Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking 1993 Super Bowl halftime performance will receive a documentary examining how the King of Pop transformed football’s biggest musical spectacle.
Titled Spectacle: Michael Jackson at the Super Bowl, the film is scheduled to premiere on ESPN and Hulu in February 2027.
The documentary revisits Jackson’s January 31, 1993, performance at Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena, California, nearly 35 years after the historic event.
Jackson performed at the Rose Bowl during the Dallas Cowboys’ championship victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Before his appearance, Super Bowl halftime shows primarily featured marching bands, elaborate themes and large musical ensembles.
Jackson’s performance introduced a new era of superstar-driven entertainment, establishing a blueprint for future halftime productions.
His setlist included some of his biggest hits, including “Billie Jean,” “Black or White” and “Heal the World.”
The elaborate production featured synchronized choreography, dramatic staging and Jackson’s unmistakable showmanship.
Filmmaker Bao Nguyen will direct and produce the documentary, which explores the preparation and creative decisions behind the performance.
Nguyen previously directed Netflix’s The Greatest Night in Pop, chronicling the recording of the 1985 charity anthem “We Are the World.”
That documentary explored Jackson’s collaboration with Lionel Richie and other prominent musicians who assembled for the historic recording session.
The upcoming Hulu documentary will feature previously unreleased interviews with production crew members and organizers involved in Jackson’s halftime appearance.
Never-before-seen footage will also provide insight into the rehearsals, planning and challenges behind the production.
Jackson’s performance helped establish the Super Bowl halftime show as a major cultural attraction beyond professional football.
Its influence remains evident in subsequent performances by Prince, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Usher and Kendrick Lamar.
The documentary arrives amid renewed interest in Jackson’s career, including plans for another biographical film, Michael 2, in 2027.
ESPN and Hulu have not announced an exact premiere date or released an official trailer.
Spectacle will examine how Jackson’s 1993 appearance reshaped the halftime show into a global entertainment event.
