As far as ads are concerned, Super Bowl XLIX will be remembered as the year of the rookie. While staples like Doritos, Bud Light and Budweiser recycled old concepts for their commercials, first-time advertisers took back the night with creative, fun and hilarious ads that will be talked about long after everyone forgets Malcolm Butler’s interception on the goal line.
While some charts had the usual suspects like Budweiser and Doritos ranking high, the commercials that impressed us the most stood out for their ingenuity, humor and boldness. And many of them were from rookie advertisers. Well done newbies!
1. WIX
See how this ad was made!
This unknown player got an early head start. They first launched their exciting social media campaign early in January 2015 and little by little let us know what they were up to with teasers, tweets and Facebook posts featuring Brett Favre (as a deli owner), Terrell Owens (as a baker of “Humble Pies”), Emmitt Smith (as a club owner whose got the moves), Franco Harris (a wedding planner) and Larry Allen (a one-man tow company).
And as if that wasn’t enough, they brought on Rex Lex from the Entourage to help pull it all together.
By the time the extended cut of their commercial was released in late January, we were already checking back at their hub (#ItsThatEasy) regularly to see more of their funny posts.
We were worried about how they would pull it off in just 30 seconds, but Wix blew the competition out of the water with their smart, funny and creative ad. They managed to cap off an outstanding campaign with an unforgettable commercial.
2. BMW
If this is what the future looks like, we can’t wait to get there! BMW created one of the most ingenious, hilarious Super Bowl ads we have ever seen. The automaker hadn’t advertised in the Super Bowl since 2011 and that was after a decade of sitting on the sidelines. Maybe they’d been waiting all these years to come up with the perfect ad.
The commercial for their electric i3 made a strong case for “big ideas take a little getting used to.” It featured a real life clip from 1994 where Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric struggle to explain what email and the Internet are all about. Fast forward to 2015 and they’re trying to wrap their heads around the concept of an electric car. Props to Gumbel and Couric for letting us all have a good laugh at their expense.
3. MOPHIE
The say not to mess with politics or religion, but those motherfuckers at Mophie paid no heed! They first showed their bravado by being the first company to sign up for an ad spot in Super Bowl 2015 despite the fact that it had been a controversial year for the NFL. And then - the ad - well. They made celebrities like Matt Damon seem irrelevant by giving God a starring role in their spot. Throwing caution to the wind, they created an unforgettable Super Bowl commercial which will surely be talked about. Mophie will now be talked about at every office in America. Mission accomplished. God Help Them.
4. AVOCADOS FROM MEXICO
We were skeptical when we first heard that avocados would be advertised in the Super Bowl. How dare a health food sneak its way onto our tv screens while we are trying to gorge ourselves on wings and chips! But with the help of Jerry Rice and Doug Flutie, Avocados From Mexico managed to create a hilarious ad called “The First Draft Ever.” The ad made us want to simultaneously mix up a big bowl of guac and book a trip to sunny Mexico! We also gave them bonus points for keeping it about football - and for mentioning Mauritius.
5. CLASH OF CLANS
Clash of Clans was one of three mobile video games to advertise during the Big Game in 2015, and while they stayed under the radar in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, they came through with a fabulous spot starring Liam Neeson (in character from Taken). We’ve all been there, so absorbed in a game of Candy Crush that we miss it went the barista calls our name. Clash of Clans did a great job of taking a niche product and turning it into something that everyone watching could relate to and laugh it. Makes you want to go out and seek some Revenge, doesn’t it?
6. SNICKERS
Admittedly, Snickers isn’t a first-timer but they managed to pull off an outstanding ad, even if it was using the same tagline (“You’re not you when you are hungry!”) that has brought them success for several years now. Who woulda thought they could top their Betty White ad from Super Bowl 2010? But the Brady Bunch parody with Danny Trajo and Steve Buscemi was brilliant.
Will rookies again take the cake for the best commercials in Super Bowl 50? Only time will tell…
While we wait for the 2016 Super Bowl advertisers to start releasing their teasers and clips, sit back, crack open a beer and check out the best of past Super Bowl ads right here.
