The 5 Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows Ranked

By:Belinda Young

Yeah – nobody actually watches the Super Bowl for the football. Okay, maybe some people do, but for the rest of us, the game is just a two-plus-hour opening act for the real main event – the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Over the years, we’ve seen everything from marching bands (yawn) to whatever that Maroon 5 situation was. Yikes. But when the stars align, we can get some metaphorically cultural resets. We get performances that are etched into our memories forever.

5 Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows

If you’re arguing about the greatest Super Bowl halftime shows of all time, then you gotta bring receipts. Seriously. Based on spectacle, energy, and just how hard they shut the stadium down, here are the absolute best Super Bowl halftime shows, ranked.

5. Beyoncé (2013)

Before she broke the internet, she literally broke the Superdome lights. Beyoncé’s 2013 performance was an example of precision and power. From the moment that silhouette caught fire, we knew we were in for something ridiculous. She didn’t just sing “Crazy in Love” and “Love on Top” – she performed them with the kind of ferocity that makes you want to quit your job and take up cardio. Destiny’s Child members Kelly and Michelle popping up out of the floor like musical whack-a-moles was the nostalgia hit we didn’t know we needed. It was fierce, it was flawless, and it proved that Queen B doesn’t share the spotlight – unless she feels like it.

4. Dr. Dre & Friends (2022)

It took way too long for the NFL to embrace hip-hop on its biggest stage, but when they finally did, they went nuclear. This wasn’t just a concert; it was a victory lap for West Coast rap. Watching Dr. Dre conduct the show from a massive white mixing board while Snoop C-walked across the roof of a house set was pure cinema. Then you had 50 Cent hanging upside down like a bat, Mary J. Blige reminding everyone why she’s the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, and Kendrick Lamar proving he’s operating on a different artistic plane. It was a nostalgic block party that truly meant something to the culture, rather than just filling airtime.

3. Michael Jackson (1993)

The late King of Pop deserves credit where credit’s due. The legendary Jackson came to perform “Billie Jean,” “Black or White,” and “Heal the World.” Steamy fog effects with upward-blowing smoke, dancing, and wild guitars topped off the show. The stage was set up with a domino-like effects – a cool move – but it was the dramatic energy that sealed the deal. Jackson danced around the stage like he owned it. (He did!) This wasn’t a football game anymore – it was a full-blown celebration. It was energetic, fun, and exactly the kind of Super Bowl halftime show we craved.

2. Lady Gaga (2017)

There are entrances, and then there is Lady Gaga jumping off the roof of the stadium. In 2017, Gaga reminded everyone that she is one of the last true rock stars we have left. There were no special guests to lean on, no gimmicky viral sharks – just her, a piano, and a harness. She belted “Born This Way” to millions of Americans, flew through the air like a bedazzled spider-woman, and crushed the choreography without missing a single note. The mic drop at the end where she caught the football and leaped into the abyss? That is how you exit a room. It was pure theater kid energy dialed up to 11, and it was glorious.

1. Prince (2007)

Put some respect on his name. In 2007, Prince didn’t just perform at the Super Bowl; he freakin’ conquered the elements. Playing in the middle of a literal Miami thunderstorm, the Purple One didn’t slip, didn’t complain, and didn’t miss a beat. He covered the Foo Fighters and Bob Dylan, shredded guitar solos that melted faces, and closed with “Purple Rain” while nature provided the actual rain. You couldn’t script a more perfect moment if you tried. The silhouette of him with his symbol-shaped guitar against a wet, purple curtain is arguably the most iconic image in halftime history. It wasn’t just a show; it was a spiritual experience.

Super Bowl Musical Guests

If you’re a music fan, you know that often Super Bowl halftime shows aren’t always the greatest. These five artists definitely prove they can be – and make the halftime show a true draw.

A foodie for life, Belinda has expanded to freelance writing for about eight years. She writes about wine, food, travel, gardening, music (metal and prog in particular), and entertainment. When she is not working or writing, Belinda is owned by five dogs who demand uninterrupted attention, playtime, and lots of treats!