The 50th year of what has become a cultural phenomenon is in full swing this morning. Break rooms across the country are a-buzz with as much banter about Weiner Dogs, Ryan Reynolds, and birth-inducing Doritos as they are about Denver’s beat down of the much-favored Panthers. Mad Genius is no exception. The Labs have voted and our favorites are in. (Check out this year’s slate of ads here.)

But first, at the 50-year mark, it bears asking: How in the world did a profession that has routinely ranked between Politician and Ambulance Chaser in annual “Least Trusted People” surveys become, if only for one night, so popular—and profitable?

In Super Bowl I, the average price of a 30-second commercial was $37,500. Last night, the average cost for one second was over $166,000.


As TV viewership and Super Bowl ratings soared in the ‘70s, leading brands like Coca-Cola and Budweiser took quick note and invested not just in air time, but in commercials actually worth watching (instead of skipping to get another cold one from the fridge). Think Coca-Cola’s Hey Kid, Catch!,  the iconic Budweiser frogs, Apple’s 1984. It obviously worked, or we wouldn’t be where we are today: People actually look forward to watching the ads as a key part of the biggest shared party in America. Talking animals, iconic imagery, celebrities in unexpected roles, real laughs and sometimes real tears. As media and technology progressed, ads became digital, viral and social with exposure and experiences far beyond that Super Bowl itself. And that’s how it happened. Ad agencies pushed further, writers wrote better, designers designed better, brands took more risks, directors directed better, ideas grew bigger. And we rewarded them for making :30 seconds worth our time with our wallets and our loyalty—which, fortunately for your brand, is a process that doesn’t necessarily have to wait for a big game to begin.

avocadosfrommexico

Here then, is the Mad Genius list of the Top Ten Super Bowl 50 Ads:

  1. Avos In Space – Avocados From Mexico
  2. Weiner Stampede – Heinz Ketchup
  3. Ultrasound – Doritos
  4. Storm’s A Brewin’ – Death Wish Coffee
  5. 4X4EVER – Jeep
  6. Walken Closet – Kia
  7. Find Your Magic – Axe
  8. A New Truck To Love – Honda Ridgeline
  9. Drop The Balls – T-Mobile
  10. Super Bowl Babies – NFL

“Anybody wanna feed Scott Baio?” Where’s the love for #AvosInSpace?