Apple has dropped their submission into the crowded realm of year-end, best-of lists – and it’s called the App Store Rewind 2011.
The App Store Rewind breaks down the year’s top performers into categories which include Music, Movies, TV, Apps, Books and Podcasts. In each category, Apple not only lists the top sellers from 2011, but also makes some editorial picks in the form of “best” this and “______ of the year.”
According to Apple, this best entertainment this year came from boy wizards, meth cooks, photo filtering, and painful breakups.
Music:
Artist of the Year: Adele
Album of the Year: Wasting Light, Foo Fighters
Song of the Year: Pumped Up Kicks, Foster the People
Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Nicki Minaj
Top Sellers (Songs):
- Rolling in the Deep, Adele
- Party Rock Anthem, LMFAO
- Firework, Katy Perry
- Grenade, Bruno Mars
- Forget You, Cee Lo Green
- Give Me Everything, Pitbull
- E.T., Katy Perry
- Moves Like Jagger, Maroon 5
- Pumped Up Kicks, Foster The People
- Super Bass, Nicki Minaj
Top Sellers (Albums):
- 21, Adele
- Sigh No More, Mumford & Sons
- Tha Carter IV, Lil Wayne
- Watch The Throne, Jay-Z and Kanye West
- Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay
- Born This Way, Lady Gaga
- Loud, Rihanna
- Take Care, Drake
- Teenage Dream, Katy Perry
- Doo-Waps & Hooligans, Bruno Mars
BONUS – The wonderful self titled Bon Iver album won best Indie Album of the Year.
Movies:
Best Blockbuster: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2
Best Comedy: Bridesmaids
Best Indie: Midnight in Paris
Best Romance: Beginners
Top Sellers (Sales + Rentals):
- The Social Network
- Limitless
- No Strings Attached
- Just Go With It
- The Lincoln Lawyer
- Bridesmaids
- Source Code
- Tangled
- The King’s Speech
- Red
BONUS: Unsurprisingly, The Tree of Life took home the “most debated” prize.
TV Shows:
Best Half Hour: Modern Family
Best Drama: Breaking Bad (duh)
Best Discovery: Masterpiece: Downton Abbey
Best Breakout Comedy: Parks and Recreation
Top Sellers (episodes):
- What Lies Ahead, The Walking Dead
- Original Song, Glee
- Box Cutter, Breaking Bad
- Out, Sons of Anarchy
- The Kids Are Not Alright, Gossip Girl
Top Sellers (seasons):
- Doctor Who
- Modern Family
- Dexter
- Breaking Bad
- True Blood
BONUS: The brilliant Louie won “Most Realistic Non-Reality Show,” which is an apt description.
Apps:
App of the Year: Instagram
Game of the Year: Tiny Tower
Top Paid Apps:
- Angry Birds
- Fruit Ninja
- Angry Birds Seasons
- Cut The Rope
- Tiny Wings
- Angry Birds Rio
- Words With Friends
- Camera+
- Doodle Jump
- Plants vs. Zombies
Top Free Apps:
- Pandora
- Word With Friends Free
- Angry Birds Free
- Skype
- Netflix
- Angry Birds Rio Free
- Groupon
- Fruit Ninja Lite
BONUS: Unsurprisingly, the popular app Flipboard ruled the “news apps” subcategory.
Books:
Best Novel: The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht
Best Nonfiction: Boomerang by Michael Lewis
Best Teen Novel: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Top Sellers (Fiction):
- The Help
- The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
- A Game of Thrones
- Water for Elephants
- The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest
- The Litigators
- Now You See Her
- The Paris Wife
- Breaking Dawn
- Something Borrowed
Top Sellers (Nonfiction):
- Steve Jobs
- Heaven Is For Real
- A Stolen Life
- Unbroken
- Shit My Dad Says
- Bossypants
- Bossypants (enhanced edition)
- In The Garden Of Beasts
- SEAL Team Six
- Killing Lincoln
BONUS: Roger Ebert gets a spot on the top Bios list with his book Life Itself.
Podcasts:
Best Audio Podcast: NPR’s Fresh Air
Best Video Podcast: TEDTalks
Best New Audio Podcast: The Jillian Michaels Show
Best New Video Podcast: Epic Meal Time
BONUS: The top comedy podcasts come from Adam Carolla, The Onion, and Ricky Gervais.
Does anything strike you about these lists? Any glaring omissions? Surprised by anything? Let us know in the comments.