While superheroes thrived, 2021 saw the continued decline of the mid-budget adult drama in theaters, as those stories migrated almost exclusively to streaming platforms. 4. Gaming as the New Social Square
Spider-Man: No Way Home arrived at the end of the year like a lightning bolt. It shattered pandemic-era records, grossing over $1 billion and proving that nostalgia and "spoiler-culture" events could still drive massive foot traffic to physical theaters. sone436hikarunagi241107xxx1080pav1160 2021
This South Korean survival drama became a global juggernaut, proving that audiences were no longer deterred by subtitles. It became Netflix’s most-watched series ever at the time, sparking a worldwide obsession with Korean culture, from Dalgona candy to tracksuits. While superheroes thrived, 2021 saw the continued decline