When asked about preparations for the show, the Weeknd stated, "We've been really focusing on dialing in on the fans at home and making performances a cinematic experience, and we want to do that with the Super Bowl."

[4] The halftime show was executive produced by Dave Myers, Jesse Collins, Jay-Z and Roc Nation, who also served as the creative directors.

[7] In contrast to past years, the decision was made to build the stage within the stadium for the safety of workers and players, however the field was still used.

[13] The performance featured a choir whose members were dressed in white and wore masks over their faces with glowing red eyes, and were standing within a backdrop of a neon cityscape.

[19][20][21] Next, performing the song "Can't Feel My Face", the Weeknd traveled through a labyrinth constructed behind the stage, joined by dancers dressed in red blazers and black neckties similar to his, but with their faces covered with bandages, in keeping with the aesthetic of his fourth studio album After Hours (2020).

[9] Writing that the show both "dazzled" and "overwhelmed", Larry Fitzmaurice of GQ wrote that the Weeknd "didn't even come close to commanding the stage the way previous performers had" at the Super Bowl.

[25] Jillian Mapes of Pitchfork called the performance "a fever dream for the whole family", writing that it was, "goofy, celebratory, and even a little bit unsettling.

Scott criticized the camerawork featuring in the segment of the performance filmed inside of the labyrinth as, "disorienting (and kind of nauseating)."

[28] Craig Jenkins of Vulture wrote that "the show delivered a vivid array of elaborate, expensive set pieces that hit the necessary notes for a halftime gig."

While writing that he "made a case for himself as a pop phenomenon with staying power", Jenkins also opined that the Weeknd, "highlighted some of the least-interesting moments in his catalog.

The Weeknd's blank charm and eerie lighting feinted at meeting this bizarre moment in history but ultimately offered a shrug.

"[30] In a highly positive review, Dominic Patten of Deadline hailed the performance as a "touchdown", calling it a "technical spectacle".

[31] Rachel Brodsky of The Independent rated the performance four out of five stars, calling it "slick" and "hyper-stylised", praising it as a, "brilliantly escapist 10 minutes that not only solidified his pop domination, but helped a deeply divided country – however briefly – dance away the pain of this past year.

[16] Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times called the performance, "spooky yet darkly funny" and an, "appealingly bizarre spectacle reflected the COVID era in both mood and logistics".

[12] AJ Romano of Vox called the performance "mellow but satisfying", writing that the Weeknd displayed, "confidence and charm".

"[38] In a mostly positive review, Andrew Unterberger of Billboard called the Weeknd's performance a "14-minute set that presented a pretty convincing argument for him having one of the strongest catalogs of any modern pop hitmaker".

[20] Alex Suskind of Entertainment Weekly griped about the quality of the sound mixing and "lack of tech-savvy pageantry".

[41] Similarly, Aaron Tallent of Athlon Sports soon after ranked it in the mid-tier of all Super Bowl Halftime Shows.

The documentary, which was produced by the halftime show sponsor Pepsi's in-house content studio and Boardwalk Pictures, aired on Showtime on September 24, 2021.