February 4, 2016

The Super Bowl, the biggest American Football competition in the world, has historically been associated with flashy, and often controversial ads. We have collected the 5 best Super Bowl 50 ads in one place … alas, pause your browsing, and BEHOLD what are, in our opinion, the best ads we’d seen so far.

There are a lot of elements that go into good advertising: a good TV ad is as much science as it is art. Catching the viewer’s attention is close to the top of the list, and the ad agencies behind the commercials meant to be aired during the Super Bowl are no strangers to controversy. A number of ads were banned over the years, usually because of underlying (or not so much!) sexual innuendo.

In 2016, 41 brands have already announced their plans to advertise during the 50th “Golden” Super Bowl … but what are the best Super Bowl ads of the year so far?

Here is our list. “In before the ban,” like the man says.

5. LG Man From the Future | LG USA

The LG ad can be best described as, Liam Neeson meets Tron.

If you’d ever seen one of the two and give the 1:00 minute long Super Bowl commercial a look, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about. And in case you want a reminder about who this Liam Neeson character is, he was Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

Also well-known as that guy whose daughter you don’t want to kidnap from “Taken” 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ad infinitum.

4. #EveryDropCounts | Colgate

Colgate decided to tackle environmental issues in their Super Bowl 50 commercial.

The shots focus mostly on a water sink and the faucet, stating that you could save up to 4 gallons of water if you brush your teeth with the faucet closed, which, according to Colgate, is “more water than some people in the world have in a week.”

It’s a good message, and now I, for one, will try to remember to brush my teeth with the faucet closed. Whether I’ll use Colgate or not … well … we’ll see, but brand awareness is always good, isn’t it?

3. Taste the Feeling | Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola have created a new “Taste the Feeling” campaign together with the help of some of the most well-known advertising agencies in the world, and are planning to air at least some of these during their Super Bowl 50 commercial slots. Whatever you may think about the fuzzy black soda drink, Coca-Cola higher ups seem to know what they’re doing when it comes to the business of advertising.

2. The Bud Light Party | Bud Light

If you’d rather vote for Seth Rogen or Amy Poehler instead of Clinton or Trump, then this is the commercial for you. In our opinion also the commercial with the best acting all around, it’s a little humorous skit on “what we can all agree on.” And what’s that you might ask? Emojis? No. Beer.

Specifically: Bud Light beer.

1. Commander| Audi R8

In our opinion this is the best Super Bowl 2016 ad, bringing together slick visuals (for an elegant product) and hitting all the right emotional beats for its target audience. And last but not least, David Bowie’s music.

So relax, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

With the cost of at least $5,000,000 per 30 seconds of air time during one of the biggest events in the USA, companies went out of their way to make their ads memorable, and / or funny, and with actors like Seth Green, Willem Defoe (playing Marilyn Monroe, of all people), Christopher Walken, and others participating, the best ads for Super Bowl 50 are almost as exciting as the big game itself.

Talking about exciting, have you checked our online sportsbook bonuses already?

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We hope you enjoyed our list. If you wish, you can find all of the currently available Super Bowl commercials here. Which ads did you like? Let us know in the comments below.