The 20 Best Movies of 2021 So Far
Which films have impressed critics the most during the first half of the year? Above, we rank the best-reviewed movies first released in North American theaters (or debuting directly on digital/VOD/streaming outlets) between January 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021. Films are ranked by Metascore and must have at least 7 reviews from professional critics to be eligible.
Additional content by Keith Kimbell.
An existentialist, minimalist, post-apocalyptic arthouse drama from Ukraine, Atlantis is set in the near future, where the war in Eastern Ukraine is finally over but the region has been rendered mostly uninhabitable by the conflict. There, a PTSD-addled ex-soldier attempts to find work—and meaning in his life.
“As cinematographer and editor in addition to writer, director and producer, [Valentyn] Vasyanovych is very much in charge of a vision whose aesthetics are rigidly controlled. The ironically titled “Atlantis” may well alienate some viewers with its austerity, but those willing to tough it out will feel rewarded.” —Dennis Harvey, Variety