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Super Bowl Ad Surprise: Jeep Enlists Harrison Ford for Short Film Directed by James Mangold
Super Bowl Ad Surprise: Jeep Enlists Harrison Ford for Short Film Directed by James Mangold-May 2024
May 22, 2025 9:25 AM

In a Super Bowl with no shortage of star power and slapstick comedy during the commercials, Jeep surprised in the fourth quarter by zigging while others zag.

Instead of a jam-packed 30 seconds filled with cameos, the automotive brand instead ran a two-minute film, Owners Manual, directed by James Mangold (A Complete Unknown, Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny) and starring Harrison Ford. And amid a game where frenetic is [perhaps the best word to describe the action on screen, the Jeep film takes it slow, building momentum as it moves along. Watch:

We worked very closely with each other to create an intimate film that would stand out through its quiet nature, very much opposite of what viewers have come to expect from Big Game commercials but very consistent with many of our past films for the event over the years, said Olivier Francois, global CMO of Jeep owner Stellantis.

The film, Owners Manual, sees Ford speaking to the fact that with all the infinite possibilities that life offers, people, unlike cars, dont have the advantage of an owners manual that can help guide their decisions, so ultimately choose what makes them happy, per Stellantis.

I said yes to doing this commercial because of the script. Its a very straightforward communication about life, and ends with getting in a Jeep vehicle, thats the hook, Ford said in a statement about the decision to partner with Jeep on the project. It didnt require me to reintroduce myself, point to the fact that in my life Ive been many things, and known for specific projects or roles. Its just a quiet talk from somebody sharing an idea. I love the way it developed.

And the film also pokes fun at one of Jeeps biggest competitors, an automaker that shares a last name with the Star Wars and Indiana Jones actor, both in a sequence where a Jeep Wrangler races past a Ford Bronco, and a line from the actor himself:

Choose what makes you happy. My friends, my family, my work make me happy. This Jeep makes me happyeven though my name is Ford, Ford says in the film, in a cheeky reference. Thats my owners manual. Get out there. Write your own.

The Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event of the year, the biggest TV event of the year, and the biggest advertising event of the year. The Hollywood Reporter previously reported that between 80-100 celebrities will appear in ads during this years game, with the average fee for an A-lister hovering in the $3-$5 million range.

But while other brands leaned into a slew of stars and Cameos (looking at you Uber Eats), Jeep kept it simple, albeit with one of the biggest stars on planet earth.

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