2021 was cinema’s comeback year—at least on paper. Big studios pushed tentpoles back into theaters while streaming platforms doubled down on content volume. The result? A year split between ambition and overload. This tier list ranks which films justified the hype and which felt rushed out the door.
S-Star Ranking - All-Time Greats - Reserved for films that transcend their release year. These are the rare titles that leave a permanent mark on cinema, influence the industry, and continue to be discussed, studied, and rewatched years later. Craft, impact, and legacy all align here. Very few films earn this rank, and that scarcity is the point.
- N/A
5-Star Ranking - Best of the Best - Exceptional films operating at the highest level of filmmaking. Strong direction, performances, and execution elevate them above their peers, even if they don’t redefine the medium or achieve long-term cultural immortality. These are the best films of their year and stand as near-flawless examples of their genre.
- Dune: Part One
4-Star Ranking - Top 10 Worthy - Well-crafted, confident films that excel in multiple areas and earn their place among the year’s standouts. They may have minor flaws or limited scope, but the strengths far outweigh the weaknesses. Highly recommended viewing and often among the most enjoyable or impressive releases of the year.
- The Suicide Squad
- Judas and the Black Messiah
- The Black Phone
- Boss Level
- Zack Snyder's Justice League
3-Star Ranking - Good Entertainment - Solid, watchable films that do their job well. They entertain, engage, and deliver on their premise without pushing boundaries or taking major risks. These are enjoyable experiences, even if they’re unlikely to linger long after the credits roll.
- Black Widow
- Pig
- Malignant
- Copshop
- Werewolves Within
- Chaos Walking
- I Care a Lot
- Benny Loves You
- The Addams Family 2
- Kate
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- No Time to Die
- Separation
- Mortal Kombat
- Cryptozoo
- Vacation Friends
- Aquarium of the Dead
- Together Together
- Without Remorse
- Antler
- Mother/Android
- The Matrix Resurrections
- Jolt
- The King's Man
- Godzilla vs. Kong
- Breaking News in Yuba County
- The Woman in the Window
2-Star Ranking - Wasted Potential - Films with promising ideas, talent, or concepts that fail to come together. Whether due to weak execution, poor pacing, tonal confusion, or studio interference, these movies fall short of what they could have been. Frustrating more than offensive.
- Coming 2 America
- Night Teeth
- The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- The Little Things
- Army of the Dead
1-Star Ranking - Total Garbage - Broken films with little to no redeeming value. Poorly written, badly executed, or fundamentally misguided, these releases fail on nearly every level. Watching them feels like a chore rather than an experience, and they serve as cautionary tales rather than entertainment.
- Venom: Let There Be Carnage
- False Positive
- Halloween Kills
- Space Jam: A New Legacy
Conclusion
If 2020 was about survival, 2021 was about overcorrection. Some films found their footing again; others proved that momentum alone isn’t quality. The industry was moving—but not always in the right direction.
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