The Super Bowl is popular because it’s a cultural event of a high-stakes game called football. Along with the excitement of the game are the stellar halftime performances. Each halftime show aims to foster unity among audiences through music, regardless of their team loyalties. However, each year, online discussions reveal a lack of consensus regarding the effectiveness of the performances, with people often favoring one over another. So, let’s rank the halftime shows from the past decade.
10. (2016) Super Bowl 50: Coldplay, featuring Beyoncé and Bruno Mars
The performance was headlined by Coldplay, featuring Beyoncé, Gustavo Dudamel, Bruno Mars, and Mark Ronson as guests. With over 115.5 million viewers, it was the most watched halftime show set by a group. However, the reason why it’s ranked so low is even though Coldplay was the main act, the only significant excitement came from a surprise mid-set performance by Beyoncé and Mars. Furthermore, Beyoncé’s “Formation” stirred controversy; some interpreted it as a nod to the Black Lives Matter movement, while others accused it of harboring anti-police and anti-American themes. Conservatives also charged Coldplay with promoting a “gay agenda.” Another issue is that many people, including myself, felt like these people were called last minute to do the performance. With the issues in place, this performance placed tenth.
9. (2019) Super Bowl LIII: Maroon 5, featuring Travis Scott and Big Boi
Super Bowl LIII was headlined by Maroon 5, joined by rappers Big Boi and Travis Scott as guests. This is ranked at ninth due to the controversy associated with the performance. It was reported several musicians turned down offers to perform the show due to their support for Colin Kaepernick, who accused the NFL of colluding against him for his national anthem protests against police brutality. Also, performance wise, it was very lackluster. The show represented another case of guests out-performing the main act. There were also little memorable moments to keep its performance alive.
8. (2018) Super Bowl LII: Justin Timberlake, featuring The Tennessee Kids
Justin Timberlake was the main performer of Super Bowl LII, with a total of 106.6 million television viewers, alongside The Tennessee Kids. The show was dutiful and empty at worst. The mixing consisted of a weird tone and was overall lackluster, which was shocking considering Timberlakes previous concerts. He sang some old songs which brought the nostalgia factor, however it showed that he was out of his prime. Still, the Prince tribute was beautiful. Overall, Timberlake’s performance could have been better, but it wasn’t horrible.
7. (2021) Super Bowl LV: The Weeknd
The Weeknd performed, making him the first Canadian solo artist headlining the Super Bowl halftime show. Reviews were generally positive. The show had no guest singers, which lowered its rating and there was poor audio quality throughout the whole performance. However, you can’t say Weeknd’s show wasn’t memorable as the artist sang all of his hit songs. Also, him cluelessly walking through the light maze became a prominent meme, adding a more lighthearted factor to the event. Overall, it was a decently good performance, however not the best one.
6. (2024) Super Bowl LVIII: Usher, featuring Alicia Keys, will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris, H.E.R
Usher was the main performer, with Alicia Keys, will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris, H.E.R, and Sonic Boom of the South as guests. The show had 123 million viewers in the US, making this performance the third most watched halftime show in history. This performance was filled with stellar dancing, songs, and artists. Yet, there were a few things that hindered the show. Alicia Keys’ voice cracked at the start of her performance of “If I Ain’t Got You,” which was poorly edited in the YouTube video, making it look lip-synced. Controversy also sparked when Usher tightly hugged Alicia Keys during their duet during “My Boo.” Nonetheless, this performance was decently good, but not my favorite.
5. (2022) Super Bowl LVI: Eminem, Dr. Dre., Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige, featuring 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar performed in 2022 with a surprise appearance by 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak. It was the first Super Bowl halftime show to be centered entirely around hip hop music. The performance was nostalgic among Generation X and Millennial audiences. The timing was balanced enough to allow each artist to perform their biggest songs. Their performance reminded me of an old-school West Coast rap history lesson, making the show deserving of being in the middle of the list.
4. (2025) Super Bowl LIX: Kendrick Lamar, featuring Samuel L. Jackson, SZA, Serena Williams, and Mustard
Rapper Kendrick Lamar was the headline performer of the 2025 Superbowl, with guest appearances from SZA and DJ Mustard as musical guests, and Samuel L. Jackson and Serena Williams as cameos. 133.5 million viewers watched, making this the most viewed halftime show in the United States. This was a great performance, not because of the songs, although the songs choices weren’t bad. It was great because of the savagery Lamar had. People mainly focused on the “Not Like Us” section of the performance due to Lamar and Drake having long-winded beef with each other. I didn’t really care about the feud, but I have to respect the savagery of the play.
3. (2020) Super Bowl LIV: Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, featuring Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Emme Muniz
Co-headlined by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, the halftime show featured Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Lopez’s daughter Emme Muñiz. It received four Primetime Emmy nominations, winning one, and garnered several awards, including “Best Live Performance,” which I can see why. Amazing costumes, iconic songs, incredible energy – you name it, this performance had it. I’m a proud Latina, so I felt the representation was great. What was truly impressive was the “performer mode” Shakira and Lopez were in, especially as Shakira was 43 years old and Lopez was 50. They made it look effortless. This was a very memorable show, which is why it’s my number three place.
2. (2023) Super Bowl LVII: Rihanna
Rihanna was the solo headline performer in this show. I’m aware that in previous rankings I said that a solo act can hinder the quality of the performance. Rihanna proved me wrong, or rather showed the right way to perform and still make a show entertaining. It was the second most watched Super Bowl halftime show and won two awards out of five nominations at the 75th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. That’s an impressive feat. Rihanna is also a performer that shows that someone can perform even if they have something in the way. In Rihanna’s case, she was pregnant at the time, yet she still rocked her shows, full of energy.
1. (2017) Super Bowl LI: Lady Gaga
My favorite halftime show was Lady Gaga. She headlined the show, with no special guests, being the first female solo-headlined show without special guests since 1996. In her words, she said that she wanted to give “the best show for the football fans, and the ones that are watching at home.” I say she did exactly that. Indeed, the halftime show felt like a moment for Gaga to return to the basics, and not in the way she did with her faux-roots music reinvention on last year’s album. At its core, pop music has an uncomplicated, primal appeal—to make you dance and make you feel. Any singer could probably have trained enough to have pulled off Gaga’s aerial stunts, but few would have been so bold to open the show with them.
Well, here it is. That is my ranking of the past ten years of Superbowl performances. I’m aware of the fact that not everyone will agree. So, let us know what your favorite Superbowl performance was, either from the past decade or in the history of Superbowl performances.
