The Best Movies of 2021

After a quiet 2020 at the cinemas, moviegoers were hoping for a big year in cinema in 2021 and boy, 2021 did not disappoint. There was some truly amazing output across multiple genres this year. Movies that made me cheer, made me cry and made me laugh. Today I want to talk about some of these films and tell you why you need to check them out So, without further ado, here are my 15 favourite films of 2021. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion and there are plenty of other films that could easily make this list. So here we go:

15. Malignant – When I first heard that James Wan (The Conjuring, Saw, Insidious) was headed back to the horror genre in 2021 after dabbling with blockbusters ‘Furious 7’ and ‘Aquaman’ I was excited to say the least and he did not disappoint. Whilst this film isn’t inherently scary, the pure entertainment that this film offers is enough for me to recommend it. The production design is gorgeous, Wan’s direction is lively and energetic, and the score is fantastic. The movie has a breakneck pace that makes it breeze by. This one is James Wan’s love letter to horror cinema. A must watch for genre fans.

Buy Malignant on DVD here

14. Cruella – One of the biggest surprises of 2021 for me, was Disney’s live-action reboot/prequel, origin story of Cruella De Vil. The cast do a fantastic job at bringing these iconic characters to life. Emma Thompson shines as the baroness and I loved Emma Stone as Cruella. This is definitely one of the best Disney adaptations in recent years. Check this one out if you get the chance.

Buy Cruella on DVD, Blu-ray & 4K UHD here

13. Candyman – 1992s Candyman is one of the best horror flicks of the 1990s, so naturally, I was excited for a sequel directed by Nia DaCosta and produced by Jordan Peele. Director Nia DaCosta does such a great job here with this film, balancing the heady themes and social commentary with suspense and thrills that will appease fans young and old. This film is incredibly stylish and tastefully handled, with a mature look at some of its heady themes. The film is filled to the brim with amazing visuals and a deep mythology that keeps the viewer engaged and enthralled in the mythology and the lore of the characters and the story. The cast all do a fantastic job here as well, giving weight and emotion to this story and making the characters feel real. It’s fascinating and one for audiences to check out. The movie beckons to be analysed.

Buy Candyman on DVD, Blu-ray & 4K UHD here

12. Last Night in Soho – A period piece, thriller from writer/director Edgar Wright, sounds too good to be true doesn’t it, but in 2021 we got exactly that! ‘The Last Night in Soho’ was such a fun ride. The film has Wright’s signature style, energetic direction and a soundtrack that will have your feet tapping throughout. This film was simply stunning. From start to finish I found myself wrapped up in the mystery and my eyes were delighted by the beautiful 1960s set and costume design. Not only is the film a visual treat, but it is also a definite love letter to 1960s cinema, from one of the best filmmakers to ever hold a camera. A must watch.

Buy Last Night In Soho on DVD, Blu-ray & 4K UHD here

11. The Suicide Squad – The only comic book film to make its way onto my favourite films of the year list this year was James Gunn’s foray into the DC Cinematic Universe with the 2021 reboot/sequel ‘The Suicide Squad’. The film is hilarious, with Gunn’s signature humour on full display. The characters are quirky, fun, and insane and Gunn does a great job at giving these characters a sense of humanity and depth that other directors miss. I had a blast with this one and can’t wait for James Gunn’s HBO spin-off show ‘Peacemaker’ with John Cena returning as the title character in early 2022.

Buy The Suicide Squad on DVD, Blu-ray & 4K UHD here

10. The Mitchell’s vs The Machine’s – The only animated film to make it into my list this year was the Sony Animation, Netflix joint ‘The Mitchells vs The Machines’. This film was beautiful on many different levels. The story is full of heart, amazing characters, and gorgeous animation. It was a visual treat but left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside after watching it. That’s my type of film!

Buy The Mitchells Vs The Machines on DVD here

9.The Dry - I will admit, I haven’t read Jane Harpers international best selling novel ‘The Dry’, but Robert Connolly’s film adaptation was simply stunning. Eric Bana proves he still has chops, after a Hollywood hiatus, he returns to the silver screen in fine form. This film shows how the past can have a huge impact on a person, set to the backdrop of one of the worst droughts in Australian history, with the harsh Australian outback serving as an amazing location for this film. This is a stunning film and a must watch for those after a good mystery. 

Buy The Dry on DVD or Blu-ray here

8. The Empty Man – A movie I have talked endlessly about in 2021 but one that is worth the attention, ‘The Empty Man’. The film had a limited run in 2020, however, I am counting it as a 2021 release as like many viewers, I only came across the film this year. The film is completely and utterly fascinating. The film is populated by a great mystery at the core of the story and boasts a great central performance from James Badge Dale. I adore this film and similar to Candyman, it needs your un-divided attention. A must-watch.

Buy The Empty Man on DVD here

7. Dune – Arguably my most anticipated film of 2021, Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel did not disappoint. This film is epic in its scale and gorgeous in its presentation. The action set-pieces feel real and look incredible. The sheer scale of the world is well-realised, and the cast are all brilliant with Timothee Chalomat and Rebecca Fergusson standing out as Paul and Lady Jessica. I cannot wait for Part II to grace us with its presence in 2023.

Shop For Dune here

6. Antlers – Yet another horror film on my list, ‘Antlers’ was the victim of the Disney, Fox merger and was shelved for over a year, but finally got its due in 2021 when it was released in cinemas. This movie is fantastic. From its opening sequence, it holds you firmly in its grasp and does let you go. I thought about this film, long after the credits had rolled and to me that is the tell-tale sign that this is a classic in the making. Scott Coopers direction is beautiful in a very haunting way. I loved this movie. I have watched it three times already!

Buy Antlers on DVD & Blu-ray here

5. No Time to Die – Another anticipated film for me in 2021 was Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond with ‘No Time to Die’. After being delayed a total of four times, I was overjoyed when I finally got to sit in a crowded cinema watching one of the best films of 2021. This film is filled with amazing action set-pieces, a great score and a well-realised story and fitting conclusion for Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond. Craig is amazing as bond, turning in his best performance as the character to date. I loved this film and cannot wait to watch it again on 4K UHD in January!

Buy No Time To Die From Our James Bond Movies Selection here

4. The Power of The Dog – A film I did not know I wanted to see in 2021 was a Benedict Cumberbatch led, Jane Campion directed, slow-burn Western, but boy am I glad that I got to see it. This film is incredible. Campion directs the hell out of this movie, highlighting the harshness of the land and the brutality of family. Cumberbatch shines here, giving one of his best performances to date and Jesse Plemons is also wonderful as his brother. A must watch for those who love a good Western, this is one of the best.

3. The Last Duel – Ridley Scott directed two films in 2021, TWO! I am still yet to see ‘House of Gucci’ at the time of writing this blog post, but I got to see ‘The Last Duel’ and boy oh boy, was I satisfied. This film re-unites oscar-winning writing duo and real-life best friends Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in front of and behind the camera, and the audience benefits greatly from this reunion. The cast here all brilliant, with Jodie Comer and Adam Driver stealing nearly every scene they are in. The film is gorgeous to look at with Ridley Scott proving at age 84 is still one of the best filmmakers alive. The fact he has made two critically well received films in 2021 is just mind boggling. Well done Sir Scott, you have done well. ‘The Last Duel’ is a must watch!  

Buy The Last Duel on DVD, Blu-ray & 4K UHD here

2. The Night House – Director David Bruckner’s follow-up to his 2018 feature debut ‘The Ritual’, heads back to the horror genre and the result is one of 2021s best. ‘The Night House’ is one of the best horror films of the last ten years. The film deals with heavy themes of love, loss and coping with loss. The film takes a mature approach to these heady themes and presents them in a thoughtful manner. Rebecca Hall gives my favourite performance of the year by any actress. She is remarkable as our lead ‘Beth’, giving an honest and tragic portrayal of someone coping with the loss of their partner. I adored this film and find myself thinking about it quite regularly.

Buy The Night House on DVD & Blu-ray here

1. Pig – My favourite film this year, without a doubt is director Michael Sarnoski’s debut feature ‘Pig’. This film blew me away. After the credits rolled, I sat there in complete silence, pondering what I had just watched. I had heard the positive word of mouth surrounding this film but had managed to stay away from all the trailers and promotional material outside of a poster and that was it. I went into the film completely blind, and I am so glad that I did. This film is beautiful, from start to finish, giving the audience a realistic depiction of grief and how grief can shape a person. The film is about overcoming grief and learning to open to the world again and the way that this is presented is incredibly touching. Nicolas Cage gave quite possibly the best performance of his career here. He is really grounded in the role and you feel the history of what he has experienced, what he has been through and how this has left him where he is now in life. Alex Wolff also compliments Cage here, giving a great performance as a newfound friend to Cage’s ‘Rob’. The two bond over their differences and it sparks and unlikely friendship which was really nice to see. I loved this film and cannot recommend it enough. It was simply amazing.

Buy Pig on DVD here

So, there you have it. 2021 summed up in 15 movies. I had a great time at the cinemas this year and cannot wait to talk movies again in 2022. Be sure to check out my other blog posts that I have written throughout 2021 and look forward to more, great content to come in the new year. Have a safe and merry Christmas and until next time, peace out! 

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here