Macintosh

This ad was Apple's way of introducing Macintosh, which went on to become the first successful personal computer. The ad aired in 1984 and was only shown twice. It was tested in the early hours a few weeks early to make sure that it would work, and was then shown on January 22, 1984 during the Superbowl. Despite the fact that it was only shown on-air twice, it is considered one of the most successful advertisements and is the reason that commercials during the Superbowl are such a big deal.

The commercial shows a civilization of gray-clad people marching and watching propaganda together. They are interrupted by a woman running in orange shorts and a white tank top with a Macintosh and an apple on it carrying a sledgehammer. She throws her sledgehammer into the video screen and disrupts the propaganda. The ad references the novel 1984 with its depiction of a "Big Brother" like figure. It also references Metropolis, with the marching lines of people. What is notable is that this commercial for a computer never actually shows the product that it's advertising. Macintosh came out only two days after the commercial aired, so the public didn't have to wait long to find out what Macintosh was all about.