The best movies and TV shows of 2021: TechRadars streaming year in review

Date:
Wed, 29 Dec 2021 14:00:31 +0000

Description:
2021 gifted us plenty of superb movies and TV shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime and more here are our top picks of the year.

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2021 is almost over how did that happen, by the way!? and, just like other years that preceded this one, its been another stellar 12 months for the world's bigges streamers.

Netflix , Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max continued to pump out movies and TV shows that were lapped up by fans and critics alike. And, with Disney Plus
and Apple TV Plus increasing their respective outputs some of which were equally well received as their competitors catalogs theres never been a better time to be a film and TV aficionado.

And theres been something for everyone, too. From unexpected global hits like Squid Game to fantasy genre fare in The Wheel of Time , and productions that celebrate representation in CODA to blockbuster movies including Dune , 2021 was full of top-quality content.

Before the next wave of streamer-specific movies and TV shows arrive, TechRadars entertainment team felt it was only appropriate to say goodbye to 2021 by selecting our favorite films and TV series of the past year. Below, you'll find our picks for the Best Movie, Best TV Show, and Best Documentary or One-off Special for the five biggest streaming services around.

Thanks for sticking with us in 2021, enjoy the read (feel free to agree or disagree) and well see you in 2022. Best of 2021: Amazon Prime Video Best Amazon Prime movie: Encounter

Its fair to say that 2021 wasnt a great year for Amazon and original movies. Having invested heavily in serialised content, the studio left Prime Video subscribers with a meagre selection of sci-fi adventures and action flicks that couldnt match the equivalent movies produced by its streaming rivals.

The best of them, in our opinion, was Michael Pearces Encounter , which
proved an intriguing and at-times poignant deep dive into the psyche of a paranoid veteran. It follows estranged father Malik Khan (Riz Ahmed) on a mission to save his two young sons from an extra-terrestrial infection sweeping the Earth though theres a lot more to Encounters premise than meets the eye. This one is definitely worth a watch if you like movies that keep
you guessing. Best Amazon Prime show: Invincible

In stark contrast to its sparse film offerings, Amazons TV catalog has never been stronger than it was in 2021 which made choosing one show all the more difficult. We could have gone for the streamers big-budget fantasy series in The Wheel of Time, sci-fi miniseries Solos , or young adult drama Panic .
But, in the end, we had to pick Invincible , Amazons R-rated animated adaptation of Robert Kirkman and Cory Walkers beloved graphic novel series.

Not only does it have one of the best casts of any TV series, but Invincible is also a wonderfully animated series full of heart, humor and gratuitous violence. Episode 1s shock ending, coupled with that brutal and tearjerking season 1 finale, dominated TV fan discussions for weeks. And, with season 2
on the way, were hoping for more of the same. Oh, and plenty of top tier memes, too. Best Amazon Prime documentary or special: Val

Documentaries that focus on a particular actor or director are a dime a dozen these days but few are as intimate and absorbing as Val, a 2021 docufilm
that focuses on the life and career of Top Gun and Batman Forever star Val Kilmer.

With plenty of footage (which Kilmer shot himself) included, Val gave us a uniquely personal peek behind the curtain of one of the biggest actors of the 1980s and 1990s. From his childhood and his first major acting gig, to
showing his homemade movies and his battle with throat cancer, Val is a fascinating deep dive into Kilmers life. Its raw, authentic and pretty moving all round. Best of 2021: Apple TV Plus Best Apple TV Plus movie: CODA

One of the years best films (which should have earned a lot more attention than it did), CODA which stands for Child of Deaf Adults follows high
school student Ruby (Emilia Jones) as she navigates the pressures of education, adulthood and living with a completely deaf family.

This Apple exclusive stars Locke and Keys Jones in the lead role, and deaf performers Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant as her parents and brother, respectively. It paints an authentic, moving picture of everyday
life for those living in unique circumstances and, in our view, its as good
as 2019s Sound of Metal . Not only that, but it's also the best Apple
original movie of 2021 for us. Youll laugh, cry and maybe even learn
something add it to your watchlist for 2022 (if you havent seen it already). Best Apple TV Plus show: Ted Lasso season 2

In another universe, Foundation or Invasion may have taken first place on our Apple TV Plus show podium. But, just like its first season won our hearts in 2020, Ted Lasso season 2 is our favorite Apple TV series of the year.

And with good reason. It builds on the foundations that the soccer comedy-dramas first outing but, equally, season 2 isnt afraid to explore the darker side of its characters. From Teds panic attacks and Coach Beards disenchantment following one particular defeat, to Sams loyalties being torn and Coach Nates villainous turn, Ted Lasso has matured into one of the best shows around. Season 3 is on the way, too, so therell be more to enjoy sometime in 2022. Best Apple TV Plus documentary or special: 9/11: Inside the President's War Room

Also available on BBC iPlayer in the UK, 9/11: Inside the President's War
Room follows the shocking events of September 11, 2001 from the point of view of the man responsible for the safety of the United States at the time: President George W. Bush.

As well as providing deeper insight into the now-famous pictures of his initial response to the attacks, this documentary offers viewers an extraordinary fly-on-the-wall look at how the President and his advisors reacted to the unthinkable in the hours after the horror unfolded. Whether on Air Force One or inside the bunker itself, this gripping, feature-length film really does make you feel like you were in the room when it happened. Compelling television. Best of 2021: Disney Plus Best Disney Plus movie: Raya and the Last Dragon

This category is a tricky one, what with Disney-produced theatrical movies, such as Black Widow and Shang-Chi , making their way to the streamer sometime after their cinematic releases.

But, while the easy choice would've been a Marvel movie , weve elected for a Disney animated offering that stole our hearts in March. Raya and the Last Dragon is another superb addition to Disneys already packed roster of
top-tier animated flicks, with a classic fantasy-based story thats full of humour, family friendly action, female empowerment and poignant story beats. Its authentic depiction of Southeast Asian communities and traditions, too, was a huge step forward for a studio thats been criticised for cultural stereotypes and a lack of diversity on the big and small screens. More of the same moving forward please, Disney. Best Disney Plus show: WandaVision

After 13 years of building an interconnected cinematic empire, 2021 marked
the start of Marvel Studios foray into the TV medium and, honestly, we couldve plumped for any of Marvels Disney Plus shows. At worst, theyre entertaining affairs and, at their best, theyre superb.

While Loki is the most highly-rated of Marvels Disney Plus offerings so far, weve opted for the series that kickstarted the MCUs TV journey in WandaVision . Its celebration of multiple generations of sitcoms, unsettling vibe, mysterious plot and exploration of trauma delivered a story unlike anything weve previously seen from a Marvel live-action project. Add in the sheer wealth of fan theories that surrounded the series R.I.P it was Mephisto all along and look past that turgid CGI battle during the series finale, and its the best MCU show thus far. Hawkeye pushed it close at the end, mind you.
Best Disney Plus documentary or special: The Beatles: Get Back

Its fitting that a Peter Jackson production makes it onto our list. After
all, its been 20 years since Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring landed in theaters (theres an Amazon Prime prequel series coming in late
2022, too).

The Beatles: Get Back couldnt be further from Jacksons 2001 magnum opus although thats only from a non-fictional perspective. The three-part docuseries, which covers the making of the legendary quartets 1970 album Let It Be, is a captivating and thrilling behind-the-scenes look at their struggles to complete this particular LP. That The Beatles also have to rehearse for a concert and film project only makes things more difficult.

Get Back isnt just your typical music documentary, however: across six house of footage, we get a deeply intimate, immersive and compelling glimpse into the world of one of the most influential bands ever. We see them bicker, come up with iconic songs on the spot and, lastly, watch their legendary, final public performance come to fruition. If youre a Beatles fanatic, or even just a music lover in general, this docuseries is not to be missed. Best of 2021: HBO Max Best HBO Max movie: Dune

One of the biggest movies of 2021 in terms of scope, budget and surrounding hysteria Dune was director Denis Villeneuves crack at adapting the
supposedly unadaptable. His take on Frank Herberts sci-fi epic stars Timothe Chalamet as Paul Atreides, a gifted young prince forced to travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the survival of his people and it didnt disappoint in the scale department.

Dune is huge in every sense. Its cast, world, lore and score are so big that, at times, Villeneuves picture suffers under the weight of its expository responsibility. But the movie is also a beautifully crafted love letter to
its source material that demands future movies, and were excited to see how Villeneuve brings to life the more action-heavy elements of Dunes story in
the now green-lit sequel . Wed always suggest seeing this one in a cinema if you can, but HBO Max will do just fine for those who missed its theatrical release. Best HBO Max show: Succession season 3

Succession has developed something of a cult following in recent years and for good reason. Showrunner Jesse Armstrongs fictionalized take on the
Murdoch media empire is dark, dramatic and often hilarious combining tension and comedy in ways rarely seen on screen and season 3 continued to prove why its one of the best shows around.

Following the fallout of (spoilers!) Kendalls betrayal and Logans gung-ho quest for revenge, this years episodes placed the spotlight on each Roy sibling equally, giving actors Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin room to flex their (at times cringe-inducing) muscles. Season 4 is officially on the way , and we cant wait to see how Succession addresses the
jaw-dropping cliff-hanger left by its latest finale. Best HBO Max documentary or special: Friends: The Reunion .@HBOMax debuts the official trailer and key art for #FriendsReunion.In celebration of the special, HBO Max will launch activations, inspiring friends to reunite nationwide to watch Friends: The Reunion together: https://t.co/LrjBkbnw0j pic.twitter.com/NLd5vUg1aJ May 19, 2021 See more

Was there a more eagerly anticipated one-off special in 2021 than Friends:
The Reunion ? HBO Maxs decision to bring the core cast back together for a night of reminiscing, games based on the sitcom's most iconic moments, table reads and guest appearances was clearly the right decision to make Friends: The Reunion driving huge sign-ups for Warner Bros streaming platform.

The special wasnt as good as wed hoped for. But, taking the cultural impact that Friends had, and continues to have 17 years on, on the TV medium into consideration, there are few 2021 specials that were bigger than Friends: The Reunion. And, while it didnt resonate with some viewers, it was touching to see the gang get back together for potentially one last hurrah. Best of 2021: Netflix Best Netflix movie: The Mitchells Vs. The Machines

Such is the speed with which Netflix pumps out movie and TV content these days, its difficult to pick out a single film. That is, unless theres one
that truly stands out for a myriad of reasons.

The Mitchells Vs. The Machines is one such flick. The animated sci-fi comedy, which includes Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, 21 Jump Street) among its creative team, is a glorious example of how a films humor, heart, animation style, plot and originality can come together to deliver a feature film thats sure to be a big winner on the awards circuit.

The Mitchells Vs. The Machines tells the tale of, well, the Mitchell family
as they embark on one final road trip before daughter and movie protagonist Katie (Abbi Jacobson) heads to film school. A robot uprising, though, puts paid to those plans, and the dysfunctional Mitchells must learn to put their differences aside and work together to defeat the evil AI program known as
PAL (Olivia Colman). With an all-star cast, regular laugh-out-loud moments,
an endearing tale about family, growing up and learning to let go, and a gorgeous animation style, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines is the best Netflix movie weve seen all year. Best Netflix show: Squid Game

What can we say about Squid Game that you dont already know? Hwang
Dong-hyuk's survival drama smashed countless streaming records , inspired everything from real-life robot dolls to amateur video game adaptations and literally changed the game for how Netflix measures the success of its shows as it dominated popular culture in 2021.

Hell, Squid Game was so popular that fans risked their lives smuggling it
into North Korea . Why? Because it was awesome, thats why. The Korean series follows hundreds of cash-strapped citizens coerced into a potentially lucrative game of life and death by a mysterious organization a premise that translates into exceptionally entertaining television.

Riot Games and Fortiche's League of Legends TV series Arcane gave it a run for its money but, in the end, Squid Game was just too good and popular. We (and the shows 150 million other fans) are already looking forward to season
2 . Best Netflix documentary or special: Bo Burham: Inside

Much like its movie and TV output, there are numerous options we could have selected here.

For us, though, nothing was as impactful, creative, hilarious and heart-wrenching as Bo Burnham: Inside . The comedy special, which was
written, performed, shot and edited by the US comedian-cum-filmmaker during the Covid-19 pandemic, was Burhams first live-action performance since 2016 due to health issues.

Inside is an unsettling, enthralling and amusing special that runs the gamut of what sets Burnham apart from his fellow live performers. Insides meta-commentary forces viewers to view things from a different perspective,
or even take stock of them for the first time. Burnhams intelligent and sometimes ruthless examination of tough subject matter, including the US socio-political system, mental health, the internet and religion are sung about with gusto, angst and genuine sadness, too. And theres real concern for Burnham as he struggles to complete Inside in time for its air date, as well as the internal battle he endures as his own demons come home to roost.

Few 2021 productions left us feeling equally uplifted, inspired and empty as Inside did and thats a credit to Burnhams generation-defining artistic talents. Inside truly is a special thatll linger in your mind for days. These are the best Amazon Prime shows to watch right now Or check out the best Disney Plus movies instead How about viewing our favorite HBO Max film list , too?



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