Regardless if you are an NFL fan or not, there’s a good chance you’ll be tuning into the Super Bowl to catch the pomp and circumstances and – of course – the ads. With a $4.5 million price tag, brands that purchase time during the big game want to make certain their commercials make an impact.
To help you make sure you keep an eye out for the cream of the crop, here’s Marketing Dive’s picks for six Super Bowl ads to watch for during Sunday’s big game.
1. T-Mobile “#KimsDataStash”
In T-Mobile’s big game spot this year, selfie-master Kim Kardashian pokes fun of herself in a perfect deadpan manner. The author of selfie photo book “Selfish” urges uses to take back the data they paid for – so they can see all of her photos of makeup, outfits, and vacations. The spot proves the Kardashian doesn’t take herself too seriously – while also allowing T-Mobile to capitalize on the reality star’s buzz factor.
2. Anheuser-Busch “Lost Puppy”
Official NFL sponsor Anheuser-Busch has been a Super Bowl staple for decades, and so have the beloved Clydesdale horses that have become synonymous with the brand. Football fans should brace themselves for another spot that will tug at the heartstrings – something the beer brand has a talent for doing. In continuation of last year’s “Puppy Love” spot – featured below – this years “Lost Puppy” looks like it might strike a bit of a fear into viewers. Anheuser-Busch hasn't released the ad in full yet, but here are a few animated gifs on its site to tease the spot.
3. BMW – "Newfangled Idea"
A clip from a 1994 Today show episode has received a new life in BMW’s Super Bowl spot. The retro clip, featuring former Today Show anchors Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel, shows the two TV personalities confused and asking their producers “What is the internet, anyway?” The online success of that resurrected clip has made its way into the automakers commercial who brought back the pair to discuss its i3 electric car. The results are nostalgic and kind of adorable.
4. Loctite – "Super Glue Dance"
Sometimes, the best commercials come from the simplest and silliest of ideas. That’s the case with this year’s Super Bowl spot from Loctite. The spot features normal looking family types – mostly goofy dad types – dancing around with fanny packs full of super glue. It doesn’t make sense, but it sure is entertaining and oddly mesmerizing. The brand certainly has #winatglue down pat.
5. Nationwide – "Invisible Mindy Kaling"
Nationwide was looking to broaden its appeal this year with a Super Bowl spot and enlisted the help of comedian and TV show star Mindy Kaling. In the spot, Kaling imagines all the things she would do if invisible. The idea is that many of the country’s insured feel invisible to big corporations. The teaser leaves you wondering what kind of trouble Kaling is going to get into by acting invisible.
6. NFL -- "NO MORE PSA"
While not exactly an ad, this PSA by the domestic violence awareness campaign NO MORE is likely going to make a splash on game day. The PSA features a 911 call from a woman wanting a police officer to come to her home without tipping off her abuser, still in the same room as her. The PSA is funded by the NFL, which is still somewhat mired in the PR mess of the Ray Rice scandal. The result is a chilling ad that is sure to cast a shadow over the celebrities, cute animals, and other light-hearted fare that typically make up Super Bowl ads.
Mattie Quinn contributed to this feature.
