Super Bowl 2026 commercials: The best and worst

For once, could a handful of commercials from Sunday actually stand a decent chance of getting remembered past Wednesday? Memory's a funny thing, but if you care about a solo by Lady Gaga, Mike Tyson (eating an apple) and a pair of AI-generated robots, then why not? Hey, maybe even Thursday.

Otherwise, Super Bowl LX's 80-plus commercials played it safe and dull. In a pitched battle for attention, customers, investors and a future, a dozen-plus AI advertisers turned up, but probably succeeded only in confusing viewers (or freaking them out.) Celebrities were everywhere, but most of them seemed to turn up in just one commercial (Dunkin's).

Let's go to the winners! (And losers):

THE BEST

1. REDFIN/ROCKET MORTGAGE, "America Needs Neighbors Like You"

A gorgeous Lady Gaga cover of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" theme tracked alongside a story with moving specificity: Two young girls, a divorce, a missing dog, a storm, a kind neighbor and lots of tears. Appealing to our better angels, this insisted that what unites us beats what divides us.

2. DUNKIN, "Good Will Dunkin"

"Before the movie, a much better version of 'Good Will Hunting' was made as a sitcom ..." In fact, a pretty dopey ad, but certainly amusing, and right when we needed it most. Besides Ben Affleck, this had Jasmine Guy, Jason Alexander, Matt LeBlanc, Alfonso Ribeiro, Ted Danson, Jaleel White, Jennifer Aniston, and ... couldn't make out the last guy. A former quarterback maybe?

3. BUDWEISER, "American Icons"

Good ads are all about manipulation but great ads have heart, emotion and something even AI can't put words to. This red state bookend to "America Needs Neighbors Like You" had essentially the same idea, and nearly the same emotional wallop. Props for the best celebrity cameo of LX: Lincoln, the bald eagle.

4. SVEDKA, "Shake Your Bots Off"

Mini-horror masterpiece with a decent punchline (robots should not drink — who knew?) got advanced notoriety as the Super Bowl's first ad created by AI, but also starred Brobot, as the "romantic" partner to Fembot (she's been around a while). Could a real horror movie sequel be far behind?

5. KELLOGG'S RAISIN BRAN, "Will Shat"

This salute to the laxative powers of Raisin Bran — starring the legend himself, William Shatner) — was either the worst commercial of the entire night, or the most laugh-out-loud funny. Let's go with the funny.

6. MAHA CENTER, "Eat Real Food"

Those tight headshots of the formerly "fat and nasty" Mike Tyson certainly got everyone's attention during the halftime show, and so did this message (for Make America Healthy Again): "Eat real food." What, not Lays potato chips?

THE WORST

1. FANATICS SPORTSBOOK, "Bet on Kendall"

This insufferable riff on Kendall Jenner's problematic dating life encouraged people who should know better (but clearly don't) to bet on whatever Kendall's betting on. As cynical as Super Bowl commercials get. Or is the word just "sad?"

2. LIQUID I.V., "Take A Look"

Take a look at singing toilets, and urinals, and while you're at it, take a look at your urine? Was there not a better way to convey this health message? A way, perhaps, that didn't gross out 120 million viewers?

3. UBER EATS, "Hungry for the Truth"

Speaking for a hundred-plus million viewers, I was hungry for anything other than this nattering, annoying, fingernails-across-the-chalkboard dud with Bradley Cooper and Matthew McConaughey.

4. NERDS JUICY GUMMY, "Taste Buds"

How much fame, stardom, money, visibility is too much? Twerking alongside a 20-foot-tall monster gummy Nerd, the answer for Andy Cohen is evidently not enough. Not nearly.

5. PRINGLES, "Pringleleo"

Maybe I missed something here (Sabrina Carpenter goes on a date with a pile of potato chips?) but I don't think so. Repulsive.