Michael Jackson’s Super Bowl Show Gets New Hulu & ESPN Documentary

Michael Jackson‘s 1993 Super Bowl performance landed a new documentary headed to Hulu and ESPN, with unseen footage of the work behind his halftime show.

“Spectacle: Michael Jackson at the Super Bowl” will debut in February 2027. Variety reported that director Bao Nguyen’s film will follow Jackson and his team as they prepare for the Rose Bowl performance that turned halftime into a draw of its own.

The project brings Nguyen back to a subject he already held in high regard. He directed “The Greatest Night in Pop,” the film about the making of “We Are the World,” which Jackson wrote with Lionel Richie.

During a 2024 JoySauce interview about that documentary, Nguyen was asked to name the second-greatest night in pop.

“That’s a hard question to answer…but Michael Jackson’s halftime performance at the Super Bowl stands out,” he said.

Nguyen described the set as a turning point for the ties between music and sports. His earlier film used archive material and recreated scenes to bring viewers into the “We Are the World” recording session.

By the time Jackson took the Super Bowl stage, the NFL had a reason to rethink its halftime plans. Fox’s “In Living Color” special had pulled viewers away from the game a year earlier with comedy and a performance by Color Me Badd.

Jackson answered with a set that moved from “Jam,” “Billie Jean” and “Black or White” to “Heal the World.” The crowd became part of the show, holding images of children while a children’s choir joined him.

Singer Siedah Garrett, who performed with Jackson, recalled how he understood the value of those minutes. In an Andscape interview published in April, she said he knew viewers often left their seats or reached for snacks during halftime.

The show also drew Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin out of the locker room to watch. Coach Jimmy Johnson told Andscape he missed the performance because he was focused on winning the game.

Nguyen directed and produced the new documentary. Its production team includes Skydance Sports, Optimum Productions and Into the Deep End Films, with NFL Films executives among its executive producers. The release announcement set a February window but did not name a premiere day.