Dunkin Donuts Super Bowl commercial 2026 revives “Good Will Hunting” with sitcom stars
Dunkin Donuts’ Super Bowl spot for 2026 leaned hard into nostalgia, turning a “Good Will Hunting” spoof into a never-aired ’90s sitcom pilot—complete with a stacked cast, VHS-style visuals, and a punchline built around iced coffee. The ad, branded “Good Will Dunkin,” put Ben Affleck back at the center of the Dunkin commercial universe and paired him with Jennifer Aniston and a lineup of familiar sitcom faces, including Ted Danson, Matt LeBlanc, and Jason Alexander.
The result was one of the most talked-about comedic ads of the night: equal parts movie parody, sitcom reunion energy, and a direct setup for a free-coffee offer designed to keep people talking on “Super Bowl Monday.”
Dunkin donuts super bowl commercial 2026: a “lost” ’90s sitcom
The core joke is the framing: viewers are told they’re watching a “lost” sitcom pilot from 1995, the year Dunkin highlights as an early moment in its iced coffee story. Affleck plays a Dunkin worker who’s basically Will Hunting—except his genius manifests behind a counter, scribbling math on a whiteboard and treating iced coffee like a breakthrough discovery.
The “Good Will Hunting” references are constant but not heavy-handed. The ad borrows the movie’s Cambridge vibe and signature cadence, then undercuts it with sitcom timing, laugh-track beats, and quick cutaway gags that feel intentionally retro. Even the title—“Good Will Dunkin”—lands like a network comedy pun from the era.
Ben Affleck’s continuing Dunkin storyline
Affleck’s role has evolved into a running annual bit, and this year’s twist is that he’s not just showing up for coffee—he’s the star of a faux-classic TV moment. The ad also plays with the meta element that Affleck co-wrote “Good Will Hunting,” letting him swap in for the movie’s original Will Hunting character while leaning into the absurdity of the premise.
That familiarity is doing real work: the spot assumes viewers already recognize Affleck’s Dunkin persona, so it can jump straight into the parody without explaining why he’s there. It’s a sequel in tone, even if the story is a standalone.
Jennifer Aniston, Ted Danson, and a sitcom roll call
The casting is the commercial’s biggest flex. Jennifer Aniston appears as a capstone cameo, helping deliver the ad’s final punch and tying the “Good Will” joke back to a famous mic-drop line from the film.
Around her, the ad turns into a mini time capsule of TV: Ted Danson shows up as a coolly knowing presence, while Matt LeBlanc and Jason Alexander each get moments that lean on the viewer’s memory of their best-known comedy rhythms. Even if the ad doesn’t explicitly say “Ted,” it’s hard to miss the nod when Danson walks into a scene with that unmistakable sitcom gravitas.
The point isn’t subtle: this is comfort-TV casting meant to feel like channel surfing in 1995, with Affleck dropped into the middle as the “new guy” who’s secretly brilliant.
“Ted,” “Good Will,” and the joke mechanics
The humor runs on two tracks:
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High-stakes seriousness, low-stakes subject. The movie’s intense “genius” framing is repurposed for coffee behavior, iced-coffee rituals, and Dunkin pride.
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Sitcom shortcuts. The ad uses quick entrances, reaction shots, and broad punchlines instead of film-style build—like a pilot trying to win an audience in under a minute.
There’s also an extra layer for sports viewers: a cameo that caps the commercial with a wink at celebrity crossovers and the way Super Bowl ads now function like mini-events. The final beat is designed for rewatches, not just laughs in real time.
Dunkin free coffee promo code and the “Super Bowl Monday” offer
Dunkin tied the spot to a giveaway aimed at getting people into the app the day after the game. The offer promoted a limited run of 1.995 million free coffees (hot or iced, any size) connected to the “Good Will Dunkin” campaign.
The promo code most widely circulated for the free coffee is GOODWILLDUNKIN. Timing details have varied slightly across promotional materials, but the common thrust is the same: it launches on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 (ET) and is limited either by date window and/or redemption cap. If you’re trying to use it, the practical reality is to treat it as first-come, first-served during the stated redemption period inside the Dunkin app.
What the ad signals for Super Bowl marketing
“Good Will Dunkin” shows where Super Bowl advertising is headed: ads that behave like entertainment franchises, built to trend and then convert attention into app activity within hours. Dunkin isn’t just selling coffee here—it’s selling a shared joke, a cast list, and a reason to participate the next morning.
And it’s doing it by combining three reliable levers: a beloved movie (“Good Will Hunting”), a familiar face (Ben Affleck), and a nostalgia ensemble (Aniston, Ted Danson, Matt LeBlanc, Jason Alexander) that makes the commercial feel bigger than the product. The free coffee code is the final step: an easy call to action that turns a punchline into foot traffic.
Sources consulted: Dunkin, ABC News, People, Entertainment Weekly
