Best Super Bowl Commercials: Funniest, Banned, & Most Talked About Ads Of All Time

It’s that time of year again! We’ve made it through the holidays, (some of us just barely), and we are catching our breath for a moment. Not for long though! Immediately following the holiday season, is that month of the year so many people look forward to…

February.

And no…not just because it is traditionally a time of year to proclaim your love to that special someone in your life (though that is one reason).

No…the month of February is anticipated for another big reason as well.

Spicyrockingchair.com is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. Some of the links within this post, are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click through any of those links and finalize a purchase. Read the full disclosure here. Thank you for your continued support!

Super Bowl Sunday

Every year, millions of viewers tune in to watch the big game. The majority of the viewers are and have always been, die hard fans of football. They are loyal to their teams, and plan accordingly every February to make sure they are able to watch the Superbowl. Even if they are required to work that day, the big game is being broadcasted on a tv or radio nearby, and those fans are able to catch some of the game at the very least.

Superbowl Sunday may not yet be included in the list of National Holidays, but that idea has been discussed on occasion. Why not? It is literally one of the least productive days of the year. It may as well get the title to go with it!

Not Everyone Is Into Football

Not everyone is a football fan. If you have read my article, 50 Best Easy Tailgate Party Food Ideas & Superbowl Recipes, you already know I’m one of those people who is not. Don’t hate me.

For those of us who don’t really care to watch the actual game, Superbowl Sunday does have certain aspects that are highly entertaining, even for us.

The commercials.

We will sit through the 3-4 hours of watching a group of men run back and forth, if the commercials are entertaining. Most of the time, the commercials are entertaining and in the end, we anticipate the big annual game as much as any die hard fan!

The highly-anticipated advertisements that air during Super Bowl, have become a cultural phenomenon, with viewers eagerly waiting to see which ones will make them laugh, cry, or even cringe. I am one of those viewers.

Commercials Of Years Past

In preparation for the upcoming game, I decided to look back over the years at some of the best Super Bowl commercials of all time. I found myself laughing all over again!

I put together a list of the best commercials, in 6 different categories, ranging from celebrity cameos and banned ads, to memorable moments that have kept so many of us coming back year after year.

Take a peek and enjoy. Super Bowl Sunday is still a month away, but you can get a head start on the fun by taking a quick trip down Super Bowl Memory Lane!

(Note – A commercial or two may appear in more than one list, because they hit the mark in a few areas.)

Funniest Commercials

1. The Showdown (McDonald’s – 1993)

2. Doritos Dogs (Doritos 2016)

3. You’re Not You When You’re Hungry (Snickers – 2010)

4. Wassup! (Budweiser – 1999)

5. The Man Your Man Could Smell Like (Old Spice – 2010)

6. Groundhog Day (Jeep – 2020)

7. First Date (Hyundai – 2016)

8. The Longest Chase (Toyota – 2016)

Commercials Starring Celebrities

1. Alexa (Amazon – 2022)

2. Dunkin’ Drive-thru (Dunkin’ Donuts – 2020)

3. Pepsi (Cindy Crawford -1992)

4. Matthew Broderick’s Day Off (Honda – 2012)

5. Not Everything Makes The Cut (Amazon Alexa – 2019)

6. It’s A Tide Ad (Tide – David Harbour – 2018)

7. Why Not An EV? (GM & Netflix – 2023)

8. Is It Real? (Pepsi Zero – 2023)

Most Talked about

1. Where’s The beef? (Wendy’s – 1984)

2. Hey Kid, Catch! (Coca Cola – 1979)

3. 1984 (Apple – 1984)

4. The Budweiser Frogs (Budweiser – 1995)

5. Keep Your Hands Off My Doritos (Doritos – 2010)

6. The Force (Volkswagen – 2011 )

7. When I Grow Up (Monster.com – 1999)

Best Of The Last Decade

1. The Clydedales Brotherhood (Budweiser – 2013)

2. Blue Pill (Fiat – 2015)

3. JohnMalcovich.com (Squarespace – 2017)

4. Not Everything Makes The Cut (Amazon – 2019) TRAILER ABOVE

5. Stallone Face (Paramount – 2023)

6. We All Win (Microsoft – 2019)

7. Make It Happen (Squarespace – 2018)

8. Snoop and Martha (T-Mobile – 2017)

Best Of All Time

1. 1984 (Apple – 1984) TRAILER ABOVE

2. Terry Tate: Office Linebacker (Reebok – 2003)

3. Talking Babies (Etrade – 2008)

4. Puppy Love (Budweiser – 2015)

5. Puppy Monkey Baby (Mountain Dew – 2016)

6. Parisian Love (Google – 2009)

7. Alexa Looses Her Voice (Amazon – 2018)

8. Bradley Cooper’s Mom (T-Mobile – 2023)

Banned

1. Blind Date (Smart Beep – 1999)

2. Skinny Dipping (Bud Light – 2007)

3. Viral (Soda Stream – 2014)

4. Veggie Love (PETA – 2009)

5. Ricochet (Rolling Rock – 2007)

6. Airborne (Airborne – 2005)

7. Clothing Drive (Bud Light – 2010)

8. In The Hole (KGB – 2010)

Lasting Impact

While I may not exactly be a football fan, I can say that I do very much look forward to catching the hilarious commercials and some of the amazing half time shows.

My personal all time favorite commercial has to be Puppy Monkey Baby (Mountain Dew). I can’t tell you how many times my entire family walked around the house, mimicking that adorable, ugly little creature. I started hearing him in my dreams!

Since Super Bowl is such a big day that attracts so many viewers, the advertising spots are much sought after by many large companies. Thus, the company aims to put out their best during those coveted peak spots. Sometimes, they go on to be talked about for years to come. Sometimes, they become a failure, longing to be forgotten. Either way, you can rest assured the commercials are always entertaining, with some so outrageous they leave a lasting impact on the audience.

I don’t know about you, but that is enough to keep me coming back!

Let us know in the comments, what your favorite Super Bowl commercials are! Which ones have made you laugh to the point of tears? Which ones made you cringe?