The Super Bowl has long been more than just a football game—it’s a cultural event that dominates TV ratings and social media conversations. Since 2006, the NFL has repeatedly shattered viewership records, with last year’s Super Bowl LVIII becoming the most-watched program in U.S. television history, drawing an average of 123.4 million viewers across all platforms.
As anticipation builds for Super Bowl 2025, headlined by Kendrick Lamar, searches for “Super Bowl performance 2025” have surged by 250%. With that in mind, experts at Live Football Tickets analysed YouTube data to determine the most-watched Super Bowl halftime shows of all time.
Topping the list is Dr. Dre’s legendary 2022 halftime show, which has amassed a staggering 324 million views. The performance featured hip-hop icons Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige, delivering hits like ‘The Next Episode,' ‘Still D.R.E.' and ‘Lose Yourself.' A standout moment came when Dr. Dre sat at the piano to play a few notes of 2Pac’s ‘I Ain’t Mad at Cha,' thrilling fans worldwide.
Close behind is Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s fiery 2020 performance, which has racked up 320 million views. The duo brought high-energy choreography and Latin flair, performing hits like ‘Hips Don’t Lie,' ‘Jenny From the Block' and ‘Waiting for Tonight.' The show, which also featured guest appearances from Bad Bunny and J Balvin, became one of the most talked-about halftime performances in recent memory.
Rihanna’s 2023 halftime show ranks third with 257 million views. Her performance, which included chart-toppers like ‘Umbrella,' ‘Diamonds' and ‘We Found Love,' was made even more memorable by her surprise pregnancy reveal. Dressed in a striking all-red outfit, she delivered a visually stunning set featuring floating platforms, synchronised dancers, and dazzling pyrotechnics.
Coldplay’s 2016 performance, featuring surprise appearances from Beyoncé and Bruno Mars, takes the fourth spot with 140 million views. Chris Martin kicked things off with ‘Viva La Vida' before Beyoncé commanded the stage with ‘Formation' and Bruno Mars energised the crowd with ‘Uptown Funk.' The trio’s collaboration created a unique blend of rock, pop, and R&B that resonated with audiences worldwide.
Lady Gaga’s 2017 performance rounds out the top five, earning 106 million views. Known for her theatrical stage presence, she delivered an electrifying set featuring ‘Poker Face,' ‘Born This Way' and ‘Bad Romance.' Her fearless acrobatics, high-energy choreography, and powerhouse vocals cemented her status as one of the best halftime performers in recent history.
Despite being one of the most controversial halftime moments, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s 2004 “Nipplegate” incident ranks only 17th, with 2.7 million views. During their performance, Timberlake accidentally exposed Jackson’s breast, sparking nationwide outrage and leading to a crackdown on live television broadcasts. While Jackson faced industry backlash, Timberlake’s career continued largely unaffected, fueling ongoing debates about the incident’s lasting impact.
As the countdown to Super Bowl 2025 continues, fans eagerly await Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance to see if it will earn a spot among the most iconic shows in Super Bowl history.
Top 15 most iconic Super Bowl halftime shows YOU need to rewatch this season
Rank Super Bowl halftime show Year Iconic songs performed YouTube views 1 Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar 2022 The Next Episode, Still D.R.E., Lose Yourself 324,000,000 2 Shakira and Jennifer Lopez 2020 Hips Don’t Lie, Jenny From the Block, Waiting for Tonight 320,000,000 3 Rihanna 2023 Umbrella, Diamonds, We Found Love 257,000,000 4 Coldplay, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars 2016 Uptown Funk, Formation, Viva La Vida 140,000,000 5 Lady Gaga 2017 Poker Face, Born This Way, Bad Romance 106,000,000 6 Katy Perry 2016 Roar, Firework, Teenage Dream 101,000,000 7 The Weeknd 2021 Blinding Lights, Can’t Feel My Face, Save Your Tears 67,000,000 8 Madonna 2012 Vogue, Like a Prayer, Holiday 50,000,000 9 Justin Timberlake 2018 Can’t Stop the Feeling!, Rock Your Body, Mirrors 36,000,000 10 Usher 2024 Caught Up, Bad Girl, Yeah! 31,000,000 11 Maroon 5 2019 Sugar, Girls Like You, Moves Like Jagger 22,000,000 12 Beyonce 2013 Crazy In Love, Single Ladies, Halo 21,000,000 13 Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers 2014 Just The Way You Are, Give It Away, Locked Out of Heaven 8,500,000 14 Prince 2007 Purple Rain, Let’s Go Crazy, Baby I’m a Star 7,100,000 15 Aerosmith, Britney Spears, ‘NSync, Nelly & Mary J. Blige 2001 Walk This Way, Baby One More Time, Bye Bye Bye 5,200,000
