Revisit legendary Super Bowl ads from Google, Pepsi, Apple, Nike, McDonald's and more

NEED TO KNOW

• The yearly Super Bowl has come to be known for its commercials as much as the epic football game itself
• Companies like Google, Pepsi, Apple, Nike, McDonald’s and more have produced ads that have become part of pop culture
• Before this year’s game, revisit some of the most memorable Super Bowl commercials of all time

The Super Bowl isn't just about what happens on the field — it's also about what happens during commercial breaks.

Over the years, the ads that air during football's biggest game of the year have taken on a life of their own, becoming can't-miss entertainment and important additions to pop culture as brands compete to make the biggest impact as tens of millions of viewers are glued to the screen.

These commercials have come to feature A-list stars, hilarious gags, emotional storylines all in an attempt to leave a lasting impression — with the lucky few have even become legendary and quotable years later.

Before the Seattle Seahawks face off against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 8, revisit some of the most iconic Super Bowl ads of all time.

Pepsi's "Joy of Pepsi" (2001)

Football hasn't been the same since Britney Spears ripped off her Pepsi jumpsuit at the beginning of this iconic 2001 ad.

For her debut commercial as a Pepsi spokesperson, Spears performed an original song that redefined the pop in soda pop. Backed by dancing Pepsi "employees," the singer turned the beverage factory into a stage with her bubbly personality and showstopping choreography.

Between "Joy of Pepsi" and her feature in the halftime performance, Spears clearly won Super Bowl XXXV.

[Editors' note: Pepsi has had so many iconic spots it was hard to choose just one! Other editor favorites included this Cindy Crawford roadside moment from 1992; this time-traveling Spears spot from 2002 and the time Beyoncé, Spears and Pink were gladiators in a stadium overseen by Emperor Enrique Iglesias in 2004.]

Volkswagen's "The Force" (2011)

Super Bowl viewers first watched a miniature Darth Vader try to summon "The Force'' in 2011, but its hold on our imaginations has been strong ever since.

The adorable advertisement opens with the pint-sized Star Wars villain stalking around his home, trying (and failing) to make things happen with the power of his mind as "The Imperial March" plays in the background. When Dad pulls into the driveway in his Volkswagen Passat, the costumed kid tries his hand at commanding the car — and to his surprise, the effort works, thanks to a secret helping hand from Dad inside the house.

Max Page, the boy behind the mask, would remain in the public eye as a pediatric health advocate. Page was born with a congenital heart condition that required several surgical procedures throughout his lifetime.

In 2018, Page spoke to PEOPLE about how he turned his experience into a means to help other kids undergoing similar complications and how his Super Bowl XLV ad changed his life forever, saying, "It was more than I could have ever imagined, especially at 7. I didn't even know what a Super Bowl commercial meant; I didn't understand the magnitude it would have. For it to become something of this caliber is just awesome."

Budweiser's "Whassup?" (1999)

In 1999, Budweiser asked one simple question that can still be heard today: "Whassup?"

The iconic ad features several friends checking in on the phone, prompting each other with the exaggerated greeting that necessitates a floppy tongue and open mouth. Bookending the chorus of "Whassup" are two friends having a simple exchange, both with one hand on the phone and another on their Budweiser beer bottles. Both friends ask each other what's up, and both answer, "Nothing. Just watching the game, having a Bud."

The clip originally aired during Monday Night Football in December 1999, earning iconic status during the 2000 Super Bowl. The ripple effect of "Whassup?" still shows in today's pop culture. The commercial — based on the short film True — won the Grand Prix award at the International Advertising Festival in Cannes, a Clio Award and a place in the latter program's hall of fame.

It has been parodied in films like 2000's Scary Movie and Adam Sandler's That's My Boy in 2012 and referenced on TV shows, including The Simpsons, Friends and The Office. Budweiser also revived the iconic catchphrase in 2020 as part of its "Checking In, That's Whassup" campaign. The new ad encouraged friends to check in with each other during the COVID-19 pandemic and featured stars like power couple Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union.

E*TRADE's "Monkey" (2000)

E*TRADE's famous dancing monkey kicked off the 21st century with an unforgettably eccentric scene made possible by a comically large budget.

The ad sees a monkey dancing next to two men in flannel shirts to the simple soundtrack of "La Cucaracha." Standing atop a bucket, the superstar primate flails about in his E*TRADE-branded T-shirt until the song finishes and text appears on the screen as a punchline.

"Well, we just wasted $2,000,000. What are you doing with your money?" read the company's tagline.

Snickers' "You're Not You When You're Hungry" (2010)

This 2010 Snickers ad takes its tagline, "You're not you when you're hungry," to a new level. You're more than just "not yourself." You're Betty White.

The clip featured a group of guys and the late Golden Girls star playing a game of football. When one player throws the ball to White, she's brutally tackled by an opponent into a puddle of mud. Approaching the huddle, the other guys on her team critique her "sloppy" performance; one of them even complains, "You're playing like Betty White out there," to which the actress replies, bitingly, "That's not what your girlfriend says!"

At that point, a woman jogs onto the field to encourage White to "eat a Snickers." It takes only one bite for White to transform back into Mike, ready to get back into the game.

The commercial ends with the bit continuing, this time showing another player as late Barney Miller actor Abe Vigoda.

Old Spice's "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" (2010)

In 2010, Old Spice urged viewers to stop settling for men who smell like ordinary soap. The heartthrob spokesperson, Isaiah Mustafa, takes viewers on a romantic journey "with the man your man could smell like," including tickets to "that thing you love," a handful of diamonds and a beachside horseback ride. Seems unlikely? "Anything is possible when your man smells like Old Spice," Mustafa offers.

E*TRADE's "Baby" (2008)

In 2008, E*TRADE introduced an unlikely spokesperson for a financial services corporation: a baby. In the many advertisements that followed his on-air debut during Super Bowl XLII, the E*TRADE baby — voiced by comedian Pete Holmes — proved he could handle his money and investments thanks to the company's help.

The E*TRADE baby has returned numerous times for commercials throughout the years.

e.l.f. Cosmetics' "In e.l.f. We Trust" (2024)

e.l.f. Cosmetics makes its case in this hilarious, over-the-top legal drama for Super Bowl 2024, where the only crime is paying too much for foundation.

Presiding over the courtroom is Judge Judy Sheindlin, with Gina Torres standing accused of overspending by her former Suits costar Rick Hoffman, who leads the charge against her. Stacked with surprise cameos — including Suits star Sarah Rafferty as the stenographer, Meghan Trainor as a reporter and Jury Duty's Ronald Gladden, future Overcompensating star Benito Skinner and RuPaul's Drag Race alum Heidi N Closet as jurors — the courtroom showdown comes to a head with a no-nonsense (but affordable) verdict: e.l.f.'s $14 Halo Glow Liquid Filter is all you need. Court adjourned!

Budweiser's "Respect" (2002)

Ever since the Clydesdale horses first appeared in Budweiser Super Bowl ads in 1986, the graceful animals have been making football lovers smile, laugh and cry through game breaks. One of the most moving and memorable Budweiser commercials played nationwide in 2002, and then it never aired again.

The clip, titled "Respect," was a tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks just months prior. The emotional advertisement shows the horses trotting from the countryside to the city. The pack of Clydesdales pull the iconic red Budweiser carriage across the Brooklyn Bridge and then collectively bowed toward the Manhattan skyline.

Apple's "1984" (1984)

The world met the Apple Macintosh computer during Super Bowl XVIII. The one-minute ad opens on a dystopian vision of technology and the future from George Orwell's 1949 novel 1984, showing gray-suited drones marching through a tunnel in a single-file line. As the mindless figures stare at a projection, a woman wearing colorful athletic shorts and a tank emblazoned with an illustration of the Macintosh runs in and hurls a sledgehammer into the screen, resulting in a blinding flash that washes over the crowd and presumably undoes the brainwashing.

The legendary 1984 commercial — which earned several accolades, including a Clio Award — finishes with a narrated message of hope for the trailblazing tech company: "On January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you'll see why 1984 won't be like 1984."

McDonald's "The Showdown" (1993)

This McDonald's ad featuring two NBA legends became an instant classic when it first aired during Super Bowl XXVII in 1993. Larry Bird offers to play Michael Jordan for the Big Mac and fries Jordan brought for lunch, declaring that the "first one to miss watches the winner eat."

With such high stakes on the line, the duo matches each other's every shot. Their talents are so well-matched that, at one point, Jordan looks into the camera and tells viewers, "I think we're gonna be here a while. I suggest you go get a Big Mac."

As the shootout goes on, the players go to further extremes to get the coveted McDonald's meal, with the challenges getting tougher and tougher. The ball continues to swish into the basket — "nothing but net" — and the game is still going even after the McDonald's jingle plays.

Budweiser's "Frogs" (1995)

The world first met frogs "Bud," "Weis" and "Er" during a commercial break for 1995's Super Bowl XXIX. In the ad, the trio gathers in a swampy setting to croak out their names in succession, eventually stringing them together to say the beer company's full name. When the camera pans above the rocks and lily pads, a neon Budweiser sign appears and glows over the slimy spokesfrogs.

Coca-Cola's "Hey Kid, Catch!" (1980)

Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle "Mean" Joe Greene softens up a bit in the Coca-Cola commercial that aired during Super Bowl XIV in 1980, though it made its official TV debut in 1979.

The acclaimed ad begins as Greene hobbles off the field toward the locker room, having just gotten injured during gameplay. He's stopped by a young kid who sweetly asks if he needs help, but Greene dismisses him and keeps walking.

What does stop him in his tracks? The kid asking, "Want my Coke?" After some convincing, Greene takes the soda bottle with gratitude as the soundtrack croons: "A Coke and a smile makes me feel good!" A cheerful Greene calls out to the kid as he's leaving the tunnel: "Hey, kid — catch!" The young fan receives the legendary player's jersey with a huge grin.

In an action-packed blast from the past, Coca-Cola released a follow-up ad for its Coca-Cola Mini product during the Super Bowl 50 in 2016. It featured Marvel's Hulk and Ant-Man recreating the memorable jersey moment — this time with a tinier Coca-Cola bottle instead.

Wendy's "Where's the Beef" (1984)

Thought officially titled "Fluffy Bun," it's the iconic catchphrase from this ad — "where's the beef?" — that really took the world by storm thanks to a memorable delivery by actress Clara Peller. Decades later and the line is still regularly used, often totally divorced from its original context. This 1984 ad features three elderly women examining a competitor's burger with a critical eye for its too-big bun and too-small meat patty.

Dunkin' Donuts' "Drive-Thru" (2023)

Ben Affleck posed as a drive-thru attendant in this hilarious 2023 Dunkin's Super Bowl spot, surprising (most) of the fast-food chain's customers. The ad also features a fun cameo by Affleck's now ex-wife, multi-hyphenate superstar Jennifer Lopez, with whom he finalized his divorce in January 2025.

Subsequent years have featured Affleck's return, featuring him teaming up with Matt Damon and Tom Brady in 2024 and him adding Casey Affleck, Bill Belichick and Jeremy Strong into the mix for 2025. What will future DunKings ads give us? Only time will tell.

The Farmer's Dog's "Forever" (2023)

The Farmer's Dog introduced a Labrador named Bear in this heartwarming Super Bowl ad. The commercial, described as a "love letter to dogs," follows Bear growing up alongside a young girl named Ava, staying by her side throughout her life's biggest moments. This one really tugs at our heartstrings.

Uber Eats' "Don't Forget" (2024)

A case of A-list amnesia is going around in Uber Eats' 2024 Super Bowl ad.

Somehow, Jennifer Aniston completely forgets who David Schwimmer is — despite working with him for 10 years on Friends. "Have we met?" she asks, leaving her former costar stunned.

Meanwhile, David Beckham and Spice Girls singer Victoria Beckham struggle to recall the name of the successful girl group she's famous for — is it the Basil Babes or the Paprika Girls?

The commercial also features Jelly Roll forgetting he has several face tattoos and Usher dreaming of wanting to perform at the halftime show during the big game, probably not realizing he's set to headline Super Bowl LVIII any moment now.

Uber Eats isn't just delivering food — it's dishing up comedy gold, too!

Google's "Parisian Love" (2010)

Leave it to Google to tell an effective love story using only web searches and still make us swoon in the process. The romantic ad takes the viewer on someone's life journey: looking at study abroad programs in Paris, tips for flirting with French women, jobs in Paris, wedding venues and, finally, how to assemble a crib.

Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, wrote in a blog post about the spot, "We didn't set out to do a Super Bowl ad, or even a TV ad for search. Our goal was simply to create a series of short online videos about our products and our users, and how they interact."

Nike's "So Win" (2025)

Nike took on the double standards female athletes face in their daily lives and sports careers with an ad featured during Super Bowl LIX in 2025.

The spot, titled "So Win," is narrated by rapper Doechii and centers around several of the most recognized and celebrated women in sports today: gymnast Jordan Chiles, basketball player Caitlin Clark, basketball player Sabrina Ionescu, track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson, basketball player A’ja Wilson and soccer player Sophia Wilson (formerly Smith) all showing off their impressive skills.

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