Dunkin’ Creates Post-Super Bowl Buzz with Star-Studded Ad (2024)

Affleck, Damon and Brady Debut The New DunKings Menu

Yeah, yeah, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Sunday night’s Super Bowl LVIII, but that’s already seeming like old news. Not so for the new DunKings menu, introduced in a game-break commercial. The ad is still having a moment, and, just as Dunkin’ hoped, the commercial has helped the brand’s new food and drinks win media and cyberspace buzz in the afterglow of the NFL championship contest.

Dunkin’ invested heavily in the ad, between the A-List cast, producing the spot, and the millions it cost to broadcast it during the Super Bowl. Of course, that ad was just a sliver of the total spent on Super Bowl commercials, with the Sports Business Journal reporting that advertisers spent more than $650 million for air time during the event.

Affleck Bombs Audition

In Dunkin’s star-studded TV spot, actor-director Ben Affleck pokes fun at himself for his viral, caught-on-camera sad face at the 2023 Grammy Awards ceremony. He and two of his ad co-stars – his BFF, actor Matt Damon, and legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady – wear Dunkin’ logo tracksuits (brilliant orange and trimmed in hot pink) while doing a brief musical number that straight-faced Affleck wants real-life wife Jennifer Lopez to put on her next album.

She’s clearly not pleased by the performance, calling Affleck over to admonish, “We talked about this.” Rapper Fat Joe, also in the ad, is equally unimpressed. “After facing critiques from Bronx-born musical icons J.Lo and Fat Joe, and preceded by a cautionary note from rap superstar Jack Harlow, The DunKings find solace in their setback with the anticipation of finally earning a spot on the Dunkin’ menu,” Dunkin’ noted in a news release.

Soooooo the Affleck-Damon-Brady audition may have fizzled for Lopez, but the DunKings menu is up and running. Here’s a look at that limited-time menu, as reported by NBC:

• The DunKings Iced Coffee and Munchkins Skewer combo: Dunkin’ says the iced coffee is a for-real hit with Affleck, who has pitched for the brand in previous ads. It’s his favorite order and his first official menu item, Dunkin’ says. The drink has a whisper of vanilla and is topped with foam plus cinnamon and sugar. The skewers, which also may be ordered a la carte, hold three Munchkins.
• Hazelnut Heartthrob Iced Coffee: Available through Dunkin’s mobile app, hot or iced coffee flavored with caramel, hazelnut and whole milk.
• Everything Encore Breakfast Sandwich: This item puts peppery bacon, white cheddar cheese and egg on an everything bagel. This item is also offered through the app,
• Mixed Berry Beats Dunkin’ Refresher: This is a Strawberry Dragonfruit Dunkin’ Refresher with a twist, additional raspberry flavor. It may be ordered via the app, too.

DunKings-Branded Merchandise

But wait… there’s more: Dunkin’ fans can score DunKing merchandise, such as the fuzzy bucket hats in the Super Bowl commercial, as well as 40-ounce stainless steel tumblers. It’s a while-supplies-last situation, and the crazy-bright orange tracksuits for the DunKing band sold out in 19 minutes flat, according to USA Today. The jackets and pants, sold separately, were priced at $60 each and may be available again – the website allows preordering for subsequent merchandise availability.

The Affleck-Damon-Brady-J.Lo ad reflects brands’ (including franchises’) tendency to hire celebrities to pitch their brands. This year’s Super Bowl ads were chock-full of big names, with sports stars such as David Beckham, Rob Gronkowski, Peyton Manning and Lionel Messi, and screen celebs including actress Glen Close, actress-comedian Tina Fey and actors Danny DeVito, Jeremy Renner and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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