The Best Films of 2021
Well, after a terrible year for cinema that yielded some great films, 2021 was a welcomed return to the movie theaters. With a combination of marvelous theatrical releases and streaming exclusives, I had a level of love for cinema this year that I haven’t felt since 2019. So many films that were pushed back to this year ended up meeting my expectations and there were also plenty of surprises that made me happy to be a film fanatic. To the point where I have decided to make a top 15 list for my favorite films of the year.
For this list, I am simply going off of what I loved the most. Also, there are a few films here that were technically released in 2020 (either in film festivals or limited releases) but were not made widely available until 2021. So, if you see a 2020 film on the list, that’s why.
But first, here are the honorable mentions:
A Quiet Place Part II: A sequel that surpasses the original by expanding the world and showcasing the strengths of “A Quiet Place” with an extra level of cinematic glory.
Another Round: This Danish winner of the Academy Award for Best International Film is one of the most interesting depictions of alcohol I have ever seen in film. It’s not self-righteous or preachy but is actually hopeful and uplifting with a career defining performance by Mads Mikkelsen.
The Father: Anthony Hopkins delivers an amazing, Oscar-winning performance in this captivating drama that examines dementia.
8-Bit Christmas: This HBOMax original film is destined to become a holiday classic with great humor, a surprising story and a depiction of the 1980s that isn’t too campy.
The Green Knight: A24 strikes again with a masterful telling of the Arthurian Legend. David Lowrey’s meticulous take on the fantasy genre has all the realism of “Game of Thrones” mixed with the slow but engaging pace of “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
Zack Snyder’s Justice League: This director’s cut is a massive improvement over the 2017 theatrical cut and is now considered the true version of this story. With amazing depictions of superheroes like Batman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman, this was a lot of fun and well worth the wait.
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines: An animated family film that is as funny as it is touching, this Netflix original delivered a wonderful message of family and technology while also being thoroughly entertaining.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: One of my favorite Marvel films of recent years, this martial arts film introduces a whole new world in the MCU while also being incredibly awesome and full of spectacle.
No Time To Die: A riveting conclusion to Daniel Craig’s run as James Bond, “No Time To Die” was a fitting end to one of the best actors to portray 007.
Licorice Pizza: Paul Thomas Anderson is back with a beautiful story of love and friendship in the 1970s San Fernando Valley.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife: A fun film that pays homage to the original films, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” captured my imagination by making its own path with new characters and a refreshing feel.
The Last Duel: This massively underrated film about truth set in an epic medieval setting shows that director Ridley Scott’s still got it. With magnificent performances by Adam Driver, Jodie Comer and Matt Damon, this is a fascinating film that deserved more love at the box office.
Encanto: A Disney animated musical that is more small-scale than usual but with that same adventurous charm that has enchanted generations of viewers. Along with a beautiful look at Columbia, memorable characters and catchy songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this is a Disney film that is well worth a watch.
Summer of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised): One of the best documentaries of the year, this directorial debut from Questlove depicts an amazing musical event most people might not be aware of with beautifully restored footage. Along with fantastic performances by Stevie Wonder, The 5th Dimension, Mahalia Jackson, The Staples Singers, Sly and the Family Stone and many others, this was an amazing celebration of black culture and music.
Val: The best documentary of the year, “Val” gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Val Kilmer’s life and filmography, revealing a more personal and artistic side to this big-name blockbuster star.
Being the Ricardos: Aaron Sorkin’s look at the faces behind “I Love Lucy'' is fantastic with his trademark dialogue that is punchy and full of wit. The performances of Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as Lucy and Desi are amazing along with a wonderful supporting performance by J.K. Simmons.
Wes Anderson’s latest film is a delightful take on journalism that manages to continue Anderson’s perfect record of intricately crafted films. His style is so specific and it comes together beautifully with an amazing ensemble cast including Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Owen Wilson, Benicio del Toro, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton and Jeffrey Wright.
The film’s dry humor, beautiful sets and wonderful stories create a fantastic atmosphere that was absolutely wonderful to experience in a theater.
After a string of influential comedies like “Hot Fuzz,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” and “Baby Driver,” Edgar Wright’s turn into the thriller/horror genre was absolutely outstanding. With two brilliant performances by Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy, “Last Night in Soho” was an amazing look at how the past never truly goes away.
Edgar Wright’s writing and direction create an amazing portrait of London as McKenzie’s character goes back-and-forth from modern day to the 1960s to solve a decades-old crime. With films like “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” coming up short in popular horror, this is a film for anyone who loves Wright’s fantastic style steered towards something more sinister.
13. Judas and the Black Messiah
With several biopics coming to the big screen in 2021, few of them were as interesting and shocking as “Judas and the Black Messiah,” which showcased the story of Black Panther Party chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), how he helped people of color and how he was murdered by the Chicago Police Dept. on the orders of the FBI. Even more shocking, an informant within Hampton’s circle (Lakeith Stanfield) consistently helped the FBI.
Kaluuya’s Oscar-winning performance as Fred Hampton is unbelievable as he commands such a powerful screen presence while Stanfield wrestles with his conscious repeatedly as Bill O’Neal. With a majority of Americans being unaware of black history, this is a necessary film that is as captivating as it is tragic.
Guillermo Del Toro’s new film is very different compared to his pervious work. Unlike earlier films, which are about monsters and fantasy, “Nightmare Alley” is more about how magic and fantasy are tricks and illusions. At the heart of it is Bradley Cooper who gives an incredibly layered performance as a carny who rises up to become a famous illusionist and then falls victim to his own ambition.
The film’s atmosphere makes it one of the richest looking films of the year with brilliant costumes, production and a sound design that makes you feel like you’re there. With one of the best endings to a film I saw all year, “Nightmare Alley” is a fantastic period piece that has all the feelings of a classic horror film like “The Haunting.”
Carey Mulligan gives a career-defining performance in this amazing thriller from Emerald Fennell. Mulligan stars as Cassie, who goes on a revenge-fueled journey after something terrible happened to her best friend years ago. Mulligan’s performance is unbelievably captivating as she tries to right the wrongs of the past in a manner that is understandable but disturbing nonetheless.
With a soundtrack of 2000s pop songs and a hauntingly beautiful style, “Promising Young Woman” is a film I saw nearly a year ago that still sticks in my mind.
My favorite animated film of the year, “Raya and The Last Dragon” is a fantastic looking film with amazing characters and an immersive environment inspired by Southeast Asian mythology as well as the styles of Japanese samurai films. The film's entertaining action and fun characters made for a film that people of all ages will enjoy.
Kelly Marie Tran’s performance as Raya is one of my favorite performances of the year as she tries to save her land from a powerful enemy. In a year of fun animated films like “Encanto” and “Luca,” “Raya and the Last Dragon” stood tall with its maturity, fantastic characters and marvelous animation.
Steven Spielberg’s remake of the Best Picture winner from 1961 had a lot to live up to and was so good that it has surpassed the original. With a more realistic environment, greater Latino representation and updated cinematic techniques, Spielberg brought this story to a new generation while also showcasing a love and respect for the original.
The mostly unknown cast was remarkable in these iconic roles and even legends like Rita Moreno came back to be a part fo this musical experience. The songs and music are timeless and I have a feeling that this film will be seen as one of the greatest musicals of all time.
Set mainly in a hotel, this film sees four of the biggest African-American icons (Sam Cooke, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and Jim Brown) come together to discuss their careers and their contributions to the cause of civil rights. What works about this film is its cast which bring these powerful men to the big screen.
Along with incredible dialogue written by Kemp Powers (who wrote the play the film is based on) and a sense of realism, director Regina King creates a mesmerizing film that is both entertaining and important.
The winner for Best Picture at the most recent Academy Awards, “Nomadland” is a powerful film that displays a true freedom along the lines of “Thelma and Louise” and “Easy Rider.” Frances McDormand gives an amazing, Oscar-winning performance as a drifter who lives in a van and works from place to place, meeting fellow nomads as she travels the country.
Chloe Zháo’s documentary-like direction, which won her an Oscar, adds a level of realism that sucks in the viewer to this amazing environment with several characters being played by real nomads. As far as Best Picture winners go, this is a masterful one that deserves a lot of attention.
In a year where comic book films came back swinging, “The Suicide Squad” topped most of them with an R-rated edge which had me laughing the entire time. Writer/Director James Gunn commanded an all star cast of misfits, assholes and fuck-ups and made a film that was hilarious, depraved, violent and with so much swearing that it may rival Deadpool’s films. But, at it’s heart, it’s a film about bad people, and a few misunderstood people, finding the good inside them to maybe save the world.
The vibrancy of the film mixed with fun action and amazing performances by Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena and Sylvester Stallone made this one of the most unique blockbusters of the year.
Lin Manuel-Miranda’s directorial debut tells the story of “Rent” composer Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield) and is one of several great musicals that came out this year. Garfield’s performance and singing voice are unbelievable and the love that the film has for music, theatre, artists and life is so uplifting.
The way Miranda approaches a cinematic musical is wonderful and the steps he took to preserve Larson’s legacy make me incredibly excited for the next film he’ll be making.
This Oscar-winning film shows the joys and struggles of a family of Korean immigrants as they create a farm in 1980s Arkansas. Lee Issac Chung’s deeply personal story and the pursuit of the American dream is incredibly identifiable and the decision to have a solid portion of the film be told in Korean shows a respect for filmgoers that I don’t think anyone has caught on to.
Minari gave me this feeling of warmth as I watched the Yi family build something amazing. It reminded me of the struggles my ancestors might have gone through as farmers and I loved seeing the perspective of the American Dream from a more diverse lens. Minari is one of the most beautiful and happy films I saw all year.
With so much hype around the film, I was afraid that “Spider-Man: No Way Home” wouldn’t live up to it. But instead it became my favorite live-action Spider-Man film. From the moment Tom Holland became Spider-Man in the MCU, I wanted something big and epic and this was the film that finally gave me that.
This is a film that sees the character make incredible sacrifices and furthering his arc while also managing to please fans of the character. From the action to the larger story, this is a Spider-Man film that is absolutely amazing.
One of my most anticipated films of the year, “In The Heights” filled me with such delight as only the music of Lin Manuel-Miranda can do. This portrait of Latino communities in New York was absolutely wonderful with show-stopping musical numbers and an almost magical feeling of this neighborhood seeing tough times.
With likable characters and a vibrant look, “In The Heights” was the best film I saw all summer.
After waiting for this film for nearly two years, “Dune” is a blockbuster that has all of the human elements and beautiful feeling of a masterpiece. As a huge fan of the original book, I was waiting for a definitive adaptation and now it is here.
Since the film only tells the first half of the book, I can’t wait for the sequel in 2023 because everything about this film is high quality. Big screens exist for films like these and I’m so fortunate to have seen this science-fiction epic in a large IMAX theater.
