The year 2021 was rough for many people, and in a lot of respects, I’d like to forget it. But in terms of filmmaking, 2021 will go down in history as one of the best of all times. I had an absurdly hard time making this list, and there were a ton of films that I wasn’t able to see. Please share your thoughts on the year, and find me on Twitter and TikTok @Kultofpop or email me your favorite films of the year at Kultofpop@gmail.com!
10. Luca
I don’t consider myself a fan of animation, but somehow one makes my list every year. I found Luca sweet and full of wonderful lessons. Luca is simultaneously about being different in an oppressive world but also about breaking out of family curses. It’s about having the courage to step out of your comfort zone. Luca is also about friendship. The themes aside, the animation and voice acting are amazing. The only missing piece is there isn’t a standout musical moment.
Grade: 7.5/10
9. Copshop
Joe Carnahan is best known for his action set pieces and not necessarily world-building, but Copshop is anchored in its world-building. The film is part action thriller and part pulp fiction. The underworld of hitmen and drug dealers collide with a small-town police station. Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo are top-billed, and they are tons of fun. The real star of the film, however, is Alexis Louder. She plays rookie cop Valerie Young. Young is a rookie but is wise beyond her years. As an action star, she’s as good as they come. Her physicality and athleticism fit the role perfectly. Copshop doesn’t break new ground, but it’s the best action film of the year.
Grade: 8/10
8. The Green Knight
Movies should always be made for the big screen. I don’t mean this to sound snobby or to throw shade at small films. But I believe directors who understand this can make almost any story interesting. The Green Knight is the most cinematic film of the year. The performances are excellent, and the script is solid. But when you watch The Green Knight, you understand you are watching a visual masterpiece. Director David Lowery’s storytelling is hit or miss for me, but his skill is unquestionable. The Green Knight is a perfect example of what filmmaking should be.
Grade: 8/10
7. Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Some people complain about nostalgia, and I understand this complaint. My generation has been raised on it, and I unabashedly love it. I do find it disingenuous to call Afterlife pure nostalgia because I think that undercuts what Mckenna Grace pulls off as Phoebe. Her performance introduces the Ghostbusters to a whole new audience. She’s a terrific young actress with an amazing voice. Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon lend the film some clout, but it’s the director Jason Reitman who delivers the goods. Reitman’s father Ivan directed the original, so his love for this IP shines. This film was made with love and reverence. Ghostbusters: Afterlife was a movie I didn’t know I needed in 2021, and I loved every moment.
Grade: 8/10
6. The Card Counter
Oscar Isaac is a mystery to me. It seems he has no fear. His filmography ranges from indies like this and A Most Violent Year, to box office hits like the Star Wars trilogy. In my opinion, Isacc is at his best when he’s the lead of a well-written and well-directed indie. Paul Schrader’s dark thriller is about redemption and second chances. Tye Sheridan and Tiffany Haddish, who gave a surprisingly powerful performance, together round out the cast. While the film doesn’t subvert any expectations, I do believe it has a powerful message about personal guilt and redemption.
Grade: 8.5/10
5. The Kid Detective
Adam Brody as Abe Applebaum, the once celebrated kid detective now turned private eye with a drug and alcohol problem, was not on the top of my most anticipated list coming into 2021. But here we are at number five on my list. This movie surprised me by being tense, funny, and dark. The Kid Detective isn’t on the same level as a lot of the films on this list, but it’s ranked so high because it pulls no punches. The characters are true to themselves, and the character arc for Applebaum is one of the most natural I’ve seen this year. The heartbreaking final scene can be summed up by this quote from earlier in the film. “It’s difficult to accept the difference between who you are in your head and who you are in the world.”
Grade: 8.5/10
4. Pig
Mark this as another film I didn’t think would end up being on this list. Nicolas Cage was at one time my least favorite actor. He has now morphed into can’t miss for me. The story of Pig has been compared to John Wick, and that just isn’t true. There is very little action in this film. Pig is about grief pure and simple. It’s about allowing people to grieve in their own way. Michael Sarnoski’s directorial debut is a haunting look at how loss changes a person. Few films this year moved me the way Pig did.
Grade: 9/10
3. Petite Maman
Speaking of films that moved me… Petite Maman made me an emotional wreck. I’m not going to reveal too much because I think this film needs to be experienced untainted by spoilers. This is the IMDB synopsis, and I’ll leave it at that: “Nelly has just lost her grandmother and is helping her parents clean out her mother’s childhood home. She explores the house and the surrounding woods. One day she meets a girl her same age building a treehouse.” Petite Maman is a splendidly beautiful film about family, grief, mental illness, and human connection.
Grade: 9.5/10
2. Red Rocket
Simon Rex had the best performance of any movie I saw this year. That is a sentence I never thought I would write. The former MTV VJ turns in a masterclass performance as Mikey Saber. Saber is a washed-up pornstar who has returned home to mooch off his wife played by Bree Elrod. While Saber’s wife is hesitant at first, she soon welcomes him back, but he’s got his eyes set on Strawberry. Strawberry is a high school senior with dreams of stardom, and Mikey can’t wait to take advantage of her naivety. Suzanna Son who plays Strawberry is a revelation. Director Sean Baker does an excellent job of maintaining our disgust for Saber while at the same time rooting for his change. Red Rocket is funny, depressing, and reveals the humanity of a horrible person.
Grade: 9.5/10
- Licorice Pizza
I was waiting to see Licorice Pizza before I made my list because it was my most anticipated film of the year. I knew it would make my top ten, but I wasn’t sure how high it would actually go. I’m glad I waited. Licorice Pizza is the best film I’ve seen in years. I’m a Paul Thomas Anderson fanboy through and through, but I’ll be the first to admit when his films don’t connect with me. I loved Phantom Thread, but it landed at three on my list. The Master was good, but I’d be lying if I said I enjoyed it. Licorice Pizza is different. Anderson’s comedic timing is back and better than ever. The performances are radiant and hilarious. Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman are outstanding. The script is almost perfect, and the soundtrack is insanely good. Ultimately, Licorice Pizza is about mutual infatuation. Wanting to be wanted is childish, but it’s also what makes us human.
Grade: 10/10
Honorable Mentions: Dune, Old, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Mass, Fear Street: 1978, and The Suicide Squad.
Disappointments: The Lost Daughter, Eternals, Last Night in Soho, Halloween Kills, The French Dispatch, The Power of the Dog, and Don’t Look Up.
