Some of the year’s biggest media events take place between the months of January and April, including the Super Bowl, the Oscars, and the Grammys. Advertisers aim to make a splash, but it takes more than a big budget to create an ad that people want to watch. In this edition of the Ads Leaderboard, most top ads feature content that leverages celebrity starpower in new and nostalgic ways. The NFL’s 100-Year Game is a perfect example, using an anniversary banquet to set the stage for a chaotic, thrilling matchup of the league’s all-time greatest talent. Also included is Gillette’s fresh and controversial take on “The Best a Man Can Get,” which features Idris Elba in a reflective opening scene. This compelling ad is a reaction to contemporary movements like “Me Too,” calling for the end of “toxic masculinity” and citing the brand’s belief in the best in men.
