The Super Bowl is about a lot of things, but it’s mostly about money. It’s America’s annual day where everyone gathers around to watch millionaire football players play in a brand name stadium, in a nationally televised game, which features as much time devoted to commercials as it does to the sport being played on the field. Advertisers pay a lot of money for those coveted advertising spots, and spend big to make sure the ads have an impact. That often means hiring big name actors to put in front of the camera, and/or getting talented, movie-level directors behind them, too.
This year, Judd Apatow, Doug Liman, Wally Pfister, and Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris were among the folks who lent their talent to advertisers. We’ve selected the creme de la creme below. Check them out, and you can hit Slashfilm, a complete rundown of movie director helmed spots.
You know who can really sell cruises? John F. Kennedy. Yep, an old speech by the late President weirdly serves as the voice over for this Wally Pfister led spot for Carnival, which celebrates the majesty of traveling across the open water.
Lauren Greenfield, the filmmaker behind the doc "The Queen Of Versailles," directed by the much talked about "Like A Girl" spot for Always.
"Little Miss Sunshine" and "Ruby Sparks" duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris reunited Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel for BMW.
Doug Liman guided Mindy Kaling through a spot for Nationwide Insurance.
Art Director of "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland" and director of "Maleficent" Robert Stromberg told a "Fable" for Mercedes.
Judd Apatow helmed a quick spot featuring Jon Hamm for Red Nose Day.
Tim & Eric were up to their usual weirdness for Loctite.
Cinematographer Lance Acord ("Where The Wild Things Are," "Lost In Translation," "Adaptation.") helmed Nissan’s "With Dad."
"Dracula Untold" dude Gary Shore delivered more special effects for "Game Of War: Fire Age" featuring Kate Upton.
