The Best and Worst Ads from Super Bowl 2025

Super Bowl Sunday is not just the biggest day in football — it’s also the biggest day for brands to show off their most creative, funniest and most outrageous commercials, while millions of viewers are tuned in for the showdown on the field. And while the ads have always been a topic of chatter both at Super Bowl viewing parties and at work the next day, with the advent of social media, the best commercials get major buzz even days before the big game.

Read on for the best advertisements — and a few that got mixed reactions.

Best Throwback: Hellman’s

Meg Ryan told PEOPLE “the timing was right” to revisit one of the most memorable scenes in all of movie history: The faux orgasm at Katz’s Deli from When Harry Met Sally. She and co-star Billy Crystal reunited over a sandwich — made ecstasy-inducing with a squirt of Hellman’s — and a new star to deliver the iconic “I’ll have what she’s having” line.

Best Use of Nostalgia: Instacart

Considering nostalgia is most people’s second language at this point, this spot crammed with favorite grocery mascots over the years (Chester Cheetah! The Kool-Aid Man! The Old Spice guy!) all showing up at your house courtesy of — you guessed it — was designed to hit that sweet spot.

Unlikeliest Pairing: Stella Artois

David Beckham finds out he has a twin in the U.S., the “other David,” and tries to find common ground with him. It looks dire … until he realizes “Dave Beckham” (played by Matt Damon) has a killer kick and likes Stella Artois. Bonus: Stay tuned for the Ben Affleck dig at the end!

Best Use of Flying Facial Hair: Pringles

Adam Brody blows a siren call into a Pringles can … and famous mustaches, from Nick Offerman’s to Andy Reid’s, fly off their owner’s faces and carry cans of Pringles to heed the call. Weird, but it works.

Similar Execution, Still Funny: Little Caesar’s

Little Caesar’s cheesy puffs delight Eugene Levy so much, his famous eyebrows get raised right off his head and go on a grand tour — ending up as a mustache on a baby, kings to awed caterpillars and even alighting on daughter Sarah’s hand before returning to his face. Possibly too close to comfort to Pringles’, but it aired first and earned a laugh.

Happiest to Be Mad: Ritz

Aubrey Plaza, Michael Shannon and a rule-breaking Bad Bunny assemble in a room full of salty people, with Plaza and Shannon determined to be even saltier than the crackers. Bad Bunny starts out smiling, but quickly joins the poker faced club so he can stay and snack on Ritz.

Most FOMO-Inducing: Bud Light

Peyton Manning, Post Malone and Shane Gillis are the neighbors you want at the end of the block, showing up to save an otherwise lame yard party. We only shudder to think of how many people are going to try to launch beers with their leaf blowers this summer.

Best Stand Up-and-Salute: Jeep

Harrison Ford starred in this “rumination on life” directed by Oscar nominee James Mangold, in which he declares that life doesn’t come with an owner’s manual, so each person has to pursue their own life, liberty and happiness. “Freedom is for everybody, but it isn’t free, it’s earned,” he says in the ad, before mediating on what freedom truly means. “This Jeep makes me happy, even though my name is Ford,” he concludes. America!

Most Tear-Jerking: Google Pixel

A heart-tugging look at how parenting a daughter from infancy through college has made a man uniquely qualified for the job to which he’s applying. Even if you’re squeamish at the dystopian humanoid voice coaching the dad through interview talking points, you can’t help but get misty at the Father of the Bride-esque moment when the daughter transforms into her younger self mid-college-drop-off-hug. 

We’re Still Crying: Pfizer

Blame the onions in the guacamole for the tear we shed watching this LL Cool J-soundtracked ad from Pfizer, which follows a little boy ringing the bell that indicates a patient is cancer free, then shadowboxing through the streets of adoring fans – before arriving home to his biggest fans, his family, who embrace him while a softer version of “Mama Said Knock You Out” plays – alluding to the pharmaceutical company’s many cancer fighting drugs in the works. Okay, maybe it wasn’t the onions.

Best and Most: Dunkin’

Fans who bought the 2024 sweatsuits from the very popular Ben Affleck Dunkin’ Donuts ad were rewarded when the DunKings returned — bigger and better than ever — for another go at the “best Super Bowl ad” title. Though Tom Brady, Matt Damon and Jennifer Lopez didn’t return, several more Bostonians showed up, including Bill Belichick and his girlfriend Jordon Hudson, Casey Affleck, and, taking “Beantown” very literally, method actor Jeremy Strong. And this time, they cued up a seven-minute epic mini-movie following the Dunkings’ attempt to take the title in a coffee-inspired boy band showdown.

Best Girls-in-Sports Showdown: Nike and the NFL

It’s been a record-breaking year for women’s sports — and women’s sports still has a long way to go. These pump-’em-up ads from Nike and the NFL were a nice way to pay tribute to both facts.

Best Story for the Grandkids: Doritos

This Doritos alien abduction spot got a laugh from us — and it was made even better when we realized it was the winner of the brand’s challenge for amateurs to “Crash the Super Bowl” by submitting their own ads and letting viewers vote on the winner. Dylan Bradshaw and Nate Norell were the fan favorites, netting $1 million and a trip to the Super Bowl (plus bragging rights for life).

Most Mysterious: Yahoo

If you caught Yahoo’s local, 15-second spot, did you try to email Bill Murray? And if so, are you down the rabbit hole of what happens next?

Most Divisive: Mountain Dew

This Mountain Dew ad, which saw Seal turned into an actual seal singing about a “kiss from a lime”, alarmed many PEOPLE staffers on first viewing. But on Sunday night, several announced that it had won them over.

Most Fever Dream-Ish: Coffee Mate

We can imagine the pitch — Coffee Mate makes your tongue so happy, it wants to sing! — and we’re always happy when Shania Twain is getting paid. But the execution will haunt us.

Most ‘Oh Dear God!’: Tubi

We’re very grateful to Tubi for letting us watch the Super Bowl for free this year. We’re less grateful for this nightmare-inducing spot that features flesh hats for 60 seconds. (Although again, one editor said it was growing on her, so maybe there were no losers tonight?)