The playoff games have been more entertaining than the Super Bowl, and we can all agree this last one was just… meh.

But let’s be honest… we didn’t really care about the Super Bowl as much as the commercials, right?

This year was no exception, with a mix of standout ads and a few that left viewers scratching their heads.

Bud Light – “Big Men on Cul-De-Sac”
Post Malone can do no wrong—have you tried his Oreo? Pair him with comedian Shane Gillis, and it’s a match made in Bud Light heaven. But what really sealed the deal? Launching Buds from leaf blowers. And then boom—Peyton Manning shows up. Funny, chaotic, and completely memorable. I bet that set was a blast to be on.

Uber Eats – “Century of Cravings”
We’ve been fully entertained by Matthew McConaughey’s conspiracy theories about football secretly being a way to sell food. This Super Bowl ad leaned into the absurdity, featuring the likes of Hot Ones host Sean Evans (who definitely knows a thing or two about buffalo wings), Martha Stewart, Charli XCX, and Greta Gerwig. And honestly? They almost made a believer out of us.

Stella Artois – “David and Dave”
The teaser pulled us in, who would they cast as “Other David”? Turns out, none other than Matt Damon. Definitely a step up from hanging out on “The Dunkings” with his buddy Ben Affleck last year. Watching David Beckham’s visible disappointment in his “twin” (who had no clue who he was, not being a soccer fan himself) was hilarious. But of course, nothing brings people together like a Stella.

Hellmann’s – “When Harry Met Sally” Reunion
Reuniting Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan to recreate their iconic diner scene, this time with a mayonnaise twist, was the nostalgia hit we didn’t know we needed. Now, if we could only get a sequel to this commercial as a side dish, we’d all be left speechless.

Instacart – “We’re Here”
A parade of nostalgic brand mascots delivering groceries? Instacart nailed it. Seeing our old favorites like Mr. Clean, the Kool-Aid Man busting through with an “Oh Yeah!”, and the Old Spice Guy, was a perfect reminder of why we love these brands. Watching them transform into groceries and land neatly in the Instacart bag? A clever way to reinforce how easy they make shopping.

Mountain Dew’s Singing Seal
Featuring the artist Seal as an actual seal singing a parody of Kiss from a Rose… yeah, this was not on our 2025 bingo card. It was odd, unsettling, and left us more confused than entertained. Seal as a seal—why?

Coffee-Mate’s Dancing Tongue
Speaking of unsettling… Coffee-Mate took a CGI tongue, made it dance, and called it advertising. The focus on a body part moving in ways it absolutely shouldn’t? No thanks. Like a few others on this list, it made us less interested in food, which is not the reaction you want when promoting a product meant to be consumed.

Pringles’ Flying Mustaches
An ad featuring flying mustaches trying to sell chips? Bizarre. But the weirdest part? This wasn’t the only commercial featuring airborne facial hair. Somewhere in the brainstorming room, someone said, “You know what would really sell our product? Floating body parts.” And somehow, that got approved.

Little Caesars – “Whoa!”
Another hair-raising ad—this time with flying eyebrows, starring Eugene Levy. This one was meant to promote Crazy Puffs, but when it comes to food, the last thing you want to think about is hair. And yet, both Pringles and Little Caesars thought otherwise. A total miss from both brands.

Totino’s Pizza Rolls – “Chazmo Finally Goes Home”
While the others on our list had a gross-out factor, this one was just… puzzling. Featuring Tim Robinson and Sam Richardson, it attempted humor with an alien named Chazmo. The moment where the alien gets smashed in the door? Yeah, we’re not sure who this ad was meant for, but it definitely wasn’t us.

If there’s one thing this year’s Super Bowl commercials taught us, it’s this: even a massive budget can’t save a bad idea. Some ads had us laughing, tearing up, or nodding in approval. Others? Well… they had us questioning everything (like why we suddenly had so many body parts featured in ads).

At the end of the day, marketing isn’t just about big-name celebrities, flashy effects, or wild concepts, it’s about knowing your audience. The best ads made us feel something, like nostalgia, excitement, or just pure joy. The worst ones? They left us confused, uncomfortable, or just uninterested.

Whether you’re running a Super Bowl campaign or a simple social media ad, the same rule applies: If your audience doesn’t connect with it, it’s just noise. Marketing is about hitting the right note, and when brands get it right, it sticks. When they don’t… well, let’s just say we won’t be craving Coffee Mate or Little Caesars anytime soon.