Watch Now: 7 Super Bowl Commericals We Love

Our ‘Hawks are back in the Super Bowl and yes that’s grand, but you know the real reason you’re not missing a beat this Sunday: The over-the-top, ad-budget-busting commercials!

Some brands are releasing their spots early to create extra hype, while some have had to pull theirs amid controversy (ahem, GoDaddy).

We scanned the vast Interwebs for a few standouts released early this year and from the past and handpicked seven. Whether it’s the introduction of the Mac computer, horses genuflecting toward New York’s Ground Zero and now the return of Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel bumbling over new technology, ad agencies keep coming up with genius ideas.

Which commercials from Super Bowls of yore do you love? Tweet us @Seattlemag and we’ll retweet the best responses.

2015 Super Bowl Commercials Released Early

Wix #It’sThatEasy

This year is the debut Super Bowl appearance for cloud-based web development platform Wix, but we’d never know as they own their #It’sThatEasy hashtag with this minute-long spot. They don’t need cleavage or fast cars to win attention for their website building platform; just five of the most celebrated NFL players in history. 

 

BMW i3–“Newfangled Idea”

How can BMW sell an electric car? Easy: Bring in Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel for the task, and start out with the infamous flashback of the pair on the Today show in 1994 (when Internet and email were novel concepts), then fast-foward to them equally confused about new technology while cruising around in a BMW i3. “I mean, what is Internet anyway? Do you write to it like mail?”

 

Highlights From Years Past

Most loved

Coca-Cola “Mean Joe Green” (1979)

Tim Nudd, creative editor at Adweek, told ABC News this “one of the most beloved Super Bowl commericials ever.” With a bottle of coke, a boy works his way to a rough football star’s heart. Enough said.

 

Most significant

Apple “1984” (1984)

Nudd also considered this spot “The most famous commercial ever made — the ad to change all ads, particularly Super Bowl commercials. This dark, poetic, audacious spot turned the Super Bowl into the advertising showcase it is today.” Hint: the Mac computer started here.

 

Most respectful

Budweiser “Respect” (2002)

Months after 9/11, Budweiser figured out how to honor the events respectfully during this minute-long spot.

 

Most expensive

Chrysler’s “Imported from Detroit” (2011)

Alas: the most expensive Super Bowl ad of all time! Chysler spent a cool $12.4 million on this two-minute commercial for the Chrysler 200, featuring Eminem driving around his hometown of Detroit.

 

Best banned

Skechers “Kim Kardashian” (2011)

How does Kim Kardashian keep that sculpted body? Skechers, of course! The scandalously steamy ad caused a ruckus initially because of it’s sexy content, but eventually the body-shaping claims it made resulted in Skechers paying $40 million in a lawsuit settlement for false advertising.