2000's Super Bowl Halftime Shows ranked

This will be a part 1 of All Super Bowl Halftime Shows Ranked from 2000-2026, in order of worst to best. Part 1 will be 2000-2009

10. Super Bowl 2000 Disney and E-Trade: Tapestry Of Nations with Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias and Toni Braxton, Narrated by Edward James Olmos

I have never been more entertained by such a bad show. The definition of Disney slop. It's just so grand and has so much spectacle that it comes off as ridiculous. Only Disney could get an entire Superbowl to just be one big ad for their upcoming attraction at Disney Land. I cant even talk about Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias and Toni Braxton’s performance because it's so forgettable as they were forced to sing some Disney original made for the halftime show. Phil Collins is the only part that was actually bearable as he sings his songs from Tarzan. Overall, just ridiculous.

9. Super Bowl 2006 Sprint Nextel: The Rolling Stones

Following the unc theme of 2005, there's not much I can really say about this halftime show besides unc tweakin. Like Mick, you're like 63 I wouldn't move those hips too much. Still performance wise it was ok. I Cant Get No Satisfaction was the best part but it went a little bit too long in my opinion. Yeah if you can tell I’m not really the biggest fan of The Rolling Stones but I feel like even fans of theirs would agree with me that they didn't put on that captivating of a performance. Not to mention that they seemed to treat this like a regular concert rather than them playing at one of the biggest events in America. Overall quite boring.

8. Super Bowl 2008 Bridgestone: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Easy going rock ballads fill this halftime show as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers glide across the stage. Really, the show starts and ends that quickly. But still it comes off as average as the show regresses back to concert form that bores the death out of me. Yeah overall very forgettable

7. Super Bowl 2003 AT&T Wireless: Shania Twain and No Doubt with Sting

Yeah who thought it was a good idea letting Shania Twain be a co header of this Super Bowl. In what seems like an attempt to have a normal show after the chaos of previous shows and the emotional tribute of 2002’s show, 2003 comes off more or less a bit bland and boring. Mostly due to Shania Twain. You cannot convince me that she was actually singing her set, I swear that she has to be lip syncing. Because of that Man I Feel like A Woman comes off as fake and I dont even know her other song but whatever it was, it was definitely the wrong choice to perform at a show that is supposed to be hype and exciting. As for No Doubt, I’m Just A Girl was entertaining and Gwen Stefani did good actually singing her set. And surprisingly her and Sting’s rendition of The Police’s Message In A Bottle was really good. Overall sadly forgettable despite Gwen Stefani and Sting’s attempt to turn the show around.

6. Super Bowl 2004 MTV with AOL TopSpeed: Janet Jackson, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson

The infamous halftime show that actually spawned the birth of Youtube, MTV attempts to basically recreate their 2001 halftime show, but this time learns for their lesson to have each performer go one at a time instead of all at once. However this whole lineup has got to be one of the most poorly aged lineups (I’ll get to why soon). Starting off with Jessica Simpson who kicks it off by literally doing nothing except to tell the marching band to start playing. Then Janet Jackson comes and plays some mid. She is easily the most boring and pretentious part of the show. She really thought she was Michael Jackson. Then Diddy and Nelly come and rap their songs Hot In Herre and Mo Money Mo problems,but man the rendition of Oh Mickey replacing Mickey with Diddy and Nelly did not age well. Still they were easily the second most entertaining part of the show. The most entertaining going to Kid Rock when he sang Bawitdaba. Whoever is the camera man deserves a raise for changing the camera to show all the white frat boys having the time of their lives. The Janet Jackson returns to play some more mid. But then Justin Timberlake, this time without the NSYNC crew comes and performs Rock Your Body which is all fine until thee moment happens. The one that sent Janet Jackson's career down the drain. And I mean props to Justin for doing the world a favor. At the end of the song Justin reaches for Janet and somehow, someway, pulls off her top on her right boob, exposing the whole world on live tv. Now that, combined with Diddy being a convicted sex offender, and Kid Rock now headlining the Turning Point USA rival show to Bad Bunny's 2026 show is really making this the most infamous halftime show. Still despite the disorganization and the lack of cohesion these artists have together it was entertaining even though Outkast would have been a better pick to go with. For all the gooners out their the moment happens at the 12 minute 30 second mark

5. Super Bowl 2005 Ameriquest Mortgage: Paul McCartney

Once again, copying the likes of 2001 to 2002, after a really crowded and chaotic halftime show the following year has just a solo headliner. And this is where it starts to stick. Paul McCartney heading the show was a safe choice after 2004’s and with it comes a safe show. Paul performs Drive My Car and Get Back in the first half and while he plays very well and they aren't bad songs in themselves, it lowkey comes off as boring and out of touch as previous shows had spectacle to it. Thankfully though he’s able to bring it back during the 2nd half with Live and Let Die with the firework show but also getting the entire crowd to sing Hey Jude. Overall not a bad show but it just comes off as average.

4. Super Bowl 2009 Bridgestone: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Wow, I am impressed. I don't really know Bruce Springsteen outside of Born In The USA (which i’m surprised he didn't play) but Bruce genuinely put on a good show. It was actually genuinely entertaining! With his stage presence and the utilization of the band and the choir and fireworks the show was amazing even though I barely knew his songs. Normally when someone you don't know that well performs you tend to be bored or don't even bother watching it, but after this I am thoroughly impressed. Great jokes, great spectacle, definitely one of Bridgestones best halftime shows.

3. Super Bowl 2001 MTV and E-Trade: Aerosmith and NSYNC with Britney Spears, Mary J Blige and Nelly. Intro by Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler and Chris Rock

The definition of 2000’s chaos. Only MTV could put both Aerosmith and NSYNC in the same show and have them finish each other's songs. Not to mention how hectic the show is, having 2 big supergroups having to share the stage. Yeah both on their own were entertaining like NSYNC’s Bye Bye Bye and It’s Gonna Be Me (even if the mic lowkey did them dirty) and despite not knowing any of the Aerosmith songs (besides Walk This Way which I’ll get to soon) they were very entertaining and had good stage presence. But man Walk This Way was something else man. I mean not only having both groups sing it at the same time but also bringing up Britney Spears to try and derail the song and Nelly to spit a freestyle that's not even in the song. It's just so funny watching them do it all on a tiny stage. But still it was a good performance from both and the pre-recorded intro of Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler and Chris Rock was funny too.

2. Super Bowl 2007 Pepsi: Prince

I mean after having Michael Jackson, who else but years later to have his rival perform. Prince absolutely nailed what a halftime show should be. No overbloat of spectacle. No crowded lineups. No boring old rock songs. Just playing the hits. Ok there is some irony in my last statement considering that he actually played 3 of his songs, with All Along The Watchtower being Jimi Henrix/Bob Dylan, We Will Rock You being Queen and Best Of You being Foo Fighters, but still he put on an exciting show, especially with Purple Rain. Yeah really I dont have much to say other than Prince nailed this for the first Pepsi halftime show.

1. Super Bowl 2002 Clear Channel Entertainment and E-Trade: U2 as tribute to those killed in 9/11

Probably the most emotional halftime show performance ever. U2 was such a good pick and I can't stress that enough. After 9/11 with America hurting and lost without any direction they did the right choice picking U2. With their intro of Beautiful Day, the closing of Where The Streets Have No Name and the respectful tribute and display of the 9/11 victims names, somehow a halftime show performance actually filled me with awe. Easily the best performance of the 2000’s and this is without watching the rest of them at the time I’m writing this.
(Edit: turns out I was right)