Best Movies of 2021(so far):

Hi, guys! Today I made a list of the best movies that have so far come out and I've talked about them. However, I didn't include Zack Snyder's Justice League. Despite how great it was, it was more a director's cut than a movie.

10. Nobody

A John Wick imitator was definitely something that surprised me this year. It's the story of a normal guy living in a suburban home with his wife and kids. Turns out he was a former assassin, and beats up a bunch of Russians while going home. It's always Russians. With an excellent performance from Bob Odenkirk, Nobody is its own movie with stellar action and Christopher Lloyd stealing the show. 

9. I Care A Lot

Rosamund Pike was excellent in Gone Girl as Amy Dunne, and she followed it up perfectly with her role as Marla Grayson in I Care A Lot. A dark comedy thriller directed by J Blakeson, it follows a woman who forcibly puts elderly women into nursing homes and steals their money. When she just so happens to put a woman in a home, with ties to the Russian mafia(again with Russians), you'll want to see if she'll suffer the consequences. From the opening sequence alone(Jesus Christ, that whole scene pissed me off!), it's clear that Marla Grayson is a despicable human being with zero redeeming qualities. In this satire, it'll make you question whether you want to route for Marla or not. One thing is for sure is that she's impossible to ignore, which makes I Care A Lot an infuriating and thrilling viewing experience.

8. Army of the Dead

After The Snyder Cut released on HBO Max, I couldn't be more excited for Zack Snyder's next film, Army of the Dead! This zombie heist flick is a surprisingly great thrill ride with a top-notch cast led by Dave Bautista of Guardians of the Galaxy fame. A group of criminals do a job in Las Vegas that's infested with zombies and let me tell you, it's nothing but a visual feast for the eyes. Despite the lengthy runtime of 2 and a half-hours, it's got great zombie action, cool cinematography and a jaw-dropping cliffhanger. Bring on the sequel! And who make came up with the zombie tiger?! That guy definitely got a raise.

7. Godzilla vs. Kong

This was a monster mash-up 7 years in the making. Whether you watched this movie on HBO Max or in theaters. This was the movie that we needed in 2021! Like with every Monsterverse movie, the humans don't really matter. I saw this movie just for the monster fights! It was a hell of a good time from start to finish. Don't get me wrong, the spilling the soda to stop Mecha-Godzilla was lazy, but that was the only to stop it. Adam Wingard certainly put on a show for us, and I can't wait for the next Monsterverse movie from him.

6. Billie Eilish: The World is a Little Blurry

An intimate portrayal of a very young and talented musician was also needed in 2021. In this documentary film from Apple TV+, it follows the deep dive into Billie Eilish, a pop singer who becomes an internet sensation overnight after releasing her debut album, "when we all fall asleep, where do we go?". It also shows more about the young star including her family and dog and battles with anxiety, depression and Tourette's syndrome. I gotta tell you, I love listening to Billie, but after watching this, it just made me care more about her than ever. If you're fan of her, watch this movie even if you don't have Apple TV+.

5. A Quiet Place: Part II

I would've considered putting Mortal Kombat on this list, since that it was the first film I've seen in a theatre in so long. But I had to go with one of the most anticipated sequel movies ever, A Quiet Place: Part II. After multiple delays, the remaining Abbet family has returned. It had a memorable opening sequence that precedes its predecessor, a great performance from Cillian Murphy and has the same intense energy from the first film. 

4. Judas & the Black Messiah

Regina King's cousin, Shaka King directed a film revolving around the leader of the Black Panther party in Chicago, Fred Hampton(the Black Messiah) and the FBI Informant, Bill O'Neal(Judas). Nominated for Best Picture of the Oscars, Daniel Kaluuya delivered a captivating performances of one of the most prominent figures in history, earning him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He perfectly captured Fred's charisma and soft side, while LaKeith Stanfield also gave an incredible performance as a man who's sympathetic and unforgiven. What really drives the film is a broken justice system, particularly the FBI, that is beyond repair. I'm definitely looking forward to what Spike Lee's former protege has in store next. 

3. Raya and the Last Dragon

In the land of Kumandra, it's split into different parts on the map by the parts of a dragon after a war ended the species of the dragons. Raya sets out to find the last water dragon, Sifu and save her home. It's got incredible voice acting from Kelly Marie Tran, Awkafina and Gemma Chan, amazing action, impressive world-building and some of the best animation I've ever seen in a Disney movie. It's also pretty funny while not being afraid to get dark. While it's themes of trust are kinda tiresome, at the end of the day there are times where we do have to be cautious and that there's only one path to unity. I really hope that it gets spun-off into a show and a potential sequel, because I'd love to see more of Kumandra. There's a lot of opportunities here.

2. Luca

Guys, I've watched Luca on my birthday and I wasn't disappointed! This is now probably one of my favorite movies ever! It follows the story of a young sea creature named Luca who dreams of being in the surface, when he meets another creature named Alberto, who is an experienced human, they both share a passion for traveling Italy and have the best summer ever! I really love that it's a very small-scale for a Pixar film. It's so simple, the animation is certainly different than other films, which I didn't mind and it's message of friendship is so sweet. Luca is already a Pixar classic!

Honorable Mentions:

- Quo Vadis, Aida?

- Demon Slayer: The Movie- Mugen Train

- Oxygen

- Saint Maud

- The Father

- Nomadland

- One Night in Miami

- In the Heights

1. The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Following the Oscar-winning film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have made another equally impressive animated film about a family who go on a cross-country trip while also saving the world from a robo-pocalypse. This movie combined the humor and nostalgia from all of the best 80s movies! It had so many different tones and animation styles that blended so perfectly making it a state-of-the-art piece of work. The action and comedy are its strong suits but its heartwarming moments definitely hit you in the feels. It also wasn't afraid to acknowledge our over-reliance on technology and how it can bring people together. I highly recommend this! Definitely the best movie of the year so far.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to comment what your favorite movie of the year(so far) is.