BOTTLED MAGIC! The Truth Behind Budweiser’s ‘American Icons’ Finale — How A Real-Life Rescue Eagle And The Clydesdales Pulled Off The ‘Unbelievable’ Takeoff That Has The Ton In Tears
SANTA CLARA — As the dust settles on Super Bowl LX, the biggest conversation isn’t about the final score at Levi’s Stadium, but the final 10 seconds of Budweiser’s “American Icons.” The shot of a full-grown bald eagle unfurling its wings behind a galloping Clydesdale—briefly creating the silhouette of a living Pegasus—has been called “the most beautiful thing ever put on film.” But with beauty comes skepticism. Social media has been ablaze with theories that the moment was “too perfect” to be real.
However, the truth behind the production is even more impressive than the ad itself. From safety protocols to the real-life bond between the animals, here is how director Henry-Alex Rubin pulled off the “miracle of 2026.”
‘NO AI, NO SHORTCUTS’: THE PRODUCTION SECRETS
In an era where most animal shots are generated in a studio, Budweiser took a ‘brave’ stance. A spokesperson for Anheuser-Busch confirmed that zero artificial intelligence was used in the making of the commercial.
