Top 10 Superbowl Commercials of 2019
For this list, we're taking a look at commercials that aired during Super Bowl LIII.
#10: Killer Skin Olay
Sarah Michelle Gellar was the definition of a scream queen throughout the late 90s and early 2000s. In this commercial, Gellar once again finds herself trapped in a house on a dark, stormy night with a masked intruder – who ironically looks like the fisherman from “I Know What You Did Last Summer” crossed with Toshio Saeki from “The Grudge.” Although we’re led to believe that this is a trailer for a new slasher flick, it hilariously turns out to be an ad for Olay skin products. What makes this especially unexpected is that Olay has never done a Super Bowl commercial before and their other ads are known for being so tranquil. All that’s missing is somebody saying, “it rubs the lotion on its skin.”
#9: Robots & The Pure Experience Michelob Ultra
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Following up their 2018 Super Bowl spot starring Chris Pratt, Michelob Ultra is back this year with a pair of very different – yet equally unique – ads. One commercial centers on a robot that can run faster and punch harder than people, but will sadly never get to taste a cold beer. With all the buzz around new tech these days, this is a humorous and even timely ad about what it means to be human. Another commercial takes an ASMR approach, as actress Zoë Kravitz introduces us to ULTRA Pure Gold. Kravitz’s enticing voice is exquisitely complimented by her majestic surroundings, making this organic light lager difficult to resist. Both ads are pure gold, never feeling like they just came off the assembly line.
#8: Sad Device Commercial Pringles
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In keeping with last year’s theme, Pringles delivers another Super Bowl ad about the numerous combinations consumers can make stacking chips. Although Bill Hader sits this one out, the company found another big name in Alexa of Amazon. If you were wondering exactly how many stacking options there are, Alexa has the answer. The smart speaker gives more information than her owners asked for, however, going into a harrowing monologue about how she’ll never know the joy of stacking or tasting a Pringle. The guys aren’t interested, though, drowning out her woes with the upbeat melody of “Funkytown.” As hysterical as this commercial is, we’re starting to think that Alexa and the Michelob Ultra should start an AI support group.
#7: Not Everything Makes the Cut Amazon
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Everyone’s favorite virtual assistant strikes again, this time in an epic Amazon ad! Alexa seems to be everywhere these days, including microwaves. As this commercial satirically reveals, though, Alexa isn’t compatible with every electronic device. Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker gets a mouthful when he tries to brush his teeth with an Alexa toothbrush. The Alexa dog collar creates a division between Harrison Ford and his canine companion. The Alexa hot tub proves more powerful than the Fountains of Bellagio, sending Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson of “Broad City” overboard. Alexa even causes a global power outage from a satellite, stirring up more trouble than HAL 9000. Capped off with Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” this commercial is an all-around good time.
#6: Chance the Rapper x Backstreet Boys Doritos
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Last year, Peter Dinklage and Morgan Freeman clashed in a commercial that coupled Doritos Blaze with Mountain Dew Ice. If you thought that was an unlikely pairing, Doritos returns this year with another surprising mashup. To promote their new Flamin’ Hot Nacho flavor, Doritos enlisted Chance the Rapper to put a fresh spin on “I Want It That Way.” Of course, the ad wouldn’t be complete without an appearance from the Backstreet Boys, who reunite to sing the 20-year-old pop song. It’s surreal to think that Chance was almost six when this single hit in 1999 and the Backstreet Boys are now officially Backstreet Men. While the original version will always hold a special place in our nostalgic hearts, Chance might’ve made it even hotter.
#5: We All Win Microsoft
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There’s always at least one Super Bowl ad that prompts unexpected feels, and the company responsible for the 2019 edition was none other than Microsoft. Recently, the tech giant has been working towards accessibility, and this spot highlights those efforts. The company’s first Big Game commercial in several years promoted the Xbox Adaptive Controller, which was created to make gaming easier for people with disabilities. We’re introduced to some of the beneficiaries of this technology, who explain to us how important gaming is to them and how their gameplay had been limited… until now. To cap off the moving ad, we’re hit with the slogan “When everybody plays, we all win.”
#4: Change Up the Usual Stella Artois
Carrie Bradshaw and Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, together at last! In all seriousness, we never expected these polar opposites to cross paths, which is exactly what makes this commercial so awesome. The pairing also ties into the ad’s theme of shaking things up. Sarah Jessica Parker’s career-defining character has always been a cocktail lady, which makes it particularly shocking when she orders a Stella Artois. Jeff Bridge’s Dude also steps out of his comfort zone, ordering a Stella Artois instead of his usual White Russian. As different as these two characters are, they still find common ground when it comes to their choice of drink. Whether you’re a socialite or a bum, Stella Artois is something we can all abide.
#3: The Elevator Hyundai
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There are some activities we all dread doing and this clever commercial condenses several of them into an elevator ride. The sharp commentary is only emphasized when you have a deadpan master like Jason Bateman operating the elevator. Looking to buy a car, the couple is taken to the very bottom floor, but not before passing by a dentist’s office, a courtroom, a crowded airplane, a teenage boy’s bedroom where his father awaits to have “the talk”, and a vegan dinner party. Thankfully, the couple is able to go up a few floors upon mentioning that they’re buying a Hyundai. With a smart setup and even smarter one-liners, this elevator stops just one floor below this list’s MVP.
#2: More Than OK Pepsi
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Pepsi is practically a Super Bowl staple, never failing to blow viewers away with their big game spots. The soft drink enlisted a slew of celebrities for last year’s ad and they’ve gone all out again with this commercial. Steve Carell is the first celeb to pop up, confronting a waiter who doesn’t seem to comprehend just how amazing Pepsis truly is. Roleplaying isn’t enough to get Steve’s message across, so he calls upon Lil Jon and Cardi B to strengthen his argument. To really accentuate the joy of Pepsi, Cardi’s can has been encrusted with diamonds. Carell even starts to channel Michael Scott towards the end with an uncomfortable Lil Jon impression. Constantly catching us off-guard, this is ad is more than okay. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Bad Passengers M&M’s Top Dog Avocados From Mexico The Team That Wouldn’t Be Here Verizon 2 Chainz x Adam Scott Expensify "Mr. Peanut is Always There in Crunch Time" Planters
#1: The Bud Knight Budweiser (x HBO)
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In the first of several Big Game Bud Light ads, we see a barrel of corn syrup being carted from old-timey beer brewer to old-timey beer brewer, to emphasize the point that Bud Light is brewed without corn syrup (we get it, btw). The famed Bud Knight basically makes a cameo in this one, but the helmeted one is back later in the game to joust his way to glory! Oooooor not. Sadly, if Bud’s #RememberBudKnight hashtag is any indication, this might be the end of our valiant hero, killed at the hands of Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane himself. Geez, that’s pretty rough for a beer commercial, isn’t it? Or is it a GoT teaser? Honestly, we don’t know, but it’s an impressive crossover, either way.
