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As Vin Diesel might say: “the movies.”
That’s right, after a year of massive uncertainty, movies are slowly but surely heading back to theaters… Sort of. Over the first half of the year, theatrical films were in a weird middle ground where hybrid releases ran amok. From HBO Max releasing Warner Bros. entire theatrical slate day and date, to Disney+ playing around with Premier Access and “free” releases direct on the service, some audience members did head back to the salty smell of popcorn, while others preferred to have the cinematic experience on their own couches.
Point being, things are changing, rapidly, and will only continue to be super weird through the end of the year — at least — as studios figure out whether they want to continue with these hybrid streaming/theater releases, or go back to the traditional, pre-pandemic model (my money is on the former).
But the good news? That meant there were tons of movies to watch at home, which is, of course, what Decider is all about: streaming TV and movies. Since the site launched, we’ve been focusing on the streaming services, and with so many excellent films released direct to your living room, we had a wealth of content to sift through to determine the best movies of 2021 so far.
Now, a note on methodology. The staff of Decider all sent in their picks for the top 10 movies released between January 1 and June 30. Those were weighted, ranked, and culled into the list you see here. So if more people saw a movie, there’s a good chance it got weighted a little heavier. But hey, it’s all good in the hood.
Okay, enough preamble! Let’s get to the list of the best movies of 2021 so far. From an explosive Summer musical, to an Oscar winning film, to a comedy special that could only have been made during the pandemic, we’ve got it all.
'Saint Maud'
From writer/director Rose Glass comes Saint Maud, a gripping study of salvation and sanity in the morally corrupt seaside town of Scarborough. After a traumatizing incident at a training hospital, a young nurse, Katie (a mesmerizing Morfydd Clark), rebrands herself as Maud, converts to Catholicism, and becomes the hospice “carer” for a dying artist, Amanda (Jennifer Ehle). As Maud grows more and more determined to save Amanda’s soul, Amanda publicly rebuffs her. Maud reacts by becoming even more devout, having celestial “visions,” and practicing self-flagellation leading to a manic spiral. A difficult yet rewarding watch, Saint Maud is an exacting and disturbing character study that is not for the faint of heart. — Karen Kemmerle
'LFG'
I get fired up just seeing those three letters now. The HBO Max documentary which follows the US Women’s Soccer team as they fight for equal pay will leave you simultaneously infuriated and inspired. This group of women is fearless and cool as hell, and will have you rooting for them in every way, on and off the field. I salute them for standing up for themselves and a cause that is way bigger than just in the soccer world. LFG, girls. — Lea Palmieri
'The Father'
Though the producers of the Oscars clearly thought a Best Actor win for Chadwick Boseman was a given, you’ll understand why Academy members voted for Anthony Hopkins when you see his heartbreaking performance as an aging man struggling with dementia in The Father. But it’s Olivia Colman who ultimately steals the show in her role as Anne, the daughter that Hopkins only sometimes recognizes. In just a single glance, Colman conveys Anne’s jealousy, resentment, and despair far better than most could do in a 10-minute monologue. Directed by Florian Zeller—who also co-wrote the script with Christopher Hampton based on Zellner’s 2012 play—this film is an unflinching portrayal of how cruel time can be. — Anna Menta
'The Woman in the Window'
A slow burn horror/mystery playing to our pandemic-ridden times, Amy Adams is clearly enjoying herself as Anna, an agoraphobic depressive who hasn’t left her house in 10 months—and is pushed into action when she believes she’s witnessed a murder. Beautifully shot to mirror her deeply disturbed state, we spend a lot of time contemplating the cavernous space of Anna’s upper Manhattan brownstone. Of course, all is not what it seems, and we are treated to staccato performances from the ensemble cast, including Julianne Moore, Tracy Letts, Anthony Mackie, Gary Oldman and Jennifer Jason Leigh, to further the twisty plot and bring us to a, well, interesting conclusion. — Tobey Grumet
'Godzilla vs. Kong'
Y’know, sometimes you just want to hit “play” and watch a giant gorilla beat the hell out of a massive, atomically-charged mega-lizard. That’s why Godzilla vs. Kong works: it delivers on the promise of its title. The human characters are ridiculous, the dialogue is unbelievable, the plot is summed up by the shrug emoji—and that is great. After the hell year we’ve all just had, one that took away an entire summer’s worth of blockbusters, Godzilla vs. Kong brought a big, dumb, fun party to our living room. Who doesn’t want to watch Kong swing a massive glowing battle axe at Godzilla? This movie deserves a rewatch this summer and every summer. — Brett White
'Together Together'
Ed Helms and Patti Harrison star as platonic soulmates in Together Together, an easy-going indie comedy about parenting, human connection, and love. Matt (Helms), a middle-aged single man, hires Anna (Harrison) as his surrogate mother — and try as she might, Anna can’t resist the warmth and friendship Matt offers her. Quiet and simple, Together Together is an unexpected hit. Also, don’t miss the cameo of Pen15’s amazing Anna Konkle as a hilarious pregnancy counselor. — Fletcher Peters
'Minari'
Based on writer/director Lee Isaac Chung’s own childhood experiences, Minari is just the perfect family drama. There’s not a weak link in the movie, from the wistful, beautiful soundtrack by composer Emile Mosseri; to the gorgeous, sweeping shots of the Ozarks by cinematographer Lachlan Milne; to the nuanced performances from the talented cast—including Oscar-winner Yuh-jung Youn and Oscar nominee Steven Yeun. Starring Yeun as a South Korean immigrant who moves his family to Arkansas to pursue his dream of becoming a farmer, this is a movie that will break your heart and rebuild it again. — Anna Menta
'Judas and the Black Messiah'
A tale of betrayal in the face of greatness, this HBO drama focuses on the real-life story of FBI informant William O’Neil (LaKeith Standfield) as he helps bring about the 1969 murder of the awe-inspiring chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance). A powerful film that will leave you thoughtful and introspective, the under-reported story gets an excellent platform, expedited by an electrifying performance by Kaluuya and a well-paced narrative. And though it may seem like a timely story to tell, it ultimately reminds us that these issues of white supremacy within law enforcement have always been with us as Americans, and that we have a lot more to do as a nation. — Tobey Grumet
'Nobody'
Who could have foreseen Bob Odenkirk’s untapped potential as an action star? Directed by Ilya Naishuller, Nobody features Odenkirk as the seemingly mild-mannered dad and office drone, Hutch Mansell, whose past catches up with him after a home invasion threatens his family. What follows is a taut 92-minute blood-splattered thrill ride as Hutch drops the mild-mannered weakling disguise, confronts the Russian mafia, and embraces his true identity–a guy you don’t want to fuck with. Featuring strong supporting turns from Connie Neilsen, Christopher Lloyd and Michael Ironside, Nobody is a bone-crunching good time. — Karen Kemmerle
'Plan B'
Actress Natalie Morales makes her feature film directorial debut with this buddy road trip comedy that is refreshing, frustrating and thoroughly entertaining. Two high school pals set out to obtain the morning after pill, and while each hurdle is met with hijinks, there’s an important message to match all those laughs. Watch this one with your best friend and then call your Senators so that your next road trip is filled with rip roaring fun, and not a rush to secure your reproductive rights. — Lea Palmieri
'Luca'
Magical Vespas, fresh gelato, and snazzy Italian tunes — what more could one ask for in a summer movie? Pixar’s latest animated masterpiece, Luca, takes place on the glittery blue isles of the Mediterranean, following two fish boys on a quest to have the best summer of their lives. Even though Luca isn’t as existential as, say, Pixar’s Soul or Coco, the refreshing coming-of-age story makes it unmissable. Silenzio, Bruno! — Fletcher Peters
'Bo Burnham: Inside'
Bo Burnham: Inside is an inventive whirlwind of musical comedy. Shot and performed during the pandemic, the versatile comedian’s innovative Netflix special is both laugh-out-loud funny and an incisive commentary on pandemic life. Nobody’s clamoring for more TV shows or films about COVID, but Bo Burnham: Inside is the masterful exception to pandemic-content fatigue. — Josh Sorokach
'Raya and the Last Dragon'
Simply put, Raya is just cool. Set in one of the most elaborately constructed universes Disney has created in years, the film follows guardian Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) as she tries to fix her past mistake and restore dragons to all the kingdoms. Aside from its incredible action scenes and superb voice cast, what sets Raya and the Last Dragon apart is how lived in this world always feels. Each of the five kingdoms – Fang, Heart, Spine, Talon, and Tail – feels unique to itself. Raya’s complicated relationship with her rival Namaari (Gemma Chan) hides years of secrets and frustrations we never see, but always feel. Even the secondary characters feel as though they’re hiding a rich backstory. — Kayla Cobb
'Cruella'
Like with pretty much every one of Disney’s live-action remakes, we did not need Cruella. An origin story for the HBIC who wanted to skin puppies? Truly, what are we doing here? That’s what makes Cruella such a thrilling feat to behold. It’s a film that you enter with a groan and exit with a grin. Every choice—the 1970s London setting, the endless glam rock needle drops, the sickening fashion, the overall vibe of queer excellence—is absolutely spot on. This is a movie that no one needed and no one asked for, but we are all damn happy it got made and that it got made like this. — Brett White
'The Mitchells vs. The Machines'
Netflix’s sweet movie tells the story of one quirky family’s quest to save the world from robot domination, but it’s also the story of a strained father-daughter relationship that can only be mended by a road-trip to remember. When Katie (Abby Jacobsen) and her family pack up the car to drive her to her first semester of film school, their trip is derailed by some evil electronics, and as the only family fortunate enough to escape capture from the devices-gone-bad, the Mitchells have not choice but to reconnect — after all, the fate of the human race rests in their hands. — Greta Bjornson
'Shiva Baby'
Masterfully blending elements of comedy and horror, Shiva Baby is a fresh, wildly entertaining film that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. Written and directed by Emma Seligman, the movie follows a college senior who goes to a shiva attended by her family, her sugar daddy, her sugar daddy’s wife and baby, and her ex-girlfriend. An absorbing mix of tension, extreme awkwardness, and smart, subtle humor. — Josh Sorokach
'Nomadland'
It’s a confusing year for movie release dates, given that many 2020 Oscar hopefuls delayed releases until 2021 after the Academy extended its deadline. Such is the case with Nomadland, which took home Best Picture at the 2021 Oscars, and streamed for one week in 2020 before premiering officially in 2021. But it’d be a crime to leave Chloe Zhao’s quiet masterpiece off of our list. Frances McDormand delivers one of her best performances (and that’s saying something!) as a woman who moves into her van out of financial necessity. It’s a gorgeous, heartbreaking, and empathetic portrayal of the people America pushed to the sidelines. — Anna Menta
'Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar'
Sold initially as two aging women finally taking the trip of a lifetime to the sunny, beach-laden Vista Del Mar, Barb and Star is so much funnier, so much wilder, and so much weirder than any viewers probably expected. Featuring a stand-out turn — and song! — by Jamie Dornan, the plot is actually about a spurned woman (played by Kristen Wiig) trying to kill everyone in town using poisoned mosquitos, and how the blissfully naive Barb and Star (Annie Mumolo and Wiig, again) semi-accidentally stop her. Half Zoolander, half Bridesmaids, half… Well, a third thing, Barb and Star is ludicrously quotable, laugh-out-loud funny, and destined to be a perennial cult comedy favorite for years to come. — Alex Zalben
'In The Heights'
You can watch In The Heights at home or at the movie theater, but just know, you will want to dance in the aisles (or on your couch). Lin-Manuel Miranda’s movie adaptation of his first big Broadway musical is bold, beautiful and so, so much fun. The songs are great, it looks incredible, the cast is overflowing with stars (hi Anthony Ramos!). This one is sure to guarantee a rewatch. After all, you’ve got some dance moves to learn! — Lea Palmieri
