Ranking Top 10 Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows of All Time

Super Bowl 2022

The Super Bowl Halftime Show is one of the most eminent sporting events of the year.

While the global football fans watch to see how the NFL season will conclude, millions of others tune in to have a glimpse at their favorite star’s performance.

The 2022 Super Bowl halftime show did hit the nostalgia. The old-school hip hop legends Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent gave an epic performance together.

But this isn’t the first time the Bowl event has hit the mark.

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2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show (Source: Pinterest)

Several entertainers have given their godlike and spellbinding performances in the Super Bowl history.

So, here we take you on a ride to the top 10 Super Bowl Halftime Shows of All Time, based on their entertainment factors, theatricality, and performances legacy.

Quick Overview

Name of Artist Year
1. Prince 2007
2. Michael Jackson 1993
3. Beyoncé & Destiny’s Child 2013
4. Janet Jackson 2002
5. Katy Perry 2015
6. Madonna 2013
7. U2 2002
8. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira 2020
9. Bruno Mars 2014
10. The Weeknd 2021

10. The Weeknd (2021)

On number ten, we have one of the most reminiscent Super Bowl halftime shows of all time; Bowl LV.

The Canadian pop star, The Weeknd made the whole Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida his concert stage.

Abel staged himself in the “After Hours” saga.

The-Weeknd-2021-Super-Bowl-Performance
The Weeknd 2021 Super Bowl Performance (Source: USA Today)

The haunted house with the mirrors and his “Can’t Feel My Face” performance with a group of men dressed in all black with a red blazer and face covered with bandages was pretty iconic.

The Weeknd made the viewers go insane with a medley of his hits, including Starboy, I Feel It Coming, and Earned It.

His final performance, “Blinding Lights,” with the synchronized dancers in the field and array of fireworks, was strikingly phenomenal.

The broadcast averaged 96.7 million viewers.

9. Bruno Mars (2014)

The all-around entertainer and pop sensation Bruno Mars rose to the peak of his career when he performed in New York’s first-ever Super Bowl, Super Bowl XLVIII, that took place at Met Life Stadium.

Many people doubted if the Hawaiin native had enough catalog to receive such an honor, but he outdid himself.

It began with children holding hands and singing “Billionaire” in front of the American flag.

Bruno-Mars-2014-Super-Bowl-Performance
Bruno Mars 2014 Super Bowl Performance (Source: People)

Bruno gave a taste of his kickass drum beats and funky dance moves to which the whole crowd went nuts.

The show ended with the soldiers dedicating “Just the Way You Are” to their families.

The fun and light-hearted performance also featured RHCP’s “Give It Away.”

The concert had 115.3 million viewers and earned two Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

8. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira (2020)

While Jennifer Lopez and Shakira weren’t the first Latinas to perform in the halftime show, they did stand out in 2020.

The Colombian goddess and Puerto Rican hustler gave a Latino cultural celebration treat to their audiences. Shakira danced in Champeta while performing “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).”

Whereas J.Lo hit the floor with salsa on Héctor Lavoe’s “Aguanile.”

Jennifer-Lopez-Shakira-Super-Bowl-Halftime-Show
Jennifer Lopez Shakira Super Bowl Halftime Show (Source: Pinterest)

When Shakira rocked with her electric guitar, J.Lo rode on a stripper pole.

Moreover, the thrilling performance also included a cameo from Lopez’s daughter, Emme Lopez, who sang Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.”

The Super Bowl LIV halftime show had 118.5 million viewers and won a Primetime Emmy Award.

7. U2 (2002)

The Irish rock band U2 offered one of the most beautiful and memorable performances in Super Bowl history.

The Super Bowl XXXVI took place only five months after the 9/11 incident. And U2 took the opportunity to offer a strong yet intensely emotional experience to the viewers.

U2-Bono-Showing-American-Flagline-Jacket-In-2002-SuperBowl
U2 Bono Showing American Flagline Jacket In 2002 SuperBowl (Source: GQ)

They opened the show with “Beautiful Day,” followed by “MLK,” and paid tribute to those who passed away during 9/11 with “Where the Streets Have No Name” while their names kept scrolling on the big screen.

The tribute lasted until Bono revealed his American flag line jacket.

6. Madonna (2012)

While many people thought that Madonna was past her prime and irrelevant for the halftime show, she certainly showed them all up by delivering one of the most spectacular performances in the Bowl history.

The Queen of Pop made the show a pure theater. She appeared as a Greek goddess on her golden throne with the Spartan troops at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

The diva entertained the audiences with her old favorites and new songs, including the fine version of Vogue and Like A Prayer.

Madonna-2012-Super-Bowl
Madonna 2012 Super Bowl (Source: Vogue)

The show also featured other notable artists like Nicki Minaj, M.I.A, LMFAO, and CeeLo Green.

The 2012 Super Bowl halftime show had the highest viewers record with 114 million audiences during that time, more than that of the game.

Moreover, when M.I.A raised her middle finger while singing the end verse of “Give Me All Your Luvin” it created a huge scandal.

5. Katy Perry (2015)

Katy Perry roared her soul out by riding on a 20-foot golden mechanical lion at the 2015 Super Bowl XLIX.

In between, she performed “Teenage Dream,” “California Gurls,” and danced with others dressed as sharks.

Katy-Perry-2015-Super-Bowl
Katy Perry 2015 Super Bowl (Source: The Atlantic)

The concert also graced the presence of the iconic rapper Missy Elliot, who performed her three hits.

Lastly, Perry flew away on a shooting star-shaped platform while crying out loud with her “Firework.”

The Super Bowl XLIX had 118.5 million viewers.

4. Janet Jackson (2004)

The 2004 Super Bowl halftime show was a pure and utter American indulgence until Janet Jackson suffered the controversial mishap.

Janet slew the audience with her electric dance and song performance of “All for You.”

Janet-Jackson-Superbowl-Performance
Janet Jackson Superbowl Performance (Source: SBNation.com)

Later, Jackson handed the guests Diddy, Nelly, and Kid Rock to bomb at the stage. Then she returned to energize the mass with her heart throbbing performance of “Rhythm Nation.”

But, the moment got shaded when Justin Timberlake accidentally ripped off Janet’s chest covering at the end of the show, birthing the term “wardrobe malfunction.”

3. Beyoncé & Destiny’s Child (2013)

Queen B absolutely lit up the Superdome with her pure classy and energetic performance, making it one of the epic halftime shows in the Bowl history.

She sang Beyhive’s favorites from “Crazy Love”  and “Baby Boy” to the super-powerful “Halo.”

Beyoncé-And- Destiny's-Child-Superbowl-Performance
Beyoncé And Destiny’s Child Superbowl Performance (Source: Garzia)

But, perhaps the best moment came when the former Destiny’s Child members, Katlyn Roland and Michelle Williams, joined Beyoncé to thrill the world with “Bootylicious,” “Single Ladies,” and “Independent Women.”

Half of the lights at the Superdome went out shortly after the performance leading to 33 minutes and 55 seconds blackout. Twitter went bananas generating 299,000 tweets per minute.

2. Michael Jackson (1993)

Michael Jackson was the first-ever headliner for the Super Bowl Halftime show in 1993.

Prior to his concert, the Super Bowl used to have just marching bands and performers with their inane and dull acts.

But, Jackson certainly claimed the stake in Bowl history with his legendary performance in the Super Bowl XXVII.

Michael-Jackson-Superbowl
Michael Jackson Superbowl (Source: Pinterest)

He came through in flashy glory and just stood at the stage for almost 2 minutes, to which the crowd went buck wild.

The legend then sang a medley of his classics, including “Black or White” and “Billie Jean,” to which he moonwalked.

The King of Pop transformed the halftime performances into the grand fest that we know today. The concert had 133.4 million viewers.

At last, the choir of 3,500 children backed up Jackson while performing “Heal the World.”

1. Prince (2007)

The greatest Super Bowl halftime moment of all time was the 2007 Super Bowl XLI.

The godlike musical legend, Prince, stood on his own symbol and shredded the guitar commanding the stage like no one else ever or ever will.

He began by performing Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and rocked with his own classics, “Let’s Go Crazy.”

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Prince 2007 Super Bowl (Source: Star Tribune)

Besides, Prince also did a cover mashup of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” and the Foo Fighters’ “Best of You.”

He ended the show with a sentimental rendition of the “Purple Rain” while it was downpouring on to him.

Moreover, the brass marching bands accompanied him when he hit his epic guitar riffs.

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