From left to right: Eugene Levy, Zendaya, and Lindsay Lohan, appearing in ads for Nissan, SquareSpace, and Planet Fitness, respectively (Screenshots)
Television commercials are an annoyance every day of the year, except for Super Bowl Sunday, when these star-studded ads become an event unto themselves. In the past, you typically had to wait until game day to watch them all, but since we’re in the digital age, most of this year’s offerings were released online well in advance. That gave us time to put together some of our favorites, so we could just sit back and watch the Los Angeles Rams claim victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on February 13.
As usual, there was an onslaught of clever campaigns, but we narrowed down the 10 best Super Bowl commercials of the year.
General Motors: Mike Myers becomes “Evil” again
What it’s about: Dr. Evil is back! Yeah, baby! Mike Myers, Seth Green, Rob Lowe, and Mindy Sterling reprise their beloved roles to promote General Motors’ line of electric vehicles. While there’s no sign of fembots, Mr. Bigglesworth, or aging hipsters, fans of the Austin Powers films will enjoy a commercial of this caliber.
Nissan: Emmy winner Eugene Levy becomes a Thrill Driver
What it’s about: Eugene Levy continues his tour through world of celebrity-brand collaborations—you might have already caught his appearances in ads for Capital One and NICE. The Schitt’s Creek star dons a wig and some glamorous threads in this Nissan ad, which “co-stars” Brie Larson (), Danai Gurira, and Dave Bautista. It’s part car commercial, part The Fast And The Furious parody… and may also lead to Levy joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
What it’s about: Multi-hyphenate André 3000 narrates this alliteration-ridden commercial that stars Zendaya as Sally, who goes from selling seashells by the seashore to selling shiny seashell sequins skirts and sarongs. Given all the heavy lifting she’s been doing on the HBO drama , Zendaya could probably use the break.
Lay’s: Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen love each other, man
What it’s about: Bromigos Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd sure have been through a lot together. In this commercial, they recall the good times (singing along to Shania Twain songs on a road trip), the bad times (being kidnapped by a stalker), and the time they stumbled into a turf war. Through it all, Lay’s potato chips were always there, somehow a more reliable presence in the lives of Rudd and Rogen than Judd Apatow, Jason Segel, or Jonah Hill.
Amazon: Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost adjust to life with Alexa
What it’s about: Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost imagine a world where Alexa can read your mind. It’s as terrifying as you’d expect, but also quite humorous because Johansson—who voiced an exceedingly charming A.I. in —brings it as the goofball to Jost’s straight man. The couple is adorable, and Amazon feeding into the paranoia of smart devices listening in on conversations certainly hits the mark. But the commercial also inadvertently points to one of Alexa’s biggest shortcomings: The system can’t set reminders for you to fake your own death to get out of something you don’t want to do.
Planet Fitness: Lindsay Lohan plans a comeback
What it’s about: “What’s gotten into Lindsay Lohan?” You’ll be wondering that yourself as she crushes Dennis Rodman in Jeopardy!, bedazzles Danny “Machete” Trejo’s ankle monitor, and works out with William Shatner. Lohan gamely pokes fun at herself while Captain Kirk narrates the latest development in her life. The playful ad toys with the reformed partygoer’s ways, and may be the first step in a comeback. (Or maybe already has her on that path.)
Hellman’s: Pete Davidson admits he’s “very hittable”
What it’s about: Former New England Patriots linebacker and current Pats assistant coach Jerod Mayo is picking up where office linebacker Terry Tate left off, tackling those who most deserve it but don’t see it coming. In this anti-food waste ad, the appropriately named Mayo bulldozes unsuspecting men, women, senior citizens, and Pete Davidson, who confesses that he’s “very hittable.” Mayo is clearly good at tackling, but the Patriots coaching staff might give him a hard time next season, as his Hellman’s-themed uniform makes it look like he plays for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Busch Beer: Kenny G pairs light jazz with some light beer
What it’s about: It wouldn’t be a Super Bowl without the dulcet sounds of Kenny G, which this ad for Busch Beer Lite is happy to provide. The sax master delivers perfectly smooth notes as a cast of outdoorsy characters sing a modernized version of the familiar “Head For The Mountains” Busch jingle. A giant Kenny G blasting his sax on top of a mountain range is a clear sign that the Kenaissance is still going strong.
Flamin’ Hot Doritos: Animals go wild for these new chips
What it’s about: What would a sloth, a deer, and a bear do if they tasted a Flamin’ Hot Dorito? Bust out in song and sing “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa, of course. Because the new Flamin’ Hot Doritos are so spicy, they have to gasp. Throw in a beatboxing fox, bass-dropping ox, and singing cardinal, and you have a song that will be stuck in your head for the rest of the night.
PepsiCo: The Manning brothers pave the road to the Super Bowl
What it’s about: No Super Bowl broadcast is complete without the NFL’s favorite brothers, Eli and Peyton Manning. The duo are in fine form, trading good-natured barbs while hanging out with other NFL greats Jerome Bettis, Victor Cruz, and Terry Bradshaw. Just be sure to cover your ears at the end. Eli Manning, Cruz, and Bettis may have Super Bowl rings, but their rendition of Olivia Rodrigo’s “good 4 u” is only fodder for jokester Peyton Manning.
