Netflix has been around since the late 90s but they’ve only been producing original content in the past 7 years. It takes quite a bit of effort to produce a full-length show or film, so Netflix has been taking its time over the last decade experimenting with dozens of original films and shows. In this post, I decided to highlight the Top 10 Netflix Movies of 2021.
10. Fatherhood (2021)
Directed by Paul Wei, Fatherhood is a 2021 American comedy-drama film based on the 2011 memoir Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love by Matthew Logelin. And it follows a new father who struggles to raise his daughter after the sudden death of his wife.
The film stars Kevin Hart, Alfre Woodard, Frankie R. Faison, Lil Rel Howery, DeWanda Wise, Anthony Carrigan, Melody Hurd, and Paul Reiser.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, with criticism for its formulaic approach but the emotional weight and Hart’s against-type performance receiving praise.
Fatherhood was sold to Netflix amid the COVID-19 pandemic and was digitally released on June 18, 2021.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, and it was rated as follows:
- IMDb: Rated 6.6 out of 10.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 67%.
9. Passing (2021)
Based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Nella Larsen, Passing is a 2021 black-and-white drama film written, produced, and directed by Rebecca Hall.
It tells the story of a Black woman’s existence is turned upside down in 1920s New York City when her life is entwined with an old childhood friend who is passing as white.
The film stars Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Bill Camp, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, and Alexander Skarsgård.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, and it was rated as follows:
- IMDb: Rated 6.7 out of 10.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 90%.
8. The Last Letter from Your Lover (2021)
The 2021 British romantic drama film, The Last Letter from Your Lover, is based on Jojo Moyes’ 2012 novel of the same name.
Starring Felicity Jones, Callum Turner, Joe Alwyn, Nabhaan Rizwan, and Shailene Woodley, The film tells a pair of interwoven stories set in the present and past.
THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER follows Ellie Haworth (Felicity Jones), a dedicated journalist who discovers a cache of secret love letters dating back to 1965 and vows to solve the mystery of the forbidden affair at their heart.
As she learns more about Jennifer Stirling (Shailene Woodley), the wealthy industrialist’s wife, and Anthony O’Hare (Callum Turner), the financial journalist assigned to cover him, Ellie’s own love story begins to unfold, with the help of an earnest and endearing archivist (Nabhaan Rizwan) who assists her in tracking down more letters. Augustine Frizzell directed the film based on Jojo Moyes’ novel.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, and it was rated as follows:
- IMDb: Rated 6.7 out of 10.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 56%.
7. Malcolm & Marie (2021)
Malcolm & Marie is a 2021 American black-and-white romantic drama film written, produced and directed by Sam Levinson. The film stars Zendaya and John David Washington.
Writer/director Sam Levinson teamed up with Zendaya and John David Washington for an achingly romantic drama in which a filmmaker (Washington) and his fiancée (Zendaya) return home after a jubilant movie release as he anticipates critical and financial success. As truths about their relationships begin to surface, the evening takes a turn, putting their love to the test.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, and it was rated as follows:
- IMDb: Rated 6.7 out of 10.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 56%.
6. Blue Miracle (2021)
Blue Miracle is a 2021 American drama film directed by Julio Quintana, and the film stars Dennis Quaid, Jimmy Gonzales, Raymond Cruz, Anthony Gonzalez, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Fernanda Urrejola and Bruce McGill.
To save their orphanage (Casa Hogar in Cabo), a guardian and his kids partner with a washed-up boat captain for a chance to win a cash prize at a fishing tournament.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, and it was rated as follows:
- IMDb: Rated 6.7 out of 10.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 70%.
5. The Power of the Dog (2021)
Jane Campion wrote and directed The Power of the Dog, a 2021 Western psychological drama film. It is based on Thomas Savage’s novel of the same name, published in 1967. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, and it was rated as follows:
- IMDb: Rated 6.9 out of 10.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 96%.
4. The Dig (2021)
The Dig is a British drama film directed by Simon Stone in 2021, based on John Preston’s 2007 novel of the same name, which reimagines the events of the Sutton Hoo dig in 1939. It stars Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Johnny Flynn, Ben Chaplin, Ken Stott, Archie Barnes, and Monica Dolan.
The Dig is a British drama film directed by Simon Stone in 2021, based on John Preston’s 2007 novel of the same name, which reimagines the events of the Sutton Hoo dig in 1939.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, and it was rated as follows:
- IMDb: Rated 7.1 out of 10.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 88%.
3. The Unforgivable (2021)
The Unforgivable is a 2021 drama film directed by Nora Fingscheidt. The film stars Sandra Bullock, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jon Bernthal, Richard Thomas, Linda Emond, Aisling Franciosi, Rob Morgan, and Viola Davis.
Ruth Slater is a lady who was just released from jail after completing a sentence for a violent crime and is now attempting to reintegrate into society. In a world that refuses to forgive her past, she must strive to put her life back together.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, and it was rated as follows:
- IMDb: Rated 7.2 out of 10.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 40%.
2. The White Tiger (2021)
Ramin Bahrani wrote and directed the drama film The White Tiger, which was released in 2021. Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Rajkummar Rao feature in the film.
Balram Halwai (Adarsh Gourav) tells the story of how he rose from a destitute villager to a successful entrepreneur in modern India.
Our young hero uses cunning and ambition to land a job as a driver for Ashok (Rajkummar Rao) and Pinky (Priyanka Chopra-Jonas), who have recently returned from America.
Balram has been socialized to be one thing: a servant, and as a result, he has made himself useful to his wealthy masters. However, after a night of betrayal, he discovers the heinous lengths to which they will go in order to capture him and rescue themselves.
Balram, on the point of losing everything, rises up and becomes a new kind of master by rebelling against a rigged and unjust system. Based on the New York Times best-selling novel that won the Man Booker Prize in 2008.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, and it was rated as follows:
- IMDb: Rated 7.1 out of 10.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 91%.
1. Don’t Look Up (2021)
Don’t Look Up is a 2021 American apocalyptic black comedy film written, produced, and directed by Adam McKay, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi, Cate Blanchett, and Meryl Streep, and starring an ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio
An astronomy graduate student, Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), and her professor, Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio), make an incredible discovery of a comet circling within the solar system. The issue is that it is on a collision trajectory with Earth. What about the other issue? Nobody seems to give a damn. Warning humanity about a planet-killer the scale of Mount Everest turns out to be a difficult fact to negotiate.
Kate and Randall embark on a media tour with the help of Dr. Oglethorpe (Rob Morgan), which takes them from the office of an indifferent President Orlean (Meryl Streep) and her sycophantic son and Chief of Staff, Jason (Jonah Hill), to the airwaves of The Daily Rip, an upbeat morning show hosted by Brie (Cate Blanchett) and Jack (Jonah Hill) (Tyler Perry). With only six months until the comet makes landfall, navigating the 24-hour news cycle and capturing the attention of the social media-obsessed public before it’s too late is hysterically hilarious — what will it take to get the world to look up?!
The film received mixed reviews from critics, and it was rated as follows:
- IMDb: Rated 7.2 out of 10.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 56%.
This was our Top 10 Netflix Movies of 2021 list. We have been able to compile a great list of the best Netflix Movies 2021. Do you agree with our list? If you have any suggestions or comments please shoot them down in the comments below.
