Super Bowl 53 didn't exactly inspire excitement on the field, so the brands that ponied up for commercials during the big game got a bang for their buck. A 30-second ad during the Super Bowl cost around $5 million this year, according to Bloomberg News. "CBS Corp., which will broadcast the big game from Atlanta on Feb. 3, is selling 30-second commercials for $5.1 million to $5.3 million, people familiar with the matter said. That’s roughly the same price as last year, when Comcast Corp.’s NBC sold them for $5.24 million, according to research firm Kantar Media." Some companies ran teasers and even released their ads early to generate buzz on social media and get more bang for their buck. From Bud Light to Olay and everything in between, here's a collection of the best commercials that ran during the big game in 2019 to discuss around the water cooler Tuesday. MORE: Breaking down the 'NFL100' commercial frame by frame Pepsi Super Bowl ad Budweiser Super Bowl ad Olay skin care Super Bowl ad Hyundai Super Bowl ad Stella Artois Super Bowl ad Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad Mr. Peanut Super Bowl ad Bubly Super Bowl ad Amazon Super Bowl ad Doritos Super Bowl ad M&M's Super Bowl ad Michelob ULTRA Super Bowl ad Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Super Bowl ad Avocados from Mexico Super Bowl ad BON & VIV Spiked Seltzer Super Bowl ad Bumble Super Bowl ad Colgate Total Super Bowl ad Expensify Super Bowl ad Pringles Super Bowl ad Kia Super Bowl ad Devour Super Bowl ad Yellow Tail Super Bowl ad Verizon Super Bowl ad Toyota Super Bowl ad Bud Light "Corn Syrup" ad To be clear, Bud Light is not brewed with corn syrup, and Miller Lite and Coors Light are. pic.twitter.com/x6tWqdSRXN — Bud Light (@budlight) February 3, 2019 "Game of Thrones"/Bud Light ad T-Mobile "What's for dinner?" ad The Twilight Zone Super Bowl ad What dimension are you even in? 🌀 Witness the extended cut of the debut @TheTwilightZone promo featuring @JordanPeele. #TheTwilightZone pic.twitter.com/J54ZnqlpDO — The Twilight Zone (@TheTwilightZone) February 4, 2019 NFL "100 years" Super Bowl ad The all-time greatest, most competitive NFL players gathered for the #NFL100 gala. What could possibly go wrong? pic.twitter.com/pvE0fKuSye — NFL (@NFL) February 4, 2019 Burger King Super Bowl ad the whopper's out of the bag. keep eating like Andy. #EatLikeAndy pic.twitter.com/Bg3ZuK1V3J — Burger King (@BurgerKing) February 4, 2019 Avengers Super Bowl ad "Some people move on. But not us." Watch the brand new Marvel Studios' #AvengersEndgame spot that aired during the Big Game. See the film in theaters April 26. pic.twitter.com/ruu7A7MnEk — The Avengers (@Avengers) February 3, 2019 Washington Post Super Bowl ad<doc-sep>Super Bowl Sunday is upon us, and so are brand new commercials. And this year's batch is certainly expected to deliver with high-profile celebrities such as Cardi B, Christina Applegate, Jeff Bridges, among others slated to make special cameos. But it's going to cost companies a pretty penny to run them (we're talking millions). Companies will have to fork over anywhere between $5.1 and $5.3 million for ads that run after kickoff, according to Variety. If you want a pre-game slot, then expect a bill that could run up to hundreds of thousands of dollars to more than $1 million — the price is determined by the timing. That's a huge jump from the average price to run an ad during Super Bowl I in 1967, which was about $37,500, Nielson Media Research shows. COCA-COLA NIXES SUPER BOWL AD AFTER 11-YEAR RUN In fact, the cost of running a 30-second add has become so pricey in recent years Coca-Cola reportedly decided to drop out of the running this year for a spot during the game itself. Instead, the soda giant plans to run a 60-second ad before kickoff, Stuart Kronauge, senior vice president of marketing for Coca-Cola North America, recently confirmed to Variety. “We have a long history of using the country’s biggest advertising stage to share a message of unity and positivity, especially at times when our nation feels divided,” he said. “This year, we decided to place our ad just before the national anthem as Americans come together in their living rooms to remind everyone that ‘together is beautiful.” Fortunately, some companies have already given fans a sneak peek at their star-studded ads. Here are a few to look out for. Cardi B, Lil Jon and Steve Carell Cardi B, Lil Jon and Steve Carell all make appearances in Pepsi's Super Bowl commercial. The ad centers around Cardi B's signature phrase "o-kurrrr." The company said they'll use it help answer the often asked question, "Is Pepsi OK?" “It’s what happens in real life a fair amount,” Greg Lyons, the company’s CMO for North American beverages, told Adweek. “We had a choice to embrace it and flip it on its head or to ignore it. We play it off as something consumers can really relate to, and we did it in a fun Pepsi way that really highlights and celebrates how great Pepsi is.” FANS UPSET AT JEEP FOR 'KILLING A UNICORN' IN SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL FOR NEW GLADIATOR PICKUP Pepsi has already caused significant buzz ahead of the championship game, and it's likely the ad played a big part in that. The company had more than 51,600 mentions on social media on Thursday, according to analytics company Talkwalker, which said it appears Pepsi can declare victory over Coca-Cola (at least, for now). "This aggressive campaign, and the SBLIII half-time buzz, seems to allow Pepsi to win both the mention battle (282,000 Pepsi mentions vs 181,000 Coke mentions) and the engagement battle (1,8 million Pepsi shares/retweets vs 1,5 million Coke shares/retweets in North America in the last 30 days)," Talkwalker told Fox News. Jeff Bridges Jeff Bridges may be reprising his iconic role as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski in the Coen Brothers classic “The Big Lebowski." A short video he posted last implies it could happen — at least during the Super Bowl. The actor posted a 15-second video to his Twitter account, where he appeared to be dressed as the character. "Can't be living in the past, man. Stay tuned,” he captioned the post, though he didn't provide any further context. Christina Applegate Christina Applegate is going to need all of her backseat passengers (M&Ms) to shut up. The actress will star as an annoyed driver in M&M's Super Bowl ad titled "Bad Passengers." “Do I have to break you guys apart?” she asks her bickering candy passengers before coming to a halt and yelling, “Okay, that’s it: If you don’t stop, I will eat all of you alive right now!” According to Eater, it's the first time the company has revealed a brand new candy — a chocolate bar with mini M&Ms inside — during the Super Bowl. Jason Bateman "Which floor?" Jason Bateman plays an elevator operator in Hyundai's Super Bowl commercial, which CNET confirms will air during the first quarter of the big game. During the ad, several people enter the elevator as Bateman presses the buttons to go to various floors. Each time the door opens, people are directed toward cringeworthy scenes: such as a dentist operating or jury duty. Hyundai is hoping the commercial encourages car shoppers to use its Shopper Assurance program, where dealers can post the market price of vehicles online. "We understand that shopping for a new car is typically something people don't look forward to," Dean Evans, chief marketing officer for Hyundai Motor America, said in a statement to CNET. "However, our dealers are using Shopper Assurance as a North Star in helping evolve and improve the retail experience. This year's Super Bowl spot communicates the program in a fun, lighthearted way that viewers will relate to." Fox News' Chris Ciaccia and Madeline Farber contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Despite a rallying cry from comedian Amy Schumer for celebrities to turn down Super Bowl ads, it looks like more Hollywood stars than ever are hitting the small screen in 30 to 90 second bites during Sunday's big game. It's not just more star power this year -- the wattage is up. Cardi B, Harrison Ford, Jeff Bridges, Sarah Jessica Parker and Serena Williams all make appearances in spots for Pepsi, Amazon, Stella Artois and dating app Bumble. "This year is definitely celebrity heavy," Kristina Monllos, Adweek's senior editor for brand marketing, told ABC News. "We're noticing even more, and big names." Like all things NFL, the Super Bowl and its halftime show have become controversial. Rihanna and Cardi B have reportedly turned down offers to perform in solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who hasn't played in the league since the 2016 season when he took a knee to protest police brutality against people of color. Last fall, Schumer urged celebrities to boycott Super Bowl ads in an Instagram post. Schumer has admittedly appeared in two commercials during the big game. “I personally told my reps I wouldn’t do a Super Bowl commercial this year,” she wrote. “Hitting the NFL with the advertisers is the only way to really hurt them.” Schumer's rep did not respond to a request for further comment. Despite reportedly turning down the offer to play in Pepsi's Halftime Show, Cardi B does appear in a Pepsi commercial with Steve Carrell. The NFL does not traditionally pay performers for the halftime show but does usually cover the cost of the performance (sets, crew and technicians, for example). Artists take the opportunity to perform on one of the world's biggest stages (in terms of audience size). "Obviously I cannot speak for Cardi B. I think that for some celebrities there's a difference between appearing on the field during the game and being part of the commercials," Adweek's Monllos said. "A commercial is not being there during the game, not associating directly with the NFL. For some performers, there is a difference." A rep for Cardi B did not respond to a request for comment. However, CBS, the network airing Super Bowl LIII, is charging more than $5 million for a 30-second commercial, or more than $166,667 per second. Tennis great Serena Williams, who appears with Kaepernick in the controversial "Just Do It" Nike anniversary ads, makes an appearance for Bumble, which is in the midst of branching out from a dating app to a business tool. The commercial's title is "The Ball is in Her Court.” "With Serena, you have an opportunity to talk about women making the first move in a career journey via Bumble," Mollnos said. "People still want the platform of the Super Bowl for the ads, even if they don't necessarily agree with the NFL." A rep for Williams did not respond to a request for comment. Even Harrison Ford and Forrest Whitaker, who are usually associated with big movie events, both appear in an Amazon ad for rejected Alexa products.<doc-sep>Photo : Toyota Now, here’s a Super Bowl story we can get behind this year. She’s defied the odds. Now football phenom Antoinette “Toni” Harris is getting the respect she deserves, in tandem with the biggest game of the year. Toyota has tapped the 22-year-old trailblazer to appear in their Super Bowl LIII ad for the all-new 2019 RAV4 HV (RAV4 Hybrid), a crossover sport utility vehicle that serves as an apt metaphor for Harris’ own journey. Because one game-changer deserves another. Advertisement “The 2019 RAV4 HV is the vehicle that will shatter perceptions of hybrids, much like how Toni is shattering perceptions of a football player,” Ed Laukes, group vice president, Toyota Marketing, Toyota Motor North America, said in a press release. “We’re excited to highlight Toni’s inspirational story during the Big Game and remind viewers that assumptions should always be challenged.” Harris, who is the first and only female football player to be offered a full scholarship as a non-specialist—and the first to play a non-specialist position, on defense—is getting the full Super Bowl treatment. Toyota’s ad is narrated by veteran sportscaster Jim Nantz and directed by legendary Super Bowl director Joe Pytka, who has directed more than 80 Super Bowl commercials. “Toni’s story and the Toyota RAV4 HV narrative complement each other nicely and it was a true pleasure to feature them during the most-watched television event of the year,” Pytka aid of his first time working with both. The spot is part of Toyota’s ongoing cohesive and multiculturally inclusive marketing approach, which joins its diverse group of agencies in a total market model called Total Toyota, or T2. Toni’s story was created and produced by Chicago-based black ad agency Burrell Communications, with additional support from Saatchi & Saatchi and Zenith Media. Harris made her mark playing sophomore defensive back (free safety) at East Los Angeles College. Now, the Detroit native has four additional scholarship offers from universities hoping to help her take her game to the next level, interest that could very well peak following her appearance in Toyota’s ad near the end of the second quarter of the Super Bowl. “I am thrilled to partner with Toyota on our like-minded quest to defy expectations, lead the charge without compromise and overcome adversity,” Harris said. “I hope this will inspire others who are experiencing a similar journey.”<doc-sep>
The main show at the 2019 Super Bowl is on the field, with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots facing off against Jared Goff and his Los Angeles Rams. But there’s a big battle between the game, too, as major companies and advertisers spend millions of dollars to get your attention during the commercial breaks. While last year’s Super Bowl ratings were down slightly, more than 100 million people are expected to tune in Sunday for the big game. That’s a lot of potential customers. As is tradition, brands are going above and beyond this year to try to make the best Super Bowl 53 commercials. Here, in our list of the best commercials of Super Bowl 2019, we recognize some of our favorite ads. Best Super Bowl Commercial for Football Itself You get a gold star if you can name every football phenom in this spot from the NFL itself. Best Super Bowl Commercial That Wasn’t Actually a Commercial Although many stars made Super Bowl ad cameos this year, the skit that started the game had its own iconic duo – Peyton Manning and actor John Malkovich. Best Super Bowl Commercial That Hyped Game of Thrones and Beer at the Same Time Bud Light and HBO, ‘The Bud Night’ The final season of Game of Thrones might not be set to premiere until April 14, but HBO teamed up with Bud Light to give football fans a taste of the show’s carnage. The Super Bowl Commercial With the Best Message Bumble, ‘The Ball Is in Her Court’ Bumble, the Tinder rival wherein women make the first move, made its first Super Bowl ad this year, starring tennis superstar Serena Williams. The message? Women shouldn’t wait to go after what they want. The Super Bowl Commercial With the Best Cameos Pepsi, ‘More Than OK’ Pepsi, which perennially lives under Coke’s shadow, has long embraced its role as an underdog in its advertising. Here, Steve Carell, Lil Jon and Cardi B assure a thirsty nation that Pepsi is just fine. Runner-Up: Stella Artois, ‘Change Up the Usual’ Sarah Jessica Parker and Jeff Bridges return in their roles as mostly-functioning alcoholics Carrie Bradshaw and The Dude, respectively, changing up their typical drink orders for a glass/bottle of Stella. Only 90s kids will understand, or whatever. The Best Super Bowl Commercial Featuring Beloved Superheroes Marvel fans eager to learn more about the fate of their favorite superheroes got an adrenaline-fueled fix Sunday evening when a new spot for Avengers: Endgame debuted early into the first quarter. The 30-second mini-trailer offered brief glimpses of stars including Chris Evans, Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd and Benedict Cumberbatch. The film flies into theaters April 26. The Super Bowl Commercial With the Best Mashup Song That Should Be Released As a Single, Like, Yesterday Doritos, ‘Now it’s Hot’ It’s utterly unclear what any of this has to do with Doritos, but give us a full version of this Chance the Rapper-Backstreet Boys “I Want It That Way” mashup immediately. Also, let them do the halftime show. And here’s the full version of the song: The Super Bowl Commercial With the Best Dumb Joke Pringles, ‘Sad Device’ If you’ve never known the wonder of stacking multiple flavors of Pringles in the same bite, you’re missing out. And so is this Amazon Echo-alike, without hands, mouth or a soul. The Best Super Bowl Commercial That Will Hit You In The Feels Microsoft, ‘We All Win’ Microsoft’s heartfelt Super Bowl spot features kids with developmental disabilities who’ve used the company’s new Xbox Adaptive Controller to better enjoy gaming with friends. That controller, by the way, was also one of TIME’s 2018 Best Inventions. Runner-up: Google, ‘100 Billion Words’ Google’s heatwarming spot for its translation app was widely lauded. The Best Super Bowl Commercial Starring Harrison Ford Amazon, ‘Not Everything Makes the Cut’ Grumpy Harrison Ford? Check. Cute dog? Check. The stars of Broad City, astronaut twins and Forest Whitaker? Check, check, check. The Best Commercial Featuring Alex Rodriguez, Charlie Sheen and a Flying Peanut Car Planters, ‘Crunch Time’ Free idea: Reboot the Fast and the Furious franchise, but everybody’s driving peanut cars. The Best Super Commercial With a Rehashing of a Seinfeld Episode Even though this joke was better 25 years ago, when Seinfeld did it in The Raincoats, it’s always a joy to see Luke Wilson. Contact us at letters@time.com.