Best Super Bowl commercials ever: Ad Meter winners through the years
From the emotionally manipulative to the occasionally clever, the champions of USA TODAY’s Ad Meter competition have pulled almost every lever available.
This year figures to be no exception.
A look back at past winners conjures up images of catchphrases long since past, or superstars unwittingly brand-building while telling a 30-second story. Budweiser, last year’s winner, turned back to their iconic Clydesdale horses – and will do the same in 2026.
As the Super Bowl 60 edition waits in the wings, a look back at past Ad Meter champions and how they climbed atop the popular ratings:
Rate the best and worst Super Bowl ads!
2025: Budweiser, ‘The First Delivery’
2024: State Farm, ‘Like a Good Neighbaaa’
2023: The Farmer’s Dog, ‘Forever’
2022: Rocket Mortgage, ‘Dream House with Anna Kendrick and Barbie’
2021: Rocket Mortgage, ‘Certain Is Better – Tracy Morgan, Dave Bautista & Liza Koshy’
2020: Jeep, ‘Groundhog Day’
2019: NFL, ‘The 100-Year Game’
2018: Amazon, ‘Alexa Loses Her Voice’
2017: Kia, ‘Hero’s Journey’
2016: Hyundai, ‘First Date’
2015: Budweiser, ‘Lost Dog’
2014: Budweiser, ‘Puppy Love’
2013: Budweiser, ‘Brotherhood’
2012: Doritos, ‘Dog bribes cat owner’
2011 (tie): Bud Light, ‘Dog sitter puts dogs to work’
2011 (tie): Doritos, ‘Dog’s revenge for Doritos teasing’
2010: Snickers, ‘Betty White and Abe Vigoda play in a casual football game’
2009: Doritos, ‘Crystal ball sees free Doritos’
2008: Budweiser, ‘Dalmatian trains Clydesdale to make beer wagon team’
2007: Budweiser, ‘Crabs worship Bud ice chest’
2006: Bud Light, ‘A secret fridge stocks Bud Light’
2005: Bud Light, ‘Pilot jumps out of plane for six-pack of Bud Light after skydiver refuses’
2004: Bud Light, ‘Owners demonstrate how their dogs fetch Bud Light’
2003: Budweiser, ‘Football-playing Clydesdales turn to zebra referee to review call on replay’
2002: Bud Light, ‘Romantic evening goes awry with satin sheets’
2001: Bud Light, ‘Cedric’s dream date goes awry’
2000: Budweiser, ‘Rex the dog recalls worst day’
1999: Budweiser, ‘Dalmatians get different jobs’
1998: Pepsi, ‘Flying geese’
1997: Pepsi, ‘Pepsi bears dance to Village People tune’
1996: Pepsi, ‘Coke driver nabs Pepsi’
1995: Pepsi, ‘Boy gets sucked into Pepsi bottle’
1994: Pepsi, ‘A chimp experiment goes awry’
1993: McDonald’s, ‘Jordan, Bird shoot hoops’
1992: Nike, ‘Michael Jordan/Bugs Bunny’
1991: Diet Pepsi, ‘New jingle spreads around the world’
1990: Nike, ‘Announcers and athletes’
1989: American Express, ‘Saturday Night Live’
This post appeared first on USA TODAY
