Netflix dominates AFI top 10 movies and TV shows of 2020, paving the way for Oscar glory

(Image credit: Netflix)

Despite 2020 being a year we would all rather forget, there were some very good movies releases, and just the same as every other year, the AFI (American Film Institute) are celebrating exactly that with its list of the year's best movies and shows. To no-one's surprise, streaming services dominate the list, with Netflix scoring four of the ten best movies.

Netflix's Da 5 Bloods, Mank, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom all appear within the unranked best movies list, while Amazon scored two entries with Regina King's One Night in Miami and Riz Ahmed's The Sound of Metal. The Disney Plus-released Soul also made the cut, as did Judas and the Black Messiah, which will simultaneously be released in cinemas and on HBO Max later this year. The final two entries are Minari and Nomadland.

There are also multiple Netflix shows within the top ten TV series, including The Crown, Bridgerton, and The Queen’s Gambit. Apple TV Plus scored an entry with Ted Lasso, while Star Wars romp The Mandalorian also made the cut. Below, you can see the full top 10 lists for both movies and shows.

The AFI top 10 movies

Da 5 Bloods
Judas and the Black Messiah
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Minari
Nomadland
One Night in Miami…
Soul
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

The AFI top 10 TV shows

Better Call Saul
Bridgerton
The Crown
The Good Lord Bird
Lovecraft Country
The Mandalorian
Mrs. America
The Queen’s Gambit
Ted Lasso
Unorthodox

For some streaming recommendations, we recommend checking out our lists of the best Netflix shows and best Netflix movies.

Jack Shepherd is the former Senior Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar. Jack used to work at The Independent as a general culture writer before specializing in TV and film for the likes of GR+, Total Film, SFX, and others. You can now find Jack working as a freelance journalist and editor.