Cinema took a big hit with COVID, but the early 2020s still managed to serve up more than a few gems. 2021 was a particularly interesting year for the movies, delivering a diverse array of memorable films that ranged from the introspective to the spectacular.The year’s highlights run the gamut from a surreal medieval odyssey to a heart-wrenching Western and a multiversal superhero event.
With this in mind, this list looks atthe strongest films from 2021. Whether it’s an unorthodox revenge thriller, a reinterpretation of an old legend, or an epic sci-fi extravaganza, all these projects combine impeccable artistry and compelling storytelling.
10’Pig' (2021)
Directed by Michael Sarnoski
“We don’t get a lot of things to really care about.“Nicolas Cageturns in one of his most intriguing performances here as Rob, a reclusive truffle hunter living in the Oregon wilderness with his beloved pig. When his pig is stolen, Rob heads to the city to retrieve her, enlisting the reluctant help of Amir (Alex Wolff), a young supplier to high-end restaurants. But what seems like a straightforward quest for vengeance becomesa quiet, melancholic meditationon loss, grief, and the impermanence of success.
Cage’s work in this one is restrained and heartbreaking, nailing the film’s surprisingly complex emotional beats. It’s proof that he can be brilliant when he wants to be (and isn’t consumed by Cage Rage or tricked by shoddy scripts). In contrast to the hammer parts Cage has played in recent years, his character here was once a legendary chef but is now a broken person forced to confront the ghosts of his past. The film is also an unusual celebration of food, linking meals with memory.
9’The Power of the Dog' (2021)
Directed by Jane Campion
“Bronco Henry told me that a man was made by patience in the odds against him.” A masterfully slow-burning psychological Western,The Power of the DogfeaturesBenedict Cumberbatchas Phil Burbank, a domineering rancher whose cruelty masks deep insecurities. When his brother George (Jesse Plemons) marries the fragile Rose (Kirsten Dunst), Phil senses her weakness and torments her. But as the film unfolds, Phil’s dynamic with Rose’s son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) takes an unexpected turn, leading to a conclusion that redefines everything that came before it.
Jane Campioncrafts a film filled with stunning landscapes and layered performances, using silence and subtext as weapons.Every glance, every unspoken word, carries weight. The cast rises to the occasion with committed performances. Plemons is typically stellar and Dunst delivers her best work since Melancholia, while Smit-McPhee and Cumberbatch play off one another well. In the end, it’s not the most entertaining Western, but it’sone of the smartest.
The Power of the Dog
8’Last Night in Soho' (2021)
Directed by Edgar Wright
“This is London. Someone has died in every room in every building and on every street corner in the city.“Edgar Wrightpushed himself out of his comfort zone withLast Night in Soho, his first film not leaning on comedy or silliness. This neon-drenched psychological thriller starts as a dreamy love letter to the 1960s before spiraling into a nightmarish horror story. The plot centers on Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie), who moves to London and begins experiencing vivid dreams that transport her to the 1960s.
There, she inhabits the life of Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy), a glamorous singer whose rise to fame quickly turns into something far darker. The movie might fall somewhat short of its potential, but it’s still gorgeous and haunting, shot through with nostalgia. The cinematography and music are terrific throughout.Wright’s craftmanship is impressive as always, drawing on many cinematic references but transmuting them intototally new and fully his own.
Last Night in Soho
7’The Green Knight' (2021)
Directed by David Lowery
“I fear I am not meant for greatness.“The Green Knightisa hypnotic, visually stunning reimagining of the Arthurian legend. Dev Patelleads the cast as Sir Gawain, an untested knight desperate to prove his worth, who accepts a challenge from the mysterious Green Knight: strike him down now, and in one year, receive the same blow in return. On his journey to fulfill this bargain, Gawain encounters strange visions, temptations, and a world that seems to shift around him.
DirectorDavid Lowery, who also made the fantasticA Ghost Story, infuses the film withdreamlike imagery and deep existential weight. Gawain’s quest isn’t defined by chivalric glory but by his internal struggles, his flaws, and the weight of his choices. This introspective approach grounds the story and makes the fantastical elements hit all the harder. In the process, Lowery and his cast dust off a well-worn story and make it sparkle again.
The Green Knight
6’The Last Duel' (2021)
Directed by Ridley Scott
“The truth does not matter. There is only the power of men.” After a string of somewhat underwhelming projects,Ridley Scottroared back to form with this gripping medieval epic, inspired by real events. It recounts the brutal conflict between knight Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and his former friend, the cunningJacques Le Gris(Adam Driver), after Jean’s wife,Marguerite(Jodie Comer), accuses Jacques of assaulting her. The story is told through three perspectives—Jean’s, Jacques’s, and Marguerite’s—each revealing how bias and self-interest distort reality.
Scott pulls off thisRashomontrick well, turning what could have been a mediocre action flick into an engaging, thought-provoking historical tale. The script, co-written by Damon andBen Affleck, is strong, avoiding clichés or stilted dialogue, drawing the characters in shades of gray. The screenplay provides a sturdy foundation for Scott’s vivid visuals.The duel itself is one of the most intense fight scenes of the last few years—visceral, chaotic, and emotionally charged.
The Last Duel
5’Spider-Man: No Way Home' (2021)
Directed by Jon Watts
“With great power, comes great responsibility.” Picking up after the events ofFar From Home,No Way Homesees Peter Parker (Tom Holland) dealing with the fallout of having his identity exposed to the world. Desperate to fix his life, he turns to Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for help, but the spell goes wrong, tearing open the multiverse and unleashing villains from pastSpider-Manfranchises. Peter must confront legendary foes like Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), though friendly faces from the past also come to his aid.
In this regard,No Way Homeis more than just another superhero movie—it’s a celebration of nearly two decades of Spider-Man on screen. The meta, multiverse approach works well, bringing backTobey MaguireandAndrew Garfieldin ways that feel organic and justified rather than gimmicky. Not for nothing,No Way Homewas a massive hit, quickly becoming the highest-grossing movie of that year.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
4’Belfast' (2021)
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
“You have to be good. And if you can’t be good… be careful.” Drawing heavily on directorKenneth Branagh’s own childhood,Belfastis a nostalgic coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of political unrest in Northern Ireland. At the center of it all is Buddy (Jude Hill), a bright and curious boy whose neighborhood is torn apart by sectarian violence. Through Buddy’s eyes, we see moments of joy, love, and community alongside the harsh realities of The Troubles.
While not groundbreaking or grand in scale,Belfastsucceeds as an intimate snapshot of a particular time and place. Branagh brings 1960s Belfast to life, making it feel alive and real rather than a history lesson. The movie may not be entirely objective or provide a panoramic view of the conflict, but it’s not trying to be. It’s like an autobiographical tone poem, placing ordinary people and their emotions front and center.
3’Licorice Pizza' (2021)
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
“Do you think it’s weird I hang out with Gary and his friends all the time?“Licorice Pizzais another coming-of-age story, this time set in 1970s California. It focuses on the unlikely friendship and romance between teenage entrepreneur Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) and the slightly older, directionless Alana Kane (Alana Haim). Gary, a 15-year-old child actor with boundless confidence, constantly reinvents himself, while Alana, in her twenties, drifts through jobs and relationships, never quite finding her place.
At first,Licorice Pizzamight seem like a considerable step down from directorPaul Thomas Anderson’s masterworks. However, it’s thoughtful and brilliant in its own way. The characters are exceptionally layered and complex, both in terms of the writing and the impressive performances from the young leads. The meandering structure might not be for everyone, but for those willing to go along for the ride,Licorice Pizzaoffers a dreamy, sun-soaked trip back in time.
Licorice Pizza
2’Drive My Car' (2021)
Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
“We must go on living.“Drive My Caris a sprawling drama adapted from a story byHaruki Murakami, who also wrote the story on whichLee Chang-dong’sBurningwas based. It follows Yūsuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a renowned stage actor and director who is still processing the sudden loss of his wife. When he accepts a residency to directUncle Vanyain Hiroshima, he is assigned a quiet, enigmatic driver, Misaki (Tōko Miura). They spend hours together in his car, their conversations revealing buried emotions, regrets, and unspoken pain.
The film clocks in at three hours, but very little of it feels like filler. Every scene serves as a narrative function, peeling back layers of the characters, the extended runtime allowing emotions to build naturally.It makes for a thoughtful statement on loss and moving forward.Rather than spelling everything out,Drive My Carleaves space for interpretation, letting the audience reach their own conclusions.
Drive My Car
1’Dune: Part One' (2021)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
“A great man doesn’t seek to lead. He’s called to it.” Claiming the top spot on this list isDenis Villeneuve’s firstDunefilm. Adapted fromFrank Herbert’s legendary novel, it follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), the heir to a powerful dynasty, as his family is sent to the desert planet Arrakis to oversee the valuable spice trade. Sleek, smart, and visually masterful,Duneis the kind of grand, ambitious sci-fi epic that Hollywood rarely attempts any more.
The world-building is simply extraordinary here. Villeneuve ably translates to the screen even the zaniest of Herbert’s ideas, including spice visions, anti-gravity devices, and giant sandworms. He does so while abandoning the campiness ofDavid Lynch’s version, making the movies appear dark and plausible. The finished product is blockbuster entertainment for adults, a movie that’s simultaneously intelligent and incredibly entertaining. Finally, there’s the score byHans Zimmer. Its orchestral grandeur and ethereal vocal chants create a soundscape unlike any other.
A noble family becomes embroiled in a war for control over the galaxy’s most valuable asset while its heir becomes troubled by visions of a dark future.
