Super Bowl Commercials 2016: Review of Ad Costs, Value for Panthers vs. Broncos

The Super Bowl is the holy grail of advertising for companies across the world due to the sheer amount of people who tune in to watch the NFL's biggest game, but a spot on Super Bowl Sunday certainly doesn't come cheap.

According to Bradley Johnson of Advertising Age, a 30-second commercial for Super Bowl 50 costs an estimated $4.8 million. That is the highest figure of all time, easily besting last year's $4.468 million per advertisement.

For a point of reference in terms of how much Super Bowl advertising has taken off in the past 50 years, a 30-second spot cost just $40,000 for Super Bowl I, which translates to $289,000 today when adjusted for inflation, per Johnson.

Also, the per-second cost of a Super Bowl 50 commercial is an incredible $160,000, up from just $1,333 per second a half-century ago.

As seen in this video courtesy of Bleacher Report, ad cost isn't the only thing related to the Super Bowl that has changed drastically over the years:

The Super Bowl has developed into the biggest phenomenon in sports, entertainment and television, and that means things get more and more costly on a yearly basis for anyone who wants to be involved in any aspect of the big game.

Commercials are perhaps the best example of that, and while the increased cost likely won't pay off for many of the advertisers involved in this year's game, here is a sneak peak at a few commercials that should allow companies to get their money's worth.

Snickers

Snickers has seemingly perfected the commercial game in recent years with its hugely popular "You're Not You When You're Hungry" campaign, and it may have struck gold once again with its Super Bowl 50 spot.

The candy bar giant has entertained viewers by putting celebrities in awkward situations. That was the case last year, when Danny Trejo and Steve Buscemi portrayed Marcia and Jan Brady, respectively, in a commercial that got plenty of play throughout 2015:

This time around, Snickers put normally serious actor Willem Dafoe in a dress and high heels on top of a grate a la Marilyn Monroe. After eating a Snickers, Dafoe morphs into the American icon and all is right with the world.

Snickers keeps trying to up the ante on a yearly basis, and Peter Kain, BBDO New York's executive creative director, admits that the amount of money involved makes that fact even more important, per Sydney Ember of the New York Times:

"There's a lot of pressure," Kain said. "They spend so much money on it, and they want their money's worth."

Snickers did well to appeal to all demographics with this year's ad since the celebrities involved appeal to an older age group, while the pure comedic factor may attract younger customers.

Based on those factors, Snickers figures to come out of Super Bowl Sunday in the green.

Hyundai

Kevin Hart is perhaps the most popular comedian in the world right now, and Hyundai took advantage of that in a big way by breaking the bank for a one-minute ad.

The Hyundai Genesis features an innovative "car finder" feature presumably meant for those who can never remember where they parked, but the Hart-heavy commercial takes it to a different level.

Hart uses the car finder to spy on his daughter and ensure that her date doesn't try any funny business on his watch.

He even goes to lengths as great as hanging from a helicopter, which is something many fathers can likely empathize with.

There is something to be said for striking while the iron is hot, and with Hart on top of his game, Hyundai likely made a great move incorporating him.

Mini

The Mini Cooper is a unique vehicle to say the least, and many have preconceived notions about it, which is something Mini attempted to capitalize on with its Super Bowl 50 advertisement.

Star athletes such as Serena Williams, Abby Wambach and Tony Hawk are featured in an effort to show that stereotypes aren't always accurate.

While Mini didn't go the popular comedy route like Snickers and Hyundai, its ad may turn out to be just as effective due to the star power involved and the strong message it sends.

Mini is often an afterthought in the competitive car market, but thanks to a commercial that is likely to resonate with many, it has a chance to gain some ground in 2016.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.