It's that time of year again: people eagerly anticipating Super Bowl ads and actually looking forward to the commercial breaks.
The Super Bowl has become synonymous with advertising over the years, with ad spend increasing exponentially. Despite many heavy hitters such as Budweiser, Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Ford choosing not to advertise during the COVID-19 pandemic, the asking price remained well over $5 million for a 30-second spot this year.
Much like America's biggest brands, film studios often capitalise on the Super Bowl's 100 million+ viewers, previewing unique teasers and T.V. spots for their upcoming attractions. In 2020, we saw Super Bowl spots for Mulan, James Bond, Black Widow, and A Quiet Place Part II, to name a few.
Despite previewing fewer big-name blockbusters than previous years, Super Bowl LV still presented an array of solid advertisements.
Let's look at some of the best T.V. spots and teasers from this year's Super Bowl.
F9
Coming out of the gate strong, F9 was the first T.V. spot from Super Bowl LV, previewing online shortly before the broadcast aired.
Initially slated for release on May 22, 2020, F9 is the tenth full-length film in the Fast & Furious franchise. In January 2020, Universal Pictures released a full-length trailer, clocking in at a whopping three minutes and fifty seconds, marking a 13-month gap between its Super Bowl spot.
Cut to a rendition of Kanye West - 'Selah', F9 stylishly showcased the film's fast action with previously unseen moments for fans to preview. Big hits, risers, pedal-to-the-metal montages and a perfectly-timed laugh from Helen Mirren ensure that fans will not be disappointed when F9 hits the big screen.
Coming 2 America
Coming 2 America is the upcoming sequel to the original 1988 film, Coming to America.
On December 22, 2020, Coming 2 America's first trailer previewed, leveraging its stars and nostalgic throwbacks. Last week, the film's second trailer dropped, emphasising more of the premise; a formula that the Super Bowl spot emulated.
Cut to Bobby Sessions & Megan Thee Stallion - 'I'm a King', the Super Bowl spot presented a similar comedic tone to the original movie, with plenty of Eddie Murphy characters and barbershop antics to enjoy.
Coming 2 America will be released digitally on March 5, 2021, on Prime Video.
Old
Easily the darkest spot from the Super Bowl, Universal Pictures previewed its upcoming psychological thriller written, directed and produced by M. Night Shyamalan.
Centred around a beach that appears to drastically affect a family's age in a short timeframe, the Old Super Bowl LV spot did a great job at hinting at the film's premise and genre. The director's previous successes are leveraged with text cards, highlighting production credibility and similar movies to fans.
Set for theatrical release on July 23, 2021, Old will be Shyamalan's first of two thrillers in his deal signed with Universal Pictures back in October 2019.
Raya and the Last Dragon
Raya and the Last Dragon is Disney's upcoming computer-animated film set for theatrical release on March 5, 2021.
The film's first trailer was released back in October 2020, followed by its second in January this year. Although both trailers focus heavily on the film's action-adventure themes, the second leverages some of the movie's humour.
Following a similar pattern to the second trailer, the Super Bowl spot manages to squeeze in a lighthearted moment of comedic relief between all of the action. The spot did a great job of establishing the world and its characters, the stakes involved, and a clear release date with graphics and narration.
The Falcon and Winter Soldier
By far the best Super Bowl preview of the year, The Falcon and Winter Soldier released its second trailer; dropping a two-minute length trailer online and a 30-second spot during the Super Bowl.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is Disney's upcoming television miniseries, taking place after the events in Avengers: Endgame (2019). The first preview was released back in December 2020, as part of Disney+'s upcoming catalogue.
Cut to Migos - Is You Ready, this spot offered plenty of big-game hype with action flourishes and a perfectly-fitting football stadium shot. Marvel flexed its blockbuster movie-level production, exciting fans for its release on March 19 2021.
Which Super Bowl T.V. spot was your favourite? Let us know on Instagram.