Pepsi: Coke Guy Takes a Pepsi (1996)
This Pepsi commercial from 1996 is so memorable because of its direct jab at its competitor, Coca Cola.
The style was simple, yet effective. Faux-security camera footage at some type of grocery store captures a Coca Cola deliveryman shelving cases of soda beside the Pepsi freezer.
The Coke guy checks his surroundings as if to see if he’s safe and then takes out a Pepsi, despite the fact that the company he works for is clearly Coke.
It’s a funny tongue-in-cheek commercial that proves simplicity doesn’t lessen the effectiveness of an ad. Indeed, it’s certainly the simplicity of this Super Bowl commercial that makes it memorable.
Budweiser: Whassup? (1999)
This Budweiser commercial needs no introduction. Again, it ventures on the obscure side of advertisement, but there’s no mistaking its effectiveness.
A group of guys is just watching the game, having a Bud, and greet each other with an exaggerated “whaaassaaaaa.” There’s no right or wrong way of spelling their greeting either — whichever way it’s spelled out, chances are a person will read it and immediately think of this ad.
To this day it’s still quoted. This is probably one of the most memorable Budweiser commercials that the company has ever produced for the Super Bowl, which is what makes it one of the best commercials in Super Bowl history.
