58 Diverse Themes Cinema Gems from 2021: From BAFTA to Indie Standouts
58 titles
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The DigMovie · 2021 · 112m · Drama, HistoryWith World War II approaching, a wealthy widow hires an amateur archaeologist to excavate burial mounds on her property. Their work yields a significant historical find, prompting reflections on Britain's heritage as the nation faces an uncertain future.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.9 - 2
TenetMovie · 2020 · 150m · Action, Thriller, Science FictionA secret agent known only as the Protagonist must prevent World War III. His mission takes him on a journey through international espionage, where he experiences time moving backward, forward, and in reverse. He must master this unusual perception to save humanity.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 3
LimboMovie · 2020 · 104m · Drama, ComedyThis film observes refugees awaiting asylum on a secluded Scottish island. It centers on Omar, a young Syrian musician carrying his grandfather's oud with him from Syria. The instrument weighs heavily, symbolizing his past.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.9 - 4
County LinesMovie · 2020 · 90mThis powerful drama follows a mother and her fourteen-year-old son who becomes involved in a nationwide drug trafficking operation known as a "County Line." The enterprise exploits vulnerable children and traffics them across Britain.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.7 - 5
Emma.Movie · 2020 · 125m · Comedy, RomanceSet in 19th-century England, the story follows a young woman who, despite her good intentions, repeatedly interferes in the romantic relationships of her friends.IMDb 6.7TMDB 7.0 - 6
GreyhoundMovie · 2020 · 92m · War, Action, DramaA new captain commands a fleet of allied ships, transporting thousands of soldiers through the dangerous "Black Pit" to the WWII front lines. For five days without air support, the captain and his crew must fight off enemy Nazi U-boats to ensure the allies have a fighting chance.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.4 - 7
MulanMovie · 2020 · 115m · Adventure, Fantasy, ActionTo defend China from invading Huns, the Emperor orders every family to send one man to the Imperial Army. Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of a respected warrior, volunteers to take her father's place, who is too old to fight. Disguised as a man named Hua Jun, she faces numerous challenges and must draw on her inner strength to succeed.IMDb 5.8TMDB 6.8 - 8
Sound of MetalMovie · 2020 · 121m · Drama, MusicDrummer Ruben starts losing his hearing. A doctor warns him it will get worse, making him feel like his career and life are over. His girlfriend Lou sends him to a rehab facility for the deaf, hoping it will prevent a relapse and help him adjust. There, accepted for who he is, Ruben must decide whether to embrace this new reality or return to his old one.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.7 - 9
The PresentMovie · 2020 · 24m · DramaOn their wedding anniversary, Yusef and his daughter travel in the West Bank to find a gift for his wife. Navigating soldiers, divided roads, and checkpoints, they face the challenges of a simple shopping trip.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.3 - 10
AmmoniteMovie · 2020 · 118m · Romance, DramaEngland, 1840s. Paleontologist Mary Anning and Charlotte, a young woman seeking recovery by the sea, form a deep connection. Though from different worlds and with contrasting natures, Mary and Charlotte find solace in each other, realizing they've both been longing for companionship. This shared understanding blossoms into a powerful love that challenges societal expectations and forever changes the paths of both women.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.9 - 11
OnwardMovie · 2020 · 102m · Family, Comedy, AdventureIn a quiet, suburban setting where elves exist, two teenage brothers set out on an unusual journey. They hope to find evidence that magic still exists in the world.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.6 - 12
One Night in Miami...Movie · 2020 · 114m · DramaFollowing his victory over Sonny Liston in 1964, Muhammad Ali meets with Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown. Together, they aim to influence the future of the Civil Rights movement in the segregated South.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.0 - 13
SoulMovie · 2020 · 101m · Animation, Family, ComedyJoe Gardner, a middle school teacher passionate about jazz, has a life-changing opportunity when he auditions at the Half Note Club. However, a sudden accident separates his soul from his body, sending him to the You Seminar. This is a place where souls mature and discover their passions before being assigned to a newborn. To return to Earth, Joe must team up with other souls in training, including 22, a seasoned soul who has spent countless lifetimes at the Seminar.IMDb 8.0TMDB 8.1 - 14
The One and Only IvanMovie · 2020 · 93m · Family, Comedy, DramaIvan, a gorilla living in a suburban shopping mall, seeks to uncover his history. He teams up with other animals to devise an escape plan from their confinement.IMDb 6.6TMDB 7.4 - 15
RocksMovie · 2019 · 94m · DramaFifteen-year-old Rocks worries she and her younger brother Emmanuel will be separated and placed in the system if anyone discovers their mother has abandoned them. Determined to stay together, she avoids authorities with the support of her close friends, facing pivotal moments that shape her future.IMDb 7.4TMDB 6.6 - 16
His HouseMovie · 2020 · 93m · Drama, HorrorFleeing the conflict in South Sudan, a young refugee couple seeks refuge in a quiet English town. However, their new home harbors a disturbing darkness just beneath the surface, testing their efforts to build a peaceful life.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.4 - 17
EyelashMovie · 2019 · 5mThis film adaptation of spoken word poet Neil Hilborn's acclaimed poem 'OCD' explores the difficulties of falling in love.IMDb 6.9 - 18
Saint MaudMovie · 2020 · 85m · Horror, Mystery, ThrillerNewly devout, quiet nurse Maud takes a job caring for Amanda, a once vibrant dancer now weakened by a long-term illness, in a luxurious house. An unexpected meeting with an old friend suggests a hidden history, revealing that Maud is not as simple as she appears.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.6 - 19
MankMovie · 2020 · 132m · Drama, HistoryIn 1930s Hollywood, acerbic social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz frantically works to complete the screenplay for Citizen Kane, offering a sharp look at the era.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.7 - 20
The FatherMovie · 2020 · 97m · DramaAs he grows older, a man rejects his daughter's help. Struggling to understand his shifting life, he starts to question those he cares about, his own sanity, and the world around him.IMDb 8.2TMDB 8.1 - 21
RebeccaMovie · 2020 · 123m · Romance, Drama, MysteryA young bride quickly marries a wealthy widower and moves to his sprawling family estate. However, she finds herself unable to escape the lingering presence of his deceased wife.IMDb 6.1TMDB 6.3 - 22
Mogul MowgliMovie · 2020 · 89m · Music, DramaZed, a rising British rapper, is on the verge of his first global tour when a severe illness forces him to return home to his family. He struggles to reconcile his ambitions for an international music career with the expectations of his Pakistani family traditions.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.4 - 23
News of the WorldMovie · 2020 · 118m · Drama, Western, AdventureA Texan journeying through the American West, delivering news to frontier communities, finds himself compelled to assist in the rescue of a young girl who has been kidnapped.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.9 - 24
WolfwalkersMovie · 2020 · 102m · Animation, Family, AdventureIn a world gripped by superstition, where wolves are feared and nature is seen as something to control, a young apprentice hunter travels to Ireland with her father to eradicate the last wolf pack. However, after she rescues a native girl, their bond opens her eyes to the hidden world of the Wolfwalkers, ultimately changing her into what her father is determined to destroy.IMDb 8.0TMDB 8.2 - 25
LizardMovie · 2021 · 19mAn eight-year-old girl who can sense danger is removed from Sunday school. She unknowingly observes the hidden world surrounding a large church in Lagos.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.0 - 26
The Social DilemmaMovie · 2020 · 94m · Documentary, DramaThis film examines the harmful effects of social media on people, featuring technology specialists warning about the consequences of their own innovations.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.4 - 27
The DissidentMovie · 2020 · 119m · DocumentaryAfter entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi vanishes. His fiancée and those who oppose the Saudi government then work to uncover the truth behind his brutal murder and expose a worldwide effort to conceal it, orchestrated by the Saudi government itself.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.2 - 28
The Song of a Lost BoyMovie · 2020 · 10mWhen a young choirboy's voice cracks during a solo, he experiences a crisis of faith and flees his home. He finds refuge with a nomadic group, concealing his true identity while grappling with the decision of whether or not to reveal it.IMDb 6.8TMDB 5.5 - 29
Quo Vadis, Aida?Movie · 2021 · 104m · War, Drama, HistoryIn Srebrenica, Bosnia, July 1995, Aida works as a UN translator. When Serbian forces seize the town, her family joins thousands seeking refuge in the UN camp. As an insider to the negotiations, Aida has access to vital information that requires translation. Facing an uncertain future for her family and community – will it bring rescue or devastation? What choice will she make?IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.6 - 30
The White TigerMovie · 2021 · 125m · DramaA determined Indian driver leverages his intelligence and resourcefulness to overcome poverty and achieve success. This is an expansive story, adapted from the New York Times bestseller.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.0 - 31
The Trial of the Chicago 7Movie · 2020 · 130m · Drama, HistoryA peaceful protest escalates into a violent confrontation with police, resulting in a highly publicized and controversial trial.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.7 - 32
My Octopus TeacherMovie · 2020 · 85m · DocumentaryFor years, Craig Foster swam daily in the frigid waters off the coast of Africa. There, he encounters an unusual companion: a young octopus with a keen interest in him. Over months of visiting her home and observing her, Craig earns the octopus's trust, forging an unprecedented connection between a human and a wild animal.IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.9 - 33
ClemencyMovie · 2019 · 112m · DramaWarden Bernadine Williams has spent years carrying out death row executions, and the work has deeply affected her. As she prepares for another execution, Bernadine is forced to confront the psychological and emotional toll of her job, leading her to unexpectedly connect with the inmate she is ordered to kill.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.3 - 34
Calm with HorsesMovie · 2020 · 100m · Crime, DramaIn rural Ireland, former boxer Douglas "Arm" Armstrong works as a tough enforcer for the Devers family, who deal drugs. He also tries to be a good father to his five-year-old son, Jack, who has autism. Arm's loyalty is challenged when he's ordered to commit his first murder, forcing him to choose between the two families he's tied to.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.2 - 35
Lucky BreakMovie · 2020 · 11mIn the quiet hours of a late-night petrol station, a mysterious man appears with a bag of money. However, he may not be the strangest customer the station has seen.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.0 - 36
Pieces of a WomanMovie · 2020 · 127m · DramaFollowing a devastating home birth, a young mother embarks on a year of intense grief. The experience profoundly alters her relationships with those around her as she navigates the difficult process of learning to live with her loss.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.0 - 37
PinocchioMovie · 2019 · 124m · Drama, Family, FantasyThis live-action adaptation of the classic fairytale tells the story of Geppetto, an elderly woodcarver who creates a wooden puppet named Pinocchio. The puppet magically comes to life and yearns for adventure, quickly finding himself in exciting and sometimes dangerous situations as he makes friends and enemies. Pinocchio's greatest wish is to become a real boy, a goal he can only achieve by learning to be good.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.6 - 38
Another RoundMovie · 2020 · 117m · Comedy, DramaFour uninspired high school teachers embark on an experiment: they believe that staying perpetually tipsy will make their lives better.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.6 - 39
The Owl and the PussycatMovie · 2020 · 4mIMDb 6.5 - 40
Hillbilly ElegyMovie · 2020 · 117m · DramaA sudden phone call brings a Yale Law student back to his family's home in Ohio. There, he considers his family's past across three generations and begins to question what he wants for his own future.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.7 - 41
Dear Comrades!Movie · 2020 · 121m · History, DramaIn 1962, a communist government's increase in food prices sparks a strike by workers in the small industrial town of Novocherkassk. The resulting massacre is witnessed through the perspective of a devoted party activist.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.2 - 42
David Attenborough: A Life on Our PlanetMovie · 2020 · 83m · Documentary, DramaThis film chronicles a lifetime spent exploring Earth's natural wonders, as seen through the eyes of the world's most renowned natural historian. In over nine decades, Attenborough has journeyed to every continent, documenting the planet's diverse wildlife and landscapes. The film addresses the critical challenges facing life today, ultimately offering a hopeful vision for generations to come.IMDb 8.9TMDB 8.4 - 43
MinariMovie · 2021 · 115m · DramaA Korean American family relocates to a farm in Arkansas, pursuing the American dream. Navigating the difficulties of a new life in the unfamiliar Ozarks, they find strength in their family bonds and discover the true meaning of home.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.3 - 44
The Forty-Year-Old VersionMovie · 2020 · 123m · Comedy, Drama, MusicOn the verge of turning forty and feeling stuck, struggling New York playwright Radha seeks a creative spark by transforming herself into a rapper.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.7 - 45
Da 5 BloodsMovie · 2020 · 155m · War, DramaFour African-American Vietnam veterans journey back to Vietnam. Their mission: to find the remains of their lost squad leader and a rumored treasure. The veterans face dangers from both people and the environment, grappling with the enduring consequences of the Vietnam War's moral failings.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.5 - 46
NomadlandMovie · 2021 · 108m · DramaAfter losing everything during the Great Recession, a woman in her sixties becomes a van-dwelling nomad and travels across the western United States.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 47
The MauritanianMovie · 2021 · 129m · Drama, ThrillerThis is the true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian man held at the U.S. military's Guantanamo Bay detention center for more than ten years without being charged. He worked with a defense attorney to try and secure his release.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4 - 48
The Fire Next TimeMovie · 2020 · 8mGrowing frustration over inequality erupts into widespread rioting in a disadvantaged community. The already tense atmosphere escalates as the housing estate itself seems to amplify the unrest.IMDb 6.3TMDB 3.0 - 49
Judas and the Black MessiahMovie · 2021 · 126m · Drama, HistoryFBI Agent Mitchell and J. Edgar Hoover task Bill O'Neal with infiltrating the Black Panthers. As Fred Hampton rises to prominence and develops a relationship with a fellow revolutionary, O'Neal struggles with his loyalty.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.3 - 50
Les MisérablesMovie · 2019 · 104m · Crime, Drama, ThrillerIn Montfermeil, a suburb of Paris where Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" is set, new Anti-Crime Squad member Stéphane joins experienced colleagues Chris and Gwada. He quickly learns of escalating tensions between local gangs. During an arrest, the trio is overwhelmed, and a drone captures the event, potentially revealing the harsh realities of daily life.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.6 - 51
Miss CurvyMovie · 2020 · 25mWhen Uganda holds its inaugural beauty pageant for plus-size women, Namukasa Mariam, a schoolteacher and single mother, decides to participate.IMDb 7.1 - 52
BabyteethMovie · 2020 · 118m · Drama, Comedy, RomanceA teenager with a terminal illness causes conflict with her parents when she develops a relationship with a drug dealer.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.9 - 53
Ma Rainey's Black BottomMovie · 2020 · 94m · Drama, MusicIn 1927 Chicago, legendary blues musician and pioneer, known as the Mother of the Blues, and her band converge at a recording studio. The gathering intensifies existing tensions. Based on a play by August Wilson.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.6 - 54
MoffieMovie · 2020 · 104m · Drama, War, RomanceIn 1981 South Africa, a young man faces two years of mandatory military service marked by brutal conditions and pervasive racism. He must also conceal his homosexuality throughout this difficult period.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.6 - 55
Borat Subsequent MoviefilmMovie · 2020 · 96m · ComedyFourteen years after his previous film documenting his travels across America, Borat returns to the United States with his young daughter. He navigates American culture, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the political elections, risking danger along the way.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.4 - 56
CollectiveMovie · 2019 · 109m · DocumentaryFollowing a devastating fire at a Romanian nightclub, burn victims start dying in hospitals from injuries that weren't initially fatal. Investigative journalists launch an inquiry, uncovering widespread corruption within the healthcare system and government institutions. *Collective* follows the journalists, whistleblowers, and those in power. It’s a raw and unflinching look at a broken system, revealing corruption, propaganda, and manipulation that now impact societies globally.IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.5 - 57
Promising Young WomanMovie · 2020 · 114m · Thriller, Crime, DramaHaunted by a devastating past, a young woman embarks on a path of revenge against those who wronged her.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4 - 58
The Midnight SkyMovie · 2020 · 118m · Science Fiction, DramaIn the Arctic, a solitary scientist urgently tries to reach a group of astronauts on their way back from space. They are returning to a world devastated by an unexplained global disaster.IMDb 5.7TMDB 5.7
