As 2021 comes to a close, movie fans inevitably look back on the year of cinema. Like most years, 2021 was dominated by superhero movies, sequels, and reboots, but there were plenty of movies for any and all fans to get excited about.
The s at Letterboxd are known for keeping a close eye on movies and their list of the most popular movies of the year shows what a diverse collection 2021 had to offer. While these are not the top-rated movies based on scores, they highlight the projects that fans were most excited about and piqued the most interest among Letterboxd s.
The Green Knight
In a year with the typical huge blockbusters, sequels, and family-friendly offerings, it is impressive that a smaller more adult movie like The Green Knight managed to make a splash. Dev Patel stars as a young knight who seeks out glory by challenging a mysterious and powerful green knight, then must go on a journey of self-discovery.
Though the movie didn't feature the kind of medieval battles or big fantasy set-pieces fans might expect, the beautiful visuals and Patel's lead performance had many people talking all year.
Last Night In Soho
Edgar Wright has built a strong reputation in Hollywood with his wild and energetic comedies like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. His latest movie, Last Night in Soho, was a departure from those projects and showed even more of the filmmaker's range.
Thomasin MacKenzie stars as a young woman who moves to the big city and soon finds her dreams and reality mixing with that of an aspiring singer who lived in the city during the 1960s. The gripping thriller was another very compelling step in Wright's exciting career.
Cruella
An origin story about Disney villain Cruella de Vil had many people skeptical but Cruella ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the year. Set amid the British punk scene of the 80s, Emma Stone stars as Cruella, who begins as an aspiring fashion designer and becomes a vengeful con artist.
Stone's winning performance anchored the movie which had a fun heist movie feeling to it. There were many laughs and thrills to make this one of the best retellings of classic animated stories.
The French Dispatch
Wes Anderson is another filmmaker who immediately gets people excited with the announcement of his next project. The French Dispatch was a bit of a change of pace for Anderson as it was made up of several different stories told surrounding a European publication.
Anderson assembled a typical all-star cast which included many of his usual favorites like Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and s McDormand as well as some exciting new players like Benicio del Toro, Jeffrey Wright, and Christoph Waltz.
Luca
Pixar has built a legacy of incredible animated movies so any new project is hotly anticipated. Luca was the studio’s latest magical adventure with a heartwarming story at its center as it told the story of two young sea creatures who explore life in the human world on the Italian riviera.
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic caused Luca to become Pixar’s first Disney+ debut but that didn’t prevent the movie from making a splash with audiences. It is a coming-of-age story as well as a tale of young friendship that featured that Pixar spark that continues to work so well.
Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings
Unsurprisingly, several MCU projects ended up among the most popular movies of the year. But unlike others, Shang-Chi was not a character most fans were familiar with, nor was star Simu Liu. But that didn’t stop them from making a big debut in the cinematic universe.
The movie featured Marvel’s signature sense of humor as well as action sequences that some called the best in the MCU. It also introduced a new compelling villain with Wenwu while setting up some interesting new areas of the universe.
The Suicide Squad
For many fans, the first Suicide Squad movie was a disappointing way to bring the anti-hero team to the big screen. Despite including several actors from that movie, James Gunn started fresh with the franchise and took inspiration from classic war movies like The Dirty Dozen.
Though the movie shared more than a few similarities with Gunn’s work with Guardians of the Galaxy, it also felt quite unlike any other superhero movie. With its dubious “heroes”, wild humor, and a full-blown R-rating, it made for a massive crowd-pleaser.
Black Widow
After being one of the founding of the Avengers in the MCU, Natasha Romanoff finally got her first solo movie. Black Widow takes place before her heroic sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame and gives more insight into her tragic backstory.
Scarlet Johansson continued to show her talents stepping into the spotlight while also welcoming some exciting new characters to the MCU. Florence Pugh’s Yelena was an especially welcome addition who is already establishing herself as a terrific replacement for Black Widow. Many fans saw it as a fitting farewell and a solid start to the movie side of the MCU.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
The MCU continues to find unexpected new ways to grow and thrill fans as seen in the latest Spider-Man: No Way Home. The third MCU Spider-Man adventure had long been discussed among fans with endless rumors about what the multiverse would reveal.
Even with all the theories and leaks beforehand, the movie managed to deliver an emotional, fun, and surprising superhero epic that is among the best-reviewed movies of the year. It was also seen as a terrific celebration of the long legacy of the character of Spider-Man.
Dune
There are many movie fans who doubted Denis Villeneuve’s Dune would make it to the big screen. So the fact that it turned into the most talked-about epic of the year is quite impressive. The movie served as the first of Villeneuve's two-part adaptation of the influential sci-fi novel.
Timothee Chalamet led a massive ensemble that included Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, and Zendaya. The star power combined with amazing visuals and a grand story made for the must-see movie event of the year.
