It’s been just over a week since Bad Bunny’s energetic Super Bowl Halftime Show, and the reverberations are still being felt across the music industry – and even in the halls of Congress, where some Republicans are calling for an investigation into the performance. Beyond the political fallout, the performance has translated into significant chart success for the artist, and a new venture into leading roles in film.
Bad Bunny first appeared on a Billboard Hot 100 number one song in 2018, as a featured artist on Cardi B’s “I Like It” with J Balvin. However, a solo number one had eluded him until now. This week, his song “DtMF” surged to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, having initially debuted at number two last year, according to Billboard. The Super Bowl performance appears to have provided a substantial boost, with four of his songs landing in the top ten: “DtMF” at number one, “Baile Inolvidable” at number two, “Nuevayol” at number five, and the 2022 track “Tití Me Preguntó” at number seven. Without this surge from Bad Bunny, Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” would have reached the top spot, but it currently sits at number three, surpassing Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” which topped the charts last week.
The impact of the Super Bowl performance extends beyond chart positions. Bad Bunny is now transitioning into a more prominent role in film. He has previously appeared in supporting roles in films like Bullet Train, Cassandro, Happy Gilmore 2, and Caught Stealing. A previous attempt to lead a Marvel Spider-Man spinoff, El Muerto, ultimately fell through. However, he has now been cast in the lead role of Porto Rico, a historical drama that will mark the directorial debut of René Pérez Joglar, known professionally as Residente.
Porto Rico boasts a notable cast including Javier Bardem, Viggo Mortensen, and Edward Norton, with Alejandro Iñárritu serving as executive producer. Residente co-wrote the script with Alexander Dinelaris, who previously collaborated with Iñárritu on Birdman. The film is based on the 19th-century story of Puerto Rican revolutionary José Maldonado Román, as Deadline reports. Bad Bunny and Residente have collaborated musically before, notably on the 2019 song “Bellacoso“.
Beyond music and film, Bad Bunny is also slated to perform a special concert in Tokyo as part of Spotify’s Billions Club series. Variety reports that the show, scheduled for March 7th at an undisclosed location, will be exclusive to his top listeners in Japan. The Billions Club series has previously featured performances by artists like Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd, and Miley Cyrus, which were subsequently released as full-length videos on Spotify.
The confluence of these events – the Super Bowl performance, the chart-topping success, and the leading film role – marks a significant moment in Bad Bunny’s career. His ability to transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries, evidenced by “DtMF” being the fourth all- or mostly-Spanish-language song to top the Billboard Hot 100, demonstrates a growing global appetite for Latin music. The success also highlights the power of high-profile events like the Super Bowl to amplify an artist’s reach and influence, translating into tangible results on the charts and in other creative endeavors.
The attention surrounding Bad Bunny isn’t without its detractors, as evidenced by the calls for investigation from some Republican lawmakers. However, the artist’s continued success suggests a broad and dedicated fanbase that extends beyond political divides. His move into leading film roles signals a potential long-term strategy to diversify his creative output and solidify his position as a multifaceted entertainer.
