With Super Bowl Movies & Documentaries
Ā
Super Bowl Ads: From Dull to Dynamite:
The Greatest Show on Turf (and TV)
Super Bowl ads have gone from boring “buy my thing” pitches to multimillion-dollar mini-blockbusters. Letās be real: some people only watch the Super Bowl for the ads. Theyāre like halftime snacks for the braināfun, indulgent, and occasionally bizarre. Letās dive into the history of these glorified money pits and see what made us laugh, cry, and wonder why a babyās talking about stocks.
Once Upon a Time: The First Super Bowl Ad
The year was 1967. The first Super Bowl aired, and so did its ads. The cost? A paltry $37,500 for 30 secondsāyou canāt even buy a tiny house for that now. Marlboro, among others, graced the screen with straight-shooting, no-frills pitches. Smoking was cool, remember? (Oh, how times have changed.) These ads were simpleānone of the CGI or celebrity cameos weāre spoiled with today. Just a man, a product, and a dream.
The Glow-Up: When Ads Got Good
By the 1970s, Super Bowl commercials started to grow up. Master Lock hit the target (literally) with its Bulletproof Padlock Ad. Then, in 1980, Coca-Cola made us feel all warm and fuzzy with “Hey Kid, Catch!” Football legend āMean Joeā Greene guzzled a Coke and tossed his jersey to a kidācue the collective āAww!ā.
And then came “1984.” No, not Orwellās bookāAppleās iconic ad. Directed by Ridley Scott, this epic introduced the Macintosh and revolutionized commercials. It aired once. Thatās right, one time. Boom. Legend made.
Funniest Ads That Had Us Rolling
Super Bowl ads love to make us laugh. Here are a few that nailed it:
- E*TRADE Baby (2008): Stock tips from a talking baby? Genius. Equal parts adorable and absurd.
- Tideās āItās a Tide Adā (2018): A parody of every ad ever, this one kept us guessing. Is it a Tide ad? Yes. Always.
- Pepsiās āYour Cheatinā Heartā (1996): A dog stealing sodas to a country tune? Instant classic.
Tearjerkers That Hit You Right Where You Feel
Not all ads aim for laughsāsome go straight for the heartstrings. Cue the tissues for these gems:
- Googleās āParisian Loveā (2010): A love story told through search terms. Itās simple, relatable, and emotional. Who knew algorithms could make us cry?
- Budweiserās Clydesdales Tribute (2002): A 9/11 tribute thatās poignant and respectful, this one remains unforgettable.
- NFLās āThe 100-Year Gameā (2019): A celebration of footballās legacy, featuring legends past and present. This was pure magic for fans.
Cha-Ching! The Cost of Fame
Back in the 1960s, a 30-second ad was cheaper than a Tesla. Now? Itāll set you back $7 millionāand thatās before production costs. But the payoff? Immense. Super Bowl ads reach over 100 million viewers just in the U.S., making them the Oscars of the marketing world.
Whatās Next? The Future of Super Bowl Ads
As tech advances, ads are becoming more immersive. Think augmented reality, social media integration, and campaigns with a conscience. Brands know we want more than flashy visualsāwe want authenticity, inclusivity, and innovation.
From Marlboroās cowboy to Appleās revolution to Budweiserās frogs, Super Bowl ads have evolved into a cultural phenomenon. Whether theyāre funny, heartfelt, or just plain weird, one thingās certain: theyāre the real MVPs of game day.
Now the only question is “What is your favorite ad during the 2025 Super Bowl?” Let us know on our Instagram, Facebook, or Threads accounts @reelamazing_com
Ā
Ads That Broke the Internet
1. Appleās ā1984ā Super Bowl Commercial (1984)
Letās start with Appleās 1984 ad. It was so high-concept it probably went over half the audienceās heads (unless, of course, they were Sci-Fi fans like me). But it didnāt matter. It was cool and made other brands look basic.
2. Budweiser Frogs Super Bowl Commercial (1995)
Who knew three croaking amphibians could sell beer? “Bud,” “Weis,” and “Er” became household names, proving that simplicity (and a bit of absurdity) can work wonders.
3. Old Spiceās āThe Man Your Man Could Smell Likeā Super Bowl Commercial (2010)
This oneās a masterclass in humor and charm. It single-handedly rebranded Old Spice from “dad cologne” to “cool again.” Plus, Isaiah Mustafaās charisma? Chefās kiss.
4. Snickersā āYouāre Not You When Youāre Hungryā Super Bowl Commercial (2010)
Betty White playing football? Say no more. This ad launched a wildly successful campaign thatās still going strong. Who are you when you’re hungry?
5. Doritosā Crowd-Pleasers Super Bowl Commercial (2006-2016)
Doritos invited fans to make their ads, and the results were gold. Creativity, hilarity, and a budget-friendly way to keep things fresh.



