Amid a turbulent election and a global pandemic, 2020’s search history well reflects the events and interests of a year unlike any other.
On Wednesday, Google released its 2020 Year in Search, outlining the top trending topics of the year by category.
Kobe Bryant, who died unexpectedly in January, was the third biggest search phrase, behind “Coronavirus” and “Election Results,” as the first and second-most-popular trending searches, respectively.
In the actors category, Tom Hanks is ranked first, likely due to being one of the first Hollywood stars to publicly reveal, in March, that they’d contracted the coronavirus. The actor is also ranked fifth in the most-searched people category. Hanks’ diagnosis sparked emotional responses from fans all over the world, concerned not only for the actor’s well-being but also for what was to come from the virus that would disrupt the world.
The Oscars best picture winner Parasite leads the list for top trending movies, followed by its fellow best picture nominee 1917. Black Panther comes in at third, with pandemic drama Contagion landing at the number five spot.
Late actors Naya Rivera, Chadwick Boseman and Sean Connery are among the most-searched individuals in memoriam this year.
The highest-trending television shows include Tiger King, Big Brother Brasil and Money Heist, in that order. Netflix sensations such as Outer Banks, Ozark, Umbrella Academy, Emily in Paris and The Queen’s Gambit also made the list.
