{"id":35481,"date":"2026-02-03T14:26:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T22:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/?p=35481"},"modified":"2026-02-09T08:29:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T16:29:04","slug":"the-creative-approaches-fueling-the-top-5-most-likeable-super-bowl-lx-pre-releases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/the-creative-approaches-fueling-the-top-5-most-likeable-super-bowl-lx-pre-releases\/","title":{"rendered":"The Creative Approaches Fueling the Top 5 Most Likeable Super Bowl LX Pre-Releases"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Super Bowl advertising doesn\u2019t start on game day. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/early-super-bowl-commercials-2026\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Pre-releases and teasers have become part of the ritual<\/span><\/a>\u2014expected by audiences, carefully planned by brands, and watched closely across the industry. These early spots do more than preview what\u2019s coming. They help define the creative playbook brands carry forward long after the Big Game ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As of February 3, 2026, 22 brands have released a total of 23 pre-releases. Looking at the five most likeable reveals a range of creative approaches\u2014from nostalgia and humor to sincerity and spectacle\u2014each signaling how brands intend to connect emotionally before the Super Bowl spotlight fully turns on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-53a2230d2938c470162539118e396559\" style=\"color:#00708b;font-size:27px\"><strong>#1: Pepsi Leans on Familiar Characters\u2014With a Cultural Wink<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-dc0fa4a43fc22b98984b5fb5274fbc4d\" style=\"color:#6ebd23\"><strong>Likeability: 728 (13% Above Norm*)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative; width:100%; padding-top:56.25%; padding-bottom:40px;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/share\/gZy2\" style=\"position:absolute; top:0; right:0; left:0; bottom:0; width:100%; height:100%;\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Pepsi\u2019s Super Bowl LX pre-release leans into something instantly recognizable\u2014but not originally its own. The spot features polar bears long associated with Coca-Cola, recontextualized here as they drink Pepsi Zero Sugar, paired with a classic track from Queen. The result is a clever and deliberate play on familiarity, nostalgia, and category memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"369\" src=\"https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092626\/image-1024x369.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092626\/image-1024x369.png 1024w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092626\/image-300x108.png 300w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092626\/image-640x231.png 640w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092626\/image-768x277.png 768w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092626\/image.png 1448w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But the twist lands in the final moments, when it becomes clear that Pepsi isn\u2019t just borrowing a familiar visual, it\u2019s subverting it. The spot closes with a nod to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/pop-culture\/pop-culture-news\/chris-martin-jokes-couple-affair-coldplay-concert-man-ducks-kiss-cam-rcna219385\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">viral Coldplay concert scandal<\/span><\/a> drawing a clear line between nostalgia and provocation by using a competitor\u2019s most iconic characters to make a category-level statement. Early performance signals reflect the strength of that approach: Likeability is high and Brand Recognition is well above the Super Bowl norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c2ca2da56243597184b7dd6947345bc0\" style=\"color:#00708b;font-size:27px\"><strong>#2: Toyota Pulls Heartstrings With the RAV4<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-62766903bdef3623df15d1ff959df3cc\" style=\"color:#6ebd23\"><strong>Likeability: 697 (9% Above Norm<\/strong><strong>*<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative; width:100%; padding-top:56.25%; padding-bottom:40px;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/share\/gZjw\" style=\"position:absolute; top:0; right:0; left:0; bottom:0; width:100%; height:100%;\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Toyota\u2019s RAV4 pre-release reflects meaning-led storytelling, centering on earnest emotion and message rather than grandeur or surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This kind of creative doesn\u2019t go for shock value; it aims to ground the moment. In early performance signals, the message emerges as the most cited Single Best Thing, paired with strong Brand Recognition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a reminder that not every Super Bowl ad needs to shout with celebrity star power, wild stunts, and\/or outlandish humor. Some are built to resonate quietly\u2014and stay with audiences long after the final whistle. These brands use the Big Game as a moment to reinforce values rather than chase virality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04142157\/Screenshot-2026-02-03-at-5.04.12%E2%80%AFPM-1024x342.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35518\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/resources\/free-reports\/super-bowl-lix-tv-transparency-report\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">four of the top 10 most likeable ads of Super Bowl LIX took a serious, emotionally resonant approach<\/span><\/a>, moving beyond humor to relay deeper themes. Brands like Pfizer, Budweiser, and Jeep earned Likeability scores in the 90th percentile and up, proving emotional ads can stand out in a high-energy Super Bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ee2054fa1e2444ddf9969ea38e2942b2\" style=\"color:#00708b;font-size:27px\"><strong>#3: Dove Stakes a Claim on Meaning<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-f3e224832d8410ee299ba966cf4aaf9c\" style=\"color:#6ebd23\"><strong>Likeability: 690 (7% Above Norm<\/strong><strong>*<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative; width:100%; padding-top:56.25%; padding-bottom:40px;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/share\/gZeh\" style=\"position:absolute; top:0; right:0; left:0; bottom:0; width:100%; height:100%;\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Dove\u2019s pre-release leans into inspiration and message over entertainment. \u201cThis Game Is Ours\u201d centers on female empowerment, positioning the brand within the broader cultural significance of the Super Bowl rather than the spectacle itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"336\" src=\"https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-1-1024x336.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-1-1024x336.png 1024w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-1-300x98.png 300w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-1-640x210.png 640w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-1-768x252.png 768w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-1.png 1268w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Viewers called out the Message as the primary driver of Likeability, with Inspiring emerging as the top emotional signal. It\u2019s a continuation of Dove\u2019s long-standing creative posture\u2014and a further reminder that purpose-led storytelling can still resonate, even amid the noise and theatrics of Super Bowl season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a73407001879ae5db35f39cf036a863b\" style=\"color:#00708b;font-size:27px\"><strong>#4: Bud Light Brings the Party Back<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-295e95dcda6a0b47fbfaa63952abceb7\" style=\"color:#6ebd23\"><strong>Likeability: 685 (7% Above Norm<\/strong><strong>*<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative; width:100%; padding-top:56.25%; padding-bottom:40px;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/share\/gZeN\" style=\"position:absolute; top:0; right:0; left:0; bottom:0; width:100%; height:100%;\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Bud Light\u2019s pre-release returns to one of the category\u2019s most reliable Super Bowl formulas: humor, celebrity, and cultural familiarity. Featuring Shane Gillis, Post Malone, and Peyton Manning\u2014set to a Whitney Houston track\u2014the spot prioritizes dramatic moments and instantly recognizable visuals designed to land quickly with a broad audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-2-1024x364.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-2-1024x364.png 1024w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-2-300x107.png 300w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-2-640x228.png 640w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-2-768x273.png 768w, https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04092730\/image-2.png 1270w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Early Creative Assessment metrics reflect that strategy. Humor emerges as the dominant emotional response, while visuals are cited as the standout creative element. This isn\u2019t subtle storytelling; it\u2019s social, loud, and built for mass appeal\u2014with a high Likeability score to show that the approach is already paying off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:38px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4b9f531990505eee99a86dc6cfdab016\" style=\"color:#00708b;font-size:27px\"><strong>#5: Hellmann\u2019s Knows the Power of a Good Track<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-c36cfa9a110320fe1cd25ba9e7b2d748\" style=\"color:#6ebd23\"><strong>Likeability: 668 (4% Above Norm<\/strong><strong>*<\/strong>)<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative; width:100%; padding-top:56.25%; padding-bottom:40px;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/share\/gZVU\" style=\"position:absolute; top:0; right:0; left:0; bottom:0; width:100%; height:100%;\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:33px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Hellmann\u2019s rounds out the top five by putting music front and center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Featuring Andy Samberg and Elle Fanning, the spot leans comedic, but what stands out most isn\u2019t the cast. It\u2019s the soundtrack. Music emerges as the top-cited element driving viewer response, paired with Funny as the dominant emotional signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hub-cdn.ispot.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/04142123\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-3.14.37%E2%80%AFPM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35516\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Music creates momentum early, anchoring attention before the influx of Big Game ads. And while Brand Recognition trails slightly behind other pre-releases, the creative signals suggest Hellmann\u2019s is prioritizing memorability and mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ead9d7a33561eab587fee3bf317e8fbd\" style=\"color:#00708b;font-size:27px\"><strong>Unlock VIP Access to the Super Bowl LX Ad Center<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t wait for kickoff on February 8th. Unified creative and audience metrics for every teaser and pre-release are available now in iSpot\u2019s VIP Ad Center. After the Big Game, it features our full ranking of every official game-day spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-font-size is-style-fill\" style=\"font-size:21px\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/super-bowl-vip\" style=\"background-color:#6ebd23\"><strong>  Request Access  <\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:48px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a632f1a8d2cc177efa38b5b54c910d7c\" style=\"color:#00708b;font-size:27px\"><strong>Want a Full Big Game Ad Performance Recap?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Register for our post-Super Bowl webinar with AdAge and GM where we\u2019ll recap Super Bowl LX ad performance and unveil our new AI platform that forever changes how brands create, measure, and optimize video ads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-font-size is-style-fill\" style=\"font-size:21px\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/event.webcasts.com\/starthere.jsp?ei=1748940&amp;tp_key=13fa74d933\" style=\"background-color:#6ebd23\">    <strong>Register Now<\/strong>    <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:78px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Glossary of Terms<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Likeability Score: Measures the extent to which Creative Assessment survey respondents like an ad. Scores range from 1-950 and are compared to a norm of the last five Super Bowls, the average of which is 641.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Top Emotion: We measure 57 emotional reactions to an ad derived from hundreds of Creative Assessment survey respondent verbatim comments. The Top Emotion represents the reaction with the strongest signal and is at minimum stronger than 75% of all ads for that specific emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Brand Recognition: Measures the strength of a brand&#8217;s and\/or product&#8217;s presence in the creative. Equals the percent of survey respondents that accurately identified a brand (unaided) after watching an ad. A difference of +\/-3% is statistically significant. The norm is 74% taking in account the last 5 Super Bowls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Best Thing: Creative Assessment survey respondents are asked to choose their favorite aspect about the ad. Options include: Characters, Visual Scenes, Music, Brand, Product Itself, Deal or Offer, Message, and None.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Est. TV Spend: Est. TV Spend is calculated by multiplying the impressions by the cost per 1,000 viewers (CPM) divided by 1,000. It provides a foundation for an apples-to-apples comparison across all media units and advertisers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Super Bowl advertising doesn\u2019t start on game day. Pre-releases and teasers have become part of the ritual\u2014expected by audiences, carefully planned by brands, and watched closely across the industry. These early spots do more than preview what\u2019s coming. They help define the creative playbook brands carry forward long after the Big Game ends. As of&#8230; Read More<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":35484,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[243],"ispot_product_categories":[],"acf":{"expiration_date":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35481"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35481"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35481\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35528,"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35481\/revisions\/35528"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35481"},{"taxonomy":"ispot_product_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ispot.tv\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ispot_product_categories?post=35481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}