Best Docuseries 2021

Peter Jackson’s docuseries about The Beatles, writing and rehearsing songs their final two albums Abbey Road and Let It Be, paints an intensely intimate portrait of the band. The series was compiled from more than 60 hours of unseen footage directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg and more than 150 hours of unheard audio. With a Certified Fresh score of 94% on 114 reviews, the docuseries was hard to beat. It’s biggest challenger? Another music docuseries, 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything, which was Certified Fresh at 100%, but with only 30 reviews.

The order reflects Tomatometer scores (as of December 31, 2021) after adjustment from our ranking formula, which compensates for variation in the number of reviews when comparing movies or TV shows.

The Beatles: Get Back: Miniseries (2021)
93%

#1

Adjusted Score: 108451%

Critics Consensus: It may be too much of a good thing for some viewers, but The Beatles: Get Back offers a thrillingly immersive look at the band's creative process.

Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr

Directed By: Peter Jackson, Ken Kamins, Jeff Jones

1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything: Season 1 (2021)
100%

#2

Adjusted Score: 103452%

Critics Consensus: It covers familiar ground, but with a feast of rare footage and a clear affection for its subject 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything is as edifying as it is entertaining.

Starring:

Directed By: Asif Kapadia, James Gay-Rees, David Joseph, Adam Barker

LuLaRich: Season 1 (2021)
100%

#3

Adjusted Score: 102367%

Critics Consensus: With lurid twists, wild characters, and tons of spandex, LuLaRich is oh-so-good.

Starring: Deanne Stidham, Mark Stidham

Directed By: Jenner Furst, Julia Willoughby Nason, Blye Pagon Faust, Cori Shepherd Stern

The Lady and the Dale: Miniseries (2021)
100%

#4

Adjusted Score: 102373%

Critics Consensus: An intoxicating blend of historical footage, candid interviews, and animation that deftly captures Liz Carmichael's incredible life, The Lady and the Dale is a wild ride.

Starring: Rachel Crowl, Winsome Brown, Tammy Twotone, Natalie Nicole Dressel

Directed By: Jay Duplass, Nick Cammilleri, Mark Duplass, Zackary Drucker

McCartney 3,2,1: Season 1 (2021)
97%

#5

Adjusted Score: 100448%

Critics Consensus: Casual listeners' mileage may vary, but audiophiles and Beatles devotees will love seeing Sir Paul McCartney and producer Rick Rubin come together to talk shop.

Starring: Paul McCartney, Rick Rubin

Directed By: Paul McCartney, Rick Rubin, Scott Rodger, Peter Berg

The Crime of the Century: Miniseries (2021)
95%

#6

Adjusted Score: 96696%

Critics Consensus: Difficult, but necessary, The Crime of the Century interrogates the origins of the opioid crisis, raising big questions that will likely leave viewers wondering why something hasn't been done about this sooner.

Starring: Joe Rannazzisi, Patrick Radden Keefe, Jonathan Novak, Dr. Andrew Kolodny

Directed By: Nancy Abraham, Aaron Fishman, Lisa Heller, Todd Hoffman

Sasquatch: Season 1 (2021)
93%

#7

Adjusted Score: 97394%

Critics Consensus: As enigmatic as the cryptic itself, Sasquatch spins an intoxicatingly elusive yarn that will keep viewers searching even after the series ends.

Starring: David Holthouse

Directed By: Joshua Rofé, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Mel Eslyn

Naomi Osaka: Season 1 (2021)
92%

#8

Adjusted Score: 94506%

Critics Consensus: Under director Garrett Bradley's thoughtful eye, Naomi Osaka is a nuanced, moving portrait of a young athlete learning how to navigate life on and off the court.

Starring: Naomi Osaka

Directed By: Garrett Bradley

Philly D.A.: Season 1 (2021)
92%

#9

Adjusted Score: 94371%

Critics Consensus: An expansive look at the intricacies of political maneuvering, Philly D.A. would benefit from a sharper focus, but still manages to craft a compelling series that may inspire viewers to get more involved in their own local governments.

Starring: Lynne Abraham, Dana Bazelon, Keisha Hudson, Movita Johnson-Harrell

Directed By: Yoni Brook, Ted Passon

Pretend It's a City: Limited Series (2021)
91%

#10

Adjusted Score: 94448%

Critics Consensus: If Pretend It's a City can't quite live up to its central duo's creative clout, it's still a delight to see their love for their city - and one another -- in full bloom.

Starring: Fran Lebowitz, Martin Scorsese

Directed By: Martin Scorsese