The Super Bowl Halftime Show is not just a concert.
It’s a pressure test.
You get 13 minutes, a football-distracted audience, a global microscope, and the impossible task of pleasing everyone from casual fans to stans to people who “don’t even like pop music.” So when a show hits? It really hits. And when it doesn’t… well, we all remember.
Using a 5-point scale (higher = better), here’s how the last 15 Super Bowl Halftime Shows stack up — and which ones actually understood the assignment.
The Full Scorecard (2011–2025)
- 2025: Kendrick Lamar (with SZA) — 4.6/5
- 2024: Usher — 3.2/5
- 2023: Rihanna — 4/5
- 2022: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent — 4.2/5
- 2021: The Weeknd — 4.6/5
- 2020: Shakira & Jennifer Lopez — 4.4/5
- 2019: Maroon 5 — 2/5
- 2018: Justin Timberlake — 2.4/5
- 2017: Lady Gaga — 3/5
- 2016: Coldplay — 3.4/5
- 2015: Katy Perry — 4.6/5
- 2014: Bruno Mars — 3/5
- 2013: Beyoncé — 3/5
- 2012: Madonna — 2/5
- 2011: The Black Eyed Peas — 2.8/5
The Top 5 (Where the Halftime Show Actually Worked)
1. 2025: Kendrick Lamar (with SZA) — 4.6/5
This is what happens when artistry meets intention.
Kendrick didn’t try to please everyone — and that’s exactly why it worked. The visuals were layered. The messaging was deliberate. The pacing trusted the audience to keep up. And bringing SZA into that world softened the edges without diluting the point.
This wasn’t background noise.
This was a statement.
2. 2021: The Weeknd — 4.6/5
Pure cinematic commitment.
The Weeknd understood the stage, the camera, and the moment. The mirrored hallways. The red suits. The unsettling chaos that somehow still felt clean and controlled. It was theatrical without being cheesy — and pop without being hollow.
One of the few halftime shows that felt like a short film instead of a playlist.
3. 2015: Katy Perry — 4.6/5
Yes. This is still elite.
A giant lion. Shark discourse that lasted years. Color, movement, spectacle, and hits people actually know word-for-word. Katy Perry delivered exactly what a Super Bowl Halftime Show is supposed to be: loud, ridiculous, and unforgettable.
This is the gold standard for pop spectacle.
4. 2020: Shakira & Jennifer Lopez — 4.4/5
High-energy, high-difficulty, no wasted seconds.
This show didn’t stop moving. It was dance-heavy, culturally loud, visually bold, and unapologetic. Even if you weren’t a massive fan going in, it demanded attention — which is half the battle on Super Bowl Sunday.
Controlled chaos in the best way. And no, no one bitched about Bad Bunny’s performance either.
5. 2022: Dr. Dre’s Hip-Hop Showcase — 4.2/5
Cultural impact alone puts this one near the top.
It wasn’t flashy in a traditional sense, but it didn’t need to be. This was about legacy, influence, and finally seeing hip-hop centered on the biggest stage in sports. Kendrick and Eminem stole moments. Mary J. grounded it. Dre anchored it.
Not perfect — but undeniably important.
The Takeaway
The best halftime shows all share one thing: they commit.
They don’t hedge. They don’t play it safe. They understand that this isn’t about pleasing everyone — it’s about owning the moment for 13 minutes and leaving an impression that lasts longer than the final whistle.
And if you’re still mad about where your favorite landed?
That’s kind of the point.
First & Jenn 
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