10 Best Superbowl Commercials of All Time

With the 2010 Superbowl nearing, we can expect to see some pretty good commercials as usual. It may come as a shock to some that both FedEx and Pepsi have both announced they will not be purchasing any ad time for the 2010 Superbowl, marking the first time in 23 years Pepsi will not air a commercial. In preparation for the upcoming commercials, it's worth a quick glance back at all the past Superbowl ads that have left viewers shocked, inspired, and of course entertained. Here's a collection of the top 10 Superbowl commercials according to nothing more than my own opinion.

10.) Little Clydesdale - Budweiser (2006)

How could someone create a top superbowl commercial list without a Budweiser commercial? Sure the Budweiser frogs are funny, and so is the Rock, Paper, Scissors commercial and now that I think about it, the Ape Conspiracy commercial is pretty funny too. But I stand by my decision in selecting the Little Clydesdale for the number 6 spot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veQAJ4qlltU

9.) Pepsi iTunes Giveaway - Pepsi

In response to the massive amount of illegal music downloads that lead to many youngsters finding themselves slapped with lawsuits, Pepsi released this ad featuring some of those kids detailing a new way they're getting free music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yYlgPD6hX0

8.) When I Grow Up... - Monster.com (1999)

In 1999 Monster.com was still a young company, having only been founded 5 years prior. Obviously now, Monster.com is huge and a household name - check out this Monster.com ad featuring children with low ambitions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJB0CzlzSwY

7.) "1984" - Apple (1984)

This ad seems to be a superbowl ad you'll find on everyone's top 10 list. Macintosh's introduction to the world may have been the first sensational Superbowl commercial that has snowballed into what Superbowl commercials are all about today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8

6.) Crime Deterrent - Sprint

Although Sprint hasn't been one of the top advertisers in past Superbowls, in 2006 they aired this ad showing how one man has turned his phone into a crime deterrent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4O4f6FKYyc

5.) T-Rex - McDonald's

This McDonald's ad from the 1997 Superbowl may have been a precursor to the blockbuster "Night at The Museum" and features an animated skeleton and an unsuspecting guard eating McDonald's classic fries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIhPOyqm3q8

4.) Romantic Dinner - Ameriquest

One of Ameriquest's "Don't judge too quickly" series of ads. Originally aired during the 2003 Superbowl where many claimed this commercial coupled with Ameriquest's other Superbowl ad claimed top honors that year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiNY_XAqz_c

3.) Cat Herding - EDS

In 2000, a tech consulting firm called EDS launched a hilarious Superbowl ad entitled "Cat Herding" featuring what appear to be old fashioned cowboys and ranchers lamenting about the dangers of cat herding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_MaJDK3VNE

2.) Running of the Squirrels - EDS

Yet another EDS Superbowl commercial featuring seemingly harmless animals in a position where they torment humans - this time in a parody of the yearly running of the bulls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z2_kKAe9y0

1.) FedEx Carrier Pigeons

This commercial aired during the 2008 Superbowl and went viral shortly after. It features some life-size pigeons making FedEx deliveries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFGq0j4u15s

Sources:
John Fitzgerald, Jan.31, http://amog.com/entertainment/best-superbowl-commercials/, Amog.com
Janie Campbell, http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/business/Ten-Great-Super-Bowl-Commercials-81229927.html, NBC Miami