Super Bowl LIX turned out to be a game where excitement was in short supply as the Philadelphia Eagles soared past the Kansas City Chiefs with a decisive 40-22 victory. This win not only clinched the championship for the Eagles but also halted the Chiefs’ quest for a historic three-peat. The match, lacking the usual nail-biting drama, shifted the spotlight to the real entertainment of the night: the commercials. Fox, broadcasting the event, memes the ads as golden opportunities for brands, each costing a whopping $8 million for a spot. These high-priced commercials often become the talk of the town, and this year was no exception.
The Muppets took center stage in Booking.com’s ad, charming viewers with their playful search for the perfect travel deals. This wasn’t the company’s first rodeo; they’d also topped the charts in 2023 with Melissa McCarthy and in 2024 with Tina Fey. Their strategy of blending humor with nostalgia clearly resonates, making them a consistent winner in the ad game. Other standout ads featured a star-studded lineup: Glen Powell for Ram Trucks, Bill Murray for Yahoo, and Kieran Culkin voicing a beluga whale for NerdWallet. Shane Gillis, Post Malone, and Peyton Manning added their charisma to Bud Light’s campaign, while Marvel’s “Thunderbolts” trailer also made a significant impact, landing in the top five.
The halftime show, headlined by Kendrick Lamar, was a musical highlight. Lamar’s performance wasn’t just a spectacle; it also drove traffic to his music. His channel saw a threefold increase in views post-show, and his song “Not Like Us” claimed the third spot on YouTube’s daily music charts. Lamar’s influence extended beyond the field, showing how music and sports intertwine in pop culture.
While the game itself was one-sided, it sparked some intriguing Google searches.Curiosity about the “biggest comeback in NFL history” surged as the Chiefs trailed 24-0 at halftime. Fans also wondered if a Super Bowl had ever ended in a shutout, with searches spiking by 2600%. Although the Chiefs avoided that fate, the lopsided score led to a peak in searches for the “biggest blowout,” reminiscent of past games like Super Bowl XXIV.
The commercials this year highlighted a blend of humor and celebrity appeal, a trend that while popular, didn’t break much new ground. Many ads stuck to familiar formulas, indicating both the comfort and limitations of traditional approaches in advertising.
In the end, Super Bowl LIX offered more excitement off the field than on it. The Eagles celebrated their victory, while brands and artists reaped the benefits of the vast audience. The event once again proved that it’s as much about the ads and entertainment as it is about the game itself, making it a cultural spectacle like no other.
