Ranking Superbowl Halftime Shows

Zach Willis

The Super Bowl averages over 100 million viewers annually from nearly 130 countries worldwide. Such numbers wouldn’t be possible without the 1967 implementation of the now-fabled halftime show. Choosing the best five from performances ranging from The Rolling Stones to Lady Gaga should be theoretically impossible, but I'm doing it anyway. Enjoy this objective ranking.

5. Diana Ross (1996): A remarkably underrated performance with maybe the most dancers I have ever seen in one place. Despite rarely being talked about, this show is electrically Diana. Her major hits are performed flawlessly, setting a new standard for what the world should expect from a halftime show.

4. Madonna (2012): A golden performance. Although far past her prime, Madonna gives a show I still find hard to believe is from 2012. Specifically for this show, the production design was outstanding, creating the definitive spectacle necessary for the Super Bowl. Vogue.

3. Beyonce (2013): The very next year, Beyonce upped the bar even further. Even while silhouetted, her stage presence was enough to let the audience know who was there. The live instrumental renditions of some of the most classic R&B songs of our time made this production such a thrill. This performance truly had everything; from a flaming guitar solo to incredible choreography, it was unmistakably Beyonce.

2. Michael Jackson (1993): For 72 seconds, Michael Jackson stood completely still on the Super Bowl stage to an overwhelming stadium of applause. An unforgettable and intoxicating performance followed, arguably with the most replay value of any halftime show. This year redefined the halftime show, largely due to Michael’s undeniable stage presence. 

1. Prince (2007): The energy. The silhouette. The rain. Prince was always going to be number one. For any other artist, a downpour of rain would be detrimental for such a gig, but not for Prince. The magic of “Purple Rain” being performed in an actual storm seems almost too perfect to be real. It's truly as legendary for music as it was for the NFL. 

Due to the objectivity of my reviews, this list cannot be argued with. However, with Kendrick Lamar’s performance on the horizon in 2025, who knows how this list will change with time!