enough of it. — Katie Pittman, Commerce Editor
Google, “How to Not Forget,” 2020
I never really thought I was a romantic at heart, until I found myself tearing up during Google’s Super Bowl commercial. The company’s ad details the true story of an 85-year-old man remembering his late wife, “Loretta,” with the help of Google Assistant, and it shows old photos of the couple throughout the years. If you watch it, I recommend keeping a tissue nearby. — Tess Bonn, Senior Writer
Budweiser, Puppy Love, 2014
Unfortunately for commercial fans (yes, I like them, call me psychopathic, I don’t care), the fun of the Super Bowl commercials has faded as agencies get swept up in the competition. Brands try to pull out bigger and better celebrity endorsements and wilder storylines that all blend together and often fall flat. There’s only one commercial every year that takes a break from the noise, strobe lights, and celebrity cameos: the Budweiser commercial. I first realized that in 2014 when a sweet Labrador puppy broke into a horse barn and befriended a Clydesdale. The ad wasn’t funny; it didn’t throw a party for the product; it told a heartwarming story that put rose-tinted glasses on what it was to be All-American. You can’t not feel good after watching that commercial. To this day, when I need a dose of serotonin, the 2014 Budweiser #BestBuds commercial is what I search for on YouTube. – Sam Donsky, Manager, Audience Development
