NEWSLETTER
For most, the Super Bowl is all about football. For others, the only viewing experience they care about is the halftime show. And then there are those who are excited about commercials. While ad-free streaming and video-on-demand have, for the most part, eliminated television commercials, the Super Bowl is the exception.
Companies will pay millions of dollars for the right to advertise their product to hundreds of millions of people who tune in to the biggest sporting event of the year. A great commercial will have a lasting impact on viewers for years, and help build some good brand equity. People still talk about the WWE’s (then WWF) first-ever Super Bowl commercial from 1999 (1999!) to this day.
Which commercials stole the show during Super Bowl 2023? Below are eight of the best ads from the Big Game.
1. Dunkin’ Donuts – Dunking’ Drive-Thru
With most Super Bowl commercials lasting only 30 seconds, companies want to make a memorable splash, which is usually done through comedy and celebrities. Something Dunkin’ Donuts showcased via actor/walking meme Ben Affleck working the drive-thru of a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise. Watching unsuspecting customers get served by the Oscar winner was a funny enough premise, but topping it off with a bewildered Jennifer Lopez, who scolded and then ordered from her beau, was a fun twist.
2. PopCorners – Breaking Good
Next to comedy and celebrities, nostalgia and celebrities are usually a surefire bet for a winning commercial duo. Like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Snack company PopCorners reunited former Breaking Bad co-stars Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston to re-create their Breaking Bad magic in the form of creating an addicting snack, rather than the product they were known for baking and selling on their groundbreaking show on AMC. PopCorners baked up a great concept and even included Raymond Cruz, who played Tuco Salamanca on Breaking Bad, to truly make it feel like we were transported back to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
3. T-Mobile – Bradley Cooper and His Mom
What’s one thing content consumers enjoy binging more than celebrity gossip? Watching celebrities get dunked on. Enter T-Mobile, who roped in Bradley Cooper to get roasted by his mom for 60 seconds in an attempt to sell their products. A subtle commercial full of bloopers from a celebrity willing to poke fun at himself is a better bet to grab viewers’ attention rather than a snoozer explaining why one cell phone provider is better than the other. It also helps to have a charming actor like Cooper, who you want to laugh with—and at—and his adorable mother.
4. T-Mobile – New Neighbor
If there was an award for Super Bowl commercial MVP, T-Mobile would be the frontrunner, landing their second commercial on our top-eight list of best 2023 Super Bowl commercials. For this one, they paired real-life friends (and on-screen pals, from their days co-starring on ‘Scrubs’) Donald Faison and Zach Braff with actor John Travolta. Faison and Braff are a winning pair together, no matter the medium, but the addition of Travolta playing the part of their new neighbor singing the script of the commercial to the theme of ‘Summer Nights’ from ‘Grease’ will leave viewers in a good mood, and most likely going to YouTube and looking up the lyrics of ‘Summer Nights’ as they perform their own at-home sing-a-long.
5. Crown – Thank You Canada
This one is for our friends across the border. Rather than spend 60 seconds attempting to convince viewers why Crown Royal whisky is the best whisky in the world, the Canadian whisky brand highlighted some of the most important inventions, personalities, and products that came from the Great White North. While it was a bit ironic seeing an American musician, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, espouse the greatness of Canadian staples peanut butter, Michael Cera, poutine, and the whoopie cushion, it was a heartwarming and educational commercial.
6. DraftKings – Free Bet
Okay, we know a lot of people are sick of the constant ads for sportsbooks (hey, we all have bills to pay), but DraftKings’ Super Bowl commercial that featured a number of celebrity and athlete cameos (Kevin Hart, Emmitt Smith, David Ortiz, Ludacris, Doctor J, and The Undertaker, among others) who knocked the Over/Under wordplay theme of the commercial out of the park (or through the uprights, if you want to keep the football/Super Bowl theme). It was quick and fun, and you can even score a free bet out of it!
7. E.l.f. Cosmetics – Baby Dolphin Skin
If we told you nothing about this commercial other than national icon Jennifer Coolidge was the main attraction of this cosmetics television advertisement you’d most likely watch. No questions asked. Luckily, for viewers, it was funny. Really, really funny. Why? Jennifer Coolidge made dolphin noises and reminded viewers of her White Lotus character.
8. E*Trade – Baby Wedding
If you can’t get a celebrity for your commercial the next best way to win the hearts (and dollars) of viewers is either through dogs or babies. Even better, talking dogs or babies. In this specific case of E*Trade, they went the route of talking babies pretending to live the lives of adults at a wedding. The visual of babies having conversations, talking down to actual adults, and hyping each other up for their friend’s big day is sure to put a smile on people’s faces.
BONUS: Our Top Movie Trailer That Debuted During Super Bowl 57
‘Fast X’
Yes, there’s been nine installments of the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise. And there can be 900 more if you ask us. For now, we’re going to make do with the 10th film in the series in the form of ‘Fast X’ which is coming to theaters on May 19, 2023. The trailer for this film plays like a best of the franchise, with Jason Moma added to the cast. Sign us up.
