Wide release? Nothing cast a wider net than Spider-Man, which saw some theaters devote all their screens exclusively to No Way Home to keep pace with demand. The movie’s fast, multiverse-crashing plot and unexpected emotional and redemptive arcs have made this another touchstone for the Marvel Cinematic Universe that connected audiences and critics. Further, it was a muscular year for sci-fi and fantasy filmmaking, with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, The Suicide Squad, and The Green Knight with its iconoclastic take on legend.
The order reflects Tomatometer scores (as of December 31, 2021) after adjustment from our ranking formula, which compensates for variation in the number of reviews when comparing movies or TV shows.
#1
Adjusted Score: 115300%
Critics Consensus: A bigger, bolder Spider-Man sequel, No Way Home expands the franchise’s scope and stakes without losing sight of its humor and heart.
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#2
Adjusted Score: 113205%
Critics Consensus: Lights up for In the Heights, a joyous celebration of heritage and community fueled by dazzling direction and singalong songs.
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#3
Adjusted Score: 110106%
Critics Consensus: Deftly interweaving incredible live footage with a series of revealing interviews, Summer of Soul captures the spirit and context of a watershed moment while tying it firmly to the present.
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#4
Adjusted Score: 108453%
Critics Consensus: Another gorgeously animated, skillfully voiced entry in the Disney canon, Raya and the Last Dragon continues the studio’s increased representation while reaffirming that its classic formula is just as reliable as ever.
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#5
Adjusted Score: 111214%
Critics Consensus: Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story presents a new look at the classic musical that lives up to its beloved forebear — and in some respects might even surpass it.
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#6
Adjusted Score: 109868%
Critics Consensus: A nerve-wracking continuation of its predecessor, A Quiet Place Part II expands the terrifying world of the franchise without losing track of its heart.
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#7
Adjusted Score: 109797%
Critics Consensus: Enlivened by writer-director James Gunn’s singularly skewed vision, The Suicide Squad marks a funny, fast-paced rebound that plays to the source material’s violent, anarchic strengths.
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#8
Adjusted Score: 109684%
Critics Consensus: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings isn’t entirely free of Marvel’s familiar formula, but this exciting origin story expands the MCU in more ways than one.
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#9
Adjusted Score: 106026%
Critics Consensus: The Green Knight honors and deconstructs its source material in equal measure, producing an absorbing adventure that casts a fantastical spell.
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#10
Adjusted Score: 109914%
Critics Consensus: Dune occasionally struggles with its unwieldy source material, but those issues are largely overshadowed by the scope and ambition of this visually thrilling adaptation.
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#11
Adjusted Score: 106649%
Critics Consensus: Licorice Pizza finds Paul Thomas Anderson shifting into a surprisingly comfortable gear — and getting potentially star-making performances out of his fresh-faced leads.
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#12
Adjusted Score: 100036%
Critics Consensus: Demon Slayer‘s visually stunning animation and masterful action set pieces serve a heartfelt plot that is sure to satisfy fans.
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#13
Adjusted Score: 105336%
Critics Consensus: It isn’t the sleekest or most daring 007 adventure, but No Time to Die concludes Daniel Craig’s franchise tenure in satisfying style.
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#14
Adjusted Score: 102339%
Critics Consensus: Encanto‘s setting and cultural perspective are new for Disney, but the end result is the same — enchanting, beautifully animated fun for the whole family.
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#15
Adjusted Score: 102789%
Critics Consensus: Zola captures the stranger-than-fiction appeal of the viral Twitter thread that inspired it — and announces director/co-writer Janicza Bravo as a filmmaker to watch.
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#16
Adjusted Score: 100986%
Critics Consensus: Candyman takes an incisive, visually thrilling approach to deepening the franchise’s mythology — and terrifying audiences along the way.
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#17
Adjusted Score: 98037%
Critics Consensus: An emotionally raw and respectful portrait of Anthony Bourdain, Roadrunner marks another unflinchingly honest documentary from director Morgan Neville.
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#18
Adjusted Score: 102974%
Critics Consensus: Black Widow‘s deeper themes are drowned out in all the action, but it remains a solidly entertaining standalone adventure that’s rounded out by a stellar supporting cast.
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#19
Adjusted Score: 103024%
Critics Consensus: A deeply personal project for writer-director Kenneth Branagh, Belfast transcends its narrative deficits with powerful performances and directorial craft.
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#20
Adjusted Score: 99971%
Critics Consensus: The Last Duel‘s critique of systemic misogyny isn’t as effective as it might have been, but it remains a well-acted and thought-provoking drama infused with epic grandeur.
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