SUPER BOWL AD REVIEW 2021
Gen Z is not impressed
Heading into the big weekend, we decided to take a look at this season’s Super Bowl ads to see how they resonate.
Which brands hit the mark with their “super” spot? Among the 16 ads tested, M&Ms, Cheetos and Ford topped the list, while Vroom, Squarespace and Mercari filled out the bottom of the pack.
It may come as no surprise, but Gen Z is not entirely impressed by much though we found some moments that moved the needle, even for Gen Z. For the most part, it’s clear that while traditional ads appeal to Millennials (Really? Yes, really.) and Gen X, Gen Z will pick and choose their stimuli and likely won’t recognize the Boomer, Gen X and Millennial heroes of pre-streaming TV.
ON TARGET
(TOP 3)
OFF THE MARK
(BOTTOM 3)
Q: Overall, how would you rate this commercial? (One of the best or Good)
Rank 1: M&M’s for the win, Karen
M&M’s
M&M’s nailed it with this ad across all generations. Even Gen Z, who were consistently unimpressed by most of the tested ads, related to insincere apologies for cramped seating and interactions with the “Karens” of the world.
While Super Bowl watchers of all ages tended to agree that the ad was entertaining from start to finish, Gen Z picked and chose its moments, maintaining its distance from the pack.
Q: Overall, how would you rate this commercial?
Q: Please choose the words you feel apply to the commercial. Please select all that apply. (Top 3)
Rank 2: IT WAS YOU, MILA
Cheetos
While Gen X were seemingly well engaged when watching Mila and Ashton on the screen, Shaggy’s singing interlude underwhelmed them. Millennials, on the other hand, were all in on Shaggy, Mila, and Ashton throughout. Boomers and Gen Z were positive yet notably less so versus those in between.
Cheetos did well selecting Mila and Ashton for its ad, as the Mila effect, and possibly Ashton’s too, led to a rise in ratings whenever the scene shifted to focus on the TV sitcom sweethearts.
Q: Overall, how would you rate this commercial?
Q: Please choose the words you feel apply to the commercial. Please select all that apply. (Top 3)
Rank 3: Holding the Line
Ford
It’s been a rough year for everyone. Ford’s emotional appeal to hold the line had the strongest impact on Boomers who reacted to scenes of health care workers suiting up in PPE and simple imagery of human touch — holding hands.
Ford veered away from the pack with its plea to hold the line, reassuring us that we’re almost there. Gen Z was, once again, less enthusiastic than the older generations, but Ford managed to reach the Baby Boomer Generation, closely followed by Gen Xers and Millennials.
Q: Overall, how would you rate this commercial?
Q: Please choose the words you feel apply to the commercial. Please select all that apply. (Top 3)
Rank 14: Painless or Painful?
Vroom
Boomers and Gen Z were pretty neutral on the Vroom spot until we were taken from danger and thrust into a serene, suburban looking, front yard setting. As for the reaction to quietly receiving a car delivered to the front lawn? Boomers were all about it while Gen Z was less enthused.
If Millennials and Gen X are the key targets here, then Vroom nailed it. Gen Z is a ways off but Boomers came around when stress was taken out of the equation.
Q: Overall, how would you rate this commercial?
Q: Please choose the words you feel apply to the commercial. Please select all that apply. (Top 3)
Rank 15: 5 to 9 = Dolly
Squarespace
Dolly Parton’s reputation for transcending any and all barriers is reaffirmed by this somewhat obscure ad – even if Gen Z needs to see Dolly’s smiling face before making the connection between her iconic 1980 hit song and the movie it was created for…
All ages livened up once the iconic Dolly Parton 9 to 5 song (reworked into 5 to 9) started up, though Gen Zers seemed to be a little slow to associate the play on the 1980 hit to Dolly herself.
Q: Overall, how would you rate this commercial?
Q: Please choose the words you feel apply to the commercial. Please select all that apply. (Top 3)
Rank 16: Remote Marketplace
Mercari
Less interested in watching newlyweds open gifts, Gen Z was moved by the introduction of a smooth transition to movie night on the couch with friends.
Millennials and Gen Xers were most consistently positive on Mercari’s ad, while Boomers and Gen Z were less impressed.
Q: Overall, how would you rate this commercial?
Q: Please choose the words you feel apply to the commercial. Please select all that apply. (Top 3)
METHODOLOGY
In the days leading up to Sunday’s Super Bowl LV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mercury Analytics conducted a survey including dial-tests of sixteen commercials of popular brands that aired in preparation of the event. These brands included: Amazon, Bud Light, Cheetos, Chipotle, Samuel Adams, Squarespace, Ford, Mercari, Michelob ULTRA, M&Ms, Pringles, Scott’s Miracle Gro, Stella Artois, Tide, Uber Eats, and Vroom.
Mercury’s study tested the performance of these commercials among a national sample of n=1043 of US adults aged 18+ who indicated that they were ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ likely to watch the Super Bowl this weekend. Additional quotas were set to ensure the sample was representative of age, gender, and ethnicity demographic breakdowns in the US.
Respondents were first asked a series of demographic questions followed by questions to help understand respondents’ TV consumption patterns and likelihood to watch the Super Bowl. Next, respondents were each shown four out of sixteen commercials and asked to rate their feelings about them on a moment-to-moment basis. Each video was randomly-assigned, and each set of commercials was shown in random order to eliminate any biases resulting from viewing order.
As participants watched each commercial, they moved a slider just below the video to the right the more strongly they thought the commercial they were watching was ‘excellent’, or to the left the more strongly they thought the commercial was ‘terrible’. They also had the option to push a button that would identify a ‘SPECIAL MOMENT’.
Between watching each commercial, respondents were asked post-exposure questions to assess their opinions of the commercial and brand.
For more information on Mercury’s dial-testing, click here, and for more technical information about the study, please contact Jordan Kraft or at 202-386-6322 x 322.
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