Film lovers still faced uncertainty when information technology came t0 theatrical releases for much of the yr, just Netflix released some noteworthy movies in 2021, and hither are some of the best. Equally the years go by, Netflix has increased its movie presence past acquiring big studio titles post-release and getting the distribution rights to debut on the streaming service. Gone are the days where large-budget movies with A-listing leads are restricted to theatrical releases, and Netflix is a major factor in that continuing tendency.

Thanks to studios electing to bypass theaters to instead release highly-anticipated 2021 movies through streaming services, subscribers had more titles than ever accessible from the comforts of their own homes. Granted, Netflix had vowed to ramp up their original movie quality well before the coronavirus pandemic changed the release model. Based on the number of Netflix original movies released in 2021, the streaming giant seems to exist making good on its promise.

Despite the altered release models for several major movies on other platforms like Disney+, HBO Max, and Peacock, Netflix experience consistently notable movies throughout 2021. Ranging anywhere from a sci-fi satire to coming-of-historic period tales or an autobiographical musical to a zombie-filled heist from Zack Snyder, Netflix checked off a lot of boxes this yr. That said, here are some of the best Netflix movies to premiere in 2021, leading to the best of the all-time.

13. Stowaway

Stowaway may not have received much fizz surrounding its April 2021 release, simply the sci-fi drama from Joe Penna is a thought-provoking tale that has the benefit of beingness prepare in the visually-highly-seasoned edges of infinite. While Stowaway falls victim to some pacing bug with a deadening burn, the moral dilemma at the eye of the story when the ship heading to Mars can't sustain enough oxygen with the corporeality of crew onboard gives the movie plenty depth. Stowaway's cast of Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, Shamier Anderson, and Toni Collette let for each grapheme to smoothen in the small-budget film. The ending may be frustrating for some, but the movie delivers in introducing an upstanding dilemma that had repercussions on a crew that could have ripple effects on the advancement of humankind.

12. Carmine Notice

Rawson Marshall Thurber'due south Ruby-red Find isn't a striking with critics, but Netflix subscribers are sure getting a kick out of the big-upkeep action-comedy. The motion picture, which was one of the highly-predictable titles of the year for the streaming service, was an easy sell with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot in the lead. While building on the recent runway record of worthwhile activity movies, Cherry Notice banks on the cast'due south popularity even if the moving-picture show's plot isn't every bit intriguing as the blockbusters the trio are usually headlining. Even so, the fast-paced movie, which pins Gadot confronting the leading men, offers viewers a 2-hr humorous thrill ride with some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

11. Army of the Expressionless

Zack Snyder was i of the biggest names in 2021 due to the release of his long-awaited Justice League director'southward cut. On the heels of the movie's release, Snyder debuted another passion project in the grade of Army of the Dead on Netflix. This one allows the filmmaker to return to his zombie subgenre roots while funneling the earth of the undead into a heist set in the vibrant ruins of Las Vegas. With an ensemble cast including Dave Bautista, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, and Matthias Schweighöfer, Snyder introduces an intricate world capable of further examination. Some elements of Army of the Expressionless may have been overstuffed, only with prequels and sequels planned, the vast elements could easily pay off.

x. Army of Thieves

Regular army of Thieves marks the 2nd installment of the Regular army of the Dead franchise and a prequel to Zack Snyder's original championship. Though Army of Thieves wouldn't have been possible without Ground forces of the Dead, Matthias Schweighöfer's movie benefits from a smaller scope. Schweighöfer, of grade, starred in the movie equally safecracker Ludwig Dieter, a fan-favorite in Army of the Dead. This time around, Dieter goes by Sebastian Schlencht-Wöhnert with a squad comprised of Nathalie Emmanuel, Crimson O. Fee, and Stuart Martin for a dissimilar kind of heist. It doesn't involve the undead, but in that location are fun, high-stakes sequences that build on the backstory of a likable character.

9. Fear Street Trilogy

Technically, three divide Fright Street movies released on Netflix in July, but considering they were marketed as a cohesive story separate into three distinct eras, information technology could exist counted as one title. In all honesty, all 3 of Leigh Janiak's Fear Street installments deserve a spot on all best-of Netflix lists. Not merely do the movies do an excellent job in blending several subgenres of nostalgic horror, merely the trilogy also anchored the story with a love story betwixt two teenage girls. Viewers and critics alike have praised the Feat Street movies for their LGBTQ+ representation, but leads Kiana Madeira and Olivia Welch deserve credit for their performances as lovers pulled autonomously within multiple centuries.

8. Physical Cowboy

Though Ricky Staub'due south Concrete Cowboy fabricated its debut during TIFF in 2020, it didn't make its wider release on Netflix until the jump of 2021. The movie, starring Idris Elba and Caleb McLaughlin, is based on the vivid book titledGhetto Cowboy past Greg Neri, which, in turn, centers on Black horseriders in a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania neighborhood. The story of city cowboys puts a bottom-known civilisation on brandish without saturating the plot with cliches that often come alongside the depiction of urban communities. Elba and McLaughlin smooth in Staub's tale every bit a father-son duo who larn from each other by likewise relying on the customs around them.

7. Don't Look Up

Out of all the Netflix movies on the list, Don't Look Upwardly features one of the biggest gaps in terms of critic and audition reception. The latter of which has bought into Adam McKay'due south satirical sci-fi much more than critics. While some may have considered the plot of the planet's impending doom a scrap of a reach, others embraced McKay's dramatic yet comedic storytelling through A-listing actors. Earth'due south destruction might spell doom-and-gloom, simply it'south a thrill witnessing eccentric characters played by the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Jonah Hill, and Meryl Streep exist the ones thrown in the center of the mess.

6. Passing

Not only does Passing deserve to be considered as ane of the best Netflix movies of 2021, just it could also brand the argument for ane of the best movies of the year exterior of the streamer. The beautifully poignant story serves as Rebecca Hall'south directorial debut, but it is truly brought to life by the bright performances by Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga. The black-and-white film centered on the notion of "racial passing," in this case, when 2 low-cal-skinned Black women pass as white women. Passing tackles hard themes involving confinement when it comes to racial identity. Though set in the past, Hall'due south movie has messages that even so employ to the present solar day.

5. The Power of the Dog

Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog could very well stop up an awards darling in the coming months, and any wins would exist well-deserved based on the counterbalanced Western. Based on a novel from 1967, The Power of the Canis familiaris presents an emotional and unsettling tale that perfectly uses the strengths of its leads, particularly Benedict Cumberbatch. The actor plays a rich ranch possessor whose resentment of others stemmed from deeper secrets, affecting his relationship with his brother and the son of his brother's new wife. Pair the LGBTQ+ themes with the struggles of alcoholism and solitude while calculation in the notable score and praise-worthy cast performances, and Campion has a winner on her easily.

4. The Mitchells vs. the Machines

Netflix has been churning out its fair share of blithe original movies, merely The Mitchells vs. the Machines goes to a higher place and across the typical cookie-cutter quality that often hinders the genre. Created by Mike Rianda, the sci-fi one-act puts a family on a surprise journeying that touchingly helps testify that love can notwithstanding be found within dysfunctional relationships. The experience-good story is centered by Katie Mitchell, who experiences the coming-of-historic period realization during an adventure involving robots and deadly engineering science. In addition, The Mitchells vs. the Machines incorporates LGBTQ+ representation in a title that's fun for all ages, making it a must-watch in 2021.

three. 7 Prisoners

Though 7 Prisoners lacks a flashy cast and the buzz surrounding its belatedly 2021 release, the Brazilian film deserves a spot about the peak of any best of the yr listing. Written and directed past Alexandre Moratto, 7 Prisoners follows Christian Malheiros' Mateus, an eighteen-yr-onetime who finds himself stuck working in a junkyard afterward falling into modern slavery. Malheiros gives a chilling performance of a young man trapped in Brazil's class system as he must make up one's mind to comply or risk his family'due south prophylactic. 7 Prisoners tackles corruption, exploitation, and human trafficking through the lens of a victim as if it is more than like a documentary than a work of fiction.

2. The Harder They Fall

Netflix'due south The Harder They Fallhas a lot going for information technology; the Western setting, a stellar cast, and an unforgettable soundtrack featuring names like Kid Cudi, Jay-Z, and Lauryn Hill. That said, even for those that don't find the Western subgenre highly-seasoned take found Jeymes Samuel'south movie to be a fun thrill ride. Samuel set out to create a Western that features an all-Blackness bandage, but the filmmaker upped the game by acquiring names like Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, and Regina King. The story about an outlaw and his team hunting downwards a cruel enemy is captivating from start to finish and one of the few movies viewers would regret not watching right away.

1. Tick, Tick...Blast!

2021 saw the release of Lin-Manuel Miranda'due south In the Heights movie adaptation, simply histrion/playwright/producer's most significant project came in the form of Tick, Tick...Boom!, which debuted on Netflix in November. The biographical musical drama serves equally Miranda'southward directorial debut, and he sure set the bar high with the motion-picture show based on Jonathan Larson's stage play.Tick, Tick...Boom! follows Larson, played sensationally by Andrew Garfield, in the '90s during his cosmos of Rent. While Rent went on to become a gamechanger in the theater customs, the path for Larson wasn't and so easy. The music is a masterpiece, only the story itself is a complex expect into a creative heed who faced devastating pressure from all aspects of his life. Tick, Tick...Nail! is a Netflix flick from 2021 that should non exist missed.

More: The Best Movies Of 2021

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