Netflix has evolved from a DVD rental service to producing original content, which began in 2013 and has since garnered 44 Emmy Awards to date. Netflix originals have become not only globally popular but also critically acclaimed, with original content accounting for over 40% of its streaming library.
The rollercoaster of 2021 had everyone socially distancing from each other, but Netflix made isolation a bit easier with a fantastic array of award-winning movies, comedies, dramas, docuseries and more. Critically acclaimed series like the heartrending and certainly emotional Maid and Sweet Tooth, a post-apocalyptic yet heartfelt series, made binge-watching even easier. There is Netflix original content to suit everybody, but with so many released last year it can be overwhelming, so take a look at their best originals from 2021.
7 The Chair
Sandra Oh, also well-known for her brilliant roles in Grey's Anatomy and Killing Eve, plays Dr Ji-Yoon Kim in Netflix's college campus-based comedy-drama, The Chair. The story follows Kim as she is appointed Chair of the English department at a university. Not only does she have to navigate the role, but she also has to deal with the challenges of being the department's first female Chair and one of the few staff members of color, as well as her complicated personal life.
The series tackles a number of serious topics, including sexism, racism, patriarchy, ageism and even the struggles of being a single mother. Upon the show's release, Oh deservingly received renowned praise for her strong use of physical and verbal comedy as well as multiple award nominations.
6 Don't Look Up
Netflix's comedy-disaster movie, Don't Look Up, follows two astronomers, Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), as they frustratingly attempt to warn the world of impending doom as an apocalypse is about to hit Earth in the form of a giant comet.
The film soon became one of Netflix's most popular releases, currently ranking third on the list of the most-watched Netflix original films, ever. Don't Look Up became renowned for its excellent blend of drama and comedy, as well as the correlation between the movie and the COVID-19 pandemic, which provided a window into how governments, individuals, and corporations deal with threats and disasters.
5 Squid Game
It goes without saying that many fans found Squid Game possibly the best Netflix original series of 2021. After creator Hwang Dong-hyuk spent a decade in the development of the show, Netflix finally gave the green light for its release, airing the series in September 2021. The show centers around a contest wherein 465 members of the public, all incredibly deep in debt, play a series of children's game in the hope of winning an extremely large cash prize. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the consequence for losing the games results in a fate far worse than they expected.
The series rapidly received critical acclaim and international attention, and currently holds the record of Netflix's most-watched series, taking over from the previous title-holder, Bridgerton. The show was the top-viewed programme in 94 countries, attracting more than 142 million households and becoming the first-ever Korean series to reach number one in the United Sates. As expected, Squid Game became an award-winning series, gaining an AFI Award as well as multiple Asia Artist Awards and was nominated for multiple others.
4 Fear Street Trilogy
Netflix did something new in 2021 with their release of the Fear Street Trilogy. Horror fans loved the idea of a series of three horror movies, released one at a time, over the period of three weeks. Set in three different time periods, 1994, 1978 and 1666, the story follows a group of teenagers as they attempt to solve the case of a deadly curse, set by a witch, that has befallen the town of Shadyside.
With its classic slasher movie vibes, Fear Street quickly became known as a Scream meets Stranger Things trilogy mash-up, and was instantly popular amongst horror lovers with its brutal slayings. Plus, fans loved that there were six hours of gruesome content that kept them occupied for three weeks.
3 Red Notice
Netflix's action movie Red Notice, starring Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Gal Gadot, hit the screens in November 2021 and, despite being a critical bomb, became hugely popular. As FBI's top profiler John Hartley (Johnson) sets out on a case to catch the most wanted art thief (Gadot), he finds himself needing help from one of the world's greatest thieves (Reynolds) to do it.
Red Notice was the most expensive Netflix movie ever made, but it paid off, as the film was quickly met with massive success and overtook Netflix's number one at the time and had the most successful opening weekend of any Netflix film. The film is evidence of a huge discrepancy between critics and audiences, as it has a massive 92% audience score worldwide but only a 37% critic's score on Rotten Tomatoes.
2 Army of the Dead
Zack Snyder is no stranger to zombie franchises, having remade the classic Dawn of the Deadfor his directorial debut. Army of the Dead follows a group of people attempting to retrieve $200 million from a vault in a zombie infested Las Vegas before a nuclear missile hits the city to take out the roaming undead.
Within the first four weeks, the movie had 75 million member accounts watching, reaching the list of top 10 Netflix films of its date. It was so popular, it kicked off the spin-off prequel Army of Thieves, which hit screens the same year, gaining just as much recognition in the process. Now the film even has a sequel on the way, titled Planet of the Dead.
1 Behind Her Eyes
Netflix's mini-series Behind Her Eyes was released early in 2021 and became a must-watch show, one of the most talked-about of the year. The story follows Louise, who has an affair with her charming boss and secretly befriend his wife Adele. As she finds herself closer to the couple, she uncovers some dark and disturbing secrets.
While only six episodes, the limited series had viewers on the edge of their seats with jaw-dropping plot twists and an increasing amount of suspense, and was described of having all the ingredients for a perfect thriller. The series was number two on the top 10 list and received praise for its ending, which, as many fans will agree, was utterly and brilliantly unexpected.