Top 24 Best Super Bowl Commercials of Each Year (2000 - 2023)

Top-24-Best-Super-Bowl-Commercials-of-Each-Year-2000-2023

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most iconic Super Bowl commercials of each year since 2000.

2000: Whassup Girlfriend
Budweiser
Yep, it doesn’t get much more iconic than “Whassup?” A pop culture sensation that was endlessly referenced and parodied, this is the beer commercial to end all beer commercials. The first one aired during “Monday Night Football” on December 20, 1999, and Budweiser made a special iteration for Super Bowl XXXIV. Called “Whassup Girlfriend,” it sees a man at home with his partner talking to his buddies in the bar. It’s a fun twist on the “Whassup?” gimmick, toning down the volume while also introducing a more gender-neutral tone for the big game.

2001: Running with the Squirrels
EDS
In 2000, EDS made a classic commercial called “Cat Herders,” and they returned the very next year with this absolute banger. A hilarious bit of advertising, it sees Spanish men, who typically run with the bulls in Pamplona, running instead from a group of squirrels. The humor comes not only in the goofy visuals, but the genius tone discrepancy - as tiny squirrels run down the street, people speak about all the harm that they have caused throughout the years. But the metaphor is apt, comparing squirrels to “quick [and] nimble” business competitors. It’s a brilliant mixture of hilarity and business savvy, not to mention a classic Super Bowl commercial.

2002: Now & Then
Pepsi
Nothing screams early 2000s nostalgia quite like Britney Spears. And speaking of nostalgia, this commercial plays on the concept in glorious fashion. Spears honors fifty years worth of Pepsi advertisements, going through the ages and appearing in different time periods. We start in 1958, with a cute, innocent Britney receiving a Pepsi in a malt shop. We then get surfing Britney, hippie Britney, and modern Britney, among some others. Not only is the commercial brilliantly conceived, it’s also creatively filmed. The costume changes, production design, and altering styles of music are all delightful, providing a treat for both the eyes and ears.

2003: Terry Tate, Office Linebacker
Reebok
FedEx’s “Cast Away” parody is a classic, but this ad rivals “Whassup?” when it comes to iconic commercials. A revolutionary bit of advertising, “Terry Tate, Office Linebacker” is filmed in the style of a mockumentary, with characters speaking directly to the camera. CEO Ron Felcher hires “Terrible” Terry Tate to increase productivity in his workplace. This means violently tackling employees who take extended breaks and forget to put cover sheets on their TPS reports. This is slapstick at its best, featuring lots of funny falls and bone-crunching hits. Humor and football? Now that’s a perfect Super Bowl commercial right there.

2004: Crossroads
Pepsi
Commercials often favor creativity, and sometimes that means bringing in real people. In this fantastic Pepsi commercial, a young Jimi Hendrix walks down a street in Seattle. To his left is a Pepsi machine in front of a pawn shop. To his right is a Coke machine in front of an accordion store. Young Hendrix goes for a Pepsi and spots an electric guitar in the window of the pawn shop, evidently spawning his love for music. It’s a great idea for a commercial and a brutal dig in the ongoing Pepsi Cola wars. Plus, where else are you going to hear “Purple Haze” on an accordion?

2005: Beer Run
Heineken
There’s nothing like a commercial with cinematic production values. Such is the case with “Beer Run,” which aired during Super Bowl XXXIX. Brad Pitt leaves his penthouse apartment to get some Heineken from the corner store. An enormous mob of paparazzi follows him, forcing Pitt to take some creative measures to get back home. If you’re thinking “this commercial is seriously well-directed,” that’s because it was done by the Oscar-nominated David Fincher. This ad was actually the third collaboration between Pitt and Fincher, following “Seven” and “Fight Club.” We’d say it’s a solid entry in both of their filmographies.

2006: Secret Fridge
Bud Light
It was time for Super Bowl XL, and Anheuser-Busch brought out the big guns to commemorate the anniversary. According to USA Today’s Ad Meter, this was the most popular commercial of the year, and for good reason. It’s creative, hilarious, and completely charming. A man stocks his fridge with Bud Light but fears that friends will drink it all. So he installs a revolving wall that hides the fridge and replaces it with a simple kitchen table. However, the revolving wall deposits the fridge in the next apartment, and the grateful occupants proceed to steal it all. It’s a wonderfully creative advertisement, and the image of the guys chanting for the fridge is an all-timer.

2007: Mouse Click
Blockbuster
Wow, remember Blockbuster? The rental chain was still going in 2007, but competition was starting to rear its head. Enter the adorable animals Carl and Ray, who were tasked with promoting Blockbuster’s new Total Access program. This was meant to compete with the burgeoning Netflix by offering mail delivery. The funny gimmick is that movies “are just one mouse click away,” so the furry creatures click and drag on a literal mouse in an attempt to get their movies. The animals are adorable, the commercial is brief and comical, and best of all, it features an all-star cast of James Woods, Jim Belushi, and Alec Baldwin. The Super Bowl always brings out the big guns, even if their faces aren’t seen.

2008: Carrier Pigeons
FedEx
This memorable commercial marks the last in a string of Super Bowl appearances from FedEx, but what a finale it was. A shipping company uses carrier pigeons to deliver their mail, including some monstrously-large beasts that carry the heavy items. Unfortunately, these pigeons wreak havoc on the streets below, dropping large packages into the road, picking apart trucks, and throwing cars with their massive talons. Witnessing this destruction, the company’s boss decides to switch to FedEx. It’s just one laugh after another with this commercial, from the reveal of the giant pigeons to witnessing their chaos. Now that’s how you go out with a bang.

2009: Free Doritos
Doritos
Beginning in 2006, Frito-Lay launched the Crash the Super Bowl campaign, inviting amateur filmmakers to make their own commercials. Winners would get a cash prize and their commercial would air during the Super Bowl. For the 2009 iteration, Joe and Dave Herbert of Indiana made “Free Doritos.” In it, an office worker asks his “crystal ball” for some free Doritos. But this “crystal ball” is actually just a snowglobe, and he uses it to smash the vending machine. The other employee later asks the crystal ball for a promotion, resulting in a great bit of physical comedy. Not only did this commercial win the contest, but it placed first on USA Today’s Ad Meter poll, so the Herberts received a $1 million bonus.

2010: Betty White
Snickers
This year some companies released commercials online, like Old Spice with their classic “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like.” But the big ones were still saved for the big game. Another Ad Meter winner, this commercial combines physical comedy with star power in the form of Betty White. The tiny White plays contact football with a group of large men, and she eventually gets taken to the ground in a brutal tackle. We then learn that this is not actually White, but a symbolic representation of a man experiencing hunger pangs. It’s a creative commercial that launched Snickers’ iconic “You’re not you when you’re hungry” campaign - a campaign that greatly increased the bar’s sales.

2011: The Force
Volkswagen
2011 was filled with great commercials, like Doritos’ “Pug Attack” and Chrysler’s famous Eminem commercial. But Time magazine argued that The Force “changed Super Bowl commercials forever,” partially because of its popularity online before airing on the Super Bowl. The spot features a little kid dressed as Darth Vader walking around the house and attempting to use the Force on various objects. It all pays off when the boy attempts to start the Volkswagen. His dad, encouraging his child’s imagination, starts the car remotely with his fob, and the kid is utterly mind blown. It’s easy to see why this commercial was so popular. It’s adorable, it’s funny, and yes, it’s about “Star Wars.” What more could you ask for?

2012: Just My Shell
M&M’s
The tiny chocolate candies made a huge Super Bowl comeback in 2012, having not appeared at the event since 1998. As Ms. Brown speaks to two human women, a couple of men nearby start giggling as they think she’s naked. She corrects them, stating that her outer shell is brown. Clearly the Red M&M did not understand this, as he shows up, believes it’s “that kind of party,” and strips off his red shell to expose the chocolate underneath. This is richly imaginative, utilizing the style of M&M’s to hilarious effect and today provides viewers with a marvelous dose of 2012 nostalgia.

2013: Miracle Stain
Tide
It was nice to see Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen in a Samsung teamup, but nothing beats Tide’s effort, an ad that is both hysterical and topical. A 49ers fan spills some food on his white jersey, and the spill resembles football legend Joe Montana. This sparks a media sensation, as fans from all over the country worship this shirt and see it as some kind of good luck omen. Unfortunately, the man’s wife, who also happens to be a Baltimore Ravens fan, eventually washes the jersey and rids it of the stain. The ad is greatly amusing, but it also had surprising parallels to the 2013 Super Bowl, as the Ravens actually beat the 49ers 34-31. Ravens fans can thank the power of Tide.

2014: Puppy Love
Budweiser
This beer company sure knows how to make a touching commercial. Super Bowl XLVIII saved the best for last, with Budweiser’s Puppy Love airing with just two minutes left in the game. A dog is given up for adoption but is separated from his horse buddy in the process. Not willing to let his young friend go, the horse chases after the car and retrieves the puppy. Animals, friendship, painful goodbyes, great music cues - yep, this is a Budweiser commercial all right! This ad received universal praise, becoming one of the most-liked Super Bowl ads of the 2010s and winning USA Today’s Ad Meter poll. Put a puppy in your commercial and hearts are guaranteed to melt.

2015: All Powerless
Mophie
This commercial rivals the Brad Pitt one in terms of cinematic values. In fact, it’s probably even better. A stunning achievement in filmmaking and visual effects, it depicts an apocalyptic scenario on Earth. Viewers are treated to a number of startling visuals, like a tree bursting into flames and a ferris wheel rolling through the streets of a city. We then learn that this is the result of God’s phone battery dying. This fantastic commercial is from Mophie, a company that makes accessories that boost battery life. To be honest, we’d watch a whole movie about this concept. It’s just that good.

2016: A New Truck to Love
Honda
2016 was a big year for the Super Bowl, as it was the show’s 50th anniversary. While the Broncos clobbered the Panthers, Honda made an all-time great commercial with “A New Truck to Love.” We’re a sucker for singing animals, and in this ad, a large group of sheep sing Queen’s “Somebody to Love.” It’s an enjoyable iteration of the song, and the visual effects are surprisingly great. If you ask us, those sheep are really singing! The ad was meant to promote the new Honda Ridgeline, which contains a fancy audio system in the truck bed. What better way to celebrate audio than a little bit of Queen?

2017: #DisruptiveWorld
Wix.com
The third Super Bowl commercial from Wix.com, this one featured megastars Jason Statham and Gal Gadot. And Statham reunites with his “Transporter” director Louis Leterrier, who certainly knows his way around an action scene. That’s on full display here, as Statham and Gadot fight a restaurant full of bad guys while a chef happily works away on his computer. As if the star power wasn’t good enough, the commercial is also filled with quick action and a number of fun stunts. Forgive us for thinking this was a deleted scene from “The Transporter.” It’s just that good.

2018: It’s a Tide Ad
Tide
The laundry giant definitely won Super Bowl LII with their series of meta commercials. Blending humor with cleverness, Tide parodied the usual style of Super Bowl commercials and essentially hijacked the entire broadcast. Mr. Clean dancing away? Nope, just a Tide ad. Oh, a new Old Spice commercial? Nope, Tide ad. Yes, a new Clydesdale commercial! Prepare the waterworks. Oh, nope, Tide ad. Not only were these commercials inventive and ingenious, they ensured that viewers would always be expecting Tide. Is this actually a new car commercial, or is it just another Tide ad? Don Draper must have thought of this one, it’s the stuff of marketing genius.

2019: The Bud Knight
Bud Light
Nothing screams 2010s pop culture quite like “Game of Thrones.” To promote the final season, Bud Light partnered with HBO and created this commercial about a jousting event gone wrong. The Bud Knight goes up against the undead Mountain and is quickly taken off his horse. The Mountain then pops his head like a balloon, just as he did with Oberyn Martell. But just then one of Daenerys’ dragons appears and lays waste to the event with a massive breath of fire. This commercial was fan service galore, but we’re certainly not knocking that. Heck, this 90 second ad was probably better than the entirety of season 8. Ironic, considering that’s what it’s promoting.

2020: Back in the Loop
Chrysler
Everyone loves a little nostalgia, and that’s what Chrysler provided in this charming 2020 ad. Bill Murray appears in his very first national commercial, reprising his role as Phil Connors from “Groundhog Day.” The commercial was filmed on location in Woodstock, Illinois, the same town in which a majority of the film was shot. All the favorites are here - the bed and breakfast, Ned Ryerson, and even the little groundhog that Phil, well, kills. But the commercial adds a nice twist to the story. Phil instead bonds with the groundhog, taking it on various trips and having the day of his life, again and again and again. It’s cozy, it’s cheerful, and it has Bill Murray. Basically, it’s a perfect Super Bowl commercial.

2021: Alexa’s Body
Amazon
COVID put a damper on Super Bowl LV, limiting in-person attendance to just 25,000 people. But the show must go on, and thanks to The Weeknd and some more amazing commercials, the entertainment never stopped flowing. Perhaps the most memorable commercial comes via Amazon, as a woman envisions Michael B. Jordan as Alexa. Jordan is terrific in the role, showing off his impeccable physique, reading a book in the tub, and seductively answering how many tablespoons are in a cup. This is another commercial that should be turned into a feature-length film. We could watch Michael B. Jordan as sensual Alexa all day.

2022: Golden Memories
Lay’s
We mentioned the Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen teamup back in 2013, but that wasn’t the final collaboration between the two funnymen. In this commercial from 2022, Rudd and Rogen reminisce about their lives together, and all of these memories involve Lay’s chips. According to Rogen, Lay’s approached him with this idea, which was probably meant to be sincere. But Rudd, Rogen, and director Evan Goldberg took it in a rather insincere direction. The memories get more and more outlandish, like getting kidnapped by a stalker, fighting in a turf war, and moving into a haunted house. Rogen hoped that it would “capture the kind of energy” that his works exhibit, and to that end, we think he succeeded admirably.

2023: Walter White Makes PopCorners
PopCorners
Man, talk about nostalgia. Super Bowl LVII contained a major surprise in the form of our old pals Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. Walt makes PopCorners in the duo’s famous RV, much to the praise of the hungry Jesse. Walt and Jesse then show the snacks to Tuco, who violently demands that they make seven different flavors. The commercial is an undeniable winner, reuniting Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Raymond Cruz, and writer-director Vince Gilligan. Not only that, the commercial is full of enjoyable “Breaking Bad” fan service, including Walter’s iconic “say my name.” Ah, it was really nice to see the boys back together. How we missed them.

Which of these is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!