Investment-minded babies, sentimental clydesdales, and talking frogs are just a few of the iconic moments from past Super Bowl ads. Every year, audiences anticipate watching the Super Bowl commercials with the expectation that they will be the funniest, most touching, cutest, or most creative ads seen all year long. How did this year’s ads do? Here are some of the commercials that stood out and the reasons they resonated with audiences.
Top Super Bowl 2014 Ads
Doritos Time Machine
[image]
Doritos always seems to find a way to navigate the Super Bowl waters well. The focus on comedy and those serious Doritos cravings has proved to be a magic formula for ad success, but the annual Doritos Super Bowl contest adds depth by showing fans that average Americans can make a great ad and gain a spot in the most coveted airtime. This year, Doritos ads remained light-hearted, but the contest for one million dollars adds a little heart-warming goodness with its American Dream appeal. This year’s million-dollar winner was Ryan Anderson of Scottsdale, Arizona, for his “Time Machine” commercial. The commercial starred Anderson, his son, and his dog and cost less than $300 to make. In this ad, the lengths this kid is willing to go had viewers laughing and admiring his cunning scheme. Check it out on YouTube here.
Chrysler (featuring Bob Dylan)
[image]
“Is there anything more American than America?” Chrysler nailed the sentiment with this commercial by making viewers nostalgic about America and its industrial past. Since the Super Bowl is probably the most American event on television, taking the patriotic road and showing why the U.S.A. is basically awesome got viewers fired up on American spirit. The voice-over by Bob Dylan, who is widely dubbed the greatest American songwriter, adds in that touch of celebrity that boosts Super Bowl ad appeal. Watch this commercial on YouTube now.
T-Mobile and Tim Tebow’s No Contract
[image]
What makes this T-Mobile commercial super is Tim Tebow’s willingness to participate in a little self-depricating humor. Capitalizing on the fact that he did not get an NFL contract, Tebow decides to show us all the amazing accomplishments he’s been able to do without it, including capturing Bigfoot, saving puppies from a fire, and establishing world peace. No contract? No problem! Just don’t try to tell Tim Tebow that his career is over. (He may just prove you wrong!) Check out the video and share a laugh with Tebow here.
Budweiser’s Puppy Love
[image]
It doesn’t take an advertising genius to recognize one of the greatest marketing tools on the planet: puppies. Budweiser knows how to fall back on this tried-and-true method and make audience hearts melt each time. The cuteness of the unlikely “love” story between the puppy and the Budweiser clydesdale is only enhanced with its comical pairing with one of the most popular songs of the season: Passenger’s “Let Her Go.” Ready to indulge in this irresistibly adorable ad? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
Coca-Cola’s “America the Beautiful”
[image]
What we admire about this commercial is its aim to showcase the diversity and freedom that America offers. The sentiment behind it is quite beautiful: America is a mix of different people, cultures, and religions, but we all form one amazing nation. Coca-Cola‘s attempt to celebrate the diversity of the United States was meant to be revolutionary, to take a song all Americans know and use it to celebrate a rich history of freedom and diversity. A stab at innovative greatness, however, can backfire, and Coca-Cola has surely heard a backlash from many Americans who don’t want their traditional American song messed with. Great moments often go hand-in-hand with great controversy, which is just one added reason this Super Bowl ad makes our list. See what people are buzzing about and watch the video here.
