The 25 Most Watched Super Bowls of All-Time (2024)

Media

By FOS Staff

UPDATED February 15, 2024 | 03:27 pm

  • The current record belongs to Super Bowl LVIII in 2024.
  • Between 2010 and ’18, the Super Bowl consistently garnered more than 100 million viewers.

The 25 Most Watched Super Bowls of All-Time (1)

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL is the most highly viewed sport in the U.S.—and the Super Bowl, often the most popular event on television, is its crown jewel.

The 2024 edition between the Chiefs and the 49ers was no exception, as it became the most-watched Super Bowl ever. The Chiefs’s third Super Bowl win in five seasons had more than 123.7 million total average viewers and beat the record set the previous year in Super Bowl LVII between the Chiefs and the Eagles, which had more than 115 million total average viewers.

Holding the third spot is 2015 Super Bowl XLIX between the Patriots and Seahawks, with 114.8 million total average viewers.

Taking the fourth spot is the 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII between the Seahawks and Broncos, which attracted more than 112.7 million total average viewers. Capping off the top five is the ’16 Super Bowl 50 between the Broncos and Panthers. The game commanded more than 112.3 million total average viewers.

Super Bowl XLIV between the Colts and the Saints became the first game to cross the 100 million viewer bar in 2010. The Saints’ 31–17 upset the Colts to earn the franchise’s first Super Bowl title for the historically downtrodden organization.

Here is the list of average viewers’ top 25 most-watched Super Bowls. The list was compiled in February 2024 using data fromNielsen.

RankSuper BowlTeamsNetwork(s)Total Average Viewers P2+ (Persons age 2 or more)Date
1LVIIIKansas City vs. San FranciscoCBS, Univision, Nickelodeon, Nick-at-Nite123,714,000Feb. 11, 2024
2LVIIKansas City vs. PhiladelphiaFox, Fox Deportes115,096,000Feb. 12, 2023
3XLIXNew England vs. SeattleNBC, Universal114,810,000Feb. 1, 2015
4XLVIIISeattle vs. DenverFox, Fox Deportes112,752,000Feb. 2, 2014
5SB 50Denver vs. CarolinaCBS, ESPN Deportes112,336,000Feb. 7, 2016
6LINew England vs. AtlantaFox, Fox Deportes111,973,000Feb. 5, 2017
7XLVINew York Giants vs. New EnglandNBC111,346,000Feb. 5, 2012
8XLVGreen Bay vs. PittsburghFox111,041,000Feb. 6, 2011
9XLVIIBaltimore vs. San FranciscoCBS108,693,000Feb. 3, 2013
10XLIVNew Orleans vs. IndianapolisCBS106,476,000Feb. 7, 2010
11LIIPhiladelphia vs. New EnglandNBC, Universal104,016,000Feb. 4, 2018
12LIVKansas City vs. San FranciscoFox, Fox Deportes102,086,000Feb. 2, 2020
13LVILos Angeles Rams vs. CincinnatiNBC, Telemundo101,470,000Feb. 13, 2022
14LIIINew England vs. Los Angeles RamsCBS, ESPN Deportes98,950,000Feb. 3, 2019
15XLIIIPittsburgh vs. ArizonaNBC98,732,000Feb. 1, 2009
16XLIINew York Giants vs. New EnglandFox97,448,000Feb. 3, 2008
17LVTampa Bay vs. Kansas CityCBS, ESPN Deportes95,877,000Feb. 7, 2021
18XXXDallas vs. PittsburghNBC94,080,000Jan. 28, 1996
19XLIIndianapolis vs. ChicagoCBS93,184,000Feb. 4, 2007
20XXChicago vs. New EnglandNBC92,570,000Jan. 26, 1986
21XXVIIDallas vs. BuffaloNBC90,990,000Jan. 31, 1993
22XLPittsburgh vs. SeattleABC90,745,000Feb. 5, 2006
23 (tie)XXXIIDenver vs. Green BayNBC90,000,000Jan. 25, 1998
23 (tie)XXVIIIDallas vs. BuffaloNBC90,000,000Jan. 30, 1994
25XXXVIIINew England vs. CarolinaCBS89,795,000Feb. 1, 2004

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The 25 Most Watched Super Bowls of All-Time (2024)

FAQs

The 25 Most Watched Super Bowls of All-Time? ›

Super Bowl LVIII is the most-watched program ever, averaging 123.4 million viewers across all platforms, up +7% versus last year's Super Bowl which was the previous record (115.1 million).

What are the most watched Super Bowls of all time? ›

Super Bowl LVIII is the most-watched program ever, averaging 123.4 million viewers across all platforms, up +7% versus last year's Super Bowl which was the previous record (115.1 million).

What Super Bowl got the most views? ›

Super Bowl LVIII was most-watched TV program ever, averaging 123.4m viewers. The longest Super Bowl game will also go down as the most-watched program in US television history.

What was the most exciting Super Bowl in history? ›

Ranking the 25 most thrilling Super Bowls
  1. Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants 20, Buffalo 19.
  2. Super Bowl XXXIV: St. ...
  3. Super Bowl XXXVI: New England 20, St. ...
  4. Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants 17, New England 14. ...
  5. Super Bowl XLIX: New England 28, Seattle 24. ...
  6. Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23. ...
May 1, 2024

Is the Super Bowl the most watched event in history? ›

Super Bowl Earns Record 123 Million Viewers—Most-Watched TV Event Since Apollo 11. Mary Roeloffs is a Forbes breaking news reporter covering pop culture.

What is the highest viewership in TV history? ›

Of the 30 most-watched telecasts, 27 are Super Bowls. The Apollo 11 moon landing is generally considered to have been the most watched event in American television history, having garnered an estimated viewership of between 125 and 150 million viewers.

Which halftime show had the most viewers? ›

With 121 million viewers, Rihanna's 2023 performance during Super Bowl LVII is the most-watched halftime show in history.

Who has seen the most Super Bowls? ›

Among the NFL's current 32 teams, 20 (11 NFC, nine AFC) have won a Super Bowl and 15 (eight AFC, seven NFC) hold multiple titles. The AFC's Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots have the most Super Bowl titles at six each. The Patriots also have the most Super Bowl appearances at 11.

What Super Bowl had the best audience? ›

The Super Bowl ratings record remains a 49.1 for 49ers-Bengals in 1982, but the viewership record was set just this year (2024) — 123.7 million for Chiefs-49ers.

What was the craziest Super Bowl comeback? ›

Biggest Super Bowl comebacks
  • Patriots 34-28 Falcons (2017) – 25 points.
  • Chiefs 31-20 49ers (2020) – 10 points.
  • Patriots 28-24 Seahawks (2015) – 10 points.
  • Saints 31-17 Colts (2010) – 10 points.
  • Washington 42-10 Broncos (1988) – 10 points.
Feb 7, 2024

What is the most forgettable Super Bowl? ›

5 Worst Super Bowl Games That Didn't Impress Fans
  1. Super Bowl XXIV, San Francisco 49ers 55, Denver Broncos 10. ...
  2. Super Bowl XXVII, Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17. ...
  3. Super Bowl VIII, Miami Dolphins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7. ...
  4. Super Bowl XLVIII, Seattle Seahawks 43, Denver Broncos 8.
Jan 30, 2024

Who was the biggest favorite in Super Bowl history? ›

Biggest Super Bowl Point Spread

The largest point spread in Super Bowl history was in Super Bowl XXIX in 1995. The San Francisco 49ers entered the game as massive 18.5-point favorites over the San Diego Chargers.

What is the most watched sporting event ever? ›

The Most Watched Sporting Events in The World
  • World Cup of Soccer – 5 Billion Viewers.
  • Tour de France – 3.5 Billion Viewers.
  • Cricket World Cup – 2.6 Billion Viewers.
  • Women's World Cup – 2 Billion Viewers.
  • Summer Games – 2 Billion Viewers.
  • Winter Games – 2 Billion Viewers.
  • UEFA Champions League Final – 450 Million Viewers.
Nov 3, 2023

Is the Super Bowl the most watched program in the world? ›

The telecast averaged 123.7 million viewers across all platforms, the most-watched program ever, according to Nielsen. The figure was up seven percent from last year's game, which set the previous record of 115.1 million viewers.

What was the highest viewership of the Super Bowl halftime show? ›

Rihanna. Rihanna performs during Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show at State Farm Stadium on Feb. 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. With 121 million viewers, Rihanna's 2023 performance during Super Bowl LVII is the most-watched halftime show in history.

What Super Bowl had the most fans? ›

The Rams became the first NFC West team to reach the Super Bowl. The NFC West was the last of the six post-merger divisions to reach the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XIV holds the record for attendance with 103,985 spectators.

What was the most watched sporting event ever? ›

Most Viewed Sports Events:
  • Champions League – 380 million.
  • Boxing – 1 billion.
  • Women's FIFA World Cup – 1.12 billion.
  • Winter Olympics – 2 billion.
  • Cricket World Cup – 2.6 billion.
  • Summer Olympics – 3.05 billion.
  • Men's FIFA World Cup – 3.3 billion.
  • Tour de France – 3.5 billion.
May 22, 2024

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