The best — and the rest — of the star-studded 2023 Super Bowl commercials
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The only time people actually look forward to watching commercials is upon us, also known as the Super Bowl. By now it's become tradition to have ads stuffed to the gills with celebs during the exorbitantly-priced airtime, all in service of chips, micro or nacho.
If you're not that interested in the matchup between Abbott Elementary's beloved Philadelphia Eagles and whatever show stans the Kansas City Chiefs, you're in the right place! EW's compiled all the best spots... and the other commercials from the Big Game.
This year, brands spared no expense in securing film legends, TV legends, sports legends, and John Legend (maybe). Some ads are gonna be hits, others are gonna be flops, and still others will be a reminder that Rihanna is performing so let's just keep this show moving.
PopCorners; Paramount Plus; Squarespace 2023 Super Bowl ads
Here, the best — followed by the rest — of Super Bowl 2023 ads so far.
Squarespace
Is there really anything remotely close to "too much" Adam Driver? Sure, he may not be shirtless on a horse (and then becoming a horse?), but a set overrun with Adam Drivers who still find it difficult working with one another is like a little bit of whimsy repeating. Just weird and delightful. You did it, Adam Driver.
Rakuten
It may not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty, but Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz is always a welcome addition to the party. What better ambassador for shopping till dropping than this Clueless queen?
Avocados From Mexico
Wait, avocados are fruits? I guess that tracks, seed being on the inside and what have you, but still feels wrong. What does feel right, however, is Anna Faris, a gifted comedic actress we just don't get enough of. So much of what dictates a good, or passable, Super Bowl commercial is the casting. And when in doubt, a beloved and underrated character actress will always come through. And a bunch of naked folks never hurt either.
Pepsi
Steve Martin gives a master class in ACTING. That idea could sell an ad, a TV show, a film trilogy, whatever you got, but Pepsi got him first. Smart.
Paramount+
Paramount's stalwart Mountain of Entertainment, a running gag of an ad for the past few years, brings in the big guns with Sylvester Stallone. In an ode to his 1993 blockbuster Cliffhanger, Stallone hangs precariously off his own chiseled face before succumbing to its mighty sneeze. This isn't just stunt-casting, however, as Stallone stars on Paramount+'s Tulsa King and the upcoming docuseries The Family Stallone.
Doritos
Doritos has been teasing this commercial for awhile, something about Jack Harlow and a love triangle... and pop culture icon Missy Elliott is involved. Doritos loves to go big or go home when it comes to their Super Bowl ads, but will this one be worth the hype? You know, yes. Something as absurd as Harlow turning the triangle into the hottest thing on the planet, all set to one of the greatest disco tracks ever, Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell," along with a completely gratuitous Elton John cameo? Well-played, Doritos. Well. Played.
Pepsi
Pepsi knocked it out of the park twice, this time with Ben Stiller (with a cameo from Rachel F---ing Dratch and Zoolander).
Sam Adams
Move over, Flo from Progressive, Your Cousin From Boston may be our new fave fictional commercial character... what world are we living in? Well, that's also on Your Cousin's mind as he imagines what a "brighter Boston" might look like. It's got some well-earned chuckles and a cameo from Celtics great Kevin Garnett.
M&Ms
M&Ms, or rather, Ma&Yas made Maya Rudolph its spokesperson after some mishegas with the walking, talking candy-people it's been using for decades. But in the capable-ish hands of Rudolph, we got clams in our Ma&Yas. Yum...? Unsurprisingly, Maya's chewy, chunky, clammy direction for the company brought back the OG spokescandies — for good this time. But at least we'll always have the candy-coated clam-mories.
Dunkin' Donuts
One of the most highly-anticipated Super Bowl commercials was also one of the worst kept secrets. Ben Affleck working the Dunkin drive-thru with a cameo from his lady love Jennifer Lopez. Still, like that first sip of coffee in the morning, this ad still hits like the best part of wakin' up. Viva Le Bennifer!
Michelob Ultra
Michelob went full-blown Caddyshack, with a three-minute spot starring tennis great Serena Williams trying her iconic swing with a golf club, and everyone's favorite (?) dad Succession's Brian Cox. This feels like a Super Bowl ad: it's big, it's kinda dumb, but it's still pretty fun. Brian Cox yelling at someone is always fun. A Bill Murray cameo would've put it over the top, though.
T-Mobile
Bradley Cooper brought his fave Oscars date, his mom Gloria, as his date to this Super Bowl ad. From the jump, it's clear this is Gloria's ad. Cooper is dressed as a T-Mobile employee and Gloria immediately hits him with a "I don't like the way you look." Now this is A Star Is Born.
e.l.f. Cosmetics
This is Jennifer Coolidge's world and we're just living in it. The folks at e.l.f. tapped White Lotus auteur Mike White to make Coolidge's dream of playing a dolphin at least partially come true. Skin like a baby dolphin is almost as good as going full Flipper.
The beauty brand followed up their Coolidge moment with some '90s nostalgia, launching a campaign with Saved by the Bell alum Mario Lopez announcing their "Sticky Shop" merch in March.
General Motors x Netflix
Will Ferrell drives his way into various Netflix shows before they get canceled like Squid Game, Bridgerton, and Stranger Things using GM's electric vehicles. Why? Because these ads are expensive and Netflix offers commercials now.
Busch
Sarah McLachlan (in a terrific blowout) went from being in the arms of the angel to the sights of a wolf for Busch, a tongue in cheek reference to her ads for the Humane Society that left even the burliest mountain man in a puddle of tears. The mix of "Angel," McLachlan's weepy 1998 single, and her earnest delivery with the montage of fuzzy forest animals is just the right mix of stupid that, for just pennies a day, can save up for a sequel to this ad.
Uber One
Diddy doesn't make jingles, but he does recruit everyone from Montell Jordan to Kelis to make a hit for Uber. Anyone who brings '90s whisper queen Donna Lewis out of whatever coffee shop she's been hiding in deserves some props.
Crown Royal
Dave Grohl and Crown Royal teamed up to thank Canada for all it's given us — Céline Dion and Catherine O'Hara, among other, lesser things — and really makes an argument for giving a bit more love and respect to our neighbor to the north. Just a little.
BIC
America's favorite stoners — Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, and Martha Stewart — join a cypher for BIC lighters, but this being a national ad, there's no herb to be found. Except maybe if you pan 30 inches in any direction.
Hyundai
Kevin Bacon with a fanny pack. It's not wrong, it's certainly not right, but now I can't unsee it. The Baconator goes full on dad with his daughter Sosie and they even put the man in Crocs. That's commitment.
Bud Light
Miles Teller and his wife Keliegh star in this ode to the low-key bops used for hold music. Simple, but effective. And that Miles Teller's got some moves.
Booking.com
National treasure Melissa McCarthy in multiple wigs and costumes? Sold. Whatever it is. Oh, and it's for vacations? Win-win, baby.
Pluto TV
Drew Barrymore is falling for Pluto TV, literally. And it's all just for the drama of it all, which I both respect and appreciate it. Much like Drew Barrymore's dramatic work. Grey Gardens, anyone?
Google Pixel
It's creepy that you can just erase people out of photos, right? But how about Amy Schumer and Doja Cat? That makes it less creepy, right? We're living in strange times.
Downy
We all knew Downy's "mysterious" hoodie-sniffing celeb was Danny McBride based off that distinctive voice alone. But changing his name to Downy McBride? We all deserve better than that. But McBride is nothing if not a game performer and his charm (and some DMX) can't help but be... unstoppable.
Pringles
Getting your hand stuck in a can of Pringles apparently happens to the best of us, even Meghan Trainor... and a fetus, raising that age-old question: Which came first, the Pringle or the egg?
Hellmann's
Jon Hamm and Brie Larson are stuck in a fridge. Hamm and Brie. Brie and Hamm. Sure. Next thing you know Pete Davidson is threatening to eat them both. Like Hamm says, "That's weird." Not quite weird enough, though.
T-Mobile
As much as I don't want to like this ad — and it's a lot — dammit, the passing of Olivia Newton-John still stings and John Travolta recreating "Summer Nights" from Grease with Scrubs besties Donald Faison and Zach Braff is cute enough to excuse the rest of the cringe. Which, again, is a lot.
Planters
Mr. Peanut, still alive and kicking, is getting roasted by none other than Roast Master General Jeff Ross and some other comedians with a nut to grind. Honestly, after that nonsense with Mr. Peanut's death/retirement a few years back, I think we're all looking forward to that pantless legume getting his comeuppance.
Draft Kings
It wouldn't be the Super Bowl without some legally sanctioned betting, and Draft Kings drafted a host of celebs this year, including Kevin Hart, Tony Hawk, Ludacris, David Ortiz, Lisa Leslie, and, for some reason, The Undertaker. It's a lot to cram into 30 seconds — too much some would say. Though it's kind of worth it just to see Hart smack a plate out of David Ortiz's giant hand.
Heineken
While we can debate the merits of an alcohol-free beer — or another Ant-Man movie —we can all agree on Paul Rudd.
Nissan
We've got another electric vehicle ad, this time without Netflix, and Brie Larson turning up again. It's pretty straightforward as car commercials go, which should be a good thing, but not when Will Ferrell's binge-hopping.
Skechers
Snoop is one of several celebs double-dipping in Super Bowl ads this year, with BFF Martha Stewart again in tow, the Doggfather slips into another commercial for Skechers. Points for eternal banger "Who Am I (What's My Name)?" in the background.
Rémy Martin
For a retiree, Serena Williams sure is busy this Super Bowl, with her second spot, this one for Rémy Martin. While not as dumb/fun as Michelob, but who can't benefit from a pep talk from the G.O.A.T.?
Dexcom
Nick Jonas and his distracting arms return for a second year on behalf of the diabetes monitoring tech giant Dexcom. To be fair, Jonas' arms are doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
Experian
John Cena is like Gene Kelly with 19-inch biceps. The man loves to put on a show. But don't hold that against him. Experian, however, did our man dirty by making him sing and dance about paying rent. In this economy?! Read the room, Jonathan Larson... the guy who wrote the musical Rent.
Workday
Rock stars are reclaiming their time in this ad from Workday. But at this point, can't we just let Ozzy Osbourne rest?
PopCorners
Sometimes it's nice to see beloved characters back on TV, especially if they met a grisly end. And sometimes, it's best that stay dead—or in Alaska. This might've been one of those times. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul reprised their Breaking Bad roles, but not even eight flavors could save this ad.
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