2020 was a rough year for movies, in large part because the COVID-19 pandemic caused movie theaters across the country to lose a significant amount of business for the majority of the year. Thankfully 2021 has seen a triumphant return of big-screen movies, and there have been plenty of amazing films to see both in theatres and via premium streaming services.
From the highly-anticipated Sci-Fi epic Dune to small-scale surprise hits like Pig, the past year has seen a number of quality films every movie aficionado should see. The best of the best stand out for their ability to captivate the audience, for being unique in a sea of sequels and remakes, and for filmmaking expertise that raises the artistic bar for the next year of movies.
The Green Knight
- Released July 30, 2021
- Directed by David Lowery
- Starring Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Raph Ineson
The Green Knight is a visually stunning movie that adapts the Medieval tale of Sir Gawain. It is a chivalric romance at heart that follows Dev Patel as Sir Gawain in his quest to become a knight and embody the chivalric values of Arthurian legend. As one of the few high-budget fantasy epics in recent years, The Green Knight sets a new bar for cinematic excellence.
As an A24 feature, The Green Knight is far from a lighthearted film, putting its own darker spin on the classic story. It's a film viewers will want (and, perhaps need) to watch over and over again to fully grasp the concepts and themes at play. Plus, it's on its way to becoming a classic Christmas movie in its own way.
Dune
- Released October 22, 2021
- Directed by Denis Villeneuve
- Starring Timothee Chalamet, Stellan Skarsgård, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson
Denis Villeneuve has made a name for himself as a Sci-Fi director with mind-bending films like Arrival and the critically-acclaimed Blade Runner 2049. Dune is something of an achievement for Villeneuve for being able to adapt the vast and complex universe of Dune to the big screen after critical failures from past directors.
Denis Villeneuve's Dune is a cinematic masterpiece that takes its time in setting up its elaborate set pieces, characters, and interlacing plot. It's an experience not to be missed that sets a new standard for Sci-Fi epics in the decades to come.
Pig
- Released July 16, 2021
- Directed by Michael Sarnoski
- Starring Nicholas Cage, Alex Wolff, Nina Belforte
Pig is a film that took audiences and critics by surprise with a raw story of love and grief led by none other than Nicholas Cage. Cage has made a name for himself in recent years by starring in a number of low-budget indie films, many of which fail to meet audience expectations. Pig is something else entirely.
The movie meanders between melancholic and meditative moments and allows Cage to show off the acting skills many don't give him credit for. Pig is ultimately a very moving film that portrays life in loss with a masterfully somber tone.
Last Night In Soho
- Released October 29, 2021
- Directed by Edgar Wright
- Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Matt Smith
Edgar Wright has put out several cult classic comedies over the years, most notably Sean of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and the action-packed Baby Driver. Known for his sense of rhythm, Wright takes on the Horror genre more seriously in Last Night in Soho, though it's not a movie without his trademark sense of flow and timing.
Anya Taylor-Joy of The Queen's Gambit and Thomasin McKenzie of JoJo Rabbit make up two halves of a whole in this mind-bending thriller that takes viewers to the height of 20th-century glitz and back, blurring the lines between the eras. If people like Edgar Wright's other work and want to see him expertly try his hand at something more serious, Last Night in Soho is not to be missed.
The French Dispatch
- Released October 22, 2021
- Directed by Wes Anderson
- Starring Timothee Chalamet, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Benicio Del Toro
2021 has seen a number of high-profile directors put out features after years without. Wes Anderson, known for The Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom, returns to his wholly unique sense of artistic direction on screen with The French Dispatch.
The French Dispatch has a fantastic sense of space on-camera, a vibrant pastel color palette, and a multi-branching narrative that's as compelling as it is verbose. It's not the best Wes Anderson film, but if viewers like his directing style and creative edge, viewers will love it anyway.
The Suicide Squad
- Released August 6, 2021
- Directed by James Gunn
- Starring Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Nathan Fillion
The Suicide Squad is a movie nobody knew they wanted. After the critical failures of David Ayer's Suicide Squad, James Gunn (of Guardians of the Galaxy fame) went for his own take on the antihero troupe – and it more than paid off. The Suicide Squad turns the comic-book logic up to 11 and offers up plenty of its own colorful flair in its visuals and its assortment of characters.
If people saw the 2016 version of Suicide Squad featuring "Damaged" Joker, they should forget everything they know and give this interpretation a try instead. It exceeds expectations and brings enough brutal violence and comedic ridiculousness to satisfy even the most staunch superhero-movie hater.
Luca
- Released June 18, 2021
- Directed by Enrico Casarosa
- Starring Jacob Tremblay, Maya Rudolph, Jim Gaffigan, Sacha Baron Cohen
Luca is the latest Disney-Pixar joint film that uses the studios' combined animation and storytelling talent to bring mystical life to the Italian Riviera. It follows the titular Luca, a sea monster assuming a human disguise, as he discovers a new friendship in a mythological and folklore-laden adventure.
The film was inspired heavily by the aesthetic and legends of the real-life Italian Riviera as well as the director's childhood experiences in Genoa. It's a surprisingly captivating children's movie with themes of acceptance for being different, and adults will find just as much meaning in Luca as kids.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Released September 3, 2021
- Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
- Starring Simu Liu, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Awkwafina, Ben Kingsley
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings had a lot of hype to live up to, especially following the relative failure of Marvel's Black Widow earlier in the year. In the wake of the climax of The Avengers saga, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings proves that Marvel can still put out stunning superhero flicks.
Like many Marvel movies, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings intersperses its grand action sequences with comedy, though not to quite the degree of Guardians of the Galaxy. It's worth checking out whether you're a Marvel fan or not.
Candyman
- Released August 27, 2021
- Directed by Nia DaCosta
- Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tony Todd, Vanessa Estelle Williams, Teyonah Parris
The horror movie Candyman is actually the fourth movie in a long-running series of movies that hasn't seen an installment since 1992. It serves as a kind of soft reboot that introduces a new generation to this unique slasher.
Originally slated to release in 2020, Candyman was pushed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and as the hype died down it ultimately didn't receive the attention it deserved. Horror fans (and fans of the decades-old Candyman films) shouldn't miss it.
The Last Duel
- Released July 30, 2021
- Directed by Ridley Scott
- Starring Matt Damon, Jodie Comer, Adam Driver, Ben Affleck, Caoimhe O'Malley
The Last Duel was released to critical acclaim but was later regarded as a box office flop. If you can get past Ridley Scott's tendency to blame millennials for the lack of sales, the film is well worth watching for its dark tone and commitment to realism.
The film depicts the events surrounding France's last trial by combat through the perspective of three people told in three separate chapters. It's beautifully shot and masterfully acted, and it's just a shame it didn't draw audiences on release.