The Super Bowl Halftime Show hasn’t always been a pop culture moment — once upon a time, it was marching bands and bathroom breaks. This week, we break down how halftime evolved from forgettable filler to one of the biggest performance stages in the world.

Starting with this year’s Bad Bunny halftime show, we unpack what it says about the NFL, global pop culture, and who the Super Bowl is really for now. From the viewership crisis of the early ’90s to Michael Jackson’s game-changing 1993 performance, we trace how the halftime show became a cultural touchstone.

Along the way, we revisit the most iconic moments: Beyoncé’s dominance, Shakira & J.Lo’s celebration of Latin culture, Katy Perry’s Left Shark, Lady Gaga’s spectacle, and the controversies, memes, and legacy-defining performances that made halftime must-watch TV.

Is the halftime show bigger than the game itself? Let’s talk about it.