Work in progress – subject to change. Because I am still watching movies released in 2021, so it’s always possible that a new title could usurp the number one in due course. Before that, I have a lot more movies still to add.
All films received either a theatrical or an online release in the UK between 01/01/21 and 31/12/21. Prior to 2020, I’d never included online releases (well, maybe the odd one or two as a special case) but that year saw the film distribution business turned upside down by COVID-19. How 2022 and beyond will look is anyone’s guess.
This version excludes re-releases (Psycho, Paris, Texas and Pickpocket, not to mention the first six Bond movies, would top everything here). A link to that longer list will be added here in due course.
In addition to re-releases, this version also excludes films seen in festivals which haven’t had any other UK release in 2021. A link to that even longer list will be added here in due course.
Finally, last year’s list is here.
Top Ten (UK theatrical + online movie releases 2021)
Please click on titles to see reviews. (Some links yet to be added.)
1. Getting Away With Murder(s) (UK)
2. No Time To Die (UK)
3. Dune (US)
4. Bad Luck Banging Or Loony Porn (Romania)
5. House Of Gucci (US)
6. Copilot (Germany)
7. tick… tick… BOOM! (US)
8. Ninjababy (Norway)
9. True Mothers (Japan)
10. Black Medicine (Ireland)
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11. After Love (UK)
12. Delia Derbyshire: The Myths And Legendary Tapes (UK)
13. Wendy (US)
14. Judas And The Black Messiah (US)
15. Annette (France, US, English language)
16. Mouthpiece (Canada)
17. Gunda (US, Norway, no spoken language)
18. Synchronic (US)
19. The Dissident (UK)
20. Summer Of Soul (US)
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21. Settlers (UK)
22. Beasts Clawing At Straws (South Korea)
23. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (UK)
24. Escher, Journey Into Infinity (The Netherlands)
25. The Summit Of The Gods (France)
26. Beyond The Mask (UK)
27. Ghostbusters Afterlife (US)
28. West Side Story (US)
29. The Truffle Hunters (US, Italy)
30. Another Round (Denmark)
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31. Luca (US)
32. Don’t Look Up (US)
33. The Father (UK)
34. The Witches Of The Orient (France, Japan)
35. Fukushima 50 (Japan)
36. Deerskin (France)
37. The Reason I Jump (UK)
38. The Killing Of Two Lovers (US)
39. The Battle At Lake Changjin (China)
40. Wife Of A Spy (Japan)
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41. Deliver Us From Evil (South Korea)
42. Jumbo (France)
43. Lupin III The First (Japan)
44. Raya And The Last Dragon (US)
45. Encanto (US)
46. The Green Knight (UK)
47. Assassins (US)
48. Tove (Finland)
49. Promising Young Woman (US)
50. Poly Styrene – I Am A Cliché (UK)
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51. Sweat (Poland, Sweden)
52. Limbo (UK)
53. The Courier (UK)
54. Herself (UK, Ireland)
55. The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão (Brazil)
56. The French Dispatch (US)
57. Apples (Greece)
58. The Velvet Underground (US)
59. The First Wave (US)
60. Coda (US)
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61. MLK/FBI (US)
62. 76 Days (China)
63. The Man Standing Next (South Korea)
64. The Sparks Brothers (US)
65. The Mauritanian (UK)
66. Sweetheart (UK)
67. Last Night In Soho (UK)
68. A Quiet Place Part II (US)
69. Mothering Sunday (UK)
70. Encounter (US)
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71. King Richard (US)
72. Finding Angel (South Korea)
73. Minamata (US)
74. Josee, The Tiger And The Fish (Japan)
75. Cry Macho (US)
76. Spider-Man: No Way Home (US)
77. Martin Eden (Italy)7
78. The Fever (Brazil)
79. Shorta (US title: Enforcement) (Denmark)
80. Never Gonna Snow Again (Poland)
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81. Sound Of Metal (US)
82. Passing (US)
83. Raging Fire (Hong Kong)
84. Effie Gray (UK)
85. The Banishing (UK)
86. Petite Maman (France)
87. Souad (Egypt, Tunisia, Germany)
88. Cruella (US)
89. Stardust (UK)
90. Censor (UK)
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91. Spencer (UK)
92. Song Without A Name (Peru)
93. First Cow (US)
94. Old (US)
95. Dream Horse (UK)
96. The Nest (UK)
97. Justine (UK)
98. The Story Of Looking (UK)
99. The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (US)
100. Nowhere Special (UK)
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101. Becoming Cousteau (US)
102. The Human Voice (Spain)
103. Cryptozoo (US)
104. The Ice Cream Truck (US)
105. Blithe Spirit (UK)
106. I Care A Lot (US)
107. Notturno (Italy)
108. The Reckoning (UK)
109. Ammonite (UK)
110. Minari (US, Korean language)
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111. Nomadland (US)
112. WITCH: We Intend To Cause Havoc (Italy, Czech Republic)
113. Violet Evergarden: The Movie (Japan)
114. Free Guy (US)
115. Respect (US)
116. The Lost Daughter (UK)
117. The Card Counter (US)
118. The Power Of The Dog (Australia)
119. Titane (France)
120. The World To Come (US)
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Turkeys
1. Occupation: Rainfall (Australia)
2. Azor (Switzerland)
3. Silent Night (UK)
4. The Offering (Spain)
5. 1921 (China)
6. Vanguard (China)