There are two types of people who watch the Super Bowl: those who actually watch the game and those who just watch for the commercials.
CBS reportedly charged $5.5 million for a 30-second spot, so companies pulled out all the stops this year to create the best advertisement.
Not only does COVID-19 limit the production of in-person commercials, but it has also affected which companies put them out. Notable brands like Budweiser and Coca-Cola have opted out of advertising during the game. Budweiser has instead promised to give the money to the Ad Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes public service announcements to help raise awareness of the benefits of the coronavirus vaccine.
So, while some of our favorite brands sat on the bench this year, others were able to conquer the limits of COVID-19 and still create great content. Here are the best commercials of the 2021 Super Bowl:
State Farm: “Drake from State Farm”
One requirement of any Super Bowl commercial is to fill as many celebrities as possible in a short amount of time. State Farm had one of the most star-studded commercials of the night. It featured Aaron Rodgers, Paul Rudd, Patrick Mahomes and Drake as “Drake from State Farm.” Drake and Jake go side by side to say the infamous State Farm motto. It does not have much to do with insurance, but the ad sure was entertaining.
Cheetos: “It Wasn’t Me”
This Super Bowl’s commercials featured a lot of ’90s throwback stars and tunes, and Cheetos was no different. Cheetos had one of few commercials where they featured a jingle instead of a sketch. That ‘70s Show costars and power couple Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher take on Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me,” but the only thing that Kunis was caught with was Cheetos. It’s a great take on a classic song and was not like any other commercial that aired.
Uber Eats: “Wayne’s World and Cardi B’s Shameless Manipulation”
For any ’90s fan like me, this commercial was one of the most iconic. It featured former Saturday Night Live stars Mike Myers and Dana Carvey in the infamous Wayne’s World sketch. This recurring sketch features characters Wayne and Garth on a local public access television program, filmed live from Wayne’s basement. In this commercial, both Wayne and Garth use subliminal messages to encourage viewers to eat from local restaurants. This includes a cameo from Cardi B, creating the trio we never knew we needed. It promotes an important message, especially during COVID-19 times, and is a great throwback moment to enjoy.
Cadillac: “Scissor Hands Free”
With another throwback commercial, Cadillac takes on the classic movie Edward Scissorhands. Timothée Chalamet stars as Edgar, the son of Edward Scissorhands. Winona Ryder also reprises her role as Kim Boggs. Like his father, Edgar struggles with daily life, including public transportation and hanging out with friends. His mom, however, is able to help him live his dream of driving through the All-Electric Cadillac LYRIQ. It’s a brilliant concept, and seeing Chalamet play this iconic role is just the cherry on top.
Toyota: “Jessica Long’s Story”
Most of this year’s commercials were silly and funny, but Toyota decided to do the opposite and instead pull at our heartstrings. The commercial decided to feature the story of Jessica Long, a 13-time Paralympic gold medalist for swimming. Long was adopted and eventually had her legs amputated, but she was still able to follow her dreams of becoming a swimmer. The ad ends by saying, “We believe there is hope and strength in all of us.” And while it may not be related to cars, it’s still a positive message to give during these troubling times.
