36 Super Bowl Halftime Shows Ranked: From Mediocre to Best

The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year, with millions of viewers tuning in to watch the biggest names in music take the stage. Over the years, we’ve seen some truly memorable performances, from Michael Jackson’s iconic moonwalk to Lady Gaga’s acrobatic stunts. But not all Super Bowl halftime shows are created equal. In this article, we’ll take a look back at some of the best and worst halftime shows in Super Bowl history and explore what made them stand out (or not).

36. Dre, Eminem, Snoop: Superbowl LVI 2022

Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre performed alongside Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige. This was the first time that hip-hop artists performed at the halftime show. It’s always amusing to make history.

The stunning appearance of 50 Cent hanging upside down surprised everyone. Eminem sat down on the ground in protest, which was the most controversial part. We can only expect more from Eminem, a rapper who lives and breathes controversy.

35. The Black Eyed Peas: XLV 2021

The group didn’t have the best moment, to be honest. The Cowboy’s Stadium hosted the performance on February 6, 2011. People seemed to be slightly shocked when they saw their robot costumes. One magazine called them “pathetic or maximum mediocre,” and some called them dangerous. At least Usher was there briefly to help take the boredom away.

Opening number: Christina Aguilera’s unique interpretation of the national anthem, in which she forgot the melody and the words, is worth mentioning. People noticed that the famous burlesque singer, with substantial vocal cords, had an off night. Although the Black Eyed Peas had a chance at turning things around, it was not their night to redeem themselves. The Associated Press said they brought some…”Youth but not much else.”

34. All the Shows From 1967 to 1989

In the ’90s, the Superbowl halftime shows began to take things seriously. It was just a group of college marching bands before that. Most people did not consider it a show, as it was time to get rid of all the beer and hot dogs they had consumed during the game.

Consider the 1977 halftime show. Disney produced it and featured the theme “It’s a Small World.” Rockettes, George Burns, and random Elvis impersonators were the highlights of this era. It wasn’t horrible, but it didn’t have the same hype as today.

33. New Kids on the Block: XXV 1991

It was the first time the entertainment industry understood they could use the halftime break to perform. The timing of the performance was not perfect, but that’s not to blame New Kids on Block. They sang “This One’s for the Children,” which was a bit mushy and not the best to watch.

The show was designed to be relevant during the difficult period of the Gulf War. However, the broadcasting networks seemed to have realized they could bring some truly unique voices to the stage after the war.