The Super Bowl is the biggest event in American sports. Every year, millions of viewers tune in to watch the game and its accompanying commercials. It’s no surprise, then, that some of the most iconic commercials of all time have aired during the Super Bowl. From the classic “Mean Joe Greene” ad to the Budweiser Clydesdales, these commercials have become part of the fabric of American culture. Here are the 20 best Super Bowl commercials of all time.
1. Mean Joe Greene (Coca-Cola, 1980)
This classic ad features Pittsburgh Steelers star “Mean Joe” Greene, who, after a hard-fought game, is offered a Coca-Cola by a young fan. Greene takes the drink and is so touched by the gesture that he gives the fan his game jersey. This commercial has become one of the most iconic ads of all time.
2. Budweiser Clydesdales (Budweiser, 1987)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XXI, featured the Budweiser Clydesdales, a team of horses that have become synonymous with the brand. The ad follows the horses as they make their way to a small town, where they are greeted with cheers from the locals. The commercial was so popular that it spawned a series of follow-up ads.
3. Apple’s “1984” (Apple, 1984)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XVIII, is widely considered to be one of the most influential ads of all time. It features an athlete smashing a giant screen displaying an image of Big Brother, a reference to George Orwell’s novel “1984”. The ad was intended to introduce the Macintosh computer and was a huge success, helping to launch Apple into the tech giant it is today.
4. “Bud Bowl” (Budweiser, 1989)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XXIII, featured a football game between two teams of Budweiser bottles. The ad was a huge hit, and spawned a series of follow-up ads featuring the same characters.
5. “Where’s The Beef?” (Wendy’s, 1984)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XVIII, featured an elderly woman named Clara Peller asking the famous question, “Where’s the beef?” The commercial was a huge success, and the phrase quickly became popular slang.
6. “Terry Tate: Office Linebacker” (Reebok, 2003)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XXXVII, featured Terry Tate, a fictional linebacker who worked in an office. The ad was a huge hit, and spawned a series of follow-up ads featuring Tate.
7. “Budweiser Frogs” (Budweiser, 1995)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XXIX, featured three frogs croaking the word “Bud-weis-er”. The ad was a huge success, and spawned a series of follow-up ads featuring the frogs.
8. “Cindy Crawford for Pepsi” (Pepsi, 1992)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XXVI, featured supermodel Cindy Crawford drinking a Pepsi. The ad was a huge success, and helped to make Crawford an even bigger star.
9. “Pizza Hut: Delivery Guy” (Pizza Hut, 1996)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XXX, featured a Pizza Hut delivery guy who was so fast that he was able to deliver pizza to a group of astronauts in space. The ad was a huge hit, and spawned a series of follow-up ads.
10. “E-Trade Baby” (E-Trade, 2008)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XLII, featured a baby talking about how easy it is to use E-Trade. The ad was a huge success, and spawned a series of follow-up ads featuring the same baby.
11. “Bud Light: Real Men of Genius” (Bud Light, 2003)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XXXVII, featured a series of “Real Men of Genius” ads, which poked fun at various professions. The ads were a huge hit, and spawned a series of follow-up ads.
12. “Budweiser: Whassup?” (Budweiser, 2000)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XXXIV, featured a group of friends calling each other and saying “Whassup?”. The ad was a huge success, and the phrase quickly became popular slang.
13. “Budweiser: Wassup Again?” (Budweiser, 2006)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XL, was a follow-up to the popular “Whassup?” ad. The ad was a huge success, and spawned a series of follow-up ads.
14. “Bud Light: I Love You Man” (Bud Light, 2007)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XLI, featured a group of friends saying “I love you man” to each other. The ad was a huge success, and spawned a series of follow-up ads.
15. “Budweiser: Lost Dog” (Budweiser, 2015)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XLIX, featured a lost dog being reunited with its owners. The ad was a huge success, and spawned a series of follow-up ads.
16. “Budweiser: Puppy Love” (Budweiser, 2014)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XLVIII, featured a puppy and a Clydesdale horse becoming friends. The ad was a huge success, and spawned a series of follow-up ads.
17. “Bud Light: Up For Whatever” (Bud Light, 2014)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XLVIII, featured a group of friends having a wild night out. The ad was a huge success, and spawned a series of follow-up ads.
18. “Doritos: Crash the Super Bowl” (Doritos, 2006)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XL, featured a series of ads made by fans. The ads were a huge hit, and spawned a series of follow-up ads.
19. “Budweiser: Brotherhood” (Budweiser, 2013)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XLVII, featured a Clydesdale horse being reunited with its trainer. The ad was a huge success, and spawned a series of follow-up ads.
20. “Budweiser: Super Bowl Baby” (Budweiser, 2016)
This commercial, which aired during Super Bowl 50, featured a baby being born during the Super Bowl. The ad was a huge success, and spawned a series of follow-up ads.
These 20 commercials have become some of the most iconic ads of all time. They have become part of the fabric of American culture, and are sure to be remembered for years to come.
