This year saw cinema’s triumphant return to our lives, albeit with some restrictions. So, which titles stood out in 2021? Despite the pandemic, 2021 has been an excellent year for movies. After the world of television and film was halted for almost a year, this year marked the return of many fan-favorite comic book characters, novella stories, and remakes to the big screen. Without further ado, let us dive in and see the best movies of 2021:
15. The Green Knight
A 14th-century poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight drives the story of this film. The Green Knight came out when experts and filmmakers considered medieval movies to be obsolete and non-attractions given the failure of King Arthur, Jack The Giant Slayer, etc.
However, a $15 million budget for the title film of King Arthur’s nephew made more than it promised. The movie stood out among moviegoers, critics, and fans of the poems.
14. Tick, tick…Boom!
The autobiographical musical “Tick, tick…boom!” explored the wide-ranging and versatile ability of Andrew Garfield. While this was not the title he was primarily associated with this year *Cough*Spiderman*cough*, it still was one of his career’s better performances.
The movie explores the vagaries of friendship and love. Compelled by a small budget, the film saw positive responses from fans and critics.
13. Sound of Metal
Sound of Metal is one of the dark horse movies of this year. It might as well be one of the contenders in the award season, considering its high praise in public.
Riz Ahmed’s exceptional performance is the most outstanding aspect of this low-budget drama music. While the movie is not a box-office marauder, it’s undoubtedly one of the worthy watches of 2021.
12. Nomadland
The Frances McDormand-led Western drama worked on a low budget. While it wasn’t Chloe Zhao’s most talked-about project of the year, it was certainly her best. The film combines a variety of intriguing aspects.
The film’s main character, Fern, goes on an intriguing nomad-vagabond-style journey across the American West. A good story, striking performance, and a moderate pace are good things about this film.
11. Black Widow
Black Widow was perhaps the talk of the town, the next big Marvel movie after Endgame had ended. After the character’s heroic sacrifice in the 2019 superhero movie, fans were eager to learn more about her backstory.
While the film offers a thorough background layer of the character, the film itself wound up a little insipid. It was just a prequel and a tie-in between Avengers: Infinity War and Captain America: Civil War.
Perhaps the film’s undoing was that it offered nothing new, except for the entry of an intriguing new character Yelena Belova. The character also appeared in the latter half of Hawkeye.
10. Shiva Baby
Shiva Baby is one of the fever-dream movie releases of 2021. The awkward, comedic, and funny nature of the story made it one of the favorites among the audience this year.
New actors, independent categories, and a low budget did not prevent this movie from making the top lists.
9. Malcolm & Marie
Malcolm & Marie was one of the first movies released in 2021. The Zendaya (Spider-Man’s MJ) and John David Washington’s (Tenet) romance drama failed to hit the mark.
Yet, the film features an intriguing story and both actors’ performances make it a must-watch in a list of similar releases.
8. The Harder They Fall
A star-cast-filled movie, The Harder They Fall, was one of the late entries in the year. Still, that did not stop this revisionist Western drama from standing out in heaps of similar movies.
This movie surprised most filmgoers with its natural and unique approach. The performances of Idris Elba and Jonathan Majors were the talk of the town.
7. Cruella
Cruella manifested that this year was a return of triumphant and favorite characters. Now, Cruella was certainly not a beloved of the original 101 Dalmatians fans.
However, Emma Stone‘s performance as the villainess certainly made this film a theatrical experience. The planned release of its second installment should tell you enough about its success.
6. Eternals
Eternals was perhaps the second most anticipated Marvel project after No Way Home and Black Widow’s release. However, the overwhelming prowess of Shang-Chi jarred the film’s success somewhat.
While the star-cast-led superhero film did great at the box office, it did not do enough to make the fans care enough for the Eternals.
Some argued the character-filled movie was one of its downfalls and required more build-up. Moreover, the future of this franchise hangs in the balance, as there’s no word on its sequel yet.
5. Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings
After a somewhat lackluster marketing campaign, Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings turned out to be a greater marvel than it promised (pun intended). Sim Liu’s action-packed superhero film did fantastic at the box office.
However, the most exciting part about this movie is the story. It steered off the usual Marvel blueprint and delivered an enticing account. Moreover, introducing new and returning loveable characters makes it a promising and blooming franchise in the MCU.
4. No Time to Die
No Time to Die was one of the bittersweet movies of the year, as it was Daniel Craig‘s final outing as the 007 agent. The film saw the return of cherished characters from the James Bond saga. It also marked the end of the latest generation of this character.
The film performed exceptionally well at the box office, despite a yearlong delay in its release and a very long runtime (163 minutes). The film saw a positive response on both ends, making it one of the must-watch espionage thrillers of 2021.
3. Dune
One of the most talked-about movies of 2021, Dune, was Dennis Villeneuve’s glorious return to the big screen. A remake and a readaptation of the Frank Herbert sci-fi story will surely be a contender in the Oscar race of 2022.
The film is filled with great visuals, enchanting music, relatable characters, and a gripping story. Making it everything an audience wants in a theatre release. While some might consider the $400 gross revenue a little underwhelming, the already planned sequels might turn those tables.
2. Spider-Man: No Way Home
Spider-Man: No Way Home is a something-for-everyone kind of movie. Also, the talk of the town is the most anticipated and perhaps the most important project of Marvel’s Phase 4. This movie exceeded expectations, and mind you, the expectation was nothing but monumental. [Spoiler-Warning]
The film combined three generations of Spider-men, bridging the gap between moviegoers of the past twenty years. The film’s larger-than-life appeal is more than just delivered when the three beloved Peters swing across the Liberty Statue and fight off their foes.
No Way Home features great action, and heart-warming moments, including burning MCU questions and their answers. On the other side, you have magic, technology, and pretty much everything you can ask for in a coming-of-age superhero movie. Making it one of the best movies released this year.
1. The Power of the Dog
The Power of the Dog is perhaps the most drama-rich movie of the year. This western story features the beloved Benedict Cumberbatch as the lead protagonist. The unique story of this film deals with Western culture and the whims of human nature.
Netflix drama is also a running name in the awards season. Cumberbatch leads the categories in Golden Globes as the favorite to win for best actor. However, the film’s streaming release prevented it from leaving any dent in the box office charts.
Honorable Mentions
- The Last Duel
- West Side Story
- Spencer
What are your best movies of 2021? Let us know in the comments below!
