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.
Markus goes home to his teenage daughter, Mathilde, when his wife dies in a train crash. All appears to be a tragic accident until a mathematics geek, who was also a fellow passenger on the train, and his two colleagues show up.
Director:
Anders Thomas Jensen |
Stars:
Mads Mikkelsen,
Nikolaj Lie Kaas,
Andrea Heick Gadeberg,
Lars Brygmann
All week long, EW has provided exclusive sneak peeks at some of the biggest titles worth watching, from indie darlings to big-time Oscar contenders to, yes, a Willy Wonka prequel. Now, here’s a handy calendar to help guide you through all the cinematic options at your disposal over the next month — packed with even more exclusive looks.
See EW’s 2023 holiday movies calendar below.
Ed Helms, Brady Noon, Emma Myers, and Jennifer Garnerin ‘Family Switch’.
Silent Night (in theaters) Candy Cane Lane (streaming on Prime Video) Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé (in theaters) Eileen (in select New York and Los Angeles theaters) Shayda (in select theaters)
Sara Bareilles in ‘Waitress: The Musical’.
Bleecker Street
Dec. 7
Waitress: The Musical (in theaters for five-day special screenings)
Mahershala Ali and Julia Roberts in ‘Leave the World Behind’.
The Boy and the Heron (expands in theaters) Leave the World Behind (streaming on Netflix) Poor Things (in theaters) Origin (in select New York and Los Angeles theaters) Eileen (expands in theaters)
Wonka (in theaters) Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (streaming on Netflix) American Fiction (in select theaters) Finestkind (streaming on paramount+) The Zone of Interest (in select theaters)
Dec. 19
Silent Night (on VOD)
Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in ‘Anyone but You’.
There’s a good mix of original fare and recent theatrical releases available on streaming services to binge for Thanksgiving, Black Friday and a long holiday weekend. Netflix, Disney+, Max, Hulu, Peacock, Apple TV+ and paramount+ have all added films for every cinematic taste, whether you’re getting a jump on getting psyched for Christmas or you’re all about the newest DC superhero on the block.
Here are 15 movies that you can stream from your sofa right now:
‘Best. Christmas. Ever!’
This holiday comedy is for those still loving the ’90s. Heather Graham stars as an inventive mom who’s not loving her lot in life but gets a needed infusion of the holiday spirit when she, her husband (Jason Biggs) and their family accidentally end up spending Christmas with a highly successful old friend (Brandy Norwood).
The DC movie universe gets a nice infusion of Latin culture with this adventure, which centers on new college grad Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña). He comes into contact with an alien scarab that gives him superpowers, though the snazzy bug also makes him a target for a villainous CEO (Susan Sarandon).
Ranked:The 50 best superhero movies ever (from ‘Blue Beetle’ to ‘Superman’)
‘Dashing Through the Snow’
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges stars in the holiday comedy as a crisis counselor who dislikes Christmas and considers it “the chicken wing of holidays.” So he’s reluctant to help when a guy in a red suit named Nick (Lil Rel Howery) says he’s Santa and his naughty-and-nice list gets mixed up with a crooked congressman’s bribery record.
Best Christmas movies ever:The top 20 holiday films, ranked (from ‘Love Actually’ to ‘Die Hard’)
‘Fingernails’
In the sci-fi dramedy, Anna (Jessie Buckley) has tested positive for true love with her boring boyfriend Ryan (Jeremy Allen White). Still a little skeptical, she ends up taking a job at the institute touting the new soulmate-finding technology, and a friendship with co-worker Amir (Riz Ahmed) leads to reconsidering her romantic options.
In the sequel to the 1997 teen comedy, fast-food best friends are together again when Ed (Kel Mitchell) gets buddy Dex (Kenan Thompson) his job back at Good Burger. The pals need all the hands they can get from the eatery’s new crew when their corporate owner decides to replace them with robots.
Patrick Wilson rounds up his fellow stars from the original 2010 “Insidious” and directs the fifth installment, which finds haunted dad Josh (Wilson) and his college-age son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) venturing back into the frightening realm of The Further nine years after being hypnotized to forget their experiences there.
More fun than a lot of director David Fincher outings, the action thriller stars Michael Fassbender as an enjoyably droll assassin weathering an existential crisis after he botches a hit. The killer’s usually methodical life turns chaotic when he embarks on a quest for bloody revenge after a loved one is put in the hospital.
Sam Pollard’s baseball documentary is a captivating chronicle of Negro Leagues set against the backdrop of a changing America amid segregation and the Great Depression. “The League” informs and entertains with tales of storied squads (including the Homestead Grays) and greats like Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige.
The delightfully weird animated musical comedy features Adam Sandler voicing 74-year-old fifth grade pet lizard Leo. Learning that his life expectancy gives him only one year left, the wise little dude plots an escape but changes his mind when kids bring him home for the weekend and start taking his sage advice to heart.
Annette Bening walks a fine line between narcissism and determination as Diana Nyad in this rousing true-life drama. With the help of her coach (Jodie Foster), Diana defies age and the odds to revisit a dream from three decades ago and complete a marathon swim from Cuba to Florida in her 60s.
The 2021 “Paw Patrol” film was decent for a kids movie, and the follow-up’s not too shabby, either. Chase, Marshall and the rest of the rescue-ready pooches get superpowers thanks to pieces of a crashed meteorite, and they run afoul of a mad scientist (voiced by Taraji P. Henson) who wants those precious gems for herself.
‘Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain’
Dig those quirky “Please Don’t Destroy” videos on “Saturday Night Live”? Martin Herlihy, Ben Marshall and John Higgins make their feature-film debut with this comedy, starring the trio as co-workers seeking a prized bust of Marie Antoinette. Come for the over-the-top absurdity, stay for appearances by Conan O’Brien and Bowen Yang.
Heartfelt hilarity ensues in this comedy starring Awkwafina as Anne, a loyally devoted fan of a “Jeopardy!”-style TV game show. Her AWOL mom has racked up serious debt, and when goons take her dog so she’ll pay up, Anne partners with her untrustworthy sister Jenny (Sandra Oh) on a mission to get on the show and win some cash.
Colman Domingo dazzles in this engaging true-life tale of a civil rights leader perhaps unknown to many. A key aide to Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin (Domingo) overcomes internal politics and homophobia, working tirelessly to organize the 1963 March on Washington.
This documentary is a must-watch for all Rocky and Rambo devotees. Sylvester Stallone takes audiences through his personal and professional lives, focusing on how he found his artistic voice through screenwriting and navigated hardships and obstacles in pursuit of his creative dreams.
One of Esmail’s inspired changes was to make Ruth, who was George’s wife in the novel, his daughter, a young woman in her 20s. She picks up on racial biases and is instantly hostile to Amanda, adding tension to the story. Amanda thinks Ruth is a rude, entitled example of her generation, and she’s not entirely wrong. Esmail, foregrounding suspense rather than social messages, makes race and class minor undercurrents, which vanish as the families shelter together amidst unknown threats. GH, a financial planner, has heard rumours from a powerful client that something might be amiss in the future. In Ali’s finely-balanced performance, GH is worried, but not yet convinced that an apocalypse is heading their way.
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2020 was a wild year for theatrical releases that is going to take quite some time to fully recover from. One the one hand, the lack of theatrical releases last year means that all those delayed films will be delayed even further when it comes to their release on Blu-ray and dvd, which left 2020 a far different year than we expected.. However, with theaters closed, many films decided to go directly to video on demand platforms. Under the circumstances, this is great, as it gives people access to the same movies in the comfort of their own homes.
Exactly what the future has in store for home releases in 2021 is anybody’s guess right now. But we’ll keep things updated here with the news on the newest releases as they are announced.
January is frequently a slow month for brand new movies in theaters but it’s usually a big month for home releases as we see popular films from the late summer and early fall coming home. Unfortunately, because of the global pandemic, the theatrical release schedule wasn’t everything we were hoping for, and that domino effect has continued to plague dvd releases. Having said that, there are still some interesting movies worthy of checking out that will arrive in January.
TV fans will have plenty o series to add to their collections, including Season 2 of Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone from CBS All Access, the final season of The 100, and the first season of the television adaptation of Snowpiercer. But it isn’t all TV, there were some good movies that came out last year that may have flown under the radar due to everything that was going on, and might get a much better chance to be seen now, like Jungleland, with Charlin Hunnan, and Love and Monsters starring Dylan O’Brien. Checkout the full list of January releases below.
Week Of Tuesday January 5 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
Love And Monsters (2020) Starring Dylan O’Brien (order it here)
February 2021 almost, almost, feels like the movie industry hasn’t been at a near standstill for the better part of a year. While there certainly aren’t as many major Blu-ray releases coming in February as might have expected 12 months ago, nearly every week of the month has something worthy of note, movies with major names that either actually were released in theaters, or at the very least would have been under normal circumstances.
The beginning of the month gives us Let Him Go, a drama with Kevin Costner and Diane Lane that is getting solid reviews, and Wild Mountain Thyme, a movie that’s not nearly as well reviewed, but has such a bizarre twist in it that it might be worth checking out anyway. There’s also the body swap horror movie Freaky and the better than it has any right to be disaster movie Greenland. The new “Milla Jovovich is in a movie based on a video game” film, Monster Hunter will also be available to view digitally in February ahead of its physical release next month.
If nothing else, the fact that some of these films didn’t even have a theatrical release is making the physical release of the film happen incredibly quickly. One has to wonder if that process will continue even once theaters are back to normal. Here’s everything slated to debut in February.
Week Of Tuesday February 2 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
Let Him Go – Starring Kevin Costner and Diane Lane (order it here)
Wild Mountain Thyme – Starring Emily Blunt and Jaime Dornan (order it here)
Slowly but surly, we’re seeing more movement when it comes to movie releases, which gives us more movement on home releases as well. Sure, some of these big movies, like Wonder Woman 1984 were released on streaming services like HBO Max or other VOD formats, but now you don’t need to wait for them to come back around on streaming and you can actually own a physical copy of the film.
In addition to films like Wonder Woman 1984, March also brings us the likes of Monster Hunter, a video game adaptation from the people who brought you the resident Evil movies, as well as a potential Oscar contender in Promising Young Woman. With the awards show delayed this year you can actually get a hold of many of the nominees at home before the show so you can watch them all. Here’s everything on the way in March 2021.
Week Of Tuesday March 2 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
Monster Hunter – staring Mila Jovovich (order it here)
Just when it looked like things were heading in the right direction, April really slowed down in the Blu-ray and dvd department. While we’re certainly not entirely without new releases, the fact that many of the movies tyhat have come out have seen a much faster turn around to home release means that sometimes everything that’s going to come out already has. Having said that, with it beginning to finally look my theaters might really reopen for good, we can be at least a little confident that things will be returning to something like normal, or whatever the new normal is, fairly soon.
The only really significant release hitting in April is the comedy Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar. Which was a movie that, due to a lack of theatrical release, a lot of people probably didn’t see, but based on the reviews, it’s something everybody should probably check out, so here’s the chance.
Week Of Tuesday April 6 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
May almost feels like a normal month in home entertainment releases, since we’re seeing a lot of this year;s Oscar winners get released. Of course, the fact that those awards were only given out at the end of April still makes the whole thing feel weird. However, if you’d like to check out some of the Oscar winners that you missed, or just add your favorite Academy Award nominee to your collection, you’ll have a chance to do so in May, as we’ll see the release of Judas the Black Messiah, The Father, Minari and more.
If Oscar winners aren’t your thing, there are still a few major releases coming out in May, including Denzel Washington’s The Little Things, and the live-action/animation hybrid Tom and Jerry. On the television side, you can pick up the first season of the animated Star Trek comedy Lower Decks, or you can complete your collection of Supernaturaldvds, as the final season of that series will drop at the end of the month.
Week of Tuesday May 4 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
The Little Things – starring Denzel Washington, Jared Leto (order it here)
Judas and the Black Messiah – starring Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield (order it here)
Normally, at this time of year the focus of film is on the big screen as the summer movie season shifts into full swing. While “full swing” is probably a bit of a misnomer at this point, we actually are seeing new movies get released in theaters again and that means that in a few months we’re going to have big movies to release on Blu-ray again.
However, we still have a few big releases hitting Blu-ray this month. The biggest Blu-ray release comes from what was previously the biggest theatrical release of the year. Godzilla vs. Kong had a solid theatrical opening a few months back, and now for those who want to own it, they’ll have a chance later this month. When it comes to movies that perhaps did not see massive box office, but are worth checking out, the Bob Odenkirk-led Nobody was a solid action movie for scratching that John Wick itch.
Fans of TV looking to complete their collections should be aware that Season 2 of His Dark Materials arrives this month as does Season 1 of The Umbrella Academy. Here’s everything else coming out in June.
Week Of Tuesday June 1 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
The Courier – starring Benedict Cumberbatch (order it here)
Of all the things that changed regarding movie releases in 2020, the one thing that, without question will have the longest reaching repercussions, is the fact that the window between theatrical releases and home dvd release has become permanently smaller. We only really saw big theatrical film releases start back up in May, but some of those films are already on their way home. Even some that were already available at home, like Mortal Kombat, that was only released at the end of April are making the jump to Blu-ray and dvd as early as the middle of July.
Even, A Quiet Place Part II, the movie that is officially the highest grossing movie of 2021 at the moment, and was only released in theaters, will be available for fans to own only two months after its theatrical debut. Horror fans will also be able to bring home the newest entry in the Saw franchise, Spiral, with Chris Rock in the lead.
Week Of Tuesday July 6 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
Defending Jacob – starring Chris Evans (order it here)
It’s August and the summer is winding down. While the “summer movie season” as we once knew certainly still wasn’t quite up to the level that movie fans have been used to, there still was a summer movie season, and that’s something. And in somewhat the same way, the world of dvd and Blu-ray releases looks something like the way it once did. Nearly every week in August us seeing the home entertainment release of at least one major film that was released theatrically, even if many of them were also released on streaming platforms.
August will see the dvd and Blu-ray release of three movies from Warner Bros that opened in theaters and HBO Max with Those Who Wish Me Dead opening the month, followed by The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and then finally In The Heights. We’ll also see Pixar’s Luca, which wasn’t released in theaters and is still available on Disney+, but if you don’t have the service, or just want to be sure you own a physical copy of this one, now you can.
Week Of Tuesday August 3 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
Those Who Wish Me Dead – starring Angelina Jolie, Jon Bernthal (order it here)
Here Today – starring Billy Crystal, Tiffany Haddish (order it here)
Luca – starring Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer (order it here)
This month marks the official start of fall (which is crazy), and the summer movie season is definitely winding down. But we’ve still had plenty of big releases, and the same goes for the dvd and Blu-ray and releases this month. There’s a major film releasing on home entertainment almost every week this month, so you’ll be able to catch up on huge movies from the comfort of your own home if you didn’t get to see them in theaters (or on streaming already).
The very beginning of September marks the home entertainment release of one of Warner Bros. most anticipated films, Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Superhero fans will also be able to enjoy Black Widow on Blu-ray, and action fans should be psyched to own F9, too. And don’t miss out on the Digital release of Free Guy at the end of the month!
Week of Tuesday, September 7 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
Zack Snyder’s Justice League – starring Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher (order it here)
Together Together – starring Ed Helms, Patti Harrison, Rosalind Chao (order it here)
Bull: Season Five – starring Michael Weatherly (order it here)
Chicago P.D.: Season 8 – starring Jason Beghe, Jesse Lee Soffer (order it here)
SEAL Team: Season 4 – starring David Boreanaz, Max Thieriot (order it here)
Spooky season has arrived! Horror fans are in luck with the releases of Escape Room: Tournament of Champions and The Haunting of Bly Manor. For those not so into horror but still like a good mystery thriller, this month brings us Old. If being creeped out or getting the adrenaline pumping isn’t your thing, not to worry. There are a bunch of titles headed to dvd and Blu-ray this month, from action to romance.
If you missed Free Guy or The Suicide Squad in theaters, or just want to enjoy them again and again, now’s your chance! As the weather cools down, grab a mug full of your favorite warm beverage, a blanket, and pop in one of these dvds.
Week of Tuesday, October 5 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
Space Jam: A New Legacy – starring LeBron James, Don Cheadle (order it here)
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions – starring Taylor Russell, Logan Miller (order it here)
Six Minutes to Midnight – starring Nigel Lindsay, Judi Dench (order it here)
Broken Diamonds – starring Ben Platt (order it here)
Clarice: Season 1 – starring Rebecca Breeds (order it here)
Fried Barry – starring Gary Green, Chanelle de Jager (order it here)
The Nevers: Season 1 Part 1 – starring Laura Donnelly (order it here)
The Stand – starring Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgård (order it here)
Week of Tuesday, October 12 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
Ah, it’s finally November and fall is in full swing. The leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and movie nights in are just what we need as we anticipate the holiday season. Those who aren’t quite ready to let go of Halloween can enjoy the home releases of Malignant and Saint Maud. Adventure lovers can finally bring home Jungle Cruise for the entire family to enjoy again and again.
For TV fans, November brings us the dvd releases of Mom Season 8, Emily in Paris Season 1, and Pose Season 3, to name a few.
Week of Tuesday, November 2 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
Paw Patrol: The Movie – starring Iain Armitage (order it here)
Finally, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! With new holiday movies in full swing, it can be easy to forget about this month’s dvd releases, but there are some huge Blockbusters coming to home video you don’t want to miss out on. Titles include the film adaptation of the Broadway sensation Dear Evan Hansen, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and No Time To Die.
Netflix hit The Mitchells vs. The Machines becomes available to purchase this month, and although subscribers can always stream it, fans will want to get their hands on the Blu-ray or dvd for the filmmakers’ commentary track and deleted scenes. Happy viewing and happy holidays!
Week of Tuesday, December 7 dvd, Digital And Blu-ray Releases
Dear Evan Hansen – starring Ben Platt (order it here)
2021 in film is an overview of events, including the highest-grossing films, award ceremonies, festivals, a list of country-specific lists of films released, and movie programming.
Evaluation of the year[edit]
In his article highlighting the best movies of 2021, Richard Brody of The New Yorker said, “From an artistic perspective, 2021 has been an excellent cinematic vintage, yet the bounty is shadowed by an air of doom. The reopening of theatres has brought many great movies—some of which were postponed from last year—to the big screen, but fewer people to see them. The biggest successes, as usual, have been superhero and franchise films. The French Dispatch has done respectably in wide release, and Licorice Pizza is doing superbly on four screens in New York and Los Angeles, but few, if any, of the year’s best films are likely to reach high on the box-office charts. The shift toward streaming was already under way when the pandemic struck, and as the trend has accelerated it’s had a paradoxical effect on movies. On the one hand, a streaming release is a wide release, happily accessible to all (or to all subscribers). On the other, an online release usually registers as a nonevent, and many of the great movies hardly make a blip on the mediascape despite being more accessible than ever.”[1]
Highest-grossing films[edit]
2021 box office records[edit]
Worldwide, the global box office ended the year at $21.4 billion, a figure 78% higher than 2020.[4]
China was the highest-grossing country of 2021 with $7.3 billion.[5]
In the United States and Canada, theaters earned an estimated $4.55 billion throughout 2021, a statistic 100% higher than 2020’s $2.28 billion and 60% lower than 2019’s $11.4 billion.[6]
Film records[edit]
The Marvel Cinematic Universe became the first film franchise to gross $23 billion, $24 billion, and $25 billion with the releases of Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.[citation needed] Additionally, the MCU became the first film franchise to have ten films gross over $1 billion with the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Spider-Man: No Way Home became the 48th film to gross $1 billion worldwide (the first film to do so since 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker prior to the COVID-19 pandemic), surpassed Spider-Man: Far From Home as Sony’s highest-grossing film of all time,[7] and attained the distinction of being the highest-grossing film not to be released in China (one of the world’s biggest box office markets).[8]
Also, is the third film to surpass the $800 million mark in North America.
In Latin America, No Way Home became the all-time highest-grossing film in Mexico ($75 million), and the second all-time highest in Brazil ($55 million), Central America ($12.6 million) and Ecuador ($7.9 million).[9]
The Battle at Lake Changjin became the highest-grossing non-English film of all time as well as highest-grossing Chinese film of all time.[10]
The Battle at Lake Changjin also became the second highest-grossing film in a single market, after Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) in the United States.[11][12]
Hi, Mom became the highest-grossing film by a solo female director, surpassing the record set by Wonder Woman (2017).[13]
Detective Chinatown 3 set the record for the biggest opening weekend in a single territory, surpassing the record set by Avengers: Endgame in 2019, and had the tenth highest-grossing opening weekend on release.[14]
Avatar became the highest-grossing film of all time again after a re-release in China increased its gross past $2.8 billion.[15]
The anime film Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020) released in North America in April 2021, with its opening weekend gross of $19.5 million setting the record as the biggest opening for any foreign-language film released in North America.[16][dubious – discuss]
Events[edit]
Award ceremonies[edit]
2021 film award ceremonies
Date
Event
Host
Location(s)
January 16
26th Forqué Awards
Entidad de Gestión de Derechos de los Productores Audiovisuales
Madrid, Spain
February 28[17]
78th Golden Globe Awards
Hollywood Foreign Press Association
Beverly Hills, California, U.S. Manhattan, New York, U.S.
March 2
8th Feroz Awards
Asociación de Informadores Cinematográficos de España
Madrid, Spain
March 6
35th Goya Awards
Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences
Málaga, Spain
March 7[18]
26th Critics’ Choice Awards
Broadcast Film Critics Association
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
March 12
46th César Awards
Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma
Paris, France
March 21
13th Gaudí Awards
Catalan Film Academy
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
March 21
73rd Writers Guild of America Awards
Writers Guild of America, East Writers Guild of America West
Ceremony held virtually
March 24
32nd Producers Guild of America Awards
Producers Guild of America
Ceremony held virtually
April 4[19]
27th Screen Actors Guild Awards
SAG-AFTRA
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
April 10
73rd Directors Guild of America Awards
Directors Guild of America
Ceremony held virtually
April 11[20]
74th British Academy Film Awards[21]
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
London, England, UK
April 16[22]
48th Annie Awards
ASIFA-Hollywood
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
April 22
36th Independent Spirit Awards
Independent Spirit Awards
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
April 24
41st Golden Raspberry Awards
Golden Raspberry Awards Foundation
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
April 25[23]
93rd Academy Awards
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
May 3
67th National Film Awards
Directorate of Film Festivals
New Delhi, India
May 13
57th Baeksang Arts Awards
Ilgan Sports
Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
September 18–19[24]
9th South Indian International Movie Awards
Vibri Media Group
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
October 3[25]
8th Platino Awards
Entidad de Gestión de Derechos de los Productores Audiovisuales
Madrid, Spain
October 7[26]
30th Buil Film Awards
Busan Ilbo
Busan, South Korea
October 8
15th Asian Film Awards
The Asian Film Awards Academy
Busan, South Korea
October 26
46th Saturn Awards
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
November 14[27]
20th Santosham Film Awards
Santosham Magazine
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
November 26[28]
42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards
Sports Chosun
Seoul
November 27
58th Golden Horse Awards
Motion Picture Development Foundation R.O.C.
Taipei, Taiwan
December 11[29]
34th European Film Awards
European Film Academy
Berlin, Germany
December 11
27th Forqué Awards
Entidad de Gestión de Derechos de los Productores Audiovisuales
Madrid, Spain
Film festivals[edit]
List of some of the film festivals for 2021 that have been accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).
Awards[edit]
2021 films[edit]
By country/region[edit]
List of American films of 2021
List of Australian films of 2021
List of Bangladeshi films of 2021
List of British films of 2021
List of Canadian films of 2021
List of Chinese films of 2021
List of French films of 2021
List of Hong Kong films of 2021
List of Indian films of 2021
List of Bhojpuri films of 2021
List of Hindi films of 2021
List of Punjabi films of 2021
List of Indian Bengali films of 2021
List of Gujarati films of 2021
List of Kannada films of 2021
List of Malayalam films of 2021
List of Marathi films of 2021
List of Tamil films of 2021
List of Telugu films of 2021
List of Japanese films of 2021
List of Nigerian films of 2021
List of Philippine films of 2021
List of Russian films of 2021
List of South Korean films of 2021
List of Spanish films of 2021
List of Sri Lankan films of 2021
By genre/medium[edit]
List of animated feature films of 2021
List of horror films of 2021
List of science fiction films of 2021
Deaths[edit]
Month
Date
Name
Age
Country
Profession
Notable films
January
3
Barbara Shelley
88
UK
Actress
4
Tanya Roberts
71
US
Actress
4
Gregory Sierra
83
US
Actor
5
James Greene
89
Ireland
Actor
5
John Richardson
86
UK
Actor
6
Antonio Sabàto Sr.
77
Italy
Actor
7
Michael Apted
79
UK
Director
7
Val Bettin
97
US
Voice Actor
7
Marion Ramsey
73
US
Actress, Singer
8
Steve Carver
75
US
Director
8
Mike Henry
84
US
Actor
9
John Reilly
86
US
Actor
11
Tord Peterson
94
Sweden
Actor
11
Stacy Title
56
US
Director
12
Mona Malm
85
Sweden
Actress
14
Peter Mark Richman
93
US
Actor
15
Dale Baer
70
US
Animator
16
Charlotte Cornwell
71
UK
Actress
18
Jean-Pierre Bacri
69
France
Actor, Screenwriter
18
Perry Botkin Jr.
87
US
Composer
18
Juan Carlos Tabío
77
Cuba
Director, Screenwriter
20
Ian Wilson
81
UK
Cinematographer
21
Nathalie Delon
79
France
Actress
21
Rémy Julienne
90
France
Stuntman
23
Walter Bernstein
101
US
Screenwriter, Director
23
Tony Ferrer
86
Philippines
Actor
23
Alberto Grimaldi
95
Italy
Producer
23
Hal Holbrook
95
US
Actor
23
Trisha Noble
76
Australia
Actress, Singer
24
Bruce Kirby
95
US
Actor
24
Gunnel Lindblom
89
Sweden
Actress
27
Cloris Leachman
94
US
Actress
28
Vasily Lanovoy
87
Russia
Actor
28
Cicely Tyson
96
US
Actress
30
Allan Burns
85
US
Screenwriter
February
1
Jonas Gricius
92
Lithuania
Cinematographer
1
Robert C. Jones
84
US
Film Editor, Screenwriter
3
Haya Harareet
89
Israel
Actress
5
Christopher Plummer
91
Canada
Actor
7
Giuseppe Rotunno
97
Italy
Cinematographer
7
Moufida Tlatli
73
Tunisia
Director, Film Editor
8
Jean-Claude Carrière
89
France
Screenwriter, Actor
9
John Hora
80
US
Cinematographer
11
Joan Weldon
90
US
Actress
12
Antonio Giménez-Rico
82
Spain
Director, Screenwriter
12
Christopher Pennock
76
US
Actor
12
Lynn Stalmaster
93
US
Casting Director
15
Lucía Guilmáin
83
Mexico
Actress
17
Martha Stewart
98
US
Actress
18
Andrey Myagkov
82
Russia
Actor
20
David de Keyser
93
UK
Actor
22
Giancarlo Santi
81
Italy
Director
24
Alan Robert Murray
66
US
Sound Engineer
24
Ronald Pickup
80
UK
Actor
27
Ng Man-tat
70
Hong Kong
Actor
March
1
Enrique San Francisco
65
Spain
Actor
2
Gil Rogers
87
US
Actor
3
Nicola Pagett
75
Egypt
Actress
4
Tony Hendra
79
UK
Screenwriter
6
David Bailie
83
South Africa
Actor
8
Leon Gast
85
US
Documentarian
8
Trevor Peacock
89
UK
Actor
9
Biff McGuire
94
US
Actor
9
Isela Vega
81
Mexico
Actress
11
Isidore Mankofsky
89
US
Cinematographer
11
Peter Patzak
76
Austria
Director, Screenwriter
11
Norman J. Warren
78
UK
Director
14
Henry Darrow
87
US
Actor
15
Yaphet Kotto
81
US
Actor
17
Antón García Abril
87
Spain
Composer
18
Richard Gilliland
71
US
Actor
22
Susana Canales
87
Spain
Actress
22
Tatyana Lolova
87
Bulgaria
Actress
22
May Wynn
93
US
Actress
23
George Segal
87
US
Actor
24
Craig Grant
52
US
Actor
24
Kunie Tanaka
88
Japan
Actor
24
Jessica Walter
80
US
Actress
25
Larry McMurtry
84
US
Screenwriter
25
Bertrand Tavernier
79
France
Director, Screenwriter
^Lee Min-ji (October 6, 2021). “‘제42회 청룡영화상’ 11월 26일 개최 확정, 단편영화상 공모 시작(공식)” [’42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards’ to be held on November 26th, Short Film Award Competition Begins (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
After a few weeks without updating this guide, we’re giving our new Netflix movies hub a spring clean. We’ve added Pain Hustlers and Old Dads to our list, removed some older entries from early September, and included new information on flicks that will debut on the service between now and the end of 2023.
Welcome to TechRadar’s new Netflix movies guide. In this article, you’ll learn all about the biggest (but not necessarily best) new movies to land on the platform since mid-September.
Netflix, which is considered to be the world’s best streaming service, has a stacked film library that Netflix Originals and licensed flicks. It’s a back catalog that’s updated with alarming regularity, too, so it can be difficult to stay on top of what’s new and worth watching on any day of the week. With our help, though, you’ll learn if these new Netflix films are worth your time.
Want a more comprehensive rundown of the greatest movies available to stream? Our best Netflix movies guide is packed with the cream of the crop, so head there if you’re only searching for the best films on the streaming giant. If you’re looking for the newest movies to hit the service, though, read on.
Anyway, for those interested: Pain Hustlers stars Emily Blunt as Liza Drake, a blue-collar mom who loses her job and winds up being hired by a pharmaceutical firm. However, Drake soon finds herself grappling with the company’s ethical ambiguity and dangerous rackateering scheme, as well as dealing with her fellow explosive and chauvinistic employees, including Pete Brenner (Chris Evans) and unhinged CEO Jack Neel (Andy Garcia).
It wasn’t heralded as a superb film by critics but, with the draw of its A-list cast, we still expect Pain Hustlers to pull in millions of viewers.
Old Dads
Release date: October 20
A flick that’s got comedian Bill Burr’s fingerprints all over it – he’s written, directed, and stars in this film – Old Dads is another Netflix comedy film that might appeal to you, depending on your sense of humor.
Also starring Ant-Man‘s Bobby Cannavale and the Halo TV show‘s Bokeem Woodbine, Old Dads tells the tale of “three best friends [who] become fathers later in life and find themselves battling preschool principals, millennial CEOs, and anything created after 1987”.
With a terrible 26% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this is one film we would ordinarily suggest you avoid. But, with a far more positive 88% audience score, Old Dads may be worth a watch if you’re looking for a film you can stick on and completely switch off to.
Fair Play
Release date: October 6
This erotic thriller from Chloe Domont could be one of 2023’s unexpectedly great Netflix movies. You don’t need us to hype it up, either – its 86% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes suggest it’ll enthrall and surprise you in equal measure. Well, if you don’t look at its less impressive 52% audience rating, anyway.
Fair Play stars Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor as Luke and Emily, a newly engaged couple whose relationship is pushed to the brink by Phoebe’s unexpected promotion. With critics labeling it “sexy”, “intelligent,” “wicked sharp”, and “an expertly calibrated urban thriller”, you might want to stick this one on your watchlist ASAP.
Dune
Release date: October 1 (US only)
Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 sci-fi epic has surprisingly made its debut on Netflix (in the US, anyway). Dune, which tells the first half of the legendary story set in Frank Herbert’s seminal novel of the same name, landed on the streamer in early October (it’s also available on Max). And, but for one issue, Dune‘s Netflix arrival would’ve been perfect.
It’s hard to distil Dune‘s expansive story down into a couple of sentences, so we’d advise you read our Dune review to find out more about it. Oh, and it has one of the best ensemble casts we’ve seen in a long time, which includes (but isn’t limited to) Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, and Javier Bardem. Catch it before a) it leave the service and b) Dune Part 2, one of 2024’s new movies, arrives next March.
(NB: UK viewers can catch Dune on Prime Video, while Australian audiences need to tune into Foxtel.)
This crime thriller looked like it would get under our skin when its official trailer arrived in late August. Here’s Reptile‘s plot synopsis, too, if you’re after a bit more information: “Following the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, a hardened detective attempts to uncover the truth in a case where nothing is as it seems, and by doing so dismantles the illusions in his own life.”
Benicio Del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone, Domenick Lombardozzi, and Eric Bogosian are among its talented cast, but Reptile has failed to meet critics’ expectations. Indeed, Reptile has been largely slammed by journalists for its lackluster plot, with some calling it the “worst big budget detective thriller” for some time. In short: skip Reptile in favor of this highly-rated Netflix crime thriller starring Tom Cruise instead.
Spy Kids: Armageddon
Release date: September 22
A reboot of the beloved early 21st century spy-comedy film series, Spy Kids: Armageddon sees a new generation of young heroes step up to become the saviors of the world.
To be fair, it’s their fault that the globe finds itself in a mess anyway. When the children of the world’s greatest spies (Shazam!: Fury of the Gods‘ Zachary Levi and Jane the Virgin‘s Gina Rodriguez) unknowingly help a powerful game developer to unleash a virus that grants him access to every technological device, they’re forced to assume the spy mantle themselves and save the day. No pressure, gang.
We didn’t think Spy Kids: Armageddon would be a great watch, but its reviews suggest it isn’t absolutely terrible. Spy Kids: Armageddon, then, should have enough about it to keep your own kids quiet for a couple of hours.
Rebel Moon will be the final Netflix Original movie of 2023. (Image credit: Netflix)
Want more information on the most anticipated new Netflix movies that’ll arrive before December 31? See what’s coming as part of Netflix’s ‘Fall 2023’ movie schedule, including four films you won’t want to miss below:
NYAD
Release date: November 3
Based on an incredible true story, NYAD tells the tale of journalist Diana (Annette Bening) who, at 60 years of age, attempts to complete an epic 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida. It’s a water-based trek she’s been obsessed with since she gave up marathon swimming 30 years prior. With the aid and support of long-time friend and coach Bonnie (Jodie Foster), Diana sets off on a four-year journey to tackle her biggest regret.
Early reviews of this thrilling drama have called it “mesmerizing”, “fearless”, and “powerful”. We’ll see if those words ring true pre-Thanksgiving.
Based on Alexis Nolent and Luc Jacamon’s graphic novel series of the same name, The Killer sees Fassbender play an unnamed assassin. After a near-fatal miss, goes to war against his employers during an international manhunt that Fassbender’s nameless protagonist insists isn’t personal. Tilda Swinton and Charles Parnell are among the starry supporting cast of one of 2023’s new Netflix movies.
Best. Christmas. Ever!
Release date: November 16
Christmas movies seem to be debuting earlier on streaming services with each passing year, and Netflix’s latest festive offering isn’t an exception to that rule.
Heather Graham (Twin Peaks, The Hangover) and Brandy Norwood (The Game) star in this feel-good holiday flick as Charlotte and Jackie respectively. Each year, the latter sends a boastful holiday newsletter to her friends, including Charlotte, who is always left feeling insignificant despite her own stable family life. When a twist of fate lands Charlotte and her family and Jackie’s door one Christmas, though, Charlotte sets out to prove her former college friend’s life isn’t as great as she makes out.
Best. Christmas. Ever!‘s first trailer doesn’t look all that enticing. Nonetheless, we imagine it’ll warm the cockles of your heart and get you in the festive spirit.
Rustin
Release date: November 17
Colman Domingo promises to deliver a powerful performance in Rustin, a film based on the architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, which culminated with Martin Luther King giving his legendary and impactful ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
Domingo portrays the titular Bayard Rustin, a political and social activist, and one of the civil rights movement’s most influential men. Never one to apologize for who he was or what he believed in, the inspirational Black and gay leader helped to make history – so why has his iconic story never been told before? Netflix aims to finally shine a light on Rustin in this powerful tale of resolve, faith, and standing up for what’s right.
Leo
Release date: November 21
2023 feels like the year of Adam Sandler on Netflix. Not content with starring in Murder Mystery 2, The Out-Laws, and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, he’s also voicing the titular character in family-friendly musical-comedy Leo, which arrives in time for Thanksgiving.
Sandler stars as jaded school pet lizard Leo, who’s been stuck in the same Florida classroom alongside his turtle friend (voiced by Bill Burr) for decades. But, when Leo learns he only has a year left to live, he plans to escape from his glass-wall confinement and live life to the full for once. Here’s hoping it’ll keep the kids entertained once you’ve consumed your bodyweight in turkey during the aforementioned US holiday…
May December
Release date: December 1 (US and Canada only)
Billed as an unsettling romantic drama, May December brings two titans of the acting game – Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore – together in a flick that could be unexpectedly great.
Portman plays Elizabeth Berry, an actress who’s set to portray a fictionalized version of Moore’s Gracie Atherton-Yoo on the big screen. Berry visits Atherton-Yoo and the latter’s toy boy Joe Yoo, whose romantic dalliance-turned-marriage was front page news two decades earlier, to learn more about the woman she’s set to play. However, Berry’s arrival and intrusion upsets the couple’s private life, which threatens their until-now stable relationship.
NB: UK viewers will be able to catch this on Sky Cinema in early December.
Leave the World Behind
Release date: December 8
This Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, and Mahershala Ali-starring apocalyptic sci-fi thriller might be an enticing alternative to the swathe of Christmas movies we’ll get later this year.
Leave the World Behind, which is based on Rumaan Alam’s book of the same name, tells the story of married couple Amanda (Roberts) and Clay (Hawke), whose vacation is interrupted by the mysterious G.H. (Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la). The two visitors bring news of an impending cyberattack and seek refuge in the home, which Amanda and Clay have rented for the weekend, G.H. and Ruth claim is theirs. As the disaster unfolds, the two families become trapped in a terrifying and escalating situation.
Award-winning writer and director Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot) leads production on the film, so we’re confident it’ll be an electrifyingly dramatic watch in December. Check out the trailer above, which we described as horribly hair-raising.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Release date: December 15
Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. However, back on the mainland, the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. This time around, instead of breaking out, they’re breaking in. That’s right, get ready for everyone’s favorite anthropomorphic chickens (and rats!) to ruffle some feathers by performing their own egg-cellent heist.
Maestro
Release date: December 20 (in select theaters from November 24)
Produced by Todd Phillips, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and leading man Bradley Cooper (who also directs and stars in the film), Maestro centers on the life and legacy of West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein.
Judging by the prosthetics used to transform Cooper into the much older Bernstein, we expect this entry in our new Netflix movies list to be a shoo-in for next year’s Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar. Early reactions to Maestro have called it Michelle Williams’ best performance in years, too, so expect her to be in the running for multiple Best Actress awards early next year.
For those interested, here’s Maestro‘s story synopsis: “Maestro is a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. A love letter to life and art, Maestro at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.”
Rebel Moon Part 1: A Child of Fire
Release date: December 22
Director Zack Snyder returns to Netflix with Rebel Moon, an epic space opera reportedly inspired by Star Wars, The Dirty Dozen, and Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai. Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Ray Fisher, Djimon Hounsou, Jena Malone, Corey Stoll, Ed Skrein, and Anthony Hopkins are among its stacked ensemble cast.
Here’s the plot synopsis: “When a peaceful colony on the edge of a galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious stranger living among the villagers, becomes their best hope for survival.
“Tasked with finding trained fighters who will unite with her in making an impossible stand against the Mother World, Kora assembles a small band of warriors – outsiders, insurgents, peasants and orphans of war from different worlds who share a common need for redemption and revenge. As the shadow of an entire Realm bears down on the unlikeliest of moons, a battle over the fate of a galaxy is waged, and in the process, a new army of heroes is formed.”
Rebel Moon Part 1: A Child of Fire releases this December, with Part 2: The Scargiver slated for April 2024. Its first trailer, which you can view above, looks like Netflix’s pretty good answer to Star Wars. Given Snyder is helming this one, a director’s cut is on the way as well, and it’ll test your movie runtime limits.
