8 Best Movies of 2021

By Vlad Zakh · July 2, 2026

2021 had family adventure, sci-fi epics and immigrant dreams. Minari has a Korean-American family chasing a new life on an Arkansas farm, Encanto has a Colombian family whose one member without powers may save them, and Dune has a young heir entangled in a war over a desert planet. Palmer, Nobody, CODA, Cruella and Spider-Man: No Way Home round out the eight.

Palmer (2021)

TMDB ★ 8.1

A former football star returning home from prison forms an unlikely bond with a young, gender-nonconforming boy.

Directed by Fisher Stevens · 1h 50m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Minari (2021)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A Korean-American family chases the promise of a new life on a struggling Arkansas farm.

Directed by Lee Isaac Chung · 1h 55m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Encanto (2021)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A Colombian family blessed with magical gifts discovers the one member without powers may be their last hope.

Directed by Byron Howard & Jared Bush · 1h 42m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dune (2021)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A noble house is drawn into a treacherous struggle for control of the galaxy's most valuable resource.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve · 2h 35m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, TNT, TBS, tru TV, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Nobody (2021)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A mild-mannered family man's dormant, violent past resurfaces after a home invasion.

Directed by Ilya Naishuller · 1h 31m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Peacock Premium, YouTube TV, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

CODA (2021)

TMDB ★ 7.9

The only hearing member of a deaf family must choose between her music dreams and her family's needs.

Directed by Sian Heder · 1h 52m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Cruella (2021)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A young, fashion-obsessed grifter transforms into the villainous, dog-loving style icon of London.

Directed by Craig Gillespie · 2h 14m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 93% Metacritic 71

A spell gone wrong pulls villains from other universes into Peter Parker's already fractured world.

Directed by Jon Watts · 2h 28m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar35 wins & 72 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

8 Best Movies of 2021

Palmer (2021)

Minari (2021)

Encanto (2021)

Dune (2021)

Nobody (2021)

CODA (2021)

Cruella (2021)

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

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