Lights, Camera, Controversy
The Super Bowl Ads Everyone Is Talking About
Photo by GR Stocks on Unsplash
When Super Bowl season rolls around, people look forward to many aspects of the event, but the main things that people wait impatiently for are the halftime show and the new creative ads to keep them entertained during breaks. The Super Bowl has long been a showcase for brands to show off their most memorable advertisements and the 2025 lineups did not disappoint. This year's commercials were a mix of humor and nostalgia, but also a bit concerning. Here's a breakdown of five of the best, but weirdest, ads.
This is the eighth time that Pringles has made its appearance in the Super Bowl ad list. The commercials stars Adam Brody, who upon finding an empty Pringles can at a party, is told by the Pringles mascot to blow into it. After Brody listens and follows, his action summons a plethora of famous mustaches including those of Nick Offerman, Andy Reid and James Harden. Their mustaches soar through the air to deliver fresh cans of Pringles. The ad is also playing a parody of the 1960s “Batman” theme song. This Pringles commercial made sure to celebrate the brand’s iconic mascot and also its signature facial hair.
Mountain Dew’s 2025 Super Bowl ad, “Kiss From a Lime,” features famous singer Seal performing as a seal. They also added a twist to the song “Kiss From a Rose.” The ad promotes the Baja Blast flavor and incorporates appearances by Becky G and the brand’s mascot, the Mountain Dude. The commercials' quirky nature prompted mixed reactions from viewers with some people finding it hilarious and others finding it extremely unsettling which made it stand out as one of the more unconventional ads of the event.
Dunkin continues its “DunKings 2” campaign with a glamorous mini-movie with the same title. The commercial features Ben Affleck reprising his role alongside Bill Belichick, Casey Affleck and Jordan Hudson. In a funny surprise, Jeremy Strong makes a cameo, submerging himself in coffee grounds, a concept he personally came up with, inspired by the 1970s film “Apocalypse Now.” The ad happily explores the lengths to which celebrities will go for their coffee, blended humor with a touch of ridiculousness.
Telehealth company Hims & Hers sparked many conversations with its provocative commercial, “Sick of the System.” The ad critiques traditional healthcare systems, pointing out issues like long wait times and high costs. It promoted the brand's services as more accessible and affordable alternatives. The commercials' courageous approach started debates about the representation of healthcare in advertising, with some viewers appreciating the frankness while others found it controversial.
One of the strangest commercials of the night was Coffee Mate’s Super Bowl ad, which introduced watchers to an animated human tongue, voiced by Shania Twain. The commercial encourages the brand’s new cold foam creamers depicting the tongue embarking on a magical journey through a world of whipped foam. Whilst they aimed to highlight the delight of the product, it hit people the wrong way making viewers feel very uncomfortable with the imagery. This ad represents the diverse and creative perspective brands took during the 2025 Super Bowl to capture viewer attention.
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