The 10 Best Films of 2021

“The movies are back!”

We heard that sentiment a lot during the past year. But was it actually true? Plenty of theaters reopened around the country – some faster than others, depending on where you lived. But attendance moved in fits and starts – some films opened to strong numbers, others to near-empty seats. Occasionally, a massive blockbuster would provide a refreshing jolt to anxious theater owners, but even those were in scanter supply than in the Before Times, as several high-profile releases either made the leap to streaming or were postponed (again) to 2022.

I returned to movie theaters early in the summer season, after over a year away, and continue to pop by once every week or two. But most of the films I watched this year were through at-home devices – streaming sites, DVD, and digital rental. Although audiences are growing more comfortable with mass gatherings, they’ve also grown more fond of movies on the couch, and it’s not clear whether we’ll ever consistently see 2019-level box office numbers again. Movie studios like Disney and Universal are adapting to the new streaming world, but it will take several years (plus an abundance of trial and error) for us to gauge the extent of change in the industry.

The films that I enjoyed most this year came on a variety of platforms – some theatrical, some streaming, some a mix of both. In these continually uneven times, they kept things entertaining, whether I watched them on a large screen in a massive crowd or on a little home tablet. We may continue to debate the best way to enjoy movies, but the immortal point is we’re still enjoying them.

These were the best films of 2021.

---

10. Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar

A bright gumball of a movie that provided some of the best left-field comedy of the year. Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo play a pair of quirky middle-aged women whose sunny summer vacation takes some bizarre and ridiculous turns. Filled with killer mosquitoes, burgeoning culottes, wacky musical numbers, and a special appearance by Richard Cheese, Barb & Star made a splash as one of the year’s most enjoyable surprises. The cast is terrific, with Wiig having particular fun in a dual role as both one of the title characters and the film’s villain, and the entire film gets by on unapologetic silliness. Barb & Star may not appeal to every taste, but it’s a total goof of a movie for anyone willing to get on its wavelength.

---

9. King Richard

Yes, it’s carefully polished and ultra-curated Oscar bait. But did you know that’s not always a bad thing? King Richard isn’t shy about its intentions, but it’s a well-told and compelling story about the early days of Venus and Serena Williams, and the tough, no-nonsense father who pushed them to maximize their tennis game for the world. Will Smith gives an excellent performance as the title dad, and while the film does sand off his aggressive edges (again, can’t scare off the Oscar votes!), he crafts a character who is both obsessive and achingly human. The film carefully threads the needle between awards magnet and crowd-pleaser, with Smith and Co. selling every scene, and multiple rousing tennis matches punctuating the story. Hews to formula, but tough to resist.

---

8. Spider-Man: No Way Home

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been running for so long – and has become so embedded in our pop-cultural subconsciousness – that we sometimes forget the level of coordination and orchestration required to craft some of its most ambitious and intricate crossovers. And it’s this level of skill which infuses No Way Home, the third film in the MCU’s Spider-Man series and the ninth(!) film to center on the most bankable character in modern box-office history. Hyped beyond belief, with the imposed goal of satisfying multiple cross-sections of a passionate fandom, No Way Home impressively keeps several plates in the air, telling a darker and heavier Spidey tale than the prior two Holland films while still retaining the wit and humor that has defined the character and franchise. Long and not subtle in its fanservice, but an impressive achievement for both Marvel and blockbuster filmmaking at large.

---

7. A Quiet Place Part II

After 14 long months, I broke my theater hiatus on Memorial Day weekend and returned to the big-screen movies – specifically, to this previously-delayed sequel to John Krasinski’s excellent A Quiet Place. The second installment of the series had many of the strengths of the first – taut suspense, palpable atmosphere, excellent use of sound (or lack thereof) – while smoothly transitioning the weight of the story from the adults to the kids. Filled with creative and inventive scares, the film delivers the goods and even utilizes the “children in peril” trope in a manner that doesn’t feel weak or manufactured. While not as fresh or revolutionary as the original film (monsters are never as scary once you’ve seen them in broad daylight), Part II distinguishes itself as a worthy film on its own – and nicely sets up more storylines in the future.

---

6. The Mitchells vs. the Machines

Originally set for theatrical release (under the less distinctive title Connected), Sony’s ingenious ode to Web culture wound up an Internet film itself, streaming on Netflix to much buzz and acclaim. Combining elements of a dysfunctional family road trip comedy with a tale of technology gone mad, Mitchells proved to be a funny, heartfelt, and thoroughly entertaining adventure. It’s also one of the year’s best visual pleasures, combining 3D models and 2D textures and peppering the scenery with colorful Web-inspired visuals throughout. (The film even managed to create a few Internet memes of its own – the “Behold! Cinema!” line appears particularly popular, though I’m more partial to “Dog! Pig! Dog! Pig! Loaf of bread!”) A clever commentary on advanced tech and meme culture for adults, and just a plain fun time for kids.

---

5. Dune

For decades, Frank Herbert’s Dune was deemed “unfilmable” by Hollywood – a perception hardened by the much-maligned 1984 adaptation from David Lynch. But decades later, sci-fi artisan Denis Villeneuve proved adept at the task. Dune (or Dune Part One, if you prefer not to go along with misleading marketing campaigns) is an immersive and visually captivating take on Herbert’s work, carefully building its world of warring factions and mythical lore in a way that respects the original work while welcoming new audiences into the fold. Filled with sprawling landscapes and striking colors, rumbling Voices and an earthy Hans Zimmer score, Dune is an ode to the senses, commanding the eyes and ears for 150 minutes. The cast is also impressive, with A-grade performances from the likes of Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, and Jason Momoa. (I’m a bit less enamored with Chalamet, but he’s served well by the supporting cast.) The film’s main drawback is its incompleteness, but even that should be rectified with time – stay tuned for Part Two in 2023.

---

4. CODA

Originally premiering at Sundance, CODA made headlines when Apple acquired it for a whopping $25 million (a festival record) for their streaming service. A remake of a 2014 French film, CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) is a warm and moving family drama about a high-school girl (Emilia Jones) – the only member of her family with hearing ability – and the tensions that develop when she begins to display a school talent for singing. Great performances (notably from the parents, played by deaf actors Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin) and an inviting sense of humor excuse the predictable story beats, and several key musical choices breathe emotional energy into the film. The film’s utilization of communicative methods – speech vs. ASL – is particularly noteworthy, wisely oscillating between one method and the other. And yes, I did get a little teary-eyed by the end. Shut up.

---

3. West Side Story

As I’m writing this, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is cratering in theaters -a shame, as it’s the rare remake (or second adaptation; both this film and the 1961 original are based on the original stage play) that achieves the best of both ends. It respects the spirit of the original source material while standing confidently on its own merits. A few casting voids (such as Ansel Elgort as the new Tony) are a small flaw in the face of incredible musical numbers, immersive set design, vivid sense of time and place, and the electric work of Ariana DeBose as Anita – whose original actress, Rita Moreno, makes a welcome return. Matching and at times even surpassing the original film (the new “America” sequence is a knockout), the film is an emotional thrill ride, and proof that Spielberg – even after five decades in the business – hasn’t lost his touch.

---

2. The Father

Last year’s Oscars were a lopsided affair, as several of the top 2020 nominees technically did not receive wide release till 2021. One such example was The Father, Florian Zeller’s moving, minimalist tale of an elderly man (Anthony Hopkins) grappling with dementia. Adapted from Zeller’s own play, The Father is an artful, sensitive story that will surely resonate with many viewers. It allows us to view the debilitation from an internal point of view, with several scenes as palpably real as they are shocking. Not an easy watch by any stretch, but it’s an incredible achievement, and the strongest of last year’s Best Picture nominees, thanks in good part to Hopkins’ vivid, award-winning performance.

---

1. Pig

Few actors have had a career trajectory as unconventional as Nicholas Cage (as I indicated previously in the yin to this article’s yang). His knack for choosing strange, high-concept pictures has led to a lot of misses, but he occasionally still scores a direct hit. No better example of this exists than Pig, a subversive existential drama about one man’s search for his truffle-sniffing porcine pal. Sold from the outset as the grittiest take on a man/animal friendship since John Wick, Pig soon reveals itself to be deeper and more thoughtful than anticipated – at its core, it’s a meditative commentary on food and fine dining. Over the course of just 90 minutes, Pig explores the nature of how food (both in preparation and consumption) shapes our perceptions of the world, our philosophies on life, the people we befriend and those we antagonize. Cage delivers one of his greatest performances as a once-great chef who inadvertently and reluctantly reconnects with his old hometown through the nature of his homegrown cooking. By turns dark, moving, and profoundly funny, Pig is a gorgeous-looking and remarkably effective character study, and stands as the best film of 2021.

---

Honorable Mentions

Boss Level, Free Guy, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Gunpowder Milkshake, The Last Duel, Last Night in Soho, Minari, Nobody, Shiva Baby, The Suicide Squad

Thank you for reading. And here’s to continuing recovery – for TV, movies, and the world – in 2022.