The Super Bowl isn’t just about football—it’s the biggest stage for advertising in America. Every year, brands drop millions to craft high-impact Super Bowl commercials, hoping to go viral, boost brand awareness, and dominate social media marketing conversations.
This year, the ads delivered everything from celebrity endorsements to unhinged humor, emotional storytelling, and good old-fashioned brand strategy. Here are our picks for the top five Super Bowl commercials that made us laugh, cry, and—most importantly—engage (in no particular order).
1. Mountain Dew’s Seal Seal: Unapologetically Weird Works
Not every brand can pull off unhinged advertising, but Mountain Dew has mastered it. Enter: Seal Seal, a cursed fever dream of a mascot that somehow makes us crave a Baja Blast.
This ad is a perfect case study in viral marketing—it’s absurd, it sticks in your brain, and it practically begs to be memed on TikTok. In an era where Super Bowl ads need to drive social media buzz, Mountain Dew knows exactly how to lean into its brand identity.
Key Takeaway: If you’re going weird, go all in. Mountain Dew’s brand storytelling thrives on embracing chaos, and it pays off every time.
2. Uber Eats: Matthew McConaughey, AI, and a Conspiracy Theory
We weren’t expecting Matthew McConaughey to convince us that football was invented to sell food, but here we are. With the help of AI-driven visual effects and his signature drawl, Uber Eats turned what could have been a standard delivery ad into a memorable, cinematic storytelling moment.
Beyond the humor, this ad was a masterclass in blending entertainment with marketing. It got people talking, drove engagement on social media, and let’s be honest—we were already ordering delivery before the game even started.
Key Takeaway: Super Bowl commercials thrive on storytelling. If you can make audiences question reality and still order your product, you’ve won.
3. Ram 2500 Rebel: The Glen Powell Effect
Glen Powell, you make a Ram 2500 Rebel look good. After spending 2024 as a heartthrob tornado wrangler, Glen Powell’s star power has skyrocketed.
Ram Trucks went all in on spectacle and storytelling, dropping Glen into a wild fairytale fever dream where he learned the ultimate lesson: the Ram 2500 Rebel is just right. The ad was packed with stunning CGI, dramatic slow-motion sequences, and just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek humor to keep it from feeling like an action movie trailer.
Beyond the over-the-top effects, this commercial worked because it blended humor with brand identity. It didn’t just say Ram makes powerful, rugged trucks—it showed it in the most unhinged, engaging way possible. Also, we could listen to bedtime stories narrated by Glen Powell forever. Someone make that happen.
Key Takeaway: If you’re going to go big, go all the way. Super Bowl ads should be bold, cinematic, and just a little ridiculous—because that’s what makes them unforgettable. Also, hire Glen Powell for any business, it’ll work.
4. Pfizer: Tears, LL Cool J, and a Knockout Punch
Making us cry to “Mama Said Knock You Out” was not on our Super Bowl bingo card, but here we are. Pfizer took an unexpected approach, turning a high-energy song into an emotionally resonant ad that made us reflect on perseverance, health, and the power of scientific breakthroughs.
With Super Bowl commercials often prioritizing humor and spectacle, Pfizer stood out by choosing a human-centered, impactful narrative. Emotional storytelling in advertising isn’t new, but when done well, it leaves a lasting impression—this one hit hard.
Key Takeaway: Authenticity and emotion make an ad memorable. Pfizer proved you don’t need a celebrity cameo to create a powerful brand storytelling moment.
5. Bud Light: Peyton Manning, Shane Gillis, and Post Malone Walk Into a Cookout…
We are minutes away from the University of Tennessee campus, so our loyalty to Peyton Manning runs deep. Bud Light secured the perfect trio—Peyton, Shane Gillis, and Post Malone—and threw them into the most laid-back, good-time Super Bowl ad of the night.
This commercial nailed nostalgia, humor, and relatability—three elements that drive viral engagement on social media. It was a perfect blend of celebrity-driven content and brand storytelling, making us all desperate for an invite to that cookout.
Key Takeaway: The right mix of humor, nostalgia, and cultural relevance makes a winning Super Bowl ad. Bonus points if your casting makes audiences feel like they’re in on the joke.
Final Thoughts: What This Year’s Super Bowl Ads Taught Us
The best Super Bowl commercials are more than just big-budget productions—they’re masterclasses in brand strategy, emotional storytelling, and audience engagement. This year, we saw:
✅ The Power of Viral Marketing (Mountain Dew)
✅ The Role of Storytelling in Brand Awareness (Uber Eats)
✅ Why Celebrity Endorsements Work (Ram 2500 Rebel & Bud Light)
✅ How Emotion Creates Lasting Impact (Pfizer)
For content creators, marketers, and social media agencies, these ads offer valuable lessons in video production trends, ad engagement, and high-impact storytelling. Whether you’re crafting a brand campaign, a TikTok series, or a high-end commercial, these Super Bowl ads prove one thing—storytelling is everything.