© Netflix
Culture & Living
From Never Have I Ever and Tiger King to Emily in Paris and The Queen’s Gambit, we look back on the releases that have defined the year
Is it possible to map out your year in Netflix shows? In 2020, as the world turned upside down as a result of the global pandemic and people were asked to stay indoors, the days, weeks and months seemed to blur into one—but often what distinguished them was the word-of-mouth hit we were all compulsively binge-watching at the time. In March, it was the shocking documentary Tiger King; in August, the real-estate reality show Selling Sunset; in October, the frothy comedy Emily in Paris; and most recently, in November, the hotly anticipated fourth instalment of royal drama The Crown.
As the year ends, we look back on the 20 releases we’ve laughed, cried and argued over in 2020.
With its death-defying stunts, heart-wrenching personal stories and tense climax, Greg Whiteley’s documentary series about a college cheerleading team’s journey to the national championships is irresistible. By showing the sport in a gritty new light, it finally brought it the respect it deserves.
The second season of Laurie Nunn’s outrageous school-set romp is bursting with comic set pieces and sparkling performances from the likes of Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa and Emma Mackey. It also tackles a host of complex topics head-on, from menopause to fear of intimacy and assault.
Whether you love or loathe Chris Coelen’s absurd reality show following couples who get engaged before meeting face to face, there’s no denying that it’s an addictive watch. As blind dates give way to tropical holidays, lunches with parents and wedding preparations, expect bucketloads of drama.
A mysterious fire, an unlikely presidential run and persistent rumours of a man being fed to a tiger — everything about Rebecca Chaiklin and Eric Goode’s documentary series will make your jaw hit the floor. Set in the world of big cat enthusiasts, it tracks the escapades of an eccentric zookeeper.
Shira Haas is captivating as an unhappily married Hasidic woman who flees Brooklyn for Berlin in search of her estranged mother in Anna Winger’s coming-of-age saga. Its attention to detail is remarkable as it delves into the traditions that governed her former life, as she tries to shed them.
Basketball legends Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman—the trio who made the Chicago Bulls a global symbol of athletic excellence—take centre stage in Jason Hehir’s explosive documentary chronicling the team’s stratospheric rise. Even the dunk montages will give you chills.
In Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher’s heartwarming high-school comedy, the effervescent Maitreyi Ramakrishnan plays an Indian-American teenager navigating crushes, friendships and family feuds. There are raucous party scenes, TikTok dance routines and no shortage of devastating one-liners.
Leah Lewis cements her status as one to watch in Alice Wu’s delicate romance, taking on the role of a queer Asian-American student who is hired by a jock (Daniel Diemer) to pen love letters on his behalf to his crush (Alexxis Lemire). But, when she finds herself falling for the latter, chaos ensues.
A maelstrom of million-dollar mansions, backstabbing agents and retina-searing fashion courtesy of breakout star Christine Quinn, Adam DiVello’s reality show about the inner workings of a Los Angeles real estate firm is essential viewing. It’s since turned its employees into pop culture icons.
Four weathered Vietnam war veterans go back to the jungle decades later to recover the remains of their fallen squad leader in Spike Lee’s rousing tale of enduring loyalty and simmering rage. It’s a clear-eyed examination of historic racism and exploitation, and a rip-roaring action epic to boot.
Charlize Theron and KiKi Layne are cast as immortal warriors in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s inventive blockbuster. They jet around the world protecting those in need, but then find themselves pursued by a ruthless CEO who’s eager to harvest their DNA. The result is a thrilling game of cat and mouse.
Dismissed as reductive by some and embraced as illuminating by others, Smriti Mundhra’s glossy documentary series was undoubtedly one of the most-talked-about shows of the year. It follows a marriage consultant tasked with setting up clients across the US and India, with surprising results.
Hilary Swank is quietly powerful as a commander leading a diverse crew of astronauts on a mission to Mars in Andrew Hinderaker’s moving sci-fi adventure. As they battle illness, homesickness and a technical glitch that could stop them returning to Earth, it becomes a nail-biting race against time.
From the polished period costumes and stunning scenery to the grisly murders and snide asides, Evan Romansky’s chiller about a nurse at a psychiatric hospital wrongfoots you at every turn. Sarah Paulson acts up a storm in the titular role, alongside Cynthia Nixon as her glamorous love interest.
Zippy, witty and fiercely feminist, Harry Bradbeer’s enthralling mystery is centred on a sleuth who just happens to be Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister. Millie Bobby Brown is a delight as the spirited heroine, as she travels to London in hopes of finding her missing mother (Helena Bonham Carter).
Having spawned more opinion pieces than perhaps any other show in 2020, Darren Star’s escapist romantic comedy has become a sensation. Lily Collins takes the lead as an ambitious midwestern marketing executive who relocates to the French capital and revels in its unparalleled decadence.
Aaron Sorkin’s fast-talking courtroom drama has an all-star cast led by Eddie Redmayne and Sacha Baron Cohen as well as a freewheeling approach to its subject matter: the true story of a group of anti-war protesters who were accused of inciting a riot. It’s a timely watch after a turbulent year.
Anchored by an enigmatic turn from Anya Taylor-Joy, Scott Frank and Allan Scott’s gripping series sees an orphan chess prodigy grow into a champion while struggling with a secret addiction to tranquilisers. The biggest marker of its success? It’s had us all buying chessboards in quarantine.
Christmas comes early in the form of this sugary-sweet treat from Joe Tracz — a slow-burning love story starring Midori Francis and Austin Abrams as high schoolers who strike up a correspondence over the winter break. Stuffed full of festive songs and mistletoe, it’s guaranteed to melt your heart.
Emma Corrin as a luminous Diana Spencer and Gillian Anderson as an icy Margaret Thatcher shake up the establishment in the fourth season of Peter Morgan’s incomparable royal behemoth. It’s a wild ride, complete with political turmoil, palace intrigue and more than one tearful showdown.
8 shows from 2020 you can binge-watch within 8 hours, on Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar