Top 10 pop culture moments of 2023 - Barbenheimer and the Beckhams

As we welcome in 2024, it's time to reflect on some of the defining pop-culture moments of last year.

There's no denying 2023 was the year of Taylor Swift.

Whether it's her relationship with Travis Kelce, her spectacular sellout Eras tour, or the star's impact on the economy, she was rarely out of the news.

Her Eras Tour is the first to gross over US$1 billion. She has also just been named Time Magazine's person of the year.

She was picked by Time Magazine from a group of nine finalists that included Barbie, King Charles III, and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, among others.

It's Taylor's world, we're just living in it!

Barbenheimer was a cultural phenomenon surrounding the release of two films - Barbie and Oppenheimer.

Barbie-mainia took the world by storm, with Warner Bros. spending NZ$244 million on marketing for the movie.

Both movies recently dominated the Golden Globe Awards nominations, Barbie with nine nods and Oppenheimer with eight.

It's safe to say the Beckhams made it into all of our living rooms last year.

Netflix's Beckham documentary reminded everyone how much they love Posh and Becks, especially with their viral kitchen dance.

According to the Mirror UK, the docuseries netted 3.8 million views in the first four days of being released.

Matthew Perry's death was a significant moment last year.

Tributes flowed from all around the world after the Friends star died on October 28.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer paid tribute to their friend and colleague.

"We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family," their statement reads. "There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss."

"In time we will say more, as and when we are able," the statement continued. "For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world,"

Prince Harry released his book Spare in January, sparking controversy around the world.

The memoir covered the Duke of Sussex’s life, his upbringing as the Queen’s grandson, his mother's death and his relationship with the media.

His book slammed tabloids like The Sun and Daily Mail and called New Zealand-born journalist Daniel Wootton a “sad little man”.

Rhianna shocked fans when she revealed she was pregnant during her halftime performance at the Super Bowl.

Billboard reported that it was the most-watched Super Bowl half time show of all time.

The live performance, the star's first in over five years, saw over 121 million people tuning in.

Gwyneth Paltrow was skiing on a family vacation on a beginner run at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, in 2016, when she collided with skier Terry Sanderson, the man's attorney alleged in a televised civil trial in March.

Sanderson, a 76-year-old retired optometrist, sued Paltrow over the incident. He alleged her recklessness caused the crash, leaving him with four broken ribs and post-concussion symptoms.

Paltrow countersued him for $1 in damages, and as the Goop founder left court, she said "I wish you well" to Sanderson, a moment that made headlines the world over. A jury found Paltrow wasn't at fault.

Last year's Met Gala, held in New York, caught the world's attention as the biggest names in Hollywood graced the red carpet with jaw-dropping outfits.

The star-studded guest list included Kiwi filmmaker Taika Waititi and wife Rita Ora.

The 32-year-old singer was seen in a black sheer gown along with dramatic train.

Ora was wearing NZ$145,000 worth of Buccellati jewellery. She also flaunted long diamond extensions hanging from her fingernails.

Waititi sported a gun metal blazer, white trousers, a long pearl necklace and a black floral corsage.

The event is known as fashion's biggest night out and hosted a swathe of stars at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The 44-year-old reality TV star made the announcement at her husband Travis Barker's Blink-182 concert in Los Angeles, by holding up a sign reading "Travis I'm Pregnant".

After seeing his wife's message, Barker, 47, jumped down off the stage and made his way towards her for a celebratory kiss.

Britney Spears released her memoir The woman in Me, selling 1.1 million copies in the US alone through its first week.

"I poured my heart and soul into my memoir, and I am grateful to my fans and readers around the world for their unwavering support," Spears said in a statement released by Gallery Books.

The singer revealed a lot in her memoir, particularly about her relationship with Justin Timberlake.

Spears claimed she aborted Timberlake's baby because her then-boyfriend "wasn't ready" to be a father.