It was another pandemic year—which meant the comfort, escapism, and meaning-making of pop culture was as necessary as it was last year. Maybe more. In a post-truth world where little seems trustworthy or certain, the transportive nature of the arts and literature were welcome. Beauty makes sense when little else does.
In 2021 we cautiously tiptoed back into concert venues and movie theaters, even as our stream-at-home habits continued to be the norm. Book sales were up again, even with supply chain shipping issues. In a crazy world, culture offers a semblance of sanity.
What were your favorite movies, TV shows, albums, and books from 2021? Here were mine.*
15 FAVORITE FILMS
Belfast
Dune
Nine Days
The Card Counter
A Quiet Place Part II
Pig
C’mon C’mon
A Glitch in the Matrix
The Killing of Two Lovers
CODA
The Courier
Drive My Car
Licorice Pizza
Summer of Soul
The Rescue
Read my full “best movies” article at The Gospel Coalition.
10 FAVORITE THINGS ON TV
9/11: One Day in America (Hulu)
All Creatures Great and Small (PBS)
The Chosen (ChosenTV App)
Station Eleven (HBO)
Ted Lasso (Apple+)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Squid Game (Netflix)
The Underground Railroad (Amazon)
The Brooklyn Saints (Netflix)
Welcome to Earth (Apple+)
10 FAVORITE ALBUMS
The War on Drugs, I Don’t Live Here Anymore
Andy Squyres, Poet Priest
Young Oceans, You Are Fullness
Poor Bishop Hooper, EveryPsalm
Natalie Bergman, Mercy
The Antlers, Green to Gold
Taylor Leonhardt, Hold Still
The Fuzzy Robes, Night Prayers
David Ramirez, Backslider
Maverick City Music, Old Church Basement
Manchester Orchestra, The Million Masks of God
Justin Bieber, Justice
Antoine Bradford, Light Will Find You
Lord Huron, Long Lost
Land of Color, Show Me What It Means
Kanye West, Donda
Daniel Lanois, Heavy Sun
Hiss Golden Messenger, Quietly Blowing It
Explosions in the Sky, Big Bend
Langhorne Slim, Strawberry Mansion
Listen to my Spotify playlist of the best songs of 2021.
10 FAVORITE BOOKS RELEASED IN 2021
Uprooted by Grace Olmstead
Discovering God Through the Arts by Terry Glaspey
Why We Drive by Matthew Crawford
The Secular Creed by Rebecca McLaughlin
God of All Things by Andrew Wilson
Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
After Doubt by A.J. Swoboda
Finding My Father by Blair Linne
Deeper by Dane Ortlund
10 FAVORITE BOOKS I READ (BUT WERE NOT RELEASED) IN 2021
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
Walking With God by Richard Baxter
Gravity and Grace by Simone Weil
Pensées by Blaise Pascal
Mathematics for Human Flourishing by Francis Su
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Stewards of Eden by Sandra Richter
Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver
*As always, use discernment in what you choose to watch. Some movies and shows listed above contain objectionable content. My article, “Should I Watch This? 5 Questions for the Discerning Viewer“ offers questions to consider as you make your viewing decisions.