2019: The Year in Review: A Ranker Collection of 24 Lists

Remember 2019? The last “normal” year before sweatpants became a lifestyle, sourdough became a personality, and video calls replaced… everything. It was the year when Avengers: Endgame snapped box office records, Billie Eilish rewrote the pop rulebook, and the internet tried to storm Area 51 for reasons still unclear but deeply on brand.

If any year deserved the Ranker treatmenta giant stack of lists voted on by the massesit was 2019. Think of this article as your unofficial “best of 2019” hub: a Ranker-style collection of 24 list-worthy categories that capture what we watched, streamed, listened to, and laughed at, plus a reflective look at what the year still means now.

Why 2019 Felt Like a Blockbuster Finale

In theaters, 2019 behaved like it was the season finale of the 2010s. The global box office hit a record-breaking $42.5 billion, even as ticket sales in North America dipped slightly compared with 2018. Superhero franchises, remakes, and long-awaited sequels dominated screens and conversations.

Avengers: Endgame and the Era of the Mega-Movie

Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame wasn’t just another superhero flickit was a cultural event. Years of careful world-building paid off as fans lined up in cosplay, avoided spoilers like their lives depended on it, and turned a three-hour movie into a global shared moment. The film went on to become the highest-grossing movie of all time at the time of its release, cementing the “shared universe” model as Hollywood’s favorite franchise blueprint.

Parasite, Prestige Cinema, and the Global Shift

On the other end of the spectrum, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite showed up like a stealth masterpiece. Starting with a Palme d’Or win at Cannes and building a wave of word-of-mouth hype, it became a symbol of how global storytelling could punch through language barriers. By the time awards season rolled around, it had redefined what international cinema could do in mainstream conversation and set up its historic Best Picture Oscar win.

2019 at the Movies: Bigger, Louder, and a Bit Exhausted

Between Joker, John Wick: Chapter 3, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Toy Story 4, and a never-ending stream of live-action remakes, 2019 felt like Hollywood was both looking forward and nostalgically cashing in on what we already loved. A Ranker-style “Best Movies of 2019” list naturally leaned toward these giants, but it also made room for smaller critical darlings that hardcore film voters refused to ignore.

Streaming, TV, and the Couch-Locked Golden Age

While theaters were busy breaking records, our couches were doing serious overtime. Streaming wars intensified as new platforms joined Netflix, and suddenly it felt like every big franchise had a prestige series attached.

The Mandalorian vs. Stranger Things: Streaming Showdown

In late 2019, Disney+ arrived and immediately made a statement with The Mandalorian. The show quickly became one of the most in-demand streaming originals in the U.S., dethroning Stranger Things from its long-running top spot. It proved that Star Wars could thrive on the small screen and that one tiny green alien toddler (we see you, Baby Yoda) could hijack the entire internet without saying a single word.

Peak TV and Your Overflowing Watchlist

Drama fans jumped between shows like Chernobyl, Succession, and The Crown. Superhero fatigue? Apparently not: DC and Marvel both showed up in TV form, while genre shows like The Boys and The Umbrella Academy added grit and dark humor to the costume lineup. A Ranker “Best TV Shows of 2019” list practically wrote itself, with fans arguing passionately over which show deserved the throne of your never-ending queue.

Music We Played on Repeat

If 2019 had a soundtrack, it was chaotic, catchy, and genre-fluid. Old rules about what a “hit” looked like didn’t just bendthey snapped.

Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, and the Sound of a New Generation

Billie Eilish’s “bad guy” became the biggest global single of 2019, and that wasn’t by accident. With its whispery vocals, minimalist production, and delightfully weird energy, it was the anti–traditional pop song that still absolutely dominated charts. Meanwhile, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” turned genre boundaries into a joke, mixing country and hip-hop, riding TikTok virality, and holding the No. 1 spot for a record-breaking 19 weeks before “bad guy” finally nudged it aside.

The Year of Streams, Not CDs

By 2019, streaming wasn’t just a trend; it was the default. Playlists replaced radio for millions of listeners, and “top of the year” lists leaned heavily on artists who understood internet culture as well as they understood melody. Ranker-style lists like “Best New Female Artists of 2019” highlighted names such as Billie Eilish, Ava Max, and Normani, reflecting how fans were actively shaping who counted as a breakout star.

Memes, Moments, and Internet Chaos

You cannot talk about 2019 without talking about its memes. The internet had an especially unhinged yearand we loved it.

Baby Yoda, World-Record Eggs, and “OK Boomer”

When The Mandalorian introduced that wide-eyed, soup-sipping “Child,” the meme economy exploded. Baby Yoda appeared in reaction images, merch mockups, and enough Twitter jokes to power a small planet. Earlier in the year, a stock photo of a plain egg broke the record for most-liked Instagram post, proving that, yes, people will rally behind anything if it’s weird enough. Then came “OK boomer,” the two-word clapback that perfectly summed up generational exasperation before mainstream coverage promptly overused it into oblivion.

Storm Area 51 and Other Group Projects We Didn’t Really Mean

In one of the most internet-2019 things ever, millions of people RSVP’d online to “storm Area 51” because “they can’t stop all of us.” What started as a joke turned into a real-life gathering in Nevada that was part festival, part meme convention, and proof that the line between online and offline had officially blurred beyond recognition.

Inside a Ranker Collection of 24 Lists

Ranker thrives on one big idea: let the crowd decide. In 2019, that meant thousands of voters weighing in on everything from movies and TV to music, memes, and sports. Below is a Ranker-style breakdown of 24 list-worthy categories that capture how 2019 lookedand feltfrom the perspective of the people clicking “upvote.”

1. Best Movies of 2019

A typical fan-driven list crowned heavy hitters like Avengers: Endgame, Joker, and Parasite, with spots reserved for action, horror, and animated favorites. The top of the list blended blockbuster hype with critical respect, proving that audiences don’t mind thinking and being entertained at the same time.

2. Best Action Movies of 2019

From John Wick: Chapter 3 to Alita: Battle Angel, action fans showed up to reward kinetic fight scenes, strong world-building, and just enough emotional stakes to make the explosions matter.

3. Most Disappointing Movies of 2019

Not every big release stuck the landing. Some sequels and remakes boasted large budgets but middling audience reactions, sparking lively Ranker debates about hype vs. reality.

4. Best Comedy Movies of 2019

Comedy lists highlighted everything from raunchy, R-rated laugh-fests to kinder, quirkier indiesproof that in an anxious year, people desperately wanted to laugh.

5. Best Horror Movies of 2019

With titles like Us and Midsommar, horror leaned into psychological weirdness and social commentary, making “scary movie night” feel more like a group therapy session with screaming.

6. Best Animated Movies of 2019

Toy Story 4, Frozen II, and other animated hits dominated lists and school lunch conversations, proving that animation is still one of Hollywood’s most reliable emotional weapons.

7. Best Streaming Shows of 2019

Think The Mandalorian, Stranger Things season 3, The Boys, and The Umbrella Academy. Fans didn’t just watchthey obsessed, theorized, and made endless memes.

8. Best New TV Shows of 2019

Limited series like Chernobyl and breakout newcomers from multiple platforms kept critics busy and audiences emotionally wrecked in 5–10 well-crafted episodes.

9. Best Black TV Shows of 2019

Representational wins showed up in lists celebrating Black-led series, from comedies to dramas, highlighting how much viewers value diverse storytelling.

10. Best Female Pop Singers of 2019

Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, and other powerhouse women stacked streams, awards, and fan-made ranking lists, underscoring how female artists were driving pop’s evolution.

11. Best New Female Artists of 2019

Lists of rising stars amplified voices that traditional gatekeepers might have overlooked, with fans actively championing the artists they wanted labels and media to notice.

12. Best Rappers of 2019

Rap lists mixed chart-toppers with lyrical purists, reflecting how the genre continued to split into micro-scenes while still dominating mainstream culture.

13. Best Rock Albums of 2019

While pop and hip-hop ruled the charts, rock lists kept track of the bands and guitar-driven records that still commanded fiercely loyal fanbases.

14. Most Addictive Songs of 2019

From “bad guy” to “Old Town Road” and beyond, this list functioned as a time capsule of earworms you absolutely could not escape, no matter how many playlists you made.

15. Best Sports Moments of 2019

Whether it was esports headlines like the Fortnite World Cup, big championship wins, or career-defining plays, sports lists captured the adrenaline spikes of the year.

16. Best NBA Players Who Retired in 2019

Fans used lists to honor players who hung up their jerseys, reliving big games and iconic performances through crowd-curated rankings.

17. Best Video Games of 2019

From blockbuster titles to indie darlings, gamers ranked what stole their free timeand their sleepduring a year when gaming culture became as big as film for many fans.

18. Best Sports Movies of 2019

Inspirational underdog stories and true-life adaptations reminded viewers why sports narratives still land emotionally, even if they know exactly how the big game ends.

19. Best Comedy Specials and Stand-Up of 2019

Comedy specials provided both escape and sharp cultural critique, and fans used rankings to argue about who truly “owned” the mic in 2019.

20. Best Reboots, Remakes, and Revivals

Love them or hate them, reboots were everywhere. Lists helped audiences separate the inspired reimaginings from the cash-grab retreads.

21. Biggest Pop Culture Controversies of 2019

From polarizing casting decisions to questionable brand campaigns, controversy lists served as a timeline of collective outrageand a reminder of how quickly online storms move.

22. Most Iconic 2019 Memes

Eggs, Baby Yoda, “OK boomer,” galaxy-brain charts, and more: this list told the story of 2019 through the jokes that filled timelines and group chats.

23. Best Celebrity Glow-Ups and Comebacks

Celebrities who reinvented themselves, dropped surprise hits, or turned PR disasters into redemption arcs got their own rankings, because fame in 2019 was nothing if not volatile.

24. The Ultimate “Best of 2019” Mash-Up List

Finally, a meta-list that pulled highlights from all the other rankingsmovies, shows, songs, memes, and momentsinto one fan-powered snapshot of what truly defined the year.

What 2019 Still Teaches Us Today (Experiences and Reflections)

Looking back, 2019 feels strangely distant and oddly close. On paper, it was “just” another year of movies, music, and memes. In reality, it was the last chapter before a global reset. That’s part of why revisiting 2019 through a Ranker-style collection of lists hits different now: we’re not just ranking content, we’re ranking a lifestyle we didn’t know was about to change.

Think about how you experienced entertainment then. Maybe you planned a whole weekend around seeing Avengers: Endgame with friends. The theater was packed, people cheered out loud, and strangers high-fived over a shared love of fictional superheroes. That kind of communal viewing feels almost nostalgic now, and it explains why so many “Best Movies of 2019” lists read like memory playlists as much as quality rankings.

Streaming tells a similar story. In 2019, getting hooked on The Mandalorian or binge-watching new seasons of Stranger Things felt like a luxurysomething you squeezed in after work, school, or going out. Now, those same shows double as comfort watches. When fans vote in 2019 year-in-review lists, they’re often voting for whatever carried them through early lockdowns later on, even if the show technically dropped just before everything changed.

Music memories are even more personal. Songs like “bad guy” and “Old Town Road” weren’t just hits; they were social glue. You heard them in rideshares, at parties, on TikTok, blasting from someone’s headphones on the bus. When Ranker users rank the “Best Songs of 2019,” they’re also ranking the car trips, late-night chats, and messy karaoke sessions attached to those tracks. The lists become emotional maps more than simple opinion polls.

Even the memes of 2019 carry a weird warmth. The world-record egg, “OK boomer,” Baby Yoda sipping soup, people joking about Naruto running toward Area 51it all felt chaotic but harmless. Those jokes belonged to a timeline where the biggest collective worry of the day was whether anyone would actually show up in the desert. In hindsight, that kind of silliness looks like a soft-focus filter over the end of the decade.

That’s the secret power of a Ranker-style year-in-review: it doesn’t just list what happened, it shows what mattered to people right then. Crowd-voted lists capture what felt big, fun, frustrating, or comforting in the moment. When you scroll through 24 different “best of 2019” categories, you’re really scrolling through a snapshot of how we used culture to connect, cope, and kill time just before the world spun in a new direction.

So if revisiting 2019 makes you a little nostalgic, that’s normal. Maybe you’ll go re-watch a favorite movie from that year, queue up a playlist of 2019 hits, or send a Baby Yoda meme to a friend who loved it the first time around. The lists might belong to 2019, but the way they make you feelconnected, seen, and a little less alonestill works perfectly today.