The Verge - Super Bowl 2017: the best commercials, trailers, and performances of the big gamehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52801/VER_Logomark_32x32..png2017-02-06T11:45:54-05:00http://www.theverge.com/rss/stream/142820172017-02-06T11:45:54-05:002017-02-06T11:45:54-05:00The Super Bowl's best ads got political, intentionally or not
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<p id="hW2yNU">President Trump’s policies had a completely expected effect on the Super Bowl last night. He managed to push the big game’s ads, and the way fans view them, into the realm of politics. Certainly not every company set out to make a statement, but it was almost impossible to watch some of the biggest ads of the night without viewing them as opposition against the new administration.</p>
<p id="9GSThN">The game’s biggest and most controversial spot was likely <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/1/14468158/budweiser-super-bowl-commercial-immigration-trump">Budweiser’s, which first appeared last week</a>. Titled “Born the Hard Way,” the ad follows Anheuser-Busch co-founder Adolphus Busch on his journey from Germany down to St. Louis, Missouri, where he meets future partner Eberhard Anheuser over a beer.</p>
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<p id="rU4oae">A spokesman for Budweiser parent company AB InBev insists...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/6/14520700/top-political-super-bowl-commercials-2017-watch-best-ads">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/6/14520700/top-political-super-bowl-commercials-2017-watch-best-adsKwame Opam2017-02-06T10:43:36-05:002017-02-06T10:43:36-05:00The seven best Super Bowl commercials — and the three worst
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<figcaption>Super Bowl</figcaption>
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<p id="fjA24r">For most Super Bowls, the commercials are the star of the show. But last night the New England Patriots made a historic comeback, toppling the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. Ad breaks had to be used as they were originally intended: to visit the bathroom, grab drinks, and refill your plate with hot wings, celery, and those tiny hot dogs lathered in BBQ sauce.</p>
<p id="ekW6Yy">And we awoke this morning — perhaps a smidgen hungover from light beer or Hawaiian Punch — without a favorite Super Bowl ad. With the rest of the 9AM water cooler crowd, we checked our watch, searched for something to say, and grumbled about how we can “<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2014/1/9/5276868/breaking-madden-tom-brady">Never count out touchdown Tom</a>.” We then filed back to our laptops, collected ourselves, and assembled this list.</p>
<p id="oAxvx8">We will not be...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/6/14519284/best-super-bowl-commercials-2017">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/6/14519284/best-super-bowl-commercials-2017Jordan GolsonLizzie PlaugicChris Plante2017-02-05T21:58:25-05:002017-02-05T21:58:25-05:00The Super Bowl halftime show drones weren't flying live
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<figcaption>Intel</figcaption>
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<p id="jcgwb8">Drones were a big part of this year’s Super Bowl halftime show <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/4/14509436/lady-gaga-halftime-show-hundreds-of-drones">for the first time ever</a>. Hundreds of the devices helped this year’s performer, Lady Gaga, kick her show off, presenting a colorful, swirling backdrop as she stood on the roof of Houston’s NRG Stadium. But as Gaga herself seemed to leap from the roof, dropping down to the stadium to start her show proper, her army of drones didn’t follow.</p>
<p id="uimqsE">That’s because the drone shows were actually filmed earlier this week, as Intel confirmed to <em>The Verge</em>. That includes Gaga’s intro sequence, which saw her dancing in front of an American flag, and a later 10-second spot that featured the drones as they changed from the Pepsi to Intel logos. <a href="https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=87305">Restrictions placed on the area</a> by the Federal...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14517954/super-bowl-2017-drones-halftime-show-lady-gaga">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14517954/super-bowl-2017-drones-halftime-show-lady-gagaAndrew LiptakRich McCormick2017-02-05T20:45:31-05:002017-02-05T20:45:31-05:00Lady Gaga opened her Super Bowl performance with a protest anthem
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<figcaption>Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="FmCgbN">In a Super Bowl performance that spanned her entire discography, Lady Gaga opened her act with a rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” which has become a popular anthem at rallies protesting President Trump across the country. Standing atop the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Gaga started the song backed by <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/4/14509436/lady-gaga-halftime-show-hundreds-of-drones">a massive fleet of drones</a> before leaping onto her stage. It was a stunning start to an over-the-top set that, while not overtly political, was certainly aimed at her political fans.</p>
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<p id="RW0K7F">Tonight’s performance, which included acrobatics, pyrotechnics, and dancers, included such hits as “Poker Face,” “Telephone,” and “Bad Romance.” However, those looking for more of a politically charged show might have come away slightly...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14517858/lady-gaga-super-bowl-2017-halftime-show-protest-song">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14517858/lady-gaga-super-bowl-2017-halftime-show-protest-songKwame Opam2017-02-05T20:03:26-05:002017-02-05T20:03:26-05:00Betrayal is at the heart of the Fate of the Furious Super Bowl trailer
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<p id="ffwAfq">A new trailer for the next installment of the<em> Fast and the Furious</em> franchise, <em>Fate of the Furious </em>just arrived. </p>
<p id="ywhwtD">The film is the first following the death of one of its main stars, Paul Walker. This teaser highlights Dom (Vin Diesel) betraying the group and going rogue, while Deckard Shaw (Jason Stathem) has to work with the rest of the crew. As expected, there’s plenty of fast cars and over the top crashes. </p>
<p id="bahaeR"><em>Fate of the Furious</em> will hit theaters on April 14th, 2017.</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14517776/fate-of-the-furious-super-bowl-2017-trailer-watch">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14517776/fate-of-the-furious-super-bowl-2017-trailer-watchAndrew Liptak2017-02-05T19:37:03-05:002017-02-05T19:37:03-05:00Airbnb’s Super Bowl ad says ‘we accept’ everyone
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<p id="kkD1Fq">Airbnb just aired a Super Bowl ad promoting a message of diversity and acceptance, ending with the statement that “the world is more beautiful the more you accept.” CEO Brian Chesky also <a href="https://twitter.com/bchesky/status/828393595535192065">tweeted</a> a reference to the commercial, as well as an announcement that the company is aiming to provide short-term housing for 100,000 refugees, disaster survivors, and other displaced people over the next five years. Additionally, Airbnb will donate $4 million to the International Rescue Committee over the next four years.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Acceptance starts with all of us. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weaccept?src=hash">#weaccept</a> <a href="https://t.co/btgqyYHVTK">pic.twitter.com/btgqyYHVTK</a></p>— Airbnb (@Airbnb) <a href="https://twitter.com/Airbnb/status/828394637874171904">February 6, 2017</a>
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<p id="a2rDru">The ad’s message is of course politically charged in the context of <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2017/1/28/14426550/silicon-valley-trump-immigration-response">Silicon Valley’s response</a> to President Trump’s...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14517708/airbnb-super-bowl-ad-donation-aid">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14517708/airbnb-super-bowl-ad-donation-aidSam Byford2017-02-05T19:27:45-05:002017-02-05T19:27:45-05:00Logan is full of grace in its Super Bowl Teaser
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<figcaption>20th Century Fox</figcaption>
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<p id="jDQS0s">A new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDnXUq2uV6c">teaser for <em>Logan</em> dropped</a>, set to the song <em>Amazing Grace</em>. </p>
<p id="OlaVPQ">There’s no dialogue in this teaser: just music as Logan accompanies Professor X and the young X-23 as they’re chased by a shadowy corporation. Earlier trailers have prominently featured music, such as <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/20/13199476/wolverine-logan-trailer-hugh-jackman-patrick-stewart">Johnny Cash’s <em>Hurt</em></a> and <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2017/1/19/14322748/logan-movie-trailer-x-men-wolverine">Kaleo’s <em>Way Down We Go</em></a>, and this teaser feels particularly effective with the song. </p>
<p id="6vlCQP"><em>Logan </em>hits theaters on March 3rd.</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14517622/logan-super-bowl-2017-trailer-watch">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14517622/logan-super-bowl-2017-trailer-watchAndrew Liptak2017-02-05T19:19:10-05:002017-02-05T19:19:10-05:00Jack Sparrow faces the dead in the new Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales trailer
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<p id="GqprB8">The latest trailer for <em>Pirates of the Caribbean: </em><em>Dead Men Tell No Tales </em>(also known as <em>S</em><em>a</em><em>lazar’s</em><em> </em><em>Rev</em><em>en</em><em>g</em><em>e</em><em> </em>in some countries)<em> </em>aired tonight during the Super Bowl, giving us a new look at the army of the dead Captain Jack Sparrow will have to face off against in his fifth outing. Javier Bardem plays the titular Salazar, a ghost pirate who wants to settle an old score with Jack. The film will also feature the return of Orlando Bloom as now-immortal captain Will Turner, and Geoffrey Rush as Jack’s one-time rival Hector Barbossa.</p>
<p id="kSWsf4"><em>Pirates of the Caribbean: </em><em>Dead Men Tell No Tales</em><em> </em>hits theaters on May 26th.</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14502958/pirates-of-the-caribbean-super-bowl-ad-trailer-2017">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/5/14502958/pirates-of-the-caribbean-super-bowl-ad-trailer-2017Kwame Opam