Millions of dollars are spent trying to make the most of the thirty seconds of airtime during the Super Bowl (Four million dollars into every thirty seconds, to be exact.)
And yes, that means celebrities make cameos. This year, commercial enthusiasts look forward to a reunion of the men from Full House, Ellen DeGeneres, Scarlett Johansson, Bruno Mars, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Terry Crews with the Muppets, just to name a few.
Over the years, there have been quite a few commercials that have stuck with us. Here are some of the best.
Noxema: Farrah Fawcett (1973)
Farrah Fawcett flips her hair and instructs men to use Noxema’s cream for a smooth shave. Not long after this commercial aired, women everywhere would sing this little ditty to their man, encouraging them to shave (just kidding, but the song is catchy enough for that to be believable).
Diet Pepsi: New Neighbor w/ Michael J. Fox (1987)
Clearly Diet Pepsis are key to keep good company. Michael J. Fox searches all over for the drink and has to run out in the rain to finally get one. Its eighties music is so cheesy and the struggle is so real. Classic.
Diet Coke: James Bond vs Ninja w/ Pierce Brosnan (1987)
While trying to open a can of Diet Coke, 007 evades ninjas shooting at him, throwing blades his way, and coming at him with swords.
Pepsi: New Can w/ Cindy Crawford (1992)
Nothing can take away from the new design of Pepsi cans, not even Cindy Crawford. That’s when you know.
Pepsi: Ultimate Beverage w/ Cindy Crawford (1994).
If you don’t drink Pepsi, you won’t look like Cindy Crawford.
Nike: Dennis Hopper (1995)
Dennis Hopper gives a dramatic monologue about passion for football while the Nike logo hangs behind him. It’s not funny, but the energy put into his 90 seconds of Super Bowl commercial fame has more of an effect than a celebrity Vana White-ing a product.
Pepsi Generations w/ Britney Spears (2002)
Britney Spears sings and dances her way through the decades, with a Pepsi in hand. This commercial is probably the shortest period ever.
Mercedes-Benz: Soul w/ Kate Upton, Willem Dafoe (2013)
In an effort to prove that with the right car, you can have the world at your fingertips, Mercedes-Benz seduces viewers with a car under $30,000. This commercial was both flashy and tasteful, showing that if you sell your soul to Willem Dafoe, you can get the car of your dreams, take out Kate Upton, and pretty much rule the world with your never-ending awesomeness.
Samsung Mobile: The Next Big Thing w/ Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd (2013)
Bringing comedy to the forefront, Samsung employs Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd to sit in a brainstorm meeting. Here, they try to come up with ways to sell the “next big thing” (the latest Samsung Galaxy) to cell phone buyers.
Best Buy: Asking Amy w/ Amy Poehler (2013)
Amy Poehler is your worst nightmare in the land of retail. Anyone who finds her wandering around Best Buy should run and hide. Immediately.
Bud Light: Lucky Chair w/ Zoe Saldana (2013)
We all have our game day superstitions. With the power of Stevie Wonder, a hex has been put on a chair of the rival fan. The pair of friends drag the lucky chair all over creation to get to Stevie Wonder’s hideout. The way to gain access to the man behind the magic? A six pack of Bud Light.