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But the true phenomenon of the year was, undeniably, . Released on Netflix in September 2021, the show rapidly became a record-shattering global sensation, amassing 16.4 billion minutes viewed in the U.S. alone, becoming Netflix’s #1 show in over 90 countries, and sparking countless viral trends from TikTok costume recreations to Halloween dominance. It proved that a non-English language series could command the global cultural center stage.
Other 2021 blockbusters helped pave the way, including the final Daniel Craig James Bond film, No Time to Die , with globally, the family-fueled F9: The Fast Saga , and Disney's Marvel slate, which included Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ($224.9 million domestic) and Black Widow ($183.7 million domestic).
: The industry boomed. North American sales of comic books and graphic novels hit an all-time high of $2.075 billion in 2021, a staggering 62% increase over 2020. This was driven largely by the manga boom (with series like Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer flying off shelves) and an overall surge in interest in the medium among younger readers.
After near-total shutdowns in 2020, movie theaters began a slow, calculated recovery in 2021. Studios experimented with hybrid release models—simultaneously debuting films in theaters and on streaming services—which sparked heavy debate regarding the future of cinema distribution. buttmansfavoritebigbuttbabes1xxx 2021
HBO Max solidified its footprint with the critical success of Succession Season 3 and the sleeper hit The White Lotus . Meanwhile, Apple TV+ found its flagship identity through the relentless optimism of Ted Lasso , which resonated deeply with audiences seeking comfort during a turbulent year. The Rebound of the Theatrical Box Office
The video game industry continued its ascent as a dominant force in entertainment. The U.S. market alone saw the usual suspects topping sales charts. According to NPD data, the Call of Duty franchise continued its remarkable dominance, with Call of Duty: Vanguard and Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War taking the top two spots for the year in the United States. Other consistent best-sellers included Madden NFL 22 , Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl , and the ever-present Mario Kart 8 .
Within this subscription boom, certain tentpole releases and library titles shaped viewership like never before. According to Nielsen's year-end rankings for 2021, Lucifer topped the list of streaming originals with an astounding across its 93-episode library. Acquired library content proved just as valuable, with Criminal Minds (15.7 billion minutes) and NCIS (13.8 billion minutes) showing the enduring power of procedurals in the streaming era. But the true phenomenon of the year was, undeniably,
Warner Bros. disrupted the traditional theatrical window by releasing its entire 2021 film slate—including blockbusters like Dune and The Matrix Resurrections —simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. This "day-and-date" strategy sparked fierce debates over creator compensation and the future of cinema.
was the year the entertainment industry stopped trying to get back to 2019 and looked ahead to the fragmenting, streaming-first, TikTok-driven, globalized future. It was messy, it was chaotic, but it was never, ever boring.
Culturally, 2021 will likely be remembered as the year South Korean media cemented its global dominance. While K-Pop had already made inroads globally, the release of Squid Game on Netflix in September 2021 was a watershed moment. It shattered the long-standing belief that non-English language content could not achieve mainstream success in Western markets. The show became a global phenomenon, dominating conversations for months and inspiring countless memes, Halloween costumes, and TikTok trends. Its success proved that great storytelling transcends language barriers and highlighted a shift toward a more interconnected global pop culture. Alongside Squid Game , the enduring popularity of K-Pop groups like BTS and the success of the film Minari signaled a permanent diversification of the "mainstream." It proved that a non-English language series could
Beyond dance, 2021 was a year of unforgettable memes. Perhaps none was as enduring as the image of Senator Bernie Sanders at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, sitting alone with his arms and legs crossed, wearing a pair of oversized, handmade mittens. The image was photoshopped into countless scenarios, from famous movie scenes to historical events, and the senator himself leaned into the joke, using the viral fame to raise $1.8 million for charities in his home state of Vermont. Another bizarre but beloved viral moment was "Gorilla Glue Girl," where Tessica Brown documented using the industrial adhesive as a hair product, sparking a series of memes and a conversation about the dangers of DIY beauty hacks. These trends highlighted how social media served as a collective coping mechanism, turning absurd or mundane moments into shared sources of entertainment and relief during another challenging year.
The year 2021 was a transformative period for global entertainment and popular media. Coming off the heels of the initial 2020 pandemic lockdowns, the media landscape experienced a unique intersection of delayed blockbuster releases, the exponential growth of streaming platforms, and the rise of decentralized creator economies.