After a quiet 2020, the box office roared back to life in late 2021, proving that audiences would still turn out for a true "event" film.

The biggest industry shift of 2021 was the collapse of the "theatrical window." Traditionally, movies played exclusively in theaters for 90 days before hitting home video. In 2021, studios experimented with "day-and-date" releases—releasing films in cinemas and on streaming platforms simultaneously.

The year 2021 was defined by a singular, tension-filled question: How do we consume content in a post-pandemic world?

As society began to emerge from lockdowns, the entertainment industry was caught between the traditional theater experience and the forced acceleration of streaming services. The result was a chaotic, innovative, and record-breaking year that fundamentally rewrote the rules of Hollywood.

Here is a breakdown of the defining content and trends of 2021.

While the world was on fire, we were farming turnips and racing cars.