20 Most Expensive Super Bowl Commercials Ever Made

Super Bowl commercials are a thrilling blend of creativity, star power, and sky-high budgets, where companies go all out to capture millions of viewers with unforgettable ads that often cost millions to produce.

Alyana Aguja
February 6, 2025
7 min read

20 Most Expensive Super Bowl Commercials Ever Made — Caleb Woods from Unsplash

Super Bowl commercials epitomize the highest-budget advertisement, where companies vie for your attention with stars, jaw-dropping special effects, and storytelling that will evoke emotions. Companies spend millions every year on developing memorable ads not only to entertain but also influence consumer behavior. From heart-warming animal stories to explosive action-packed scenes, these ads are now an essential part of the Super Bowl experience, often remembered long after the game is over.

1. Google Assistant: ‘Loretta’ (2020)

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Google’s 90-second ‘Loretta’ ad depicted a heartwarming story in which a widower used Google Assistant in a way that helped him preserve the memories of his late wife. The production quality included minute details, such as creating a non-existent house and casting an elderly couple. Considering its deep emotional depth and high-quality production, it became one of the most expensive Super Bowl commercials.

2. Amazon: ‘Before Alexa’ (2020)

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The commercial of Amazon ‘Before Alexa’ humorously portrayed a world without Alexa by getting the services of celebrities Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. It had elaborate sets and special effects to create an atmosphere of a retro-futuristic world. Its star-studded cast and high production values made it one of the costliest Super Bowl commercials.

3. Kia: ‘Matrix’ (2014)

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Kia’s ‘Matrix’ ad with Laurence Fishburne reprising his role as Morpheus from ‘The Matrix’ to introduce the Kia K900. The ad was heavy on special effects, including a simulated bullet-dodging scene. The celebrity casting and production complexity added up to a big price tag.

4. Jaguar: ‘British Villains’ (2014)

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Jaguar’s ‘British Villains’ commercial featured Sir Ben Kingsley, Tom Hiddleston, and Mark Strong as suave antagonists, promoting the Jaguar F-Type. The ad was styled as a mini-movie, complete with high-end production values and a cinematic narrative. The star-studded cast and elaborate production made it one of the most expensive Super Bowl commercials.

5. Coca-Cola: ‘America is Beautiful’ (2014)

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Coca-Cola’s ‘America is Beautiful’ commercial featured a diverse group of people singing ‘America the Beautiful’ in different languages. The ad showcased spectacular cinematography and a wide range of locations throughout the United States. The high production quality and extensive logistics were costly.

6. Pepsi: ‘X Factor’ (2012)

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Pepsi’s ‘X Factor’ commercial featured Melanie Amaro, the winner of the first season of ‘The X Factor,’ singing ‘Respect’ by Aretha Franklin. The ad was produced by PepsiCo and aired during Super Bowl XLVI. The high-profile casting and production values made it one of the most expensive Super Bowl commercials.

7. Volkswagen: ‘The Bark Side’ (2013)

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Volkswagen’s ‘The Bark Side’ commercial features a pack of dogs howling the theme from Star Wars. The commercial was handled by Deutsch LA and came on air during Super Bowl XLVII. The high production values and special effects made it one of the costliest Super Bowl commercials.

8. Audi: ‘Vampire Party’ (2012)

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The ‘Vampire Party’ advertisement by Audi consisted of a party where a group of vampires gathered, with the Audi S7 as the centerpiece. It was produced by Venables Bell & Partners and was aired during Super Bowl XLVI. This made it one of the costliest Super Bowl commercials due to the high production values and special effects.

9. Honda: ‘Matthew’s Day Off’ (2012)

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Honda’s ‘Matthew’s Day Off’ commercial starred Matthew Broderick reprising his role from ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ to pitch the Honda CR-V. The ad was by RPA and aired during Super Bowl XLVI. The big-name casting and production values made it one of the most expensive Super Bowl commercials.

10. GoDaddy: ‘Perfect Match’ (2013)

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GoDaddy used the services of supermodel Danica Patrick in their ‘Perfect Match’ ad featuring a humorous approach towards getting someone’s website on the Internet. A production by Deutsch, the commercial aired during Super Bowl XLVII. It is one of the costliest Super Bowl commercials with high-profile casting and production values.

11. Budweiser: ‘Puppy Love’ (2014)

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Budweiser’s ‘Puppy Love’ was a heartwarming story of a puppy and a Clydesdale horse that became the best of friends. The ad was created by Anomaly and was aired during Super Bowl XLVIII.

12. Chrysler: ‘Imported from Detroit’ (2011)

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Chrysler produced an iconic “Imported from Detroit” spot featuring rapper Eminem, a testament to Detroit’s continued resiliency. The commercial employed stunning footage of the Detroit skyline and the Chrysler 200, coupled with a powerful soundtrack that only added to its emotional payoff. Such was the impact that this commercial had for its message and emotional depth that this Super Bowl ad was quite expensive.

13. Nike: ‘The Last Game’ (2014)

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Nike’s “The Last Game” used animated soccer stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, in a futuristic storyline. The ad was created using high-end animation and a massive celebrity roster, showcasing Nike’s gear in a fun, dramatic way. Its high production cost was justified by its global reach and the appeal of the athletes involved.

14. Bud Light: ‘The Bud Light Hotel’ (2013)

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The Bud Light Hotel was an ad Bud that Light released featuring exclusive parties, as well as hot celebrity performances to make it quite the party hotel experience. An over-the-top ad was seen in its musical and comedy value with all kinds of cool production elements in itself. Big money spent with famous guests and enormous scale made this one of the most expensive commercials that year.

15. Pepsi: ‘Uncle Drew’ (2018)

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Pepsi’s “Uncle Drew” ad featured Kyrie Irving in heavy makeup as an elderly man competing in a basketball game. The ad, which expanded on the character from a previous campaign, included elaborate set designs and high-profile basketball talent. The production, along with its celebrity-driven humor, pushed it into the ranks of Super Bowl’s high-budget commercials.

16. Toyota: ‘Mighty Dad’ (2015)

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A father and son ad for Toyota’s “Mighty Dad,” was an action- packed, superhero-themed commercial on the Toyota Camry. Such commercial includes impressive special effects and action sequences, which at the same time were both very visual and moving. It came with a pretty high price for production because the sets were elaborate and cinematic in nature.

17. Hyundai: ‘The Chase’ (2015)

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Hyundai’s “The Chase” commercial featured a fast-paced car chase scene with actor Ryan Reynolds. The ad was set in a high-energy world of action, making full use of visual effects and fast driving sequences to highlight the Hyundai Genesis. This dynamic approach, paired with the cost of high-tech production, made it one of the most expensive Super Bowl commercials.

18. M&M’s: ‘Love Ballad’ (2016)

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M&M’s 2016 commercial, “Love Ballad,” told a story of a well-known M&M character in a bizarre love saga. The ad had high-value animation and production design to relate a light-hearted but emotional scenario. The likeability of the M&M mascot and the exorbitant price of production made it one of the costliest advertisements that year.

19. Fiat Chrysler: ‘The Chrysler Pacifica’ (2017)

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Fiat Chrysler’s “The Chrysler Pacifica” ad used a compelling storyline to sell their family-friendly vehicle. The commercial featured a story combining comedy and family relationships with stunning shots of the outdoors. High production costs came from getting the perfect mix of storytelling, filming locations, and the complex logistics of working with a large family cast.

20. Apple: ‘1984’ (1984)

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Apple’s iconic “1984” commercial, directed by Ridley Scott, introduced the Macintosh computer in a dystopian, cinematic narrative that captured the attention of millions. The ad featured a rebellious woman throwing a hammer at a screen depicting an authoritarian figure, symbolizing Apple’s challenge to the tech giants at that time. Its groundbreaking direction, innovative concept, and high production values made it one of the most expensive and most talked about Super Bowl commercials in history.