The Super Bowl is known for its iconic, buzzworthy commercials. But not every ad hits the mark. Here are my picks for the top 5 worst Super Bowl commercials of 2025 that left viewers, including myself, cringing or confused.
1. CoffeeMate: “Let’s Go Tongues”
Some ideas probably sound great in the brainstorming room — like a dancing tongue leaping out of a guy’s mouth to perform onstage. Unfortunately, it’s the kind of ad that leaves you thinking, “Wow, I never need to see that again.” While it was definitely memorable, it was memorable in all the wrong ways. This commercial made me feel completely uncomfortable, and I’m sure I wasn’t alone.
2. Mountain Dew Baja Blast: “Seal as a Seal”
This commercial was peak Mountain Dew chaos. Their mascot, Mountain Dude, takes Becky G on a bizarre adventure to listen to Seal — or rather, Seal as a seal — perform a new version of his hit song called “Kiss From A Lime.” Seeing Seal’s face on a seal’s body was mildly terror-inducing, and while the song was catchy, it didn’t make up for the visual confusion. Definitely a hard watch.
3. Dunkin’: “DunKings 2”
Ben Affleck’s Dunkin’ Donuts ads are starting to feel like overkill. While the original DunKings campaign in 2024 might have been “fun”, this sequel mini-movie felt exhausting. They brought in big names like Bill Belichick, Casey Affleck, and Jeremy Strong for a seven-minute boy band-style showdown, but it was way too “extra.” Affleck’s collaboration with Dunkin’ has lost its charm, and it just felt like a desperate attempt to recreate past success.
4. “No Reason to Hate” Featuring Tom Brady and Snoop Dogg
This ad aimed to promote a positive message, featuring Tom Brady and Snoop Dogg exchanging heated (but silly) reasons for hating each other: “I hate you because you look different” and “I hate you because people I know hate you.” While the commercial’s intention to denounce hate was admirable, the execution fell flat. The yelling made the message feel aggressive rather than impactful. And given how critically online the younger generation is, it’s easy to imagine this being mocked rather than taken seriously.
5. Tubi: “Cowboy Head”
This had to be top 5 WORST. Tubi’s free Super Bowl stream was appreciated, but this ad? Not so much. It featured “flesh hats” for a full 60 seconds, and the sight was nightmare-inducing. While I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity, I was also genuinely unsettled. Tubi certainly succeeded in grabbing attention, but it wasn’t for the right reasons.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the 2025 Super Bowl commercials were undeniably creative and accomplished their goal of keeping audiences’ eyes glued to the screen. Many brands clearly took the new generation into consideration, featuring TikTok influencers to draw in younger viewers and bringing back TV legends for older audiences. While several ads were difficult to watch, the marketing strategy was thoughtful and effective. The trend toward “weirder is more intriguing” ensures people will talk about the commercials on social media long after the game ends — and in the world of advertising, that’s what matters most.