Dana Valenzuela
A meme about a Super Bowl ad on X, as the game plays in the background.
A 30-second advertisement during Super Bowl LIX cost about $8 million. With its large price tag and even larger viewership, companies took the opportunity to share their values and make audiences laugh.
From celebrity cameos to outright absurdity, this year’s Super Bowl brought us some iconic commercials–for better or worse. Here is a review of the standout Super Bowl LIX ads.
“Martha Stewart for Glide-Step Skechers Slip-ins”
Using the magic of CGI, this ad for Skechers featured Martha Stewart breakdancing in a pair of Glide-Step Slip-ins. Viewers online compared Stewart’s dancing to Australian competitive breakdancer Raygun, who was criticized for her performance during the 2024 Olympics. The absurdity of 83-year-old Stewart breakdancing gave audiences a laugh and is enough to make this ad memorable, just as a successful Super Bowl ad should be.
“So Win.”
Nike’s first Super Bowl ad in 27 years, “So Win.” was received to mixed reviews. Featuring female athletes such as basketball-player Caitlin Clark and gymnast Jordan Chiles, Nike took the time to highlight women’s sports. Some viewers felt the ad was empowering, while others felt it was performative considering Nike’s past controversies surrounding female athletes.
“A Century of Cravings”
Starring Matthew McConaughey, this UberEats commercial is the quintessential Super Bowl ad. Featuring a slew of celebrities, from actor Kevin Bacon to director Greta Gerwig, audiences are sure to recognize someone in the cast. By mixing football history with jokes about food, the ad may even make you believe McConaughey’s conspiracy theory (and want to order UberEats).
“No Reason to Hate”
In promotion of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, this ad featured Snoop Dogg and Tom Brady in a back-and-forth, followed by text reading “The reasons for hate are as stupid as they sound.” Despite its seemingly well-intentioned message, many viewers weren’t keen on the choice of spokesmen. Audiences online were quick to point out that just weeks ago, Snoop Dogg performed at the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has made antisemitic remarks in the past. Similarly, Brady has been criticized for his relationship with the president, though he seems to have denied any connection to him in recent years.
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