Apple's 1984 Super Bowl Ad Ranked Best Ever

FOX Sports names iconic commercial the top Super Bowl ad of all time.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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In a ranking of the top 10 best Super Bowl commercials of all time, FOX Sports placed Apple's classic 1984-themed ad at the number one spot. The commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XVIII, was a play on George Orwell's dystopian novel and featured a woman smashing a screen broadcasting a "Big Brother" figure to entranced subjects, with the message of Apple breaking expectations with their new technology.

Why it matters

Apple's 1984 Super Bowl commercial is considered a landmark in advertising history, winning several major industry awards and being named the "Commercial of the Decade" in the 1980s by Advertising Age. The ad's impact and lasting influence on Super Bowl commercials and pop culture underscores its significance.

The details

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ridley Scott, the 1984 Apple commercial featured English athlete and actress Anya Major as a woman running from police to smash a television screen broadcasting a "Big Brother" figure to hundreds of entranced subjects. The message of the commercial was to show Apple breaking the presumptions surrounding the year 1984 with their new top-tier technology.

  • The 1984 Apple commercial aired during Super Bowl XVIII.

The players

Apple

The American technology company that produced the iconic 1984 Super Bowl commercial.

Anya Major

The English athlete and actress who starred as the woman smashing the screen in the 1984 Apple commercial.

Ridley Scott

The critically acclaimed film director who directed the 1984 Apple commercial.

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The takeaway

Apple's iconic 1984 Super Bowl commercial remains a landmark in advertising history, showcasing the company's ability to break expectations and make a lasting impact on pop culture through its creative and visionary approach to marketing.