- U2 performed the halftime show following 9/11 and paid tribute to the victims during it.
- Bruce Springsteen delivered a hysterical opening line to viewers before his set, telling them to “step back from the guacamole dip” and “put down the chicken fingers.”
- Michael Jackson stood still without moving a muscle to open his performance for about two minutes.
Betting on Super Bowl odds is something that even the most casual football fan will do whenever the big game comes around.
Whether it’s the game or silly props, there are football odds for everything at online sportsbooks when the Super Bowl rolls around.
Another patented part of the event is the halftime show. Whether you’re a fan of them year in or year out, let’s face it, some are undeniably sensational.
Below are the best Super Bowl halftime shows of all time.
And while you’re here, check out the worst Super Bowl halftime shows ever.
9 Best Halftimes in Super Bowl History
1. Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers
Mars opened the performance on the drums and then went into his performance of “Locked Out of Heaven,” which was the right song to open it up with.
In honor of today being the Super Bowl let’s take a moment to remember this iconic performance by Bruno Mars
pic.twitter.com/pXDfd79SU0— 🕯️hs4 🕯️ (@stacheharry) February 11, 2024
He then went into “Treasure,” played another song, did a split, and before you knew it, Red Hot Chili Peppers were on stage.
Flea might just be a bassist, but that dude draws eyeballs. They played “Give It Away,” and it was flawless.
2. Prince
At Super 41, in the middle of a thunderstorm in Miami, Prince performed hits like “Purple Rain” and even did some covers. Perhaps it was the rain, but it added to the epicness of the event, and he commanded the stage.
He even performed a Foo Fighters cover for the song “Best of You.”
A truly timeless performance.
3. Michael Jackson
The performance at Super Bowl 27 lasted about 12 minutes. For the first two, Jackson simply stood in a power pose, commanding the crowd.
Michael Jackson's wild entrance at the 1993 Super Bowl halftime show pic.twitter.com/gIW1I6KbsV
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) February 8, 2024
He eventually turned his head to the other side, prompting a large reaction from the crowd.
From there, he broke out with his signature dance moves and performed songs like “Man in the Mirror,” “Billie Jean,” and more.
4. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and More
This show opened with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre performing Snoop’s hit track “The One and Only.”
They performed more before 50 Cent emerged with his nostalgic “In da Club” track.
Toward the end of the performance, Eminem appeared and performed “Lose Yourself,” which truly got the crowd going.
5. U2
In the aftermath of 9/11, U2 delivered an excellent performance commemorating the victims of the attacks.
They started with “Beautiful Day” before continuing with “MLK.”
During “MLK,” a screen with the names of those who lost their lives played.
Bono ripped open his jacket to show an American flag sewn inside.
#Throwback to the last time U2 performed at the @NFL Super Bowl! 1 day to go! pic.twitter.com/oIl6EdGTpL
— U2 (@U2) February 12, 2022
An excellent tribute and show of patriotism during one of America’s darkest periods.
6. Aerosmith, ‘NSync, Britney Spears, and More
The show opened with ’N Sync’s track “Bye Bye Bye,” and somehow, it went into Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” in a fine way.
For those unaware, these are two completely different energies.
The two acts performed more, and during “Walk This Way,” things got really wacky.
Mary J. Blige and Britney Spears sang, and eventually, Nelly was rapping while Joe Perry played a guitar solo.
A Frankenstein of a performance that somehow worked.
7. Rolling Stones
These guys wasted no time playing tracks like “Start Me Up,” “Rough Justice,” and “Satisfaction.”
There were no weird performances or choreography. It was simply a Rolling Stones concert at the Super Bowl.
Works for me.
8. Paul McCartney
Like the Rolling Stones, McCartney was on stage with a band and performed some massive hits, my favourite being “Live and Let Die.”
He went from the middle of the stage to his piano for this song, which was the most sensational part of the performance.
Paul McCartney performs "Hey Jude" at Super Bowl XXXIX Halftime Show, 2005. pic.twitter.com/OZe9y5dBfW
— hold.btc (@BoredWeb3) February 4, 2019
9. Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band
Springsteen opened the set with a message to the audience and uttered, “I want you to step back from the guacamole dip! I want you to put those chicken fingers down! And turn your television all the way up!”
Hey, what a way to open things up.
For the next 12 minutes, they performed songs like “Tenth Avenue Freezeout,” “Born to Run,” and “Glory Day.”
I love this performance simply for the opening message. Perfect.
What Is the Best Halftime Show in Super Bowl History?
My favourite Super Bowl halftime show was Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers. I’m not even particularly a fan of Mars, but opening the set on the drums and showcasing sensational showmanship before transitioning to the Chili Peppers was electric.
The game, which was a 43-8 demolition by the Seattle Seahawks over the Denver Broncos, was a snoozer, but this performance brought plenty of energy.