The best on-screen crushes of 2021

It feels like we say this every year now, but 2021 was a weird one. But as usual, TV and films were our light in times of chaos. Whether you ventured to a movie theater for Dune or stayed home to comfortably stream Ted Lasso, you crossed paths with some top-notch on-screen crushes, and we were right there with you.

In no particular order, here are our favorite entertainment crushes from 2021.

1. Duke Leto Atreides, Dune 

Time to make “Dune” my whole identity.
Credit: warner bros.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Dune is full of hot people. Chiefest among them is Duke Leto Atreides, played by the always-wonderful Oscar Isaac. Look, I’m fully aware that Leto is part of an imperialist colonization scheme, but he’s hot and tragic, so I’m unrepentant in my crush. Besides, I’m not alone. When the first photos of Isaac’s Leto were released, the internet — including Isaac’s Star Wars co-star John Boyega — rightfully went crazy over Isaac’s luscious beard and chunky space armor.

As great as Leto looks — and he looks pretty great — that’s only a small part of his crush-worthiness. He truly cares for his son Paul (Timothée Chalamet), and his chemistry with his partner Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) is impeccable. When he tells her he wished he’d married her? Swoon. Unfortunately, Leto is doomed right from the start of Dune, which just makes us cherish every moment with him even more. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Fellow

How to watch: Dune is now available for digital purchase.

2. Wenwu (Tony Leung), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 

Not every Marvel villain is meant to be sexy, but when they go for sexy, they go big sexy. Loki. Killmonger. Mysterio. Thanos, if ya nasty. They all pale in comparison to the overwhelming force of nature that is daddy Wenwu in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Hong Kong cinema legend Tony Leung’s nickname is “the man who can speak with his eyes,” and that smoldering screen presence makes it all too easy to fall head-over-heels within milliseconds. In Shang-Chi alone, he looks good with long hair, short hair, double breasted early 90s suit patterns, contemporary tailoring, shirtless, covered in blood, you name it. The man is physically incapable of missing. When every side is his good side, that’s when you know you’re looking at a star. —Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter 

How to watch: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is now streaming on Disney+.

3. Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), Ted Lasso 

Choosing just one Ted Lasso pick was nearly impossible since almost everyone on that show is a crush (even Higgins! Especially Higgins. The man exudes B.D.E. ANYWAY…). If you watched Season 1 of Apple’s heartwarming football comedy you may have come away thinking of team owner Rebecca as “Mommi” and feeling downright attacked from the very start of Season 2. Rebecca is hotter, kinder, and more confident than ever. She’s genuinely getting over her skeezy ex-husband, she’s been honest with Ted and actively supports him, and she’s back on dating apps because life is hers for the taking! 

And of course she’s doing all of this side-by-side with soulmate Keeley (Juno Temple), because both Girl Talk and Girl, Listen only work with a bestie by your side. She even gets her cougar on with Sam (Toheeb Jimoh), a surprising chemistry experiment that pays off in its early days if not the later part of the season. We just want to see Mommi Rebecca fulfilled, thriving, and rocking a pencil skirt that makes us stop breathing when she walks in the room. She deserves someone worthy, someone who makes her feel the way she makes us feel: Like we’ve been struck by fucking lightning. —P.K.

How to watch: Ted Lasso is now streaming on Apple TV+.

4. General Kirigan/The Darkling (Ben Barnes), Shadow and Bone 

We’re simple people; we see Ben Barnes, we get a crush on him. But Barnes’ legendarily dark, soulful eyes and scary-perfect bone structure aren’t all of the appeal of his fan-predicted turn as The Darkling in Netflix’s adaptation of Shadow and Bone. The Darkling, or “General Kirigan” as he’s known for most of the first season, is attentive to his love interest Alina’s needs. He’s idealistic about what they can accomplish together. He’s romantic in a way that only thousands of years of experience with women can — wait. Right, he is immortal and Alina is a teenager, so that’s not great. He’s also kind of a magic terrorist so…points deducted for that as well. Whatever, it’s not our fault Ben Barnes is a walking cheat code for casting directors who need a sexy evil dude. —A.N.

How to watch: Shadow and Bone is now streaming on Netflix. 

5. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Black Widow/Hawkeye

Natasha may have exited the MCU for good, but her final gift to us was an introduction to her exciting sister. They share a certain set of skills and the gift of really great hair. But where Nat was sultry, Yelena is snarky. She rejects the superhero posturing — literally cringing when she falls into it — and refuses to lock away her feelings. She’s a gorgeous wise-cracker, who wears her heart on her sleeve and has a profound appreciation for pockets. On top of all that, Florence Pugh brings a winsome wild card energy to this role, giving the mantle of Black Widow fresh life — and us a super-sized crush. — Kristy Puchko, Deputy Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Black Widow is now streaming on Disney+. 

6. Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), The Green Knight

Dev Patel plays a thirst trap — I mean, a noble man — in “The Green Knight.”
Credit: A24

Dev Patel almost killed me five years ago, and now he’s back to finish the job. The actor’s Lion press tour was almost unsurvivable, a months-long criminal offense during which he constantly wore suits and picked up a small child as if the movie alone didn’t out him as Devastatingly Hot. 

And then he put on a different kind of suit.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have cast the British-Indian actor as an Arthurian Knight, but now I owe my life to those responsible. Not only is Patel shirtless, armored, and gorgeously filmed in David Lowery’s ethereal drama, but it’s also his best performance to date. The Green Knight asks what makes a great man, but definitely answers what makes a great crush. —Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: The Green Knight is now available on digital and back in theaters for a limited time.

7. Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun), Succession 

Practically speaking, you should not have a crush on anyone from Succession ever. But if ol’ Greg the Egg set your heart a-fluttering in Season 3, you’re forgiven for falling prey to his boyish charm. 

HBO’s high-stakes corporate drama didn’t give Greg a ton to do this season; y’know, outside of perpetually shifting sides and suing GreenPeace. Yet, the lanky henchman’s clumsy flirtation with publicist Comfrey and just as awkward courtship of an Italian contessa made his pasty visage look better than ever. 

Maybe it’s the pressure of trying to find anyone worth liking on this show. Maybe it’s just that actor Nicholas Braun is so dang tall. Either way, he was the MVC (that’s “Most Valuable Crush”) on the Succession romance market this year, and we cashed all the way in. Nice job, Sporus. —Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Succession is now streaming on HBO Max.

8. Peter, The Great 

I’m embarrassed, but it’s important to be honest: I have a crush on Emperor Peter on The Great. I’d love to be able to tell you it’s a crush on Nicholas Hoult, but while his animated, funny performance helps, for sure, it’s not just the actor. The crush has been there since the pilot, but this season it seems the show knows it too, making him charming and sexy and loving toward Catherine (Elle Fanning) and centering the duo’s excellent love/hate chemistry and mile-a-minute quippy banter. Sure, he’s not perfect (sleeping with her mother, plotting her downfall while “imprisoned” in the palace), but what crush is? My vindication came during the season finale: It seems, like me, Catherine’s highly inconvenient feelings are permanent, despite her very best efforts. —Erin Strecker, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: The Great is now streaming on Hulu.

9. The Salesman (Gong Yoo), Squid Game 

Listen. Listen. It’s been a long year. Times are hard and when you find something or someone that makes you feel alive you grab it with both hands and you don’t let go. Or, in this case, you daydream about it slapping you a little too much. Legendary Korean actor Gong Yoo isn’t in Netflix’s megahit Squid Game for long, but he packs a lot of punch (literally) into his minimal screen time. As The Salesman, he’s responsible for testing potential players’ willingness to degrade themselves for money, which basically means he gets to slap the main characters like eighty times and look devastatingly hot while doing so. Is it the suit? The smirk? The wicked, knowing eyes? The answer is D. All of the above and also the part where he slaps people. —A.N.

How to watch: Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding), Rutherford Falls 

Reagan is a total package in the realm of ideal romantic partners, at least in the way that TV traditionally frames them.

Actor Jana Schmieding isn’t just the breakout comedic force driving Peacock’s Rutherford Falls to TV excellence. She’s also the low-key star of the show in spite of Ed Helms being the marquee name. Reagan cares about the world around her and the people who live in it. She’s funny. She’s charming. She’s beautiful and desirable inside and out, just the kind of ideal romantic partner Hollywood loves to have us fall for.

Josh Carter (Dustin Milligan) is smart enough to see it. The NPR reporter may have come to Rutherford Falls chasing a story, but his real find is the early glimmers of a meaningful and lasting relationship. His blossoming interest in Reagan sets up Schmieding as not just the star, but the romantic center of the entire show. Rutherford Falls is a shining jewel in Peacock’s library, and it’s mostly because of how lovely and crush-worthy Reagan is as a character. —Adam Rosenberg, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Rutherford Falls is now streaming on Peacock.

11. Tony Todd, Candyman

Rusted hooks, swarms of bees, and bloody murders aren’t sexy. But Tony Todd makes all that work for him and then some in Nia DaCosta’s Candyman.

Reprising his role as the haunting slasher icon Daniel Robitaille, Todd delivers a timelessly excellent fourth outing as the titular Candyman born from the 1992 cult classic. Todd’s awe-inspiringly dulcet tones do a lot of the work for him but with good reason. As flowing as the Fonz’s hair and badass as James Dean’s everything, Tony Todd’s pitch-perfect voice is excellent to the point of iconic — and really, very, super hot. Just try not to shout his name five times, OK? —A.F.

How to watch: Candyman is now available for rental and purchase.

12. Lance (Josh Segarra), The Other Two

If you aren’t watching The Other Two by now, you’ve probably still heard about its impeccable comedy writing and acting and how you needed to start watching yesterday. But let us give you another reason: Lance, sweet Lance. Josh Segarra plays Brooke’s (Heléne Yorke) gone-but-not forgotten ex-boyfriend in the series, and it’s harder and harder over time to understand why the relationship ended. Lance is, at worst, a bit of a dope, but a perennial sweetheart with an adorable smile permanently affixed to his face. He roots for Brooke harder than anyone, celebrates her victories and wishes her well when times are tough. They may not have gotten back together in the finale, but Pat (Molly Shannon) doesn’t know that so we’re just going to ignore it too. Brance 4 lyf! —P.K.

How to watch: The Other Two is now streaming on HBO Max.

13. Lady Gaga, House of Gucci 

The father, the son, Lady Gaga in “House of Gucci.”
Credit: Universal Pictures

From the moment the first trailer hit, Lady Gaga had us wrapped around her perfectly manicured finger. (She had us at “but I am fair.”) It wasn’t just the costumes, that showed off her curves, or the crown of raven curls that made her eyes stand out like sparkling stars, or the animalistic sex scene she shared with Adam Driver. It wasn’t even her purring (and albeit questionable) accent, which made every pronouncement feel like a proposition. It was how the pop icon poured herself, heart, soul, and swiveling hips, into the frenzied tale of a ferocious yet fascinating femme fatale. She made this real-life murderess feel sensationally larger than life, and we fell hard for her — knowing all too well how dangerous that is. —K.P.

How to watch: House of Gucci is now in theaters.

14. Bo Burnham, Inside

Nowhere in this list or on this entire website do we claim to be well — and that’s why Bo Burnham’s Inside spoke so deeply to us. If you’re someone who crushes on cishet men, Burnham’s vulnerability and self-awareness are welcome and refreshing. You might also find yourself wanting to give him a hug, but maybe not right away because he should have time to warm up to you and both of you may crumble upon initiating contact. Inside is a work of musical and comedic genius that forces you to look inward, outward, and then back in but worse this time. It’s made possible entirely by Burnham’s singular voice and talent which make him consistently crushworthy. But seriously, can someone go check on him? —P.K.

How to watch: Inside is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Chef Amaury, School of Chocolate

Chef Amaury, a.k.a “that fuckin’ chocolate guy,” has been internet famous for a while, thanks to his unbelievable skill at sculpting realistic sculprutes made entirely of chocolate while being hot and French. It was only a matter of time before someone offered him a reality competition show, and Netflix’s School of Chocolate is the perfect venue to admire his pretty brown eyes or his smile…I mean his talent. Let’s be clear: everyone on School of Chocolate is in love with Chef Amaury. The students, the assistants, the camera people, and the audience routinely fall all over themselves for a crumb of his attention; by the end of the series the competition is less about who gets to win the grand prize and more about who gets the kiss from chocolate daddy. —A.N.

How to watch: School of Chocolate is now streaming on Netflix.

Honorary mention: Literally everyone in The Harder They Fall 

Netflix didn’t have to do us like that with The Harder They Fall‘s ensemble: Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Idris Elba, Regina King, Lakeith Stanfield, and more — AS COWBOYS — but now it is we who have fallen and can’t get up. Everyone is hot and murdery and vengeful and heroic, not to mention acting their perfect faces off. Each scene crackles with chemistry under The Bullitts’ direction, with a soundtrack that we’d like to think would make us look as cool if we could just bump it everywhere we go. Best of all, the cast even have crushes on each other: In Majors’ Saturday Night Live monologue, he talks about feeling inadequate next to Elba. Jonathan, most of us would not survive the interaction! You are all worthy, and then some. —P.K.

How to watch: The Harder They Fall is now streaming on Netflix.