A good Super Bowl commercial – a good commercial, period – does four things right: it’s funny, it’s memorable, it forces you to buy the product, and it gives you a more favorable view of the brand.
Jake Ciely has been the top rank in fantasy baseball twice and the best in fantasy football once. But does that apply to commercials? We’re going to find out.
Feel free to ditch poor Jakey in the comments. He has very strong feelings about some of these. Important note: Movie trailers do not count. Apologies, but that’s a different category and we can’t go there.
(And hey, if you love rankings – and who doesn’t? – check out our 2021 fantasy baseball, updated fantasy basketball, and ‘way too early’ fantasy football rankings)
The Top 10 Super Bowl Commercials
1. GM: No Way Norway
Will Ferrell, Kenan Thompson and Awkwafina make up for this quite well, especially Ferrell, but it’s the Scandinavian angel joke that really made me laugh. I declare this the best commercial of the night.
Nando: I cannot disagree. This was fantastic.
2. Frito Lay: Super Bowl
So this could be number 1 all night long! No. But it was fun while it lasted! This spot aired before the match even started. Marshawn Lynch. Peyton Manning. Could have sat still there for 30 seconds and been great. Just awesome. “Don’t Fear The Ball” and “Come On We’re Friends” were great with Lynch narration at the top.
3. Cheetos: It wasn’t me
Okay, I immediately knew this was going on and I laughed … right away. I’m an Ashton Kutcher fan, and the new lyrics and ending (won’t spoil the joke) … very well done.
Nando: I liked the Flat Matthew so much better.
4. Doritos 3D: Flat Matthew
This has crazy “Twilight Zone” vibes mixed with Judge Doom from “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” And it works! It’s funny, it’s memorable – the coffee shop scene where he’s initially invisible is fantastic. I guess this will be a lot of people’s favorite commercial this year. Even the disclaimer, “Don’t try it if you’re a 3D person” was subtly funny.
People’s Choice – Jeep with Bruce Springsteen
As much as we love our Frito-Lay brands and Will Ferrell, we can’t deny that the rest of the world loves the Bruce Springsteen commercial. Maybe a little too much, but who should we judge? We reward this our first annual People’s Choice Super Bowl Commercial Award For Excellence (PCSBCAFE). Congratulations, Jeep!
5. M & M’s: Sorry
Mocking gender revelations, “Karen” and more, this was pretty good. Not top shelf, but good for a laugh.
Nando adds: We (my wife and I, not Jake and I) eventually gave in and started looking at “Schitt’s Creek” – with everyone selling it warning you have to get through the first two seasons until it’s really well – and I have to say I get the hype. It’s Parks & Rec -sy. I just hope Eugene Levy doesn’t get too overexposed.
6. Tide: Jason Alexander kicked, etc.
Bonus laughs at the ’80s TV music bed (“Believe It or Not”). Alexander’s changing faces were quite funny though, but are perhaps more memorable because of how weird he looked at the end (looked out of place).
Nando: I don’t think Jake got the ‘Seinfeld’ tape with the song! Would that have pushed it to number 5?
7. Uber Eats: Wayne’s World
From Nando: “The commercial itself was just okay, but I love everything Wayne’s World -” NOTTT !! “, Tia Carrere, who doesn’t say the 2 or 1 when you count someone for a TV recording – and despite being emailed a bit, I was thrilled to see them on my screen again.” As for me, it was just nice to see them back, but honestly it would have ranked higher than the one for the Super Bowl which was better …
8. Sam Adams: horses
The image of the person being checked on the hip through the window made me laugh, and for whatever reason, every time I hear, ‘Your cousin, van Bos … ton,’ I’ll chuckle.
9. Bud Light: Legends (Avengers)
Good for chuckles and a journey through Bud Light’s commercial memory lane. Real men with a genius! But how do you leave “To your left!” Away?
Nando: This might be No. 2 for me. Hearing “Yes I am” again was so great. And “I loved your husband” in the past. And the man who sang “Mister Vending Machine Repairmannnn”. I watched that three times in a row.
10. LYRIQ: ScissorHandsFree
Do half of the people who watch the Super Bowl remember “Edward Scissorhands”? This is another callback commercial for 90s (ish) kids). I feel like this hits a specific group, and luckily I was in it because it was funny. Not rolling on the floor laughing, but amusing, especially now that Winona Ryder is reprising her role.
FAIR MENTION
Michelob Ultra: happy
It wasn’t funny, but it had a really cool aesthetic; the part where it turned to live video (Anthony Davis chess) was a fun twist on an initial sense of “here comes a serious artsy commercial”, and I generally like to watch an ad where I recognized everyone. Plus, I always get my vote when using A Tribe Called Quest’s “Can I Kick It?”
Tracy Morgan for Rocket Mortgage – “Pretty Sure”
Downright funny and it seems quite expensive to make. I love everything Tracy Morgan does. In fact, “30 Rock” is one of the most underrated shows. Everyone’s sweating “The Office”, but you don’t see the same reverence for “30 Rock”.
Craig Robinson Pizza Hut
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ua4JWfUEk
Totally nostalgic game, and I’m not even sure this is technically a ‘Super Bowl commercial’ as it’s six days old on YouTube and seems to lack that grandeur, but it aired after the team intros and I thought it so was smart and fun. And man, you can’t find those Pizza Hut lampshades anywhere on eBay. This didn’t make it to the final Top 10, but anything with Craig Robinson (I watched and enjoyed “Ghosted” on FOX a few years ago) works for me.
Paramount +
Patrick Stewart hasn’t aged since 1990, had a good laugh a few times, SpongeBob again, but seriously, ANOTHER streaming service ?!
Nando: Yes, but “Yellowstone” is so great
Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade
Helped us laugh at the woes of what 2020 was, and I especially appreciated that the MLB cardboard cutouts got involved. But side note, man, “hard” seltzer may have been the biggest beneficiary of 2020 … enough!
Skechers: maximum cushioning
Meh. Does buying these shoes come with a father or mother certification?
Jimmy John’s: King of Cold Cuts
Some really laughable moments, but “Jimmy’s John’s” got repetitive. I actually laughed the most at the “Don’t try” warning when I set the billboard on fire. Uh, no kidding, folks.
The worst Super Bowl commercials
Hellmann’s Mayo
Wasn’t funny, and seeing a chocolate cake suggesting I use mayo rightfully made me feel sick.
Pringles: Stranded Astronauts
Not memorable. How should I know that? I mentioned it, and people I was with didn’t even remember it being broadcast. The commercial staple flavors peaked and was only good at Bill Hader.
Oatly
It was absolutely memorable, but for the wrong reasons. Weft. I think it was ‘bad’, and props to the CEO, I guess? But it won’t force me to buy Oatly. Internally, this could win the prize for this year’s worst.
Klarna: Tiny Horses, Four Payments
I struggled to even understand what the selling point was or to remember who it was for because it wasn’t funny and the CGI was one of the worst I’ve ever seen.
The Feel Good collection
Ford: Finish strong
Anheuser-Busch: Let’s get a beer
Indeed: The Rising
Toyota: Jessica Long Story
Guinness: Joe Montana GOAT
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