Why the Pepsi Commercial is Top Tier (and what brands can learn from it)

The Super Bowl is basically a marketer’s Super Bowl. While everyone else is watching the game, I’m analyzing the commercials, and Pepsi’s latest spot is easily one of the strongest I’ve seen in a while. Here’s why it worked so well:

1. It didn’t need words

No captions. Not a lot of dialogue. No heavy explanation. Just instantly recognizable visuals and symbols that told the entire story.

Pepsi leaned into existing brand associations, and it wasn’t even their brand. They leveraged Coke’s strong brand identity and used that familiarity to their advantage. When a commercial can communicate without text, that’s a sign the creative is doing its job.

2. It taps into a long-running brand truth

I remember hearing about old research conducted by both Pepsi and Coke that showed blind taste testers preferred Pepsi’s taste; however, when they knew they were drinking Pepsi, they suddenly preferred Coke.

Coke has benefited from that brand strength for decades, and Pepsi knows it. This commercial felt like a smart, self-aware response to that reality, without being overly aggressive or negative.

3. The storytelling was genuinely entertaining

From the first second, you’re invested. You’re watching like, okay…what is the polar bear going to choose? What’s he going to do with this preference vs. expectations of others conflict?

It was funny, it moved quickly, and it stayed engaging the entire time. And using Queen’s “I Want to Break Free” was perfect timing, perfect tone, and instantly memorable.

4. The Coldplay reference sealed it for me

This was the moment it went from “great commercial” to “I have to talk about this.”

That Coldplay nod connects with so many Americans who were watching last year’s Coldplay HR scandal. It creates that inside joke effect, like the audience is in on something together. It also didn’t feel too forced, it made sense and the plot of the commercial aligned with the real life scandal.

What does this mean for your brand? What can you duplicate?

Here are the real takeaways:

• Connect with relatable elements.

Who is your target audience? What do they want to see? Whether it’s your own brand elements or cultural references your audience already knows, familiarity speeds up trust. Treat your audience like a friend that your sharing your latest find with, or whatever is on the internet that is interesting, humorous, and relates to your brand.

• Stop being wordy.

Video is king in 2026, and the brands winning right now are the ones who can communicate without over-explaining. Chat GPT/AI written content is becoming more and more popular. A lot of times, these posts come across as impersonal. Don't let me step on your toes, AI is an incredibly powerful tool-just don't lost your humanity, it is what makes you and your business great.

• Don’t ignore reality.

Your brand may have misconceptions or other strong perceptions. Embrace the reality and use it to your advantage. Your brand will come across as honest, relatable, and in touch. In a world of influencers, big brands and businesses have an upwards battle of being not relatable.

My suggestion for Pepsi

Did this commercial “convert” me to forever be a Pepsi drinker? Not exactly. I don’t drink soda often, and I love a Diet Coke, so I may not be their perfect target. I’d like to help them come up with a good commercial for the Diet Coke Girlies though ✨🙋🏼‍♀️.

But it did spark curiosity, which is a win. My first thought was “I want to blind taste test both sodas and see which I like best.” If I am not alone in this thinking then this commercial is successful for not just Pepsi, but Coca-Cola as well. It seems like this commercial is negative towards them but we’ve all heard “there’s no such thing as bad PR.”

What are your thoughts? Was there something else that made this commercial successful in your eyes? Which do you prefer; Pepsi 💙 or Coke ❤️?