In but a few days, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny will bring his genius blend of Latin trap and reggaeton to the biggest stage in America: the Super Bowl halftime show. It won't be his first time rapping on the gridiron—you might recall his cameo in Shakira and Jennifer Lopez's performance in 2020—but it will be his first time as the main draw of the gig. And given his unique artistic vision, his love for character and costume, and his wide-ranging catalogue, we're expecting a Spanish-language performance filled with color, pizazz, and more bells and whistles than you could possibly dream of.
Indeed, the gig will no doubt be a far cry (in a good way) from what the halftime show used to be, which was nothing more than a showcase for marching bands, local performers and cover bands. That all changed in 1993, however, while Michael Jackson threw together a legendary interlude that turned the halftime performance into the beloved and coveted spectacle it is today.
As we prepare for Benito's turn in the spotlight, let's take a trip down memory lane to reflect on and highlight some of the best halftime shows of all time, starting with the year after M.J.'s initial gig. This was no easy task—there were 32 shows to choose from—but we managed to narrow it down to 10, ranked in descending order below.
