At Abbey Mecca, we closely follow the ads that dominate the Super Bowl each year, and Super Bowl 59 was no exception. Adweek’s recent reports have highlighted some of the biggest wins and losses in this year’s ad game, and we’re diving into those insights to provide our perspective on which brands stood out.
Top Performers:
Budweiser
Budweiser made an emotional splash with their ad, which shared the story of a smaller-than-usual Clydesdale. This one really hit home for us at Abbey Mecca, and in fact, we all voted it as the top-performing ad. It perfectly demonstrates how storytelling can deepen a brand’s connection with its audience. By tapping into emotional appeal, Budweiser brought back that classic feel-good vibe we’ve come to expect from the iconic brand. We all agree, when you make consumers feel something, you create lasting brand loyalty.
Lay’s 
Lay’s made a thoughtful return to the Super Bowl with its heartwarming ad featuring “The Little Farmer.” The story follows a young farmer nurturing a potato into a product worthy of becoming a Lay’s chip. Set against a beautifully shot narrative, the ad emphasizes the dedication of farming families who grow the potatoes that turn into your favorite snack. The campaign also highlights Lay’s commitment to U.S. farmers with a $1 million donation to the nonprofit Farm Foundation to support future agricultural leaders.
Doritos
Doritos brought back its iconic “Crash the Super Bowl” contest for its 25th Super Bowl ad, choosing the winner from thousands of contenders. This year, the ad titled Abduction emerged as the fan favorite, showing an unsuspecting snacker being whisked away by an alien tractor beam — all in the pursuit of Doritos. The ad not only captured the playful, humorous spirit of the brand, but it also allowed aspiring creators to make their mark in front of millions. Directed by Dylan Bradshaw and content creator Nate Norrell, Abduction earned its creators $1 million in prize money and an all-expenses-paid trip to New Orleans for the big game. In a time when creator-driven marketing has taken center stage, Doritos found the perfect way to bring fresh energy to its longstanding Super Bowl tradition.
What We Learned:
At Abbey Mecca, we’re all about helping our clients craft campaigns that are meaningful, memorable, and impactful. The top ads from Super Bowl 59 showed us that a perfect blend of emotional connection, entertainment, and authenticity can elevate a brand to new heights. On the other hand, brands that stray too far from their core identity or rely too heavily on gimmicks risk leaving their audience disconnected.
It’s clear that in the fast-paced world of advertising, creativity must be balanced with strategy. Whether you’re aiming for humor, heartstrings, or cultural relevance, aligning your message with your brand’s values and audience expectations is key to success.
