With Super Bowl XLVII only 2 days away, we thought it would be appropriate to take a walk down memory lane with some of the best Super Bowl ads of all time. This year, CBS sold all its available commercial time by January 8, 2013 – nearly a month before the big game. It’s estimated that the average cost of a 30 second advertisement this year falls between $3.7 to $3.8 million…with such high stakes, it’s no wonder why Super Bowl commercials can be as exciting as the game itself. Check these winners out!

Volkswagen – “The Force” (2011)

This Volkswagen commercial brings about a sense of nostalgia as a young Star Wars fan impersonates Darth Vader and uses the Force on the 2012 Passat in his driveway.

Apple – “1984” (1984)

A revolutionary commercial at the time, this Apple ad first aired during the 1984 Super Bowl halftime and astounded viewers. The commercial, directed by Ridley Scott, received 4 awards, and is considered by many to be the best Apple ad ever.

NFL – “Best Fans Ever” (2011)

In a montage of clips from popular TV shows and movies, the NFL pays tribute to its fans with this fantastic ad.

Pepsi – “Gotta Have It” (1991)

Cindy Crawford takes front and center with this ad showcasing the redesign of the new Pepsi can. While it initially appears that the young boys are memorized by Crawford, their attention is actually on the newly designed can.

Doritos, “Pug Attack” (2011)

Do you think taunting a dog with Doritos it a good idea? This funny ad depicts exactly how it won’t turn out in your favour!

Heineken – Brad Pitt (2008)

Paparazzi and crowds of screaming fans won’t stop Pitt from grabbing some Heineken in this 2008 Super Bowl commercial.

Budweiser – “What’s Up?” (1998)

Sup? Nothing man. Just watching the game, having a Bud…

Best Buy – “Justin Bieber & Ozzy Osbourne” (2011)

This Best Buy commercial featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Justin Bieber humorously captures how fast technology moves while also poking fun at these famous celebrities.

Victoria’s Secret – “After the Games” (2008)

To drive Valentine’s Day sales, Victoria’s Secret launched this commercial during the 2008 Super Bowl. Despite paying millions to have their ad aired during the big game, this commercial was a risky strategy since it aired during the fourth quarter of the game – generally the lowest watched quarter unless the game is close.  Luckily for the lingerie company, this particular game was extremely close in the fourth quarter, making this commercial the most viewed ad that day.

M&M’s – “Sexy and I Know It” (2012)

Short, sweet, and funny, this ad shows that  M&M’s really aren’t your ordinary candy!

What’s your favourite Super Bowl ad? Tell us in the comments!

About the Author

After graduating from the HBA program at the Richard Ivey School of Business, Aaliyah launched her career as Marketing Coordinator at Uberflip! Prior to her HBA, Aaliyah also completed a Bachelor in English at Western University.

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