What and Who Did the World Google in 2023? Barbie, Shakira, Matthew Perry, and More

Google’s annual ‘Year in Search’ is about just as much as awaited everyone’s Spotify Wrapped. Seeing which pop culture phenomena piqued the interest of people around the world compiled by the most commonly used search engine has now become a part of everyone’s end-of-year checklist. This year, Google revealed the Year in Search alongside an interactive Where’s Waldo-style playground game through which users can discover the most trending topics over the past 25 years

Naturally, in 2023, Hollywood blockbusters Barbie and Oppenheimer topped the Movies list in the number 1 and 2 spots respectively, while Indian thriller Jawan starring Shah Rukh Khan took up the number 3 spot, followed by Sound of Freedom, and John Wick: Chapter 4. Among Musicians, Shakira claimed the top spot, while her hit track Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53 with Bizarrap also made the top 5 in the Songs category in third place.

Actor Jeremy Renner ranked first place in the Actors category, and also second in the People category. Best known for his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Renner suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries in a snow plow accident at the beginning of the year, and went through intensive recovery therapy. The Pᴀssings category sees Friends actor Matthew Perry in first place, followed by singers Tina Turner and Sinéad O’Connor, rally driver Ken Block, and politician and TV host Jerry Springer.

“War in Israel and Gaza” lead the News category, followed by “Titanic submarine”, “Turkey earthquake”, “Hurricane Hilary”, and “Hurricane Idalia”.