Top 86 Ranked

Best 2021 Movies of All Time

Modern Masterpieces and Cinematic Gems From a Great Year

Explore the best films of the year, from acclaimed dramas to epic sci-fi adventures and indie favorites that defined the global cinematic landscape.

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About Movies in 2021

In the long arc of film history, 2021 will likely be remembered as the year cinema finally exhaled. After the industry grinding to a near-total halt in 2020, this was the moment when the floodgates opened. It was a chaotic, transitional, and ultimately triumphant stretch of time that proved the theatrical experience was resilient, even as the very definition of how we watch movies was shifting beneath our feet.

What made 2021 so significant was the sheer backlog of genius. Audiences were treated to a rare pileup of delayed blockbusters and long-gestating passion projects. It was the year of the maximalist spectacle. Denis Villeneuve achieved the impossible by making Dune feel both ancient and futuristic, translating Frank Herbert's dense prose into a visual language that demanded the biggest screen possible. Meanwhile, Marvel reminded the world of its gravity with Spider-Man: No Way Home, a film that functioned less like a standard sequel and more like a global communal event, pulling audiences back into theaters in numbers not seen since the before times.

Yet, beyond the billion-dollar hits, 2021 was a banner year for the auteur. We saw legendary filmmakers working at the height of their powers, often grappling with the power of nostalgia and the passage of time. Steven Spielberg reinvented the American musical with his vibrant, muscular take on West Side Story, while Jane Campion returned from a long hiatus to deconstruct the myth of the American West in The Power of the Dog. These were films that sparked intense online discourse, proving that cinema still held the power to dominate the cultural conversation.

The year also signaled a beautiful rise in international storytelling. Ryusuke Hamaguchi brought us Drive My Car, a three-hour Japanese meditation on grief and art that became an unlikely crossover hit and an Academy Award darling. It was a reminder that the global audience was becoming more sophisticated and more willing to embrace subtitles for the sake of profound emotional truth.

Perhaps most importantly, 2021 was the year of the hybrid experiment. With the rise of day-and-date streaming releases, the industry was forced to reckon with its future. Whether it was the neon-soaked heights of Godzilla vs. Kong or the intimate, heartbreaking beauty of CODA, movies were meeting people wherever they were. This tension between the living room and the multiplex defined the era.

Film fans remember 2021 because it felt like a homecoming. It was the year we realized that while the business of movies might be changing, our collective need for stories remained untouched. From the quiet, black-and-white intimacy of Cmon Cmon to the operatic visuals of The Green Knight, the year offered a lifeline of creativity. It was the year the lights went back down, the projectors whirred to life, and we all remembered why we love to sit together in the dark.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

See Top Ten
86
2021 in The Little Things (2021)
The Little Things
2021

Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who's terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke's past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.

Drama
Crime
2h 8m
John Lee Hancock
85
2021 in Moxie (2021)
Moxie
2021

Inspired by her mom's rebellious past and a confident new friend, a shy 16-year-old publishes an anonymous zine calling out sexism at her school.

Comedy
Drama
Hadley Robinson, Lauren Tsai, Alycia Pascual-Peña, Nico Hiraga
84
2021 in Army of the Dead (2021)
Army of the Dead
2021

Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries take the ultimate gamble: venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted.

Crime
Action
Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera

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83
2021 in Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
Godzilla vs. Kong
2021

In a time when monsters walk the Earth, humanity’s fight for its future sets Godzilla and Kong on a collision course that will see the two most powerful forces of nature on the planet collide in a spectacular battle for the ages.

Action
Science Fiction
1h 54m
Adam Wingard
Alexander Skarsgård, Rebecca Hall, Kaylee Hottle, Brian Tyree Henry
82
2021 in The Marksman (2021)
The Marksman
2021

Jim Hanson’s quiet life is suddenly disturbed by two people crossing the US/Mexico border – a woman and her young son – desperate to flee a Mexican cartel. After a shootout leaves the mother dead, Jim becomes the boy’s reluctant defender. He embraces his role as Miguel’s protector and will stop at nothing to get him to safety, as they go on the run from the relentless assassins.

Action
Drama
1h 48m
Robert Lorenz
Liam Neeson, Jacob Perez, Katheryn Winnick, Teresa Ruiz
81
2021 in Infinite (2021)
Infinite
2021

Evan McCauley has skills he never learned and memories of places he has never visited. Self-medicated and on the brink of a mental breakdown, a secret group that call themselves “Infinites” come to his rescue, revealing that his memories are real.

Science Fiction
Action
Mark Wahlberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sophie Cookson, Jason Mantzoukas
80
2021 in Cherry (2021)
Cherry
2021

Cherry drifts from college dropout to army medic in Iraq—anchored only by his one true love, Emily. But after returning from the war with PTSD, his life spirals into drugs and crime as he struggles to find his place in the world.

Drama
Crime
2h 22m
Joe Russo
Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo, Jack Reynor, Michael Rispoli
79
2021 in The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
The Matrix Resurrections
2021

Plagued by strange memories, Neo's life takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself back inside the Matrix.

Science Fiction
Action
2h 28m
Lana Wachowski
Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff
78
2021 in Ron's Gone Wrong (2021)
Ron's Gone Wrong
2021

In a world where walking, talking, digitally connected bots have become children's best friends, an 11-year-old finds that his robot buddy doesn't quite work the same as the others do.

Animation
Science Fiction
1h 47m
Sarah Smith
77

Determined to ensure Superman's ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions.

Action
Adventure
76
2021 in The Dig (2021)
The Dig
2021

As WWII looms, a wealthy widow hires an amateur archaeologist to excavate the burial mounds on her estate. When they make a historic discovery, the echoes of Britain's past resonate in the face of its uncertain future‎.

Drama
History
1h 52m
Simon Stone
Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Johnny Flynn
75
2021 in Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
2021

After finding a host body in investigative reporter Eddie Brock, the alien symbiote must face a new enemy, Carnage, the alter ego of serial killer Cletus Kasady.

Science Fiction
Action
74
2021 in The Mauritanian (2021)
The Mauritanian
2021

The true story of the Mauritanian Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who was held at the U.S military's Guantanamo Bay detention center without charges for over a decade and sought help from a defense attorney for his release.

Drama
Thriller
2h 9m
Kevin Macdonald
Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch, Shailene Woodley
73
2021 in The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
2021

From the 1960s to the 1980s, evangelist Jim Baker and his ambitious wife, Tammy Faye, rose from humble beginnings to build an empire based on big-time evangelical Christianity--only for the couple to fall from grace because of some all-too-human sins.

Drama
History
2h 6m
Michael Showalter
72
2021 in Being the Ricardos (2021)
Being the Ricardos
2021

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage.

Drama
History
2h 12m
Aaron Sorkin
71
2021 in Together Together (2021)
Together Together
2021

When young loner Anna is hired as the surrogate for Matt, a single man in his 40s, the two strangers come to realize this unexpected relationship will quickly challenge their perceptions of connection, boundaries and the particulars of love.

Comedy
Drama
1h 30m
Nikole Beckwith
Ed Helms, Patti Harrison, Anna Konkle, Evan Jonigkeit
70
2021 in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Judas and the Black Messiah
2021

Bill O'Neal infiltrates the Black Panthers on the orders of FBI Agent Mitchell and J. Edgar Hoover. As Black Panther Chairman Fred Hampton ascends—falling for a fellow revolutionary en route—a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul.

Drama
History
2h 5m
Shaka King
69
2021 in The Tomorrow War (2021)
The Tomorrow War
2021

The world is stunned when a group of time travelers arrive from the year 2051 to deliver an urgent message: Thirty years in the future, mankind is losing a global war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians from the present to be transported to the future and join the fight. Among those recruited is high school teacher and family man Dan Forester. Determined to save the world for his young daughter, Dan teams up with a brilliant scientist and his estranged father in a desperate quest to rewrite the fate of the planet.

Action
Science Fiction
2h 18m
Chris McKay
Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J.K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin
68
2021 in Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
Space Jam: A New Legacy
2021

When LeBron and his young son Dom are trapped in a digital space by a rogue A.I., LeBron must get them home safe by leading Bugs, Lola Bunny and the whole gang of notoriously undisciplined Looney Tunes to victory over the A.I.'s digitized champions on the court. It's Tunes versus Goons in the highest-stakes challenge of his life.

Family
Comedy
1h 55m
Malcolm D. Lee
LeBron James, Don Cheadle, Cedric Joe, Jeff Bergman
67
2021 in Minari (2021)
Minari
2021

A Korean American family moves to an Arkansas farm in search of its own American dream. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they discover the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.

Drama
1h 55m
Lee Isaac Chung
Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Youn Yuh-jung, Will Patton
66
2021 in The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
2021

A quirky, dysfunctional family's road trip is upended when they find themselves in the middle of the robot apocalypse and suddenly become humanity's unlikeliest last hope.

Animation
Adventure
1h 54m
Mike Rianda
Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda
65
2021 in Free Guy (2021)
Free Guy
2021

A bank teller discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game, and decides to become the hero of his own story. Now, in a world where there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way before it's too late.

Comedy
Adventure
1h 55m
Shawn Levy
Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery
64
2021 in Luca (2021)
Luca
2021

Luca and his best friend Alberto experience an unforgettable summer on the Italian Riviera. But all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.

Animation
Comedy
1h 35m
Enrico Casarosa
Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Saverio Raimondo
63

Washed-up MMA fighter Cole Young, unaware of his heritage, and hunted by Emperor Shang Tsung's best warrior, Sub-Zero, seeks out and trains with Earth's greatest champions as he prepares to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.

Action
Fantasy
1h 50m
Simon McQuoid
Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, Josh Lawson
62
2021 in A Quiet Place Part II (2021)
A Quiet Place Part II
2021

Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

Science Fiction
Thriller
Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe
61
2021 in Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
2021

When single mom Callie and her two kids Trevor and Phoebe arrive in a small Oklahoma town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

Fantasy
Comedy
2h 4m
Jason Reitman
Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, Bokeem Woodbine
60
2021 in Cruella (2021)
Cruella
2021

In 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, a young grifter named Estella is determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.

Comedy
Crime
2h 14m
Craig Gillespie
Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser
59
2021 in Stillwater (2021)
Stillwater
2021

Bill Baker, an American oil-rig roughneck from Oklahoma, travels to Marseille to visit his estranged daughter, Allison, who is in prison for a murder she claims she did not commit. Confronted with language barriers, cultural differences, and a complicated legal system, Bill builds a new life for himself in France as he makes it his personal mission to exonerate his daughter.

Drama
Crime
2h 19m
Tom McCarthy
Matt Damon, Camille Cottin, Abigail Breslin, Lilou Siauvaud
58
2021 in Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021)
Clifford the Big Red Dog
2021

As Emily struggles to fit in at home and at school, she discovers a small red puppy who is destined to become her best friend. When Clifford magically undergoes one heck of a growth spurt, becomes a gigantic dog and attracts the attention of a genetics company, Emily and her Uncle Casey have to fight the forces of greed as they go on the run across New York City. Along the way, Clifford affects the lives of everyone around him and teaches Emily and her uncle the true meaning of acceptance and unconditional love.

Family
Adventure
1h 36m
Walt Becker
Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, Izaac Wang, John Cleese
57
2021 in Fear Street: 1994 (2021)
Fear Street: 1994
2021

After a series of brutal slayings, a teen and her friends take on an evil force that's plagued their notorious town for centuries.

Horror
Mystery
1h 48m
Leigh Janiak
Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald
56
2021 in Encanto (2021)
Encanto
2021

The tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family—every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family's last hope.

Animation
Comedy
1h 42m
Byron Howard
Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Diane Guerrero
55
2021 in Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)
Spiral: From the Book of Saw
2021

Working in the shadow of an esteemed police veteran, brash Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks and his rookie partner take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city’s gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer’s morbid game.

Horror
Mystery
1h 33m
Darren Lynn Bousman
Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols
54
2021 in Nomadland (2021)
Nomadland
2021

A woman in her sixties embarks on a journey through the western United States after losing everything in the Great Recession, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.

Drama
1h 48m
Chloé Zhao
Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Swankie
53
2021 in Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
2021

During the same summer as Woodstock, over 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The footage from the festival sat in a basement, unseen for over 50 years, keeping this incredible event in America's history lost — until now.

Music
Documentary
1h 57m
Questlove
Stevie Wonder, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chris Rock, Tony Lawrence
52
2021 in Eternals (2021)
Eternals
2021

The Eternals are a team of ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. When an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows, they are forced to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants.

Science Fiction
Action
2h 36m
Chloé Zhao
Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek Pinault
51
2021 in Boiling Point (2021)
Boiling Point
2021

A head chef balances multiple personal and professional crises at a popular restaurant in London.

Drama
Thriller
1h 32m
Philip Barantini
Stephen Graham, Vinette Robinson, Alice May Feetham, Jason Flemyng
50
2021 in Black Widow (2021)
Black Widow
2021

Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

Action
Adventure
2h 14m
Cate Shortland
49
2021 in Jungle Cruise (2021)
Jungle Cruise
2021

Dr. Lily Houghton enlists the aid of wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff to take her down the Amazon in his dilapidated boat. Together, they search for an ancient tree that holds the power to heal – a discovery that will change the future of medicine.

Fantasy
Adventure
2h 7m
Jaume Collet-Serra
Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Edgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall
48
2021 in The King's Man (2021)
The King's Man
2021

As a collection of history's worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them.

Action
Adventure
2h 11m
Matthew Vaughn
Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode
47
2021 in Malcolm & Marie (2021)
Malcolm & Marie
2021

As a filmmaker and his girlfriend return home from his movie premiere, smoldering tensions and painful revelations push them toward a romantic reckoning.

Drama
Romance
1h 46m
Sam Levinson
46
2021 in Red Rocket (2021)
Red Rocket
2021

After hitting rock bottom in Los Angeles, former porn star Mikey Saber returns to his hometown in Texas to stay with his estranged wife and mother-in-law. Just as tensions begin to ease, he becomes infatuated with a young doughnut shop worker named Strawberry.

Drama
Comedy
2h 10m
Sean Baker
Simon Rex, Suzanna Son, Bree Elrod, Ethan Darbone
45
2021 in The Many Saints of Newark (2021)
The Many Saints of Newark
2021

Young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark, N.J., history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters start to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, whose influence over his nephew will help shape the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss, Tony Soprano.

Crime
Drama
2h 0m
Alan Taylor
Alessandro Nivola, Leslie Odom Jr., Michael Gandolfini, Ray Liotta
44
2021 in The Humans (2021)
The Humans
2021

Erik Blake has gathered three generations of his Pennsylvania family to celebrate Thanksgiving at his daughter’s apartment in lower Manhattan. As darkness falls outside and eerie things start to go bump in the night, the group’s deepest fears are laid bare.

Drama
1h 46m
Stephen Karam
Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell, Amy Schumer, Beanie Feldstein
43
2021 in Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
Raya and the Last Dragon
2021

Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people.

Animation
Family
1h 47m
Carlos López Estrada
Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Alan Tudyk
42
2021 in The Harder They Fall (2021)
The Harder They Fall
2021

Gunning for revenge, outlaw Nat Love saddles up with his gang to take down enemy Rufus Buck, a ruthless crime boss who just got sprung from prison.

Western
2h 17m
Jeymes Samuel
41
2021 in In the Heights (2021)
In the Heights
2021

The story of Usnavi, a bodega owner who has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic or staying in Washington Heights.

Drama
Romance
2h 23m
Jon M. Chu
Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera
40
2021 in Petite Maman (2021)
Petite Maman
2021

After the death of her beloved grandmother, eight-year-old Nelly meets a strangely familiar girl her own age in the woods. Instantly forming a connection with this mysterious new friend, Nelly embarks on a fantastical journey of discovery which helps her come to terms with this newfound loss.

Drama
Fantasy
1h 12m
Céline Sciamma
Joséphine Sanz, Gabrielle Sanz, Nina Meurisse, Stéphane Varupenne
39
2021 in Lamb (2021)
Lamb
2021

An Icelandic couple live with their herd of sheep on a beautiful but remote farm. When they discover a mysterious newborn on their land, they decide to keep it and raise it as their own. This unexpected development and the prospects of a new family brings them much joy before ultimately destroying them.

Drama
Fantasy
1h 46m
Valdimar Jóhannsson
Noomi Rapace, Hilmir Snær Guðnason, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Ingvar E. Sigurðsson
38
2021 in The Suicide Squad (2021)
The Suicide Squad
2021

Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

Action
Comedy
2h 12m
James Gunn
Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman
37
2021 in Old (2021)
Old
2021

A group of families on a tropical holiday discover that the secluded beach where they are staying is somehow causing them to age rapidly – reducing their entire lives into a single day.

Thriller
Mystery
Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff
36
2021 in Flee (2021)
Flee
2021

Recounted mostly through animation to protect his identity, Amin looks back over his past as a child refugee from Afghanistan as he grapples with a secret he’s kept hidden for 20 years.

Documentary
Animation
1h 29m
Jonas Poher Rasmussen
Amin Nawabi, Daniel Karimyar, Fardin Mijdzadeh, Milad Eskandari
35
2021 in The White Tiger (2021)
The White Tiger
2021

An ambitious Indian driver uses his wit and cunning to escape from poverty and rise to the top. An epic journey based on the New York Times bestseller.

Drama
2h 5m
Ramin Bahrani
Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mahesh Manjrekar
34
2021 in Finch (2021)
Finch
2021

On a post-apocalyptic Earth, a robot, built to protect the life of his dying creator's beloved dog, learns about life, love, friendship, and what it means to be human.

Science Fiction
Drama
1h 56m
Miguel Sapochnik
Tom Hanks, Caleb Landry Jones, Oscar Avila, Lora Martinez-Cunningham
33
2021 in The Souvenir: Part II (2021)
The Souvenir: Part II
2021

In the aftermath of her tumultuous relationship with a charismatic and manipulative older man, Julie begins to untangle her fraught love for him in making her graduation film, sorting fact from his elaborately constructed fiction.

Romance
Drama
1h 48m
Joanna Hogg
Honor Swinton Byrne, Tilda Swinton, Charlie Heaton, Jaygann Ayeh
32
2021 in Last Night in Soho (2021)
Last Night in Soho
2021

A young girl, passionate about fashion design, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer. But 1960s London is not what it seems, and time seems to be falling apart with shady consequences.

Horror
Mystery
1h 57m
Edgar Wright
Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Rita Tushingham
31
2021 in Passing (2021)
Passing
2021

In 1920s New York City, a Black woman finds her world upended when her life becomes intertwined with a former childhood friend who's passing as white.

Drama
Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård
30
2021 in The Card Counter (2021)
The Card Counter
2021

William Tell just wants to play cards. His spartan existence on the casino trail is shattered when he is approached by Cirk, a vulnerable and angry young man seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel. Tell sees a chance at redemption through his relationship with Cirk. But keeping Cirk on the straight-and-narrow proves impossible, dragging Tell back into the darkness of his past.

Drama
Thriller
1h 51m
Paul Schrader
Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan, Willem Dafoe
29
2021 in Mass (2021)
Mass
2021

Two couples meet for a painful and raw conversation in the aftermath of a violent tragedy.

Drama
1h 51m
Fran Kranz
Martha Plimpton, Jason Isaacs, Ann Dowd, Reed Birney
28
2021 in The Worst Person in the World (2021)
The Worst Person in the World
2021

The chronicles of four years in the life of Julie, a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is.

Drama
Romance
2h 8m
Joachim Trier
Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum, Hans Olav Brenner
27
2021 in Pig (2021)
Pig
2021

A truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregon wilderness must visit Portland to find the mysterious person who stole his beloved foraging pig.

Drama
Thriller
1h 32m
Michael Sarnoski
Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, Adam Arkin, Nina Belforte
26
2021 in No Sudden Move (2021)
No Sudden Move
2021

A group of criminals are brought together under mysterious circumstances and have to work together to uncover what's really going on when their simple job goes completely sideways.

25
2021 in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
2021

Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.

Action
Adventure
2h 12m
Destin Daniel Cretton
Simu Liu, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Awkwafina, Ben Kingsley
24

Two astronomers go on a media tour to warn humankind of a planet-killing comet hurtling toward Earth. The response from a distracted world: Meh.

Comedy
Science Fiction
2h 18m
Adam McKay
23
2021 in The Hand of God (2021)
The Hand of God
2021

In 1980s Naples, Italy, an awkward Italian teen struggling to find his place experiences heartbreak and liberation after he's inadvertently saved from a freak accident by football legend Diego Maradona.

Drama
2h 10m
Paolo Sorrentino
Filippo Scotti, Toni Servillo, Teresa Saponangelo, Luisa Ranieri
22
2021 in King Richard (2021)
King Richard
2021

The story of how Richard Williams served as a coach to his daughters Venus and Serena, who will soon become two of the most legendary tennis players in history.

Drama
History
2h 24m
Reinaldo Marcus Green
Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton
21
2021 in House of Gucci (2021)
House of Gucci
2021

When Patrizia Reggiani, an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately… murder.

Drama
Crime
20
2021 in The Lost Daughter (2021)
The Lost Daughter
2021

A woman's seaside vacation takes a dark turn when her obsession with a young mother forces her to confront secrets from her past.

19
2021 in Annette (2021)
Annette
2021

In present-day Los Angeles, controversial stand-up comedian Henry McHenry and internationally renowned opera singer Ann Defrasnoux form the façade of a happy couple in the spotlight. Ann gives birth to a baby girl named Annette, who possesses an exceptional gift that will change all of their lives forever.

Drama
Romance
2h 20m
Leos Carax
Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, Simon Helberg, Devyn McDowell
18
2021 in Parallel Mothers (2021)
Parallel Mothers
2021

Two unmarried women who have become pregnant by accident and are about to give birth meet in a hospital room: Janis, in her late-thirties, unrepentant and happy; Ana, a teenager, remorseful and frightened.

Drama
Penélope Cruz, Milena Smit, Israel Elejalde, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón
17
2021 in The Last Duel (2021)
The Last Duel
2021

King Charles VI declares that Knight Jean de Carrouges settle his dispute with his squire, Jacques Le Gris, by challenging him to a duel.

16

An ambitious carnival man with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychologist who is even more dangerous than he is.

15
2021 in Police × Heroine Lovepatrina! Movie Version ~Challenge from a Phantom Thief! Let's Arrest with Love and a Pat!~ (2021)
Police × Heroine Lovepatrina! Movie Version ~Challenge from a Phantom Thief! Let's Arrest with Love and a Pat!~
2021

Movie version of the series "Police x Heroine Lovepatrina!".

Fantasy
Science Fiction
1h 17m
Takashi Miike
Miyu Watanabe, Yui Yamashita, Yura Sugiura, Rina Yamaguchi
14
2021 in CODA (2021)
CODA
2021

As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family's fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents.

Drama
Music
1h 52m
Sian Heder
Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Eugenio Derbez
13
2021 in The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
The Tragedy of Macbeth
2021

Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.

Drama
1h 45m
Joel Coen
Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Alex Hassell, Bertie Carvel
12
2021 in C'mon C'mon (2021)
C'mon C'mon
2021

Johnny and his young nephew forge a tenuous but transformational relationship when they embark on a cross-country trip to see life away from Los Angeles.

Drama
1h 49m
Mike Mills
Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman, Scoot McNairy
11
2021 in Titane (2021)
Titane
2021

A woman with a metal plate in her head from a childhood car accident embarks on a bizarre journey, bringing her into contact with a firefighter who's reunited with his missing son after 10 years.

Drama
Thriller
1h 48m
Julia Ducournau
Vincent Lindon, Agathe Rousselle, Garance Marillier, Laïs Salameh
10
2021 in West Side Story (2021)
West Side Story
2021

Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.

Drama
Romance
Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez
Why it ranks

Steven Spielberg rejuvenates a classic with astonishing kinetic energy, using sophisticated camerawork to breathe new life into every iconic choreography sequence. By emphasizing the grit and territorial desperation of the setting, this version justifies its existence through sheer technical prowess and emotional urgency.

9
2021 in Spencer (2021)
Spencer
2021

During her Christmas holidays with the royal family at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England, Diana decides to leave her marriage to Prince Charles.

Drama
1h 56m
Pablo Larraín
Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall, Jack Nielen, Freddie Spry
Why it ranks

Kristen Stewart delivers a performance of jagged intensity in this claustrophobic anti-biopic that functions more as a Gothic horror story than a royal chronicle. Pablo Larraín’s direction creates an oppressive atmosphere of luxury, turning a holiday retreat into a fever dream of psychological unraveling.

8

The staff of an American magazine based in France puts out its last issue, with stories featuring an artist sentenced to life imprisonment, student riots, and a kidnapping resolved by a chef.

Why it ranks

Wes Anderson reaches a pinnacle of aesthetic curation, presenting a triptych of stories that play like a breathless, meticulously detailed love letter to long-form journalism. Its visual density is staggering, offering a symphony of color palettes and symmetrical compositions that only a master stylist could conduct.

7
2021 in No Time to Die (2021)
No Time to Die
2021

Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.

Action
Thriller
2h 43m
Cary Joji Fukunaga
Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch
Why it ranks

Cary Joji Fukunaga delivers a visceral and emotionally weighty finale for Daniel Craig, trading the franchise's usual detachment for a bold sense of finality. It successfully balances tectonic action set-pieces with a surprisingly tender core, modernizing the character for a more complex era.

6
2021 in The Green Knight (2021)
The Green Knight
2021

An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain, King Arthur's reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men.

Adventure
Drama
2h 10m
David Lowery
Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury
Why it ranks

David Lowery’s psychedelic interpretation of Arthurian lore replaces heroic tropes with a haunting, visionary exploration of mortality and moral failure. Every frame is a museum-quality painting, grounding its surrealist imagery in a muddy, visceral sense of medieval dread.

5
2021 in The Power of the Dog (2021)
The Power of the Dog
2021

A domineering but charismatic rancher wages a war of intimidation on his brother's new wife and her teen son, until long-hidden secrets come to light.

Drama
Western
2h 7m
Jane Campion
Why it ranks

Jane Campion dismantles the mythology of the American West with razor-sharp precision, weaponizing silence and scenery to create a domestic thriller of agonizing tension. Benefiting from Benedict Cumberbatch’s career-best ferocity, this is a masterclass in psychological subversion and tactile filmmaking.

4
2021 in Belfast (2021)
Belfast
2021

Buddy is a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, whose life is filled with familial love, childhood hijinks, and a blossoming romance. Yet, with his beloved hometown caught up in increasing turmoil, his family faces a momentous choice: hope the conflict will pass or leave everything they know behind for a new life.

Drama
History
Jude Hill, Jamie Dornan, Caitríona Balfe, Lewis McAskie
Why it ranks

Kenneth Branagh filters the political turbulence of his youth through a luminous, monochrome lens, resulting in a memoir that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. The film eschews gritty hyper-realism for a soulful, song-filled vitality that celebrates the resilience of the family unit.

3
2021 in Drive My Car (2021)
Drive My Car
2021

Yusuke Kafuku, a stage actor and director, still unable, after two years, to cope with the loss of his beloved wife, accepts to direct Uncle Vanya at a theater festival in Hiroshima. There he meets Misaki, an introverted young woman, appointed to drive his car. In between rides, secrets from the past and heartfelt confessions will be unveiled.

Drama
2h 59m
Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Hidetoshi Nishijima, Toko Miura, Masaki Okada, Reika Kirishima
Why it ranks

Ryusuke Hamaguchi transforms a three-hour meditation on grief and Chekhov into a profoundly intimate road movie that never feels its length. It is a quiet miracle of storytelling, proving that the most expansive cinematic journeys often take place within the cramped confines of a red Saab 900.

2
2021 in Licorice Pizza (2021)
Licorice Pizza
2021

The story of Gary Valentine and Alana Kane growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973.

Drama
Comedy
Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits
Why it ranks

Paul Thomas Anderson captures the sun-drenched, chaotic aimlessness of 1970s adolescence with an intoxicating rhythm that feels entirely improvised yet meticulously composed. Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman debut with such electric chemistry that the film practically vibrates with the ache of young adulthood.

1
2021 in Dune (2021)
2021

Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Why it ranks

Denis Villeneuve achieves the impossible by translating Frank Herbert’s dense ecology into a staggering sensory experience that demands the largest screen imaginable. Its brutalist scale and Hans Zimmer’s transcendent wall of sound redefine the modern sci-fi epic as a work of high art.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

The best movies of 2021 spanned a diverse array of genres including drama, science fiction, adventure, and romance. Notable examples include the epic sci-fi film 'Dune', the romantic drama 'Licorice Pizza', and the fantasy drama 'The Green Knight'. This variety highlights the year’s rich cinematic tapestry.

Several 2021 films were praised for their exceptional storytelling and direction, such as 'Drive My Car' by Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Jane Campion’s 'The Power of the Dog'. These films achieved widespread acclaim for their intricate narratives and powerful character studies.

The films of 2021 marked a triumphant return for cinema, showcasing resilience and innovation after the 2020 pandemic-induced industry halt. Titles like 'No Time to Die' blended traditional theatrical spectacle with evolving viewing habits, underscoring cinema's adaptability in a changing landscape.

Yes, indie films like 'Licorice Pizza' and 'C’mon C’mon' stood out in 2021 for their unique voices and intimate storytelling. These movies delivered heartfelt narratives that resonated widely despite competing with big-budget productions.

'Titane' is a standout 2021 film that uniquely blends drama, thriller, and horror elements. Directed by Julia Ducournau, it garnered attention for its bold and unconventional approach to genre filmmaking.

Historical and biographical themes feature prominently in films like 'Belfast', which captures the impacts of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, and 'Spencer', which offers an intimate portrayal of Princess Diana. These films provide viewers with emotionally compelling insights into real-world events and figures.

International cinema had a strong presence in 2021's best movies, with films like 'Drive My Car' from Japan and 'Titane' from France showcasing diverse storytelling styles and cultural perspectives. This international influence enriched the cinematic landscape by introducing global narratives to wider audiences.

Classic literary adaptations were significant in 2021, exemplified by 'The Tragedy of Macbeth', which brought Shakespeare’s iconic play to the screen with a modern cinematic vision. Such adaptations helped bridge timeless stories with contemporary filmmaking techniques.
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