Super Bowl 2026 ads, ranked from best to worst

Did you expect a flood of commercials alongside the Super Bowl? Whether you were prepared or not, the game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots was packed with ads – some released beforehand, others debuting during the broadcast. Like always, there were some truly terrible commercials (we’re looking at you, Bud Light keg ad!), but also a few memorable ones that stood out (thanks, Melissa McCarthy!). This year, we saw celebrities appearing in multiple ads – Sofía Vergara was in three! – and a lot of ads that pushed the boundaries of good taste with gross-out humor (think exploding heads and singing body hair). Many commercials also tried to convince viewers that artificial intelligence is actually useful.

I was watching the Super Bowl ads, and honestly, a lot of them were about AI or just typical patriotic stuff. But something really struck me – the extended versions I found online were way better than what they showed on TV! It got me thinking… what if they made the game a little shorter – maybe three quarters – and then gave us fifteen-minute commercial breaks? Now that would be a Super Bowl I could get behind! Anyone else agree?

While everyone anticipates the next groundbreaking idea to reach the NFL, let’s take a look at the Super Bowl commercials we enjoyed the most, and a few that really missed the mark.

1. E.l.f. Beauty’s ‘Melísa’

Melissa McCarthy is known for her hilarious appearances in short-form shows, like when she hosts “Saturday Night Live.” Her Super Bowl ad started as a playful response to concerns about the halftime show being in Spanish, but quickly turned into a surprisingly funny telenovela parody. Playing a character named “Melísa” (with one ‘s’), she learns Spanish with the help of lip balm. Usually, these parodies aren’t very good, but this one nailed it, thanks to McCarthy’s spot-on pronunciation – especially of “Matemática” – and a cameo from telenovela star Itatí Cantoral, famous for playing the villain Soraya Montenegro. The ad was perfectly timed to the conversation around the halftime show, which is why it’s a shame it wasn’t more widely seen. It only aired during the game on Peacock, so you’ll have to find it online if you missed it.

2. Rocket and Redfin’s ‘America Needs Neighbors Like You’

Okay, let me tell you, as a critic, I rarely get genuinely moved by commercials, but this one… this one got to me. Seeing Lady Gaga, fresh off the Super Bowl stage and a Pokemon ad, sing ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’ was a surprisingly powerful moment. But even if that doesn’t grab you, the ad’s imagery – a lost pet caught in a storm, people reconnecting in their community – absolutely will. It’s genuinely touching without being overly sentimental, and honestly, it nails the message of unity in a way that another recent ad from Spectrum just didn’t quite manage.

3. Instacart’s ‘For Papa!’

This quirky family comedy, starring Ben Stiller and singer Benson Boone as brothers Gary and Johnny, centers around a disastrous performance and a rivalry fueled by jealousy. Gary becomes envious of his brother’s acrobatic skills and attempts to one-up him, leading to hilariously unfortunate consequences. The 30-second Super Bowl ad perfectly captures the over-the-top humor of the full 2.5-minute version, directed by Spike Jonze, and feels like classic Ben Stiller comedy. It suggests we’re seeing a new trend of Super Bowl commercials that feel like mini-movies, with this one even having multiple trailers.

4. Google Gemini’s ‘New Home’

It’s a bit hesitant to include an ad for artificial intelligence among the best, but Google’s Gemini ad is undeniably effective. It features a touching conversation between a mother and son planning their new home, subtly showcasing how the AI can help visualize spaces. Like previous Google Super Bowl ads, it creates an emotional connection while leaving some details intentionally vague – prompting viewers to wonder about the reason for the move. The only other AI ad that made a similar impact was for Anthropic’s Claude, which cleverly pointed out the flaws of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, even while acknowledging that Anthropic might follow suit with ads of its own in the future.

5. Squarespace’s ‘Unavailable’

Emma Stone, the Academy Award-nominated actress, has partnered with director Yorgos Lanthimos for a strange, black-and-white ad. The commercial centers around Stone attempting to secure her name as a web address – though emmastone.com is currently owned by Squarespace. Stone’s performance is surprisingly effective, creating a sense of importance around something as mundane as web domains, a product that hasn’t been in demand since 2013. The ad is remarkably atmospheric and stands out as a stronger piece of work than another Lanthimos commercial from this year’s Super Bowl, which featured George Clooney and a humorous take on hidden fees from GrubHub.

6. Hims and Hers’ ‘Sick of the System’

Frustrated that wealthier individuals often receive better healthcare, including newer drugs like GLP-1s? While most of us aren’t planning protests, a recent Super Bowl ad from a company selling treatments for hair loss, weight loss, and low libido acknowledges this common frustration.

7. Budweiser’s ‘American Icons’

This Budweiser commercial features an unlikely friendship between a baby bird that becomes a bald eagle and a Clydesdale horse. The eagle hitches a ride on the horse, all set to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.” It’s a simple concept, but the commercial is surprisingly effective, particularly a memorable shot of the horse seeming to have enormous wings. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CdX8W8U7jA

8. Pringles’ ‘Pringleleo’

Following her successful hosting gig on the revived “Muppet Show,” singer Sabrina Carpenter is proving her comedic and acting talents again. This time, she’s created the ideal man – a charming fellow made entirely of Pringles, whom she’s dubbed Pringleleo. The sketch is lighthearted and playful, managing to be funny without being overly crude.

9. Lucasfilm’s ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’

The Super Bowl trailers included glimpses of upcoming films like David Fincher’s next project, a sequel to “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “Project Hail Mary,” Stephen Spielberg’s sci-fi movie “Disclosure Day,” and a new Minions cartoon. However, one trailer stood out by cleverly imitating the style of a typical Super Bowl ad – specifically, those from Budweiser with horses and uplifting narration. Even if you’re not a fan of Baby Yoda, this ad perfectly captured the feeling of a true Super Bowl commercial.

10. Michelob’s ‘The Ultra Instructor’

Greg, a skier played by Lewis Pullman, always ends up paying the bill after ski trips with his friends – he’s just not very fast on the slopes. It doesn’t help that he’s skiing with pros like Chloe Kim and TJ Oshie! Luckily, Kurt Russell steps in as a helpful mentor to get Greg up to speed. The commercial is a great way to feature a popular actor like Russell, and it’s exactly the kind of role he’s perfect for in a Super Bowl ad.

11. Toyota’s ‘Superhero Belt’ and ‘Where Dreams Began’

There are two touching commercials that explore how our views change as we get older. One shows a boy learning to buckle his seatbelt from his grandfather, who playfully calls it a “superhero belt.” Later, the now-grown man drives his grandfather and fondly recalls that lesson. The other ad features athletes Puka Nacua, Oksana Masters, and Bubba Wallace meeting their younger selves, and remembering what first sparked their passion.

12. Dunkin’s ‘Good Will Dunkin’’

Dunkin’s Super Bowl commercials, starring Ben Affleck, have been a hit, and he clearly enjoys making them more than some of his movies. This year’s ad is a funny take on what “Good Will Hunting” might have looked like as a 90s sitcom. It features a cast of familiar faces – Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Jason Alexander, Jasmine Guy, Jaleel White, Alfonso Ribeiro, and Ted Danson – playfully recreating their iconic TV roles. Even Tom Brady makes an appearance, though the ad didn’t really need any extra star power.

And now three of the worst Super Bowl ads … 1. Bug Light’s ‘Keg’

It’s hard to believe anyone would celebrate people recklessly endangering themselves for cheap beer at a wedding. While seeing celebrities like Peyton Manning and Post Malone is a plus, whether or not you enjoy this event will mostly depend on your reaction to comedian Shane Gillis, whose closing joke is both predictable and unnecessarily harsh.

2. Fanatic Sportsbook’s ‘Bet on Kendall’

It’s either incredibly mature or shockingly callous that Kendall Jenner can joke about her exes on TV. Regardless, this ad promotes gambling by suggesting she profited from betting against her former athlete boyfriends when they faced difficulties. It’s a pretty distasteful concept overall.

3. Manscaped’s ‘Hair Ballad’

Some commercials try to shock viewers to get their attention, and this ad for a body shaver was particularly disturbing. It featured clumps of removed hair – with mouths and, bizarrely, eyes – singing. It’s the kind of image that’s more likely to give you nightmares than inspire you to buy a grooming product.

2026-02-09 07:32