Super Bowl 2011 Movie Ads Announced

While most people will tune in to this year’s Superbowl to cheer on their favorite team, entertainment enthusiasts around the globe will be eagerly tuning in to see which of their favorite movies will be granted screen time during what is considered to be the most-watched television show of the year. Today, The Hollywood Reporter announced that 5 films from Paramount are among those who will have a presence in the February 6th telecast – J.J. Abrams’ alien-invasion pic Super 8, the new Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Gore Verbinski’s CGI film Rango and Marvel’s superhero pics Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger. With the exception of Rango, which opens March 4, all films have summer openings ranging from May 6 to July 29.

Didn’t see your favorite upcoming film on the list? Fear not. Disney plans to air new footage of the highly anticipated Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, while Universal and DreamWorks’ will plug the Daniel Craig-Harrison Ford sci-fi western Cowboys & Aliens. And both studios could add last minute spots for other upcoming films opening between now and May, especially if they are considered high-profile titles.

While there are no reported submissions from Warner Bros or Fox, Relativity Media is entering the Super Bowl fray for the first time as it promotes the Bradley Cooper/Robert De Niro vehicle Limitless, which opens March 18. The studio will also air a promo for Take Me Home Tonight (March 4) during Glee, which receives the post-Super Bowl berth this year.

There are also several studios, such as that are choosing to air spots during pregame festivities – Sony will air spots for Just Go With It (Feb. 11), Battle: Los Angeles (March 13) and Priest (May 13), Focus Features will air a spot for The Eagle (Feb. 11), and Paramount will air a spot for Kung Fu Panda 2 (May 27).

Given its powerful audience and high history of ratings, it is no secret that networks and studios go all out, spending millions for 30-second spots during the Superbowl every year. Reports so far indicate that Hollywood’s spend on Super Bowl advertising this year is on par with 2010, and could possibly surpass last year’s total.

Which movie are you excited to see during this year’s Superbowl? Are you excited to see new footage of your favorite upcoming films?