17 Of 2020's Best TV Shows And Movies Made By Women

Sex Education, Birds of Prey, Never Have I Ever – the tales that got us through the year!

We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about the movies and films they loved that were written or directed by women in 2020 – here's what they said!

1. The Wilds

Prime Video / Amazon Studios

"I could NOT stop watching once I started, literally sat there for ten hours. I love how they told all the stories of each character so well, and I can't wait for season 2!!! (Gay and Native rep FTW!!)"

—ais711

2. Little Fires Everywhere

Erin Simkin / Erin Simkin/Hulu

"I literally watched it all in one day, and I have absolutley no regrets. Every single character (but Mia and Elena especially) was so well thought out and full of depth – when I was watching I really felt their struggles and reasonings for their actions. I loved how all their relationships intertwined, plus the '90s nostalgia was an added bonus!"

–hanifahrahman. Suggested by stellal4a527e2d6

3. Insecure

HBO

"Very funny, relatable, heartwarming, and so underrated! Issa Rae beautifully created a different perspective of a Black woman facing obstacles and opportunities without it being offensive or stereotypical. The show is a must-see!"

—jades4c1dda494

4. Sex Education

Netflix

"I absolutely loved Maeve, Amy and the other female characters in Sex Education, they were so good!! Maeve was literally a mood 24/7."

—dsingh276msbk

5. The Amber Ruffin Show

Peacock

"As someone whose favourite parts of Late Night with Seth Meyers are whenever Amber pops up, I was so happy to see her take centre stage. In a year of so much chaos, watching someone as witty and hilarious as her has been much needed."

–hanifahrahman

6. Happiest Season

Sony Pictures Releasing International

"It got me in all the feels and it was a good way to kick off the holiday season. It’ll now be in the regular rotation of my holiday movie watching!"

—n4521e9971

7. Dead to Me

Netflix

Dead to Me is so funny and well written you forget it's about some pretty dark subjects. Jen and Judy's friendship is incredibly real and unique, and definitely something we need to see more of in 2020.

Suggested by zombiewithabrain

8. Never Have I ever

Netflix

"Incredible show."

—danicocoada

"This was the show that I wish had come out when I was 14 – I'm way older than Devi, but it was still super relatable! I loved how it showed the good sides of growing up within two cultures, as well as the struggles."

–hanifahrahman

9. Birds of Prey

Warner Bros. Pictures

"Birds of Prey, and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn. Yep, it’s good enough for me to type out the entire ridiculous title! Colourful, funny, and unapologetically feminist, this movie deserved so much better than it got, especially at the box office."

—smogden

"I went to go see it before the pandemic got bad and it was a fun movie!"

—goosethekitty

10. The Half of It

Netflix

"The love triangle trope isn't a new one, but this queer storyline felt super fresh! Easily one of the best coming of age films I've seen in a while."

–samcleal

11. She-Ra

Netflix

"The final season was groundbreaking and had me in tears most episodes. The LGBTQ+ representation is so important and I wish there had been a show like this when I was growing up."

—melbirde

12. Normal People

BBC

"It definitely hurt me in the best ways."

—marcipan

"It was one of the most beautiful and sensitive shows I've ever seen! It was definitely my favourite this year."

—isabelavidaldea

13. I May Destroy You

HBO / BBC

"I think about it nearly every day."

—sineadc4928ce1c5

14. Rocks

British Film Institute / Film 4 / The Wellcome Trust

"British cinema rarely centres Black schoolgirls, and Rocks did it so beautifully. it made me cry, twice. Bukky Baray and Kosar Ali gave amazing performances in their debut film and I can't wait for the day we see them pick up their first BAFTAs."

–adaenechi

15. Good Girls

Netflix

"I binged all three seasons in one go! The sense of female solidarity is strong throughout the seasons, and even though these women do bad things (although often with good reason), you’re rooting for them the whole time. It’s also very funny, which is often down to the chemistry between the girls, and the stark contrast between suburban life with their high-octane life of crime. It’s one of the things that got me through 2020!"

–remeepatel

16. Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Pyramide Films

It's the queer historical love story we didn't know we needed so much.

Suggested by analuisavasconcellosps

17. Miss Juneteenth

Vertical Entertainment

"This film perfectly highlighted the struggles of a Black woman trying to make it on her own and make up for her past mistakes. Instead of the usual focus on how it's hard to progress in society, and the issue of class within the Black community. I think it's one of the best films of the year."

–adaenechi

Some submissions have been edited for length/clarity.

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