CS's Top Ten Movies of 2021

That list of names is copied and pasted from a previous thread and you had likely already submitted a list when it was constructed.  We regret the error.

Dune
West Side Story
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Black Widow
No Time to Die
The King's Man
Eternals
Don't Look Up
Cruella

(I watched 12 movies from last year, so)

1. Dune
2. Flee
3. Mitchells vs machines
4. The suicide squad
5. The last duel
6. Red rocket
7. Nightmare alley
8. Spidermen
9. Macbeth
10. Barb and star go to Vista del mar


Did miss a few movies.

Jibbs is the new fiverrabbit confirmed.

1. Malignant
2. Spider-Man: No Way Home
3. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
4. No Time to Die
5. The Suicide Squad
6. Cruella
7. Encanto
8. Shiva Baby
9. Free Guy
10. Coming 2 America

Hush child, he's giving votes to Malignant.

Not super happy with my list. Mostly limited to Disney movies, and only made it out to the theater a handful of times. But... until my kids get just a tad bit older and I can consume movies like I used to, below is where my top 10 for 2021 currently stands.


1. Dune
2. Encanto
3. Spiderman: No Way Home
4. Pig
5. The Sparks Brothers
6. The Suicide Squad
7. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
8. Raya and the Last Dragon
9. Free Guy
10. Luca

Honorable Mentions

*The Forever Purge - better than it had any right to be
* Malignant - great twist

1. The Worst Person in the World- 9/10
2. Dune- 9/10
3. The Tragedy of Macbeth- 9/10
4. A Hero- 8/10
5. The Power of the Dog- 8/10
6. Drive My Car- 8/10
7. Licorice Pizza- 8/10
8. Nightmare Alley- 8/10
9. The Green Knight- 8/10
10. Flee- 8/10

Sorry, of course I saved the longest movie for last!

The list is made, I'll get to the list but first an explanation. I took all the top ten lists and gave points for each movie on each list. Putting a movie at # one on a list gave it ten points, #2 gave it 9 points and so on down to #10 which gives it a mere one. The more points the higher on the big list.

There ended up being a three way tie for the bottom three slots.  One of these three films only showed up on three lists instead of four, so I put that one in the number ten slot.  I broke the tie between the remaining two films based on the one that ended up in the highest slot on one of the lists it ended up on.

so without further ado here's the list

(all summaries are plagiarized from various people at IMDB.com)

10. The Worst Person in the World (25 Points)

The chronicles of four years in the life of Julie, a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is.

CS Voice: "The Worst Person in the World has so much to offer and so much that filmmakers can learn from. The movie walks a tightrope the entire time where one false note can bring the whole thing crashing down. Thankfully that false note never strikes, and The Worst Person in the World cements its place among the very best of this young decade." - SnoBorderZero

9. Pig (25 Points)

A truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregon wilderness must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped.

CS Voice: "It... has a lot to say about societal systems and our responses to them, all within the framework of a restaurant subculture. Pretty neat. Also, this movie settles Abed (from Community)'s debate: Nic Cage is still a great actor." - IanTheCool

8. Drive My Car (25 Points)

A renowned stage actor and director learns to cope with his wife's unexpected passing when he receives an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya in Hiroshima.

CS Voice: "I wasn’t entirely familiar with Hamaguchi prior to this, so I need to check out his other stuff. His other new flick, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy is available for streaming now, which I rented.  I do love how the credits roll so late into the movie, like an hour I believe. That’s a neat touch." - donny

7. Red Rocket (26 Points)

Mikey Saber is a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown, not that anyone really wants him back.

CS Voice: "On its own terms this is one of the more successful attempts I’ve ever seen at trying to build a movie around a total shithead who you really can’t get behind and one more bold look at a marginalized America from Sean Baker." - Dracula

6. The Tragedy of Macbeth (33 Points)

A Scottish lord becomes convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland, and his ambitious wife supports him in his plans of seizing power.

CS Voice: "I was watching Macbeth and thought that it's about time that we as a society finally called out Shakespeare for what he really is, a good story-crafter whose plays are about 80% gobbedly gook. Who's with me??" - Doomsday

5. Spider-Man: No Way Home (37 Points)

With Spider-Man's identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.

CS Voice: "That may come as a surprise to those expecting this movie to be “Sonyverse” diarrhea. It is that, and honestly, that stuff is great. But the movie is shockingly very focused on its emotional beats and character arcs. This is very much the closing chapter of the MCU Spider-Man and the beginning chapter of, well, Spider-Man. And I certainly look forward to it." - Neverending

4. The Last Duel (42 Points)

King Charles VI declares that Knight Jean de Carrouges settle his dispute with his squire by challenging him to a duel.

CS Voice: "I liked it quite a bit. Thought the Rashomon style story telling was very effective." - frankyt

3. West Side Story (43 Points)

An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.

CS Voice: "This was excellent. The camera is another character. The emotional beats mostly all hit, and the Maria/Rif/Anita actors are tremendous. That puddle shot is glorious, and there's a few others that I'm stunned Spielberg could pull off. Can't speak more highly of it." - thebtskink

2. Licorice Pizza (60 Points)

The story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973.

CS Voice: "So I don't think it's too surprising to hear that I completely loved Licorice Pizza, it is unquestionably one of the best films of the year... Anderson's empathy has always been a defining aspect of his filmography and it comes through in spades here. There's such love for Gary and Alana, such understanding for their feelings and desires. I certainly loved spending time with them and I can't wait to do so again." - PG Cooper

1. Dune (68 Points)

A noble family becomes embroiled in a war for control over the galaxy's most valuable asset while its scion becomes troubled by visions of a dark future.

CS Voices: 

"Hell of an experience. Doesn’t quite hit the visual highs of Blade Runner 2049, but it gets close from time to time. Like BR2049 though, you can’t help but get swept up in the whole affair. I need to give the score more time to resonate. I like what Zimmers doing, but could afford to listen to it again." donny

"There’s a lot to like here, it’s definitely worth seeing, and I look forward to its second half." - Dracula

"Loved it though, didn't feel like it was 2.5 hours honestly, fantastic cast, great production, excellent villains." - frankyt

"The script was excellent... The production design was off the hook, some of the best I've seen in recent years. In particular I thought the Ornithopters were amazing... I love the score as well. It was intense in a way I don't remember hearing, and really got in your face. In a good way... I love the way they built up the grandeur of the sandworms... The casting was spot on. Overall, this turned out to be everything I wanted it to be." - IanTheCool

"I was surprised the movie didn't end with his new name. That would have worked well. Especially with all of the mouse sightings." - Jibbs

"There's really no denying that I was rivetted by Dune from start to finish. At a time where we've become so desensitized to special effects and spectacle, along comes a blockbuster which creates a genuine sense of awe." PG Cooper

"In terms of defining Dune as a modern epic there's so much to absorb that in the greatest tradition of the classic epics, Dune is overwhelming in the best of ways. From the lush landscape photography of Jordan playing the role of Arrakis, to full-scale action sequences of exploding ships and swarming armies clashing, Villeneuve has delivered the kind of cinematic sensory overload that David Lean excelled in." - SnoBorderZero

"It's fine." - 1godzillafan

Also here is the full point chart:
Total Votes: 14

Dune 68
Licorice Pizza 60
West Side Story 43
Last Duel, The 42
Spider-Man: No Way Home 37
Tragedy of Macbeth 33
Red Rocket 26
Drive My Car 25
Pig 25
Worst Person in the World, The 25
CODA 24
Suicide Squad, The 23
Malignant 21
Shang-Chi 20
Green Knight, The 20
No Time To Die 19
French Dispatch, The 19
Hero, A 17
Mitchells Vs. The Machines 16
Nightmare Alley 16
In the Heights 15
Encanto 14
Raya and the Last Dragon 12
Quo Vadis Aida 11
Nostalgia 10
Sparks Brothers, The 10
Flee 10
Finch 9
Night of the Kings 9
Power of the Dog, The 9
Harder They Fall, The 8
Nine Days 7
Last Night in Soho 6
Cruella 6
Black Widow 6
Nobody 6
Tick, Tick… Boom! 5
Belfast 5
King's Man, The 4
Eternals 4
Parallel Mothers 4
Titane 4
Free Guy 4
Shiva Baby 3
Stillwater 3
Don't Look Up 2
Judas and the Black Messiah 2
Coming 2 America 1
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar 1
Luca 1

Man, I really gotta see Red Rocket.

I love when Drac pulls an "its fine" response amidst glowing reviews on this list.

Thanks for putting this together, Drac. I know some think this year was lackluster but I enjoyed a lot of these films.

Nice work Drac. I also love godzilla fan's Dune quote.

Power of the Dog? More like Green Book.