Our Favorite 2021 Movies That Weren’t Oscar Nominated

(in alphabetical order)

Plenty of fantastic movies received nominations for this year’s Academy Awards but we want to take a moment to highlight the movies that were not nominated this year, because movies? Yeah, they are awesome. In keeping with our goal of helping you decide what to watch tonight, all but one of these movies is streaming right now. We hope we inspire some thoughtful movie nights!

NOTE: The release year of all movies on this list is determined by US general public theatrical/streaming release. This will not include movies that only played at film festivals in 2021 and the list will include a few movies that premiered at festivals in 2020 but did not receive a general release until 2021. There must be some kind of order!

Benedetta

directed by Paul Verhoeven, written by David Burke and Paul Verhoeven 

I don’t think I’m capable of describing the utter euphoria my friends and I felt walking out of Benedetta. This film, based on a true story, has everything: romance, violence, corrupt religious leaders, Charlotte Rampling, the plague, a Virgin Mary dildo — I could go on for ages but I really think the less you know about this movie going in, the more you’ll enjoy it. All I’ll add is it’s Paul Verhoeven’s masterpiece, a 17th-century romp that is as interested in provoking big questions about power and god as it is in shocking and disturbing you. Don’t watch it with your grandmother, especially if she’s catholic. 

- Arielle

Benedetta is available to stream on Hulu and available to rent on Youtube, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV.

C’mon C’mon 

written and directed by Mike Mills

What a completely stunning piece of work about admitting to yourself that everything is not fine, whether you are a single-digit-aged child or a fully grown adult. It’s easy to say C’mon C’mon is led by Joaquin Phoenix, who certainly provides a stellar and naturalistic performance, but the real star here is nine-year-old Woody Norman. This movie would not work without him, and it is a performance that simply must be seen. To capture the across-the-board fantastic performances is a stunning black and white photography with a restrained camera, which allows the actors to speak for themselves. 

The movie has multiple moments where you suddenly find yourself overcome with emotion. The combination of potent writing from Mike Mills and naturalistic performances works every single time. The film wants to let you know that everyone is stumbling through life and that it is okay to feel what you feel. 

- Anthony 

C’mon C’mon was the feel-good movie of 2021. I think, often, feel-good as a genre gets associated with movies that are cheesy or don’t have much to say, but in this case, Mike Mills has crafted a story that invites its audience to be reflective about subjects like love, parenting, and community. The film follows Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix), an audio producer who spends the film asking dozens of kids about their hometowns and dreams. When his sister Viv (Gabby Hoffmann) calls and asks for his help in taking care of her son Jesse (Woody Norman) for a while, Johnny drops everything to become his nephew’s primary caregiver. There’s an undeniable sense of love and earnestness that permeates C’mon C'mon, as we watch Jesse and Johny’s relationship grow and falter and are challenged to consider the complexities of motherhood and caregiving. It's a gentle, quiet film that catches you by surprise in its most emotional moments, and ultimately, I promise, will leave your heart feeling especially warmed. 

- Arielle

C’mon C’mon is available to rent on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and VUDU.

Days

written and directed by Tsai Ming-liang

The first of multiple slow (and I mean sloooowwww) movies I’m going to recommend, and for that, I am not sorry! Days absolutely requires patience, but the payoff is more moving because of it.

The plot is sparse here and the official logline will tell you everything you need to know: “Kang lives alone in a big house, Non in a small apartment in town. They meet, and then part, their days flowing on as before.” However, it is impossible to describe how those two sentences emotionally translate to a two-hour movie. One that is also largely dialogue-less. Oh yeah, and rare instances of dialogue are purposefully not subtitled. But that’s the point, Days simply understands loneliness. Physical and emotional pain. The first physical touch between the two wandering characters feels explosive because we have sat with each of them for so long (some static shots go on for so long that you’ll be stunned by the movement of a character’s eyes). But then they part. Back to a lonely life, with only the memory of the time their paths crossed. 

Favoring mood over plot (as Tsai Ming-liang tends to do), the images within Days must be seen, as there are plenty of opportunities to explore every corner of the frame and truly feel the passing of time. Days - not one singularly eventful day - but the many non-descript days that largely define your life, all wrapped up into one impactful film.

- Anthony

Days is available to stream on Mubi and available to rent on Apple TV. 

I’m Your Man

directed by Maria Schrader, written by Jan Schomburg and Maria Schrader

I saw I’m Your Man the way God intended New Yorkers to watch foreign language romance films: at a Lincoln Center weekday matinee with a group of grey-haired retirees. And let me tell you, we all absolutely loved it. The film follows Alma (Maren Eggert), a scientist who agrees to a three-week trial run with a “perfect match” robot (Dan Stevens), in order to secure funding from her employers. The twist here is unlike similar AI romance stories, Alma is very happy being single and is entirely uninterested in any kind of romantic entanglement. The film is very romantic — I mean hello? Enemies to lovers anyone? —  and lands a few laugh-out-loud jokes, but what thrilled me about it was its willingness to sit in the discomfort of questions like “What is love?” and “What does it mean to be human?” Big, scary questions and Matthew Crawley speaking german? I’m not sure what more you could possibly be looking for in a 21st-century rom-com. 

- Arielle

I’m Your Man is streaming on Hulu and available to rent on Youtube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Apple TV.

Memoria

written and directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul

If the opportunity comes up to see Memoria in theaters, I highly, highly encourage you to do so. It deserves a big screen and an incredible sound system. Memoria somehow seems both straightforward and elusive. For his first film outside of his native Thailand, writer/director Apichatpong Weerasethakul leans into the idea of dislocation in a foreign land to deliver a film with a handful of truly transcendent moments. 

Memoria is not a film that is asking you to experience a character’s journey, it’s asking you to go into a trance with them. I can’t imagine Weerasethakul would be offended if he heard about people falling asleep during one of his movies. He may even be hopeful that his images invaded your dreams. With an emphasis on long master shots (some of which reach about 10-15 minutes) and special attention given to the sound design, it is very easy to get caught under this movie’s spell. 

But at its core, Memoria is a film about loneliness and disassociation; not just towards one’s home, but also disassociation towards other human beings and the natural world. Perhaps we’ve forgotten how to listen to the Earth and how to respond back to it. Perhaps we’ve forgotten how to communicate with one another. In the age of the internet and instant gratification, Memoria dares us to be patient.

- Anthony

Memoria will never be released on streaming or Blu-Ray. Click here for screenings. 

Passing

written and directed by Rebecca Hall

When I first heard Rebecca Hall was going to be making her directorial debut, I was over the moon! You may recognize Hall from her (what should have been) star-making turns as the titular character in Christine and Beth in 2021’s most-frustratingly-almost-good movie The Night House. The woman can act, okay?! Although her directing debut Passing, based on the Nella Larsen novel of the same name, is sadly, for me, not a horror/thriller, it is every bit as disturbing and nuanced as I would expect from this modern-day scream queen. Passing follows Irene (Tessa Thomspson) who runs into her former classmate Clare (Ruth Negga) at an upscale hotel and is shocked to find that she is living her life “passing” as a white woman, complete with a racist, white husband who has no idea she’s a woman of color. Through tense, almost theatrical, dinner party dialogues, and dreamlike monochrome imagery, Hall walks us through this fun-house mirror of a story, exploring the different ways we strive to pass in society and all there is to be gained and lost. This is one of those movies that drops you off in the perfect spot, having seen enough to be satisfied but having been so unsettled that you’ll find yourself thinking about it long after the credits roll. It is hard to believe this gorgeous, black and white, character study was completely snubbed by the Oscars. 

- Arielle

Passing is available to stream on Netflix.

Red Rocket 

written and directed by Sean Baker

Sean Baker is no stranger to stories set on the outskirts of society. With his 2017 film, The Florida Project, Baker set his eyes on the fringes of the self-proclaimed “happiest place on earth.” Now, Baker has his eyes on the fringes of America (so to speak) — the industrial Texas City.

Sean Baker and his co-writer Chris Bergoch write themselves a tricky character that actor Simon Rex brings to vivid and charismatic life. Mikey (Simon Rex) is a well-endowed and narcissistic former porn star who returns to his hometown without a dime or a place to stay. From here we experience the destructive, and thoroughly entertaining, path Mikey so effortlessly creates as he acts in his own self-interest. Mikey is not a good person (and don’t worry, the movie won’t try to convince you that he is), but he is endlessly watchable, and Simon Rex turns the charm up to 10. Sean Baker surrounds Simon Rex with many first-time actors and with his willingness to linger on a shot, he is able to capture performances rather than sculpt them in the edit. In Red Rocket, the line between professional and first-time actors is completely blurred. It all plays as natural.

Red Rocket continues a hot streak for Sean Baker, who consistently provides non-judgmental portraits of characters we love to watch but would likely hate in real life.

- Anthony

Red Rocket is available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Vudu. 

Titane 

written and directed by Julia Ducournau 

Never have I seen a movie that made me squirm as much as it warmed my heart. Titane is a masterclass of balancing tone; at times it’s a dark comedy, at others a bloodfest with touches of body horror, or even a dramatic portrait of lonely people looking for a connection, and it never doesn’t work. Writer/director Julia Ducournau is in full control, and you will feel exactly what she wants you to feel. The best way to go into this movie is not knowing anything about the plot so, all I’ll say is this movie is full of energy. From the fantastic camerawork to the committed physical performances from the terrific actors, this movie never slows down. It grips you from the moment it starts until the second it ends, and even then Titane is likely to stick around in your head. Julia Ducournau has proven herself to be a master of the form and we are lucky to have a filmmaker like her. It’s not every day you’ll see a film that is this much.

- Anthony

Titane is my favorite movie of 2021. When I sit down to watch a film or experience any story, what I want most is to feel like anything can happen. That is exactly how I feel every time I start a Julia Docournau film. Titane is crazy but it’s not a stunt. It’s a splashy, gory, outrageous genre flick but at its heart, it is a love story about radical acceptance and chosen family. The best way to watch this movie is with your most adventurous friends. You’re going to want someone to laugh, scream, cringe, and cry with, and most importantly, someone to discuss the movie with once it's over. 

- Arielle

Titane is available to stream on Hulu and available to rent on Youtube, Google Play, and Amazon Prime.

Honorable Mentions: 

About Endlessness (dir. Roy Andersson, Stream on Hulu, Rent on Amazon Prime, Google Play, and Vudu)

Annette (dir. Leos Carax, Stream on Amazon Prime)

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (dir. Josh Greenbaum, Stream on Hulu, Rent on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Vudu)

Censor (dir. Piano Bailey-Bond, Stream on Hulu, Rent on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and YouTube)

The Green Knight (dir. David Lowrey, Stream on Showtime, Rent on Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube)

Lamb (dir. Valdimar Jóhannsson, Rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and YouTube)

Last and First Men (dir. Jóhann Jóhannsson, Stream on Metrograph)

Malmkrog (dir. Cristi Puiu, Stream on Mubi)

El Planeta (dir. Amalia Ulman, Stream on HBO Max, Rent on Amazon Prime)

Shiva Baby (dir. Emma Seligman, Stream on HBO Max, Rent on Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Apple TV)

Some Kind of Heaven (dir. Lance Oppenheim, Stream on Hulu, Rent on Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Apple TV)

The Souvenir Part II (dir. Joanna Hogg, Currently on available for purchase on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and YouTube)

This Is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection (dir. Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese, Stream on Criterion Channel, Rent on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Vudu)

Together Together (dir. Nikole Beckwith, Stream on Hulu and Kanopy, Rent on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Vudu)

Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Vudu)

The Woman Who Ran (dir. Hong Sang-soo, Stream on Mubi)