Ranking the best returning and brand new entertainment to watch live, streaming, or—if we're lucky—in theaters in 2021.

2021: What to Watch

2021

The returning TV shows 2021 is bringing are a mix of series finales, previously-canceled shows that have been renewed on a new channel, and plenty of long-running Emmy-nominated and fan-favorite shows. Which shows returning in 2021 are you most excited for? Vote up the shows you look forward to returning from this list of the most popular shows renewed for a new season and start planning your 2021 watchlist.

There were a lot of shakeups in filming and production in 2020, which means the 2021 TV schedule is still, in some ways, up in the air. Thankfully, many beloved shows have been renewed for 2021, or at least for a new season. No matter what happens you can be reassured that 2021 will bring more episodes of your favorite shows like American Gods, Riverdale, and The Masked Singer. There are several TV shows returning in 2021 that will be airing their final seasons, such as Keeping Up With The Kardashians, The Expanse, and Dead to Me. As a balance, 2021 returning shows also include cancelled shows that were picked up by a new network and given a second chance, like Tuca &amp; Bertie, formerly on Netflix and cancelled after one season before being picked up by Adult Swim.

Vote up the 2021 returning TV shows you&#39;re most excited to watch, then check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-tv-shows-2021/molly-gander" target="_blank">most anticipated new shows of 2021</a> to mix in with your returning favorites.

The Best TV Shows Returning In 2021

TV Program

The Best TV Shows Returning In 2021 We Can't Wait To See, Ranked

Molly Gander

Entertainment

The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-new-tv-dramas-of-the-last-few-years/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best new shows</a> 2021 has to offer range from silly to scary, dramas to documentaries, and every genre you can think of to fill up your watchlist. The best new shows of 2021 are some great TV and highly anticipated, including series that had been expected in 2020 but were pushed back into the new year.

New <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-new-netflix-shows-2021/molly-gander" target="_blank">2021 Netflix shows</a> packed the start of the new year with something for everyone, with shows like Headspace Guide to Meditation and History of Swear Words. Game show buffs also had new shows to play along at home with, thanks to Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and the revival of Name That Tune. New shows for 2020 also include new dramas like Coyote, new sitcoms such as Mr. Mayor, and more.

What are the best new series of 2021? Vote up the top TV shows 2021 has to offer below.

The Best New TV Shows Of 2021

The Best New TV Shows Of 2021, Ranked By Fans

Lists that rank the top movies, TV series, and other media about and featuring Black characters and culture.

Black Entertainment

This list of the best current Black and <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-shows-most-loved-by-african-americans/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">African American TV series</a>&nbsp;features a blend of old favorites and new shows. The best&nbsp;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-black-tv-shows/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Black TV shows</a>&nbsp;of 2021 include old favorites like black-ish and Desus &amp; Mero as well as new series such as The Equalizer starring Queen Latifah.

Several long-running Black shows <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-shows-ended-in-2021/molly-gander" target="_blank">will be ending in 2021</a>. The Haves and The Have Nots, after not being renewed for a ninth season, will begin airing its last episodes in May. Insecure, Claws, and Black Lightning are also all ending with their final season in 2021. But don&#39;t worry, there are plenty of new returning shows to fill your watchlist. The new crime mystery Lupin on Netflix offers a fresh take on a classic French gentleman thief, beautifully acted by Omar Sy. The Arrowverse also got a new Black hero in Javicia Leslie as the new lead in Batwoman. There is also no lack of Tyler Perry shows. Thanks to an intense filming and production schedule, 2021 has new episodes of Sistas, The Oval, Bruh, and Ruthless.

Which are your favorites? Check out all the best current Black TV shows and vote up the top current African American TV series.&nbsp;

The Best Black TV Shows In 2021

The Best 2021 TV Shows With An African American Cast

2021 TV

The upcoming drama shows of 2021 are ready to entangle your emotions in everyone from detectives to superheroes. From <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-new-tv-dramas-of-the-last-few-years/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">new TV dramas</a> expanding beloved franchise to telling a twist to a classic tale to new stories ready to become old favorites, the upcoming <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-television-dramas-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">drama TV series</a> are adding a good kind of drama to the new year. From streaming to network, which of the anticipated drama series are you most excited to see?Some of the most dramatic <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-female-comic-book-characters/ranker-characters?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">comic book characters</a> are superheroes and 2021’s new dramas promise some great shows with Superman &amp; Lois, Justice League Dark, and Jupiter’s Legacy. But superhero shows don’t have dominion over drama. The long-awaited adaptation of the comic book Y: The Last Man, is also due out in 2021. If more traditional crime dramas are your thing, then dramas like Coyote and Lupin will be perfect for your watchlist. For action-drama fans, the perfect show is arriving in 2021 for you: a reboot of Walker: Texas Ranger, in The CW’s Walker.What new and upcoming drama shows are you looking forward to the most in 2021? Vote up the TV shows you can't wait to watch.

The Most Anticipated New Drama TV Shows of 2021

The Upcoming Drama TV Shows Of 2021 We Can't Wait To See, Ranked

Running in slo-mo at the top action movies, scene, stunts, characters, chases, explosions, etc., ranked.

High Octane Action Thrillers

This list looks at the best current television action series that that will be airing new episodes in 2021. The&nbsp;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-action-tv-series/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best action series</a>&nbsp;in 2021 include dramas, horror, superhero shows, spy thrillers, and even a heists. Which are the best new and returning action shows in 2021?

A really good action television series catches us up in its spell and shows like The Blacklist have kept us on the edge of our seats for years, though newer shows such as The Rookie are just as action-packed. Superhero shows and comic book TV series are both big parts of the best action series in 2021, and that of course includes The Boys and CW Arrowverse series like The Flash and Batwoman. Other great action series airing new episodes in 2021 include action sci-fi <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-to-watch-if-you-love-the-expanse/watchworthy?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">shows like The Expanse</a> and the Spanish series Money Heist on Netflix. But not all action comes at a nerdy genre price, several 2021 action series are also good ol&#39; crime dramas and tense procedurals, like Gangs of London, and Chicago Fire.

Which television action series are you going to watch in 2021? Keep the top of this list action-packed by voting up the best new and&nbsp;returning <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/action-tv-shows-and-series/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">action TV shows</a>&nbsp;to air in 2021.

The Best Action TV Shows of 2021

The 30+ Best Action Television Series You Can Watch In 2021

The best new shows 2021 is bringing are a balm to minds and a blessing to watchlists. This list of upcoming TV shows for 2021 includes not only reboots, spinoffs, miniseries, but plenty of refreshingly <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-hbo-shows-2021/molly-gander" target="_blank">new shows from HBO and HBO Max</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-netflix-shows-2021/molly-gander" target="_blank">upcoming Netflix</a> original series, and even more additions to other streaming services like <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-hulu-shows-2021/molly-gander" target="_blank">Hulu</a>,&nbsp;Apple TV+,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-disney-plus-shows-2021/molly-gander" target="_blank">Disney+</a>. Of all the upcoming TV shows 2021 has to offer, which series are you most excited to see?

Some of the new TV shows in 2021 were supposed to premiere last year but didn&#39;t, making the most anticipated shows of 2021 even more anticipated. Everything from <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-sci-fi-shows-fantasy-shows-2021/molly-gander" target="_blank">adaptations of classic science fiction and fantasy,</a> like The Lord of the Rings and Foundation, to comic book shows like WandaVision, Green Lantern, and the miniseries event that will be Zack Snyder&#39;s Justice League will be coming to your screens in 2021. If nerdy stuff doesn&#39;t have a place on your watchlist, there are still plenty of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upcoming-drama-tv-shows-2021/molly-gander" target="_blank">new dramas</a> to be excited for, like the return of Gossip Girl, or Jared Padalecki in Walker, the reboot of Walker, Texas Ranger. For those who need some fresh frights, series such as American Horror Stories and Clarice will be welcome additions to your new year.

What new series are you looking forward to the most in 2021? Vote up the TV shows you can&#39;t wait to watch.

The Most Anticipated New TV Shows Of 2021

The Upcoming New Shows Of 2021 We Can't Wait To See, Ranked

The cancelled shows of 2021 include many favorites and quite a few audiences got one more unexpected year with thanks to so many season premieres being pushed to 2021. While some popular shows, like Netflix originals Dead To Me, just didn&#39;t make it past that tricky second-to-fourth season mark, many shows ending in 2021 are long-running series, like Superstore, Grace and Frankie, and Bosch. Which TV shows canceled in 2021 are you sad to see end?

Some of the 2021 TV shows cancelled have been down this road before. Both Lucifer and The Expanse have teetered on the edge of cancellation, saved by ardent fans and streaming services. Other series feel like they&rsquo;ve reached a natural end - as a prequel, Better Call Saul would have to end someday, and 2021 feels like a good year to say goodbye to some of the series we love, if only to make room for all the new shows 2021 is bringing.

Even if it&rsquo;s their time, it&rsquo;s hard to say farewell to TV shows ending in 2021, but you can vote up the 2021 cancelled shows you&rsquo;ll miss the most.

All The TV Shows Ending in 2021, Ranked

The Best TV Shows Cancelled In 2021, Ranked by Fans

Ranking the best reality & competition shows and exploring the attention-starved monsters we create and feed when we watch them participate. 

Escape to Reality

Watchworthy

This list looks at the best current television reality series that that will be airing new episodes in 2021. The best reality series in 2021 include reality competition, docudramas, <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-dating-reality-shows/tvs-frank?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">reality dating shows</a>, and more. Which are the best new and returning reality shows in 2021?

The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-actually-watchable-reality-tv-shows?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best reality TV</a> series keep us caught up in the unscripted drama of people living extraordinary lives, competing with extraordinary talents, or just figuring out who they&rsquo;d like to kiss the most. 2021 reality shows start off with some of the best, beginning with the thirteenth season of RuPaul&rsquo;s Drag Race airing on New Year&rsquo;s day. Other great competitive reality series airing in 2021 are Tough As Nails and The Masked Dancer, with series like Beat Bobby Flay and Worst Cooks In America for fans of reality cooking shows. If you&rsquo;re here for the story, not the competition, then shows such as Mountain Men, Teen Mom OG, and the last season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Reality dating shows like The Bachelor can also be counted on for 2021.

Which television reality series are you going to watch in 2021? Keep the top of this real by voting up the best new and returning <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-reality-shows/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">reality TV shows</a> to air in 2021.

The Best Reality TV Shows of 2021

The Best Reality Television Series You Can Watch In 2021

Lists of comedy shows in all their iterations, from classic sitcoms to avant-garde dark comedies.

Very Funny TV Shows

This list looks at the best current television sitcoms that that will be airing new episodes in 2021. The&nbsp;best sitcoms&nbsp;in 2021 include animated favorites, workplace comedies, classic family sitcoms, and some of the longest-running shows on TV. Which are the best new and returning sitcoms in 2021?

A really good sitcom finds the funny even in frustrating situations and shows like Superstore have been keeping us laughing for years, though newer shows such as B-Positive are just as fun. Several of the best sitcoms in 2020 are animated, as the idea of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/most-important-tv-sit-coms?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">what makes a sitcom</a> has expanded. Modern sitcoms bring all types of new families, jobs, and groups of friends together for us to watch each week. Other great sitcoms airing new episodes in 2021 include Black-ish and its spinoffs Grown-ish and Mixed-ish, serving sitcom storytelling set in different decades.

Which television sitcoms are you going to watch in 2021? Keep the top of this list fun and funny by voting up the best new and returning TV sitcoms to air in 2021.

The Best TV Sitcoms of 2021

The 25+ Best TV Sitcoms You Can Watch In 2021

Lists about films and TV shows told by the visuals-intensive medium that allows storytellers to weave fantastical legends told by unforgettable characters.

Animation Mania

This list looks at the best current television animated series that that will be airing new episodes in 2021. The best animated series in 2021 include animated sitcoms, superhero cartoons, comedies, kids cartoons, and even new seasons and revivals of old favorites. Which are the best new and returning animated shows in 2021?

The best animated television series use their medium to its best effect and shows like the Animaniacs or SpongeBob SquarePants have been defining cartoon silliness for years, while sci-fi series like Final Space use animation to tell stories in a world and with characters that would be limited in a live-action show. Animated sitcoms remain some of the best animated series in 2021, and that of course includes Bob&rsquo;s Burgers and Disenchantment. Other great animated series airing new episodes in 2021 inlcude kids cartoons like The Casagrandes and Amphibia. But not all cartoons are for kids and several 2021 animated series are also adult animation, like American Dad and Big Mouth.

Which television animated series are you (or your kids) going to watch in 2021? Help others curate their cartoon watchlists by voting up the best new and returning <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-animated-series-ever-made?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">animated TV shows</a> to air in 2021.

The Best Animated Series of 2021

The Best Animated TV Shows & Cartoons You Can Watch In 2021

If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else? Let the music play!

RuPaul's Drag Race

With a global pandemic, and social unrest, 2020 has been a crazy year. However, as RuPaul says in the teaser for season 13 of RuPaul&#39;s Drag Race, &quot;You can&#39;t keep a good queen down!&quot; Thirteen talented queens have come together to battle it out, pandemic or not, to see who will leave the&nbsp;RuPaul&#39;s Drag Race&nbsp;season 13 winner.&nbsp;

It&#39;s a big year for&nbsp;Drag Race, with a jaw-dropping cast that also features the first-ever out trans man as a contestant. Glamorous makeup artist Gottmik was even featured on the cover of&nbsp;Out Magazine&nbsp;alongside social media star Gigi Gorgeous in July 2020. Will Gottmik be the one who wins&nbsp;Rupaul&#39;s Drag Race&nbsp;season 13? Make your voice heard below. Other notable members of the rpdr season 13 cast include &quot;The Ebony Enchantress,&quot; Symone, the show&#39;s first Arkansas queen, and former Miss Gay America, Tamisha Iman.&nbsp;

Vote up your favorite&nbsp;RuPaul&#39;s Drag Race&nbsp;contestants below, and check back throughout season 13 to see how your rankings compared. This season features comedy queens, fashion queens, and even a professional ice skater! Who wins&nbsp;Rupaul&#39;s Drag Race&nbsp;season 13?&nbsp;

Who Will Win Season 13 Of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'?

General

Which 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 13 Contestant Will Be The Winner?

Kayla Caldwell

Ranking kpop, K-drama, Korean films, and more!

Best of Korean Entertainment

Need more amazing K-dramas to binge-watch this weekend? Here are the&nbsp;best new Korean dramas of 2021, ranked by fans everywhere.&nbsp;This list includes a variety of different genres such as <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-korean-romantic-comedy-dramas/molly-gander" target="_blank">romantic comedies</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-korean-romantic-comedy-dramas/molly-gander" target="_blank">fantasy series</a>&nbsp;starring top Korean stars and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-kpop-idols-turned-actors-and-actresses/ranker-music" target="_blank">popular K-pop idol actors and actresses</a>. From the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-korean-historical-dramas/molly-gander" target="_blank">historical K-drama</a>&nbsp;River Where the Moon Rises&nbsp;to the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-korean-crime-dramas/molly-gander" target="_blank">crime Korean drama</a>&nbsp;Vincenzo,&nbsp;there are so many great 2021 shows to add to your watch list.

What are you favorite Korean dramas of 2021? Check out the&nbsp;best <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-korean-dramas-2020/molly-gander" target="_blank">2020&nbsp;K-dramas</a>&nbsp;for more recent shows.&nbsp;

Vote up the best K-dramas of 2021, and add any new shows that are&nbsp;missing from the list.&nbsp;

The Best New Korean Dramas Of 2021

The 10+ Best New K-Dramas Of 2021, Ranked By Fans

Lists of the greatest, worst, goriest, and scariest horror movies, series, characters, scenes, and more.

Everything Horror

Horror Movies and TV

Are you ready for the creepiest <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/horror-tv-shows-and-series/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">horror TV shows</a> in 2021? Creepy shows come in all kinds of flavors &ndash; there&rsquo;s everything from existential horror that mangles the mind to body horror that literally gets under your skin, and classic creepy-crawly visuals like too many teeth and lots of goo. Creepy horror is the stuff that makes your skin crawl more than it makes you jump. What makes a horror show creepy has a lot to do with the level of suspense, shock, and outright horror that unfolds on the scene. Yeah, a big pile of tooth filled goo is gross and creepy-crawly but is it still haunting you after the episode ends?

On the surface, horror shows are inherently creepy, but not every horror television show is creepier than it is scary. For the kind of creepy shows that get you in the back of your brain, You on Netflix and The Handmaid&rsquo;s Tale on Hulu are go-tos. For more classic creeps, American Horror Story, Two-Sentence Horror Stories, and The Walking Dead are vital parts of any creepy watchlist. If you want slightly less aggressive creepiness, then go for the children&rsquo;s horror show Are You Afraid of the Dark? for a nostalgic hit of the creepy-crawlies.

Which of these creepy horror TV series freak you out the most? Which are you most looking forward to creeping you out in 2021? Vote up your favorites and watch as the creepiest horror TV shows rise to the top!

The Creepiest Horror TV Shows In 2021

The 13 Creepiest Horror Shows On Television In 2021, Ranked

Lists about the best (and worst) films, TV series, novels, characters, etc. in every sci-fi genre.

The Worlds of Science Fiction

Fantasy

The upcoming sci-fi and fantasy series of 2021 out of this world - literally. Some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/current-sci-fi-tv-shows/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">new science fiction TV shows</a> and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-fantasy-shows-2021/molly-gander" target="_blank">fantasy series in 2021</a> were supposed to premiere last year but didn&#39;t, making the most anticipated fantasy and sci-fi shows of 2021 even more anticipated. From new additions to favorite franchises to SFF literary favorites making their way to the small screen the upcoming science fiction and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/fantasy-tv-shows-and-series/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">fantasy TV series</a> are ready to fill your watch list. From streaming to network, which of the anticipated fantasy and sci-fi series are you most excited to see?

If you&rsquo;ve been itching to spend more time in a galaxy far, far away, then Star Wars: The Bad Batch on Disney+ is for you. Maybe you want your fantasy set closer to home? Both Trickster and the animated Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai are both set in a world just a little weirder than our own. But if high fantasy is your thing? Then don&rsquo;t worry because Amazon&rsquo;s The Lord Of The Rings is coming in 2021. Epics just as big are coming in 2021 for science fiction too, with the adaptation of Isaac Asimov&rsquo;s Foundation on Apple TV+. And if you&#39;re just here for the comic book heroes, don&#39;t worry, both Green Lantern and Loki promise to make this year&#39;s sci-fi and fantasy super.

What <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-sci-fi-shows-2020/molly-gander?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">new science fiction shows</a> and upcoming fantasy series are you looking forward to the most in 2020? Vote up the TV shows you can&#39;t wait to watch.

The Most Anticipated New Sci-Fi &amp; Fantasy TV Shows of 2021

The Upcoming Sci-Fi & Fantasy TV Shows Of 2021 We Can't Wait To See, Ranked

Streaming

The best new Disney+ shows seem to be scheduled for 2021. That not only includes the long-awaited MCU TV shows that have been on everyone’s must-watch lists since they were announced, but upcoming Disney+ shows also include new additions to the Star Wars franchise.The 2021 Disney+ shows include several series that were supposed to be released in 2020 but were pushed back, but the wait makes their premiere all the sweeter. Shows like WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Star Wars: The Bad Batch are all new additions to much-loved franchises that will be joining Disney+ in 2021.&nbsp;From comic book shows to family-friendly fun, there will be a Disney+ original release for everyone in 2021. Vote up the shows you plan to watch from start to finish as soon as they come out.

The Most Anticipated New Shows On Disney+ of 2021

The Best New TV Shows On Disney+ In 2021 We Can't Wait to See, Ranked

Tired of browsing? Let these lists tell you what to Search for on the Big 'Flix.

What's on Netflix?

The best new Netflix shows of 2021 are yet another reason to look forward to a new year. Some <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/2020-new-upcoming-netflix-shows/molly-gander?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">upcoming Netflix TV shows</a> were due to be released in 2020 and were held back, but now they're finally finding their way onto the 2021 premiere calendar. From Firefly Lane to the much-anticipated Jupiter's Legacy, Netflix has been continuing their output of original series based on cult-favorite properties.Although confirmed 2021 shows are few at the start of the year, soon Netflix's 2021 schedule will soon packed with dramas, sci-fi, action, and comedies. What we know is coming soon are mostly purely fun shows - which are especially needed in 2021- like Masters of the Universe: Revelation and Pacific Rim: The Black, which are two exciting Netflix anime series for 2021 based on popular US properties.From comic book shows to mysteries to shows for kids and families, there is a Netflix original release for everyone in 2021. Vote up the shows you plan to watch from start to finish as soon as they come out.

The Most Anticipated New Shows On Netflix of 2021

The Best New TV Shows On Netflix In 2021 We Can't Wait to See, Ranked

2021 TV lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories