I don’t know if it’s just me, but I felt like 2021 has been flying by. But it has by no means fallen short of some really great pictures. So, like I’ve done before, I’m going to list off my favorite films of the year so far. Needless to say, I haven’t seen everything that’s come out so far, there are a few films I still need to catch up on, and I’ll try my best to get to them throughout the remainder of the year. I should also mention, continuing off what I said in my 50 Films I Loved In 2020 list, that I might not be the most consistent with certain inclusions to the weird releases that’s been happening. For example, I Carry You With Me just released in theaters, but it got a qualifying run in December, and I loved it, but I counted that towards last year. Meanwhile, The Father, which was already a part of the most recent Oscars, is appearing here because it did not get a qualifying run last year, as far as I could tell.
So, with all that said, I hope you dig the list. I’m only going to give some brief thoughts on each film, and they will be presented in alphabetical order. If I have a review written out for the film, you can just click on the title, and it’ll send you right to it.
Army Of The Dead
OK, I know a lot of folks didn’t seem to like this one all that much, and to an extent, I can understand, but it worked for me. Zack Snyder brought some neat ideas to the table in his return to the zombie genre, and him going full tilt boogie with his stylistic indulgences was a blast to watch, and I still enjoyed it upon revisiting.
You can see Army Of The Dead on Netflix.
Bad Trip
Bad Trip is one of the funniest films I’ve seen in a long time. Full stop. That’s about all there is to it. I found it way funnier than the new Borat as well, and I thought Eric André brought some sophistication to the construction of the film, even if it is full of gross and juvenile gags. I loved it, and it’s one I’ll be seeking out whenever I need a pick-me-up.
You can see Bad Trip on Netflix.
Bombay Rose
Bombay Rose is a striking animated film that can sometimes seem a bit primitive in construction, but it culminates into something that is unlike anything I’ve seen, and it does a terrific job at creating an atmosphere to explore a place across time. It’s pure vibes, and it’s really great.
You can see Bombay Rose on Netflix.
Eeb Allay Ooo!
This was a film I’ve seen topping numerous best of 2020 lists among Indian publications and film critics, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a wild and weird social satire that touches on a lot of aspects like nationalism, superstitions, bigotry, and the economic disparity between the haves and the have-nots. It’s smart, at times quite funny, but ultimately really haunting.
You can see Eeb Allay Ooo! on Netflix.
Fried Barry
See? They’re not all Netflix movies. Anyway, Fried Barry is an absolute roller coaster of a film, and it’s definitely not gonna be a ride for everybody. It’s stylish as all hell, but it builds into a surprising idea about the human condition, and it goes about it in a way that is very unique and fun and trippy.
You can see Fried Barry on Shudder and AMC+.
Godzilla Vs. Kong
This movie rocks, is there even much more I need to say about it? It’s a terrific blockbuster that delivers everything you’d want out of a movie like this, and it does it with plenty of style to spare. It’s not flawless, but it gets to the goods fast, and it does justice to cinema’s two greatest icons.
You can see Godzilla Vs. Kong on home video and VOD.
Luca
It appears I’m in the minority on this, but I thought this was a really great Pixar movie. It feels like the kind of movie they would have made before they got bought up by Disney. I love how low-key the whole thing is, and I think it explores friendship and acceptance in a way that was really beautiful and well done.
You can see Luca on Disney+.
Moothon
Moothon is dark and sometimes hard to watch, but Geetu Mohandas tackles the story with so much sensitivity and humanity that it pulls you in so effortlessly. It is one of the most astonishing films to come out of India in the past few years, and one that pushes forward in terms of the kinds of stories you can tell. It’s a great film, and I’d recommend it to anyone willing to try something different.
You can watch Moothon on Zee5.
PG: Psycho Goreman
Aside from Bad Trip, Psycho Goreman made me laugh the most out of anything else I’ve seen in 2020, or even the past couple years. Granted, this is a far more niche comedy, but if you’re in the mood for E.T. by way of GWAR and a dash of Troma, this is one you absolutely have to check out.
You can see PG: Psycho Goreman on Shudder, AMC+, and home video.
Riders Of Justice
Mads Mikkelsen is one of the finest actors we have, and while Riders Of Justice might initially seem like a fairly straightforward revenge movie, it actually offers something far more deeper, more funnier, more solemn, and oddly more wholesome than one would expect. It gives Mikkelsen great material, and even if you aren’t aware of his work, this is just a great film all together.
You can see Riders Of Justice on VOD and home video on August 17th.
Shiva Baby
Safdie Brothers eat your heart out. I think I may have found myself more affected by the relentless intensity in this than I did in Uncut Gems. This was a ride I didn’t expect, and it’s handled beautifully by Emma Seligman and the lead, Rachel Sennott. This is strangely enough one of the better thrillers to come out this year even though it’s a comedy. Don’t let this fall under your radar.
You can see Shiva Baby on VOD and home video on July 27th.
Space Sweepers
If this were to be a ranked list, I think Space Sweepers might be the number one film. This just hits all my sweet spots. I love the characters, and the adventure they go on here is thrilling, imaginative, and has more on its mind than you would guess. It’s a total blast of a film, and I wouldn’t mind seeing a hundred more with these guys.
You can see Space Sweepers on Netflix.