Featuring: Bryan Cranston, Tracee Ellis Ross.
Game: Super Bowl LIV.
Celebrity Paycheck: Unknown.
Total Price Tag: Unknown.
In a pastiche to the classic horror film “The Shining”, Bryan Cranston limps through a hotel tracking down Ross, spouting the benefits of the new Mountain Dew Zero Sugar. When he bursts through the bathroom door Ross is startled but accepts the new drink.
In the end, a wave of the soft drink comes cascading out of the elevator, and if you’ve seen the movie you know what these references. It’s a weird ad, but weird is sometimes good.
Cheetos: “I Can't Touch This” (2020)
Featuring: MC Hammer.
Game: Super Bowl LIV.
Celebrity Paycheck: Unknown.
Total Price Tag: Unknown.
MC Hammer, in his classic style, sits down at his piano with a retro bag of Cheetos. His dust-covered fingers give him a brainstorm when he realizes he can't touch the piano.
The ad is quick and effective, and even gives us a shot of Hammer dancing his way into the frame, grabbing a bag of Cheetos, and dancing back out. Hammer has had financial issues in the past, so we're sure he was happy with the paycheck, which is undisclosed at this time.
Doritos's: “The Cool Ranch” (2020)
Featuring: Lil Nas X, Sam Elliott, Billy Ray Cyrus.
Game: Super Bowl LIV.
Celebrity Paycheck: Unknown.
Total Price Tag: Unknown.
This ad has so little to do with Doritos it's almost silly. But you can't deny how slick it looks when classic western actor and classic mustache-haver Sam Elliot and rapper Lil Nas X get into a dance battle for a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.
Lil Nas wins the chips, and at the end country music star Cyrus shows up with his guitar, shaking his head at the proceedings. Doritos has a history of odd ads, and this one might be odd, but it also captured a wide swath of viewers.
Squarespace: “Make it With Keanu Reeves” (2018)
Featuring: Keanu Reeves.
Game: Super Bowl XLIX.
Celebrity Paycheck: Unknown.
Total Price Tag: Unknown.
This ad features Keanu Reeves looking cool because he obviously does. John Wick had opened Reeves's career back up after some time out of the spotlight, and he wants you to know how easy it is to make a website with Squarespace.
Anything you can imagine is within you, Reeves says as he surfs a motorcycle. He sings along with a Will Powers song about believing in yourself and then guns it down the road. Take us with you, Keanu.
Old Spice: “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” (2010)
Featuring: Isaiah Mustafa.
Game: Super Bowl XLIV.
Celebrity Paycheck: Unknown.
Total Price Tag: Unknown.
It isn't usual for an ad to make someone famous, but this Old Spice ad shot Isaiah Mustafa to star-status thanks to clever writing, a unique directorial style – the ad is one long shot – and unexpected sights.
The campaign continued, adding in Terry Crews to bump up the muscle and energy, while Mustafa keeps things cool and smooth. He's the man your man could smell like, and he's on a horse.