15 good 2021 movies you might have missed

Some of the films on the list were filmed earlier, but they got into Russian distribution and streaming only in 2021.

1. Tick ​​tock... BOOM!

Tick, tick... BOOM!

• USA, 2021.
• Musical, drama, biography.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.7.

Jonathan Larson has been writing his debut musical for several years now and is preparing to present it to the public. All this time he has to earn money in a diner and somehow make ends meet. Most of all, Jonathan is afraid of not having time to complete everything that was planned. After all, very soon he will turn 30.

The directorial debut of the famous composer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda is based on the eponymous musical Jonathan Larson. And he, in turn, artistically retells the biography of the author himself. This is a great opportunity for the audience to get acquainted with the work of this unusual composer. By the way, especially for the film, the leading actor Andrew Garfield sang for the first time in public.

2. Knights of Justice

Retfærdighedens ryttere

• Denmark, Sweden, Finland, 2020.
• Drama, comedy, action, crime.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.6.

The soldier's wife dies in a train accident. It seems that this is a tragic accident. But scientists prove to the hero that what happened is the result of a conspiracy. The newly minted team of avengers decides to investigate the case and punish those responsible.

The audience's favorite Mads Mikkelsen plays for the fifth time with director Anders Thomas Jensen. This time they represent a mixture black comedy, drama and action movie. Although the film is based on a story about a human tragedy and a midlife crisis.

3. At the height of a dream

In the heights

• USA, 2021.
• Musical, melodrama, drama.
• Duration: 143 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.4.

Usnavi tells four children a story that happened 10 years ago. Then he owned a small store in New York's Washington Heights and was unrequitedly in love with the local beauty Vanessa. Upon learning that his father's business in the Dominican Republic is being put up for sale, Usnawi thinks about returning to his homeland. In parallel, viewers will learn about the life and relationships of other residents of the area.

A two-part film by Step Up directed by John M. Chu is based on the Broadway musical of the same name by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Moreover, the author of the original not only appeared in a small role in the film adaptation, but also added additional compositions to the picture.

4. Shalom, daddy!

Shiva baby

• USA, Canada, 2020.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 77 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.2.

Student Danielle is dating a married Max, who is much older than her. One day the girl goes to a Jewish commemoration. But her lover appears there, and then his wife and child. All participants in the events find themselves in an extremely awkward, but very funny situation.

The author's work of the debutante of big cinema Emma Seligman grew out of the eponymous short films. And the director shot that on the basis of her own youthful memories. Therefore, the picture turned out to be very vital with all the madness of the plot.

5. Martin Eden

Martin eden

• Italy, France, Germany, 2019.
• Drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 129 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.9.

Martin Eden from the poor of Naples at the beginning of the twentieth century discovers a talent for poetry. With the support of his beloved Ruth from a bourgeois family, he is engaged in self-education and is trying to break into high society. But the inequality is too great.

In the next film adaptation of the legendary work of Jack London, the action was transferred from the United States to Italy. Oddly enough, this was partly beneficial: in the new version, the hot-tempered character of Martin Eden is fully consistent with the national temperament. But even more interesting is that director Pietro Marcello mixed fictional history with documentary footage and real events, making the action even more believable.

6. Pig

Pig

• UK, USA, 2021.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 92 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.9.

Former chef Rob has long since withdrawn from the world and lives in the wilderness with his pig. Moreover, the pet helps the hero earn money: they sell truffles found in the forest. But one night, unknown people attack Rob's house and steal the animal. The angry owner goes in search, raising all his acquaintances.

After the release of "Mandy" Nicolas Cage became a symbol of strange and sometimes crazy pictures. Therefore, looking at the description of "Pig", many expected a crazy analogue of "John Wick" from the new film. In fact, this sad picture is very touching about loneliness and loss.

7. Trigger day

Boss Level

• USA, 2020.
• Science fiction, thriller.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.8.

Former special forces soldier Roy Pulver finds himself in a very strange world, where they are constantly trying to kill him. But every time after death, the hero wakes up again in the morning of the same day. Roy needs to learn to survive and figure out the reasons for what is happening.

The film of the director of "Trump Aces" and "Team A" "Joe Carnahan in the Russian box office came up with an extremely witty name. The film does explicitly refer to “Groundhog Day", But combines the plot with an excellent action-thriller in the spirit of computer games.

8. Crazy Adult Movie

Babardeală cu bucluc sau porno balamuc

• Romania, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Croatia, Switzerland, Great Britain, 2021.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.7.

School teacher Amy finds herself in a very difficult situation when a video of her sex is leaked online. Parents believe that the woman is behaving indecently, and demand her immediate dismissal. But Amy herself is convinced that she did nothing reprehensible, and she should be considered a victim in this situation.

Romanian painting, which received the "Golden Bear" for Berlin Film Festival, raises very important topics: the invasion of a person's intimate life and the taboo of sex for representatives of some professions. Alas, in Russia the film was almost banned from release due to the fact that the original title had the word "porn".

9. Bergman Island

Bergman island

• France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, 2021.
• Drama.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.7.

Spouses-directors Tony and Chris come to the island where the great Ingmar Bergman once lived and worked. In a couple's relationship, there are many problems that manifest themselves in a new environment. Against the backdrop of conflicts, reality is gradually mixing with the plot of Chris's script.

The picture with Tim Roth in the title role looks like a real declaration of love for the work of Bergman. At the same time, the film very vividly shows the personal drama of the characters who, in front of the viewer, lose touch with each other.

10. There will be no more snow

Śniegu już nigdy nie będzie

• Poland, Germany, Netherlands, 2020.
• Drama.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.4.

As a child, Zhenya was in Chernobyl at the time of the accident at the nuclear power plant. He could not save his mother from death, but decided to devote himself to helping other people. Now the young man works as a massage therapist. But in a strange way, the hero heals not only the bodies, but also the souls of people, almost supernaturally fulfilling their desires.

Main role in picture played by Alec Utgoff, best known for the third season of Stranger Things. The actor managed to embody a beautiful and touching image of a migrant who feels like a stranger, but seeks to support everyone with at least a kind word.

11. Annette

Annette

• France, Belgium, Germany, USA, 2021.
• Musical, drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 141 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.4.

Stand-up comedian Henry has an affair with opera singer Anne. The lovers get married, and soon they have a daughter, Annette. But after the tragic incident, the spouse dies through the fault of Henry, finally promising that she will pursue her husband in the form of a ghost. Soon, the hero discovers in his daughter a talent for performing arias in the voice of his mother.

One of the most unusual contemporary directors Leos Carax, after a nine-year hiatus, shot a musical based on the songs of the Sparks group. The result is a slightly insane but addictive movie starring Adam Driver singing and a doll as his daughter.

12. Reincarnation: The Coming of the Devil

Anything for Jackson

• Canada, 2020.
• Horror.
• Duration: 97 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.3.

After the tragic loss, the elderly couple are ready to do anything to bring their grandson back to life. Therefore, they kidnap a pregnant girl and perform a satanic ritual on her. But everything is not going according to plan, and new problems fall on the heroes.

This ironic horror directed by little-known director Justin J. Dick, who previously directed romantic and family movies. The author has a witty deconstruction of the genre: he shows a typical story about people who are faced with an invasion of ghosts in their home. Here are just the heroes themselves - Satanists and kidnappers. That, however, does not prevent them from remaining charming and sweet.

13. Psycho dismemberment

Psycho goreman

• Canada, 2021.
• Horror, comedy, fantasy.
• Duration: 95 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.3.

During the game, young brother and sister find a strange artifact that can be used to control an evil alien who dreams of destroying the Earth. Now the monster is under the control of the girl and fulfills her wishes. True, in parallel, he kills bystanders.

Amid the many comebacks of horror franchises like Jeepers Creepers, genre fan Steven Kostanski has made a witty parody. The film looks ironic over the cheap 90s films, often turning their plot inside out. And there is also a huge brain playing a synthesizer.

14. Good, bad, cop

Copshop

• USA, 2021.
• Thriller, action, crime.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.2.

In a quiet police station of a small town, two very dangerous people find themselves at once, who are also trying to kill each other. Soon an armed accomplice comes to free one of them. Now only a female police officer will confront the villain. You just need to understand which of prisoners she can trust.

And another new film by Joe Carnahan. Frank Grillo also starred in this chamber action movie, albeit in a completely different way. And he was accompanied by the charismatic Gerard Butler. It is ironic that in this case, too, the Russian title turned out to be successful and perfectly reflects the basis of the plot.

15. Censor

Censor

• UK, 2021.
• Horror, detective.
• Duration: 84 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.0.

Enid works as a censor in the UK in the 80s. She watches films and cuts out the most violent scenes from them. At the same time, the heroine herself has been suffering for many years, since she has not come to terms with the loss of her sister. But one day, in one of the paintings, Enid sees a girl who looks very much like a relative. From that moment on, she begins to lose the line between reality and fantasy.

British horror film raises two interesting topics at once. On the one hand, the authors sneer at attempts to link the criminal situation in the real world with violence in the cinema: the country is in crisis, but violent scenes on the screen are blamed for the problems. On the other hand, they show that some directors are trying to draw attention to their work only through provocations.

What interesting, but not too famous films of 2021 come across to you? Share your findings in the comments!