The best films you may have missed in 2021

Jaw-dropping blockbusters. Thought-provoking indie flicks. Five-star documentary films. Yep, there’s been plenty of movie magic to feast your eyes on these past 12 months.

It’s been one hell of year for cinema, despite the fact they were closed for half of it. But with so much on offer, you’d be forgiven for missing some of the best. That’s why we’ve put our heads together, and gathered all our favourites in one place, from Netflix, Prime Video and Sky Cinema

Read on for our essential guide...

Netflix

Prime Video

Sky Cinema

In 1939 Suffolk, a wealthy widow (Carey Mulligan) hires an amateur archaeologist (Ralph Fiennes) to investigate the mysterious mounds on her estate. However, when news of Anglo-Saxon discoveries reach Cambridge, a power struggle ensues for control of the excavation.

When Liz (Mélanie Laurent) wakes up in a locked cryogenic chamber, it’s a race against time to escape before she runs out of air. Little does she know, the reason for her imprisonment is much more terrifying than she ever thought imaginable.

Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a disgraced police officer who is forced to work as a 911 call operator while awaiting trial. When he receives a distressing call, it’s a race against the clock to find the caller – and to find out the truth.

In this high-stakes thriller, Jenn (Kate Siegel) is seeking therapy to address her anxieties, when she’s introduced to the highly-regarded Dr Meade. It seems too good to be true – and in this case, it definitely is. After a few successful sessions, her reality gets turned upside down, with deadly consequences.

In this arty Sam Levinson picture, we meet filmmaker Malcolm (John David Washington) and his girlfriend Marie (Zendaya), returning home after Malcolm’s big movie premiere. But this isn’t a love story – this is a dissection of what goes into them.

Stowaway tells the story of an unexpected guest discovered aboard a three-person mission to the red planet. But when the life-support system becomes compromised, it’s likely the crew will run out of oxygen before reaching Mars with a fourth person onboard. Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim and Toni Collette star.

In a not-too-distant future, the zombie apocalypse has overrun Las Vegas. But there’s cold, hard cash in the vaults beneath the casinos, leading to a heist like no other – especially with an undead tiger on the loose.

Before Army of the Dead, there was Army of Thieves, which tells the origin story of fan favourite, Ludwig Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer) – the master safe-cracker.

Based on the bestselling novel, this stars Amy Adams as a doctor confined to her New York home by crippling agoraphobia. Bored and naturally curious, she becomes obsessed with watching the new family across the street, until she witnesses something she wishes she hadn’t. Now she just needs the police to believe her.

Before Jonathan Larson became famous for his rock musical, Rent, he was working at a diner and trying to get his big break on Broadway before his 30th birthday. Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and starring Andrew Garfield, this energetic biopic celebrates the legend, detailing his dedication to the Tony-winning musical.

Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) is the second greatest art thief in the world, and the FBI want his help to catch number one (Gal Gadot), so he is forced to team up with investigator John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson). In what is said to be Netflix’s most expensive original to date, there’s guaranteed globe-trotting action from start to finish.

How much is a human life worth? That’s the question lawyer Kenneth Feinberg (Michael Keaton) is faced with in Worth, based on true events following the 9/11 attacks. He leads a small team of attorneys that must decide on a fair way of calculating the compensation owed to every victim’s family.

In this super slick western from director Jeymes Samuel, an outlaw called Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) is getting the band back together, to make sure an old rival is taken down for good. The outstanding cast also includes Idris Elba, Regina King, LaKeith Stanfield and Zazie Beats.

Amy Poehler directs and stars in this quirky and uplifting comedy. When 16-year-old Vivian (Hadley Robinson) finds inspiration in her mother’s nonconformist past, it’s time to put an end to the sexist, outdated behaviours of her high school. To get the word out, she decides to anonymously publishing a zine, quickly gaining traction with other girls at school.

This one’s got Oscar buzz written all over it. In this beautifully shot film from writer/director Jane Campion (The Piano, Top Of The Lake), we meet Benedict Cumberbatch as a stoic, cold rancher in the Old West. When his brother (Jesse Plemons) brings home a new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her son, he goes out of his way to make life difficult.

In Halle Berry’s debut as director, she stars as a retired MMA fighter who’s lacking purpose outside the ring. But when her estranged young son turns up on her doorstep one night, it’s time to get back to what she does best, regardless of how many times she gets knocked down.

After two decades behind bars, Sandra Bullock’s Ruth Slater is getting out, but adjusting to today’s society is no mean feat – especially for a convicted cop-killer. Her main goal is to reconnect with the estranged sister she raised before her arrest. But with a new family in the picture, trust issues aren’t even the half of it. The film is based on the British miniseries The Unforgiven, written by Sally Wainwright and starring Suranne Jones.

This Italian film is the biographical story of its Oscar-winning director, Paolo Sorrentino. It explores his adolescent years in the 1980s, in which he returns to Naples to discover a family tragedy, and his unexpected, life-saving encounter with none other than Diego Maradona.

In this star-studded film from Adam McKay (The Big Short, Vice), Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence are amateur astronomers, armed with some sobering news. An asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, but getting world leaders to take them seriously isn’t how it usually goes in disaster films. Sharing the spotlight are Jonah Hill, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Ariana Grande and Chris Evans to name but a few.

Maggie Gyllenhaal makes her directorial debut with this gripping psychological drama based on the novel by Elena Ferrante. While holidaying alone, Olivia Colman becomes obsessed with a young woman and has to reckon with her own past.

Jamie knows he’s not like the other boys at his Sheffield high school, or his conservative father. What he does know is that he’s going to be a performer, he’s going to be on stage, and he’s going to sing his heart out – he’s going to be a drag queen! Based on the hit West End show, the film features original songs from The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells.

Dev Patel stars in David Lowery’s Arthurian tale, following the journey of a lone warrior to fulfil his destiny. With sweeping magical themes and beautiful dreamscape imagery, it’s a must-watch for fantasy fans.

In this true story drama, we meet Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim) who’s being held in Guantánamo Bay, without charge, for his supposed involvement in the 9/11 terror attacks. After countless claims of innocence, it’s down to a defence attorney (Jodie Foster), to try to get him out.

Chris Pratt stars in this sci-fi action thriller. Thirty years in the future, humankind is protecting Earth against a powerful alien enemy, so time-traveling military personnel have come back from 2051 to recruit civilians in 2021, in a last-ditch attempt to win their war.

Daniel Radcliffe is Miles, a down-and-out nobody with little to lose. So, when he wakes up with pistols bolted to his hands, in a real-life deathmatch being broadcast online, it’s time to get busy living.

In this sci-fi thriller, Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo) is living in a literal time loop, in which he gets killed over and over again. We pick up with him on assassination number 144. Not only is he unable to break the endless cycle, but he doesn’t know why he’s in the crosshairs.

When Viola (Daisy Ridley) crash lands on a planet inhabited solely by men, whose thoughts she can see and hear, she quickly learns she’s not safe. Thankfully Todd (Tom Holland) vows to protect her, putting himself in harm’s way.

Malcom X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke (played here by Hamilton’s Leslie Odom Jr) were giants of their time. In One Night in Miami…, directed by Regina King, they’re all in the same room, but tensions soon reach boiling point when they begin to compare beliefs and their respective successes.

Guy Ritchie is back with more tough guys and shoot-outs in his new film, Wrath of Man. When new security guard, Jason Statham, runs into a spot of bother with some would-be robbers, his colleagues are left slack-jawed when the new recruit expertly takes down a barrage of men with precision. It isn’t long before his true purpose is revealed.

In this magical, modern retelling of the fairy tale, Camilla Cabello is dress-making Cinderella, Billy Porter is the Fairy Godmother, and Romesh Ranganathan is a mouse. With tongue-in-cheek quips and outstanding visuals, it’s fun for all the family.

King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his loyal sidekick, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), are back in New York in this long-awaited comedy sequel. When Akeem discovers he has sired a son, who’s living somewhere in Queens, it’s time to get the family back together.

In Aaron Sorkin’s biographical drama, Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem play on and off screen couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, stars of the classic sitcom, I Love Lucy. But the much-loved actors run into problems when the press starts to probe into their private lives.

Based on the musical from Quiara Alegría Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda, this is an explosion of the feel-good factor brought to the screen. Set in the Latino community of Washington Heights, the film follows an array of local characters, each with their own stories, dreams and disappointments. Get on your feet!

In the latest cinematic adaption of the 1990s video game, it’s up to Earth’s finest warriors to take down the merciless Sub-Zero. It might lack the campness of the original films (and the absolute banger of a soundtrack), but it more than makes up for it by committing the most iconic MK moves to the screen in truly gory glory.

In the third instalment of the Conjuring films, we’re back with real-life paranormal investigative couple, Ed and Lorraine Warren (a demonologist and a clairvoyant, respectively). Here, they are exploring the case of Arne Johnson, a murderer who claims he was possessed by a demon.

Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor plays the-real life ceramic artist Clarice Cliff, an incredibly talented Art Deco designer. We meet her in the industrial British midlands in the 1920s as she hops from factory to factory, eventually impressing factory owner Colley Shorter (Matthew Goode, The Imitation Game). She makes waves with her “Bizarre” range of pottery and goes on to become a household name.

Featuring the voices of Nick Frost, Emily Watson, Jason Isaacs and Catherine Tate, this fun-filled monster sequel sees the Wishbone Family on a mission to save their friends from a monster hunter. Guaranteed family thrills in this Sky Original animation.

In this dark comedy, Allison Janney (The West Wing) plays a woman whose husband goes missing. As she attempts to find him, she becomes a local celebrity and desperately attempts to keep herself in the spotlight, while her journalist half-sister (Mila Kunis) tries to find out the truth.

Andra Day was nominated for an Oscar, and won a Golden Globe, for her turn as the legendary Billie Holiday in this incredible real-life story that tells the tale of when the jazz singer was targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics. Youu won’t want to miss it.

When Nic Cage finds himself at the mercy of a gang of bloodthirsty animatronic creatures in an abandoned kids party restaurant, there’s little time for negotiations. In this crazed, gory horror, Cage shows them who’s boss.

Adapted from Matt Haig’s bestselling book, A Boy Called Christmas introduces us to Nikolas (newcomer Henry Lawfull). He goes on an adventure to search for his father, who set out to find Elfhelm, the village of the elves. Along with a reindeer called Blitzen and a talking pet mouse (voiced by Stephen Merchant), Nikolas soon realises anything is possible if you just believe in the magic all around you. Toby Jones, Sally Hawkins, Kristen Wiig, Jim Broadbent and Maggie Smith round out the star-studded cast.

Fans of the original 1981 TV series rejoice, this rebooted CGI adventure featuring the greatest swordsman in his quest to join the Muskehounds is just as joyful. CGI animation can often feel cold compared to its hand-drawn counterparts, but not Dogtanian. All for one...

Following on from 2016’s Suicide Squad, director James Gunn (Guardians Of The Galaxy) reintroduces us to the merry band of misfits with a death wish, including Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), plus a bunch of new faces, like Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena) and King Shark (voiced by Sylvester Stallone). These supervillains are locked up in the Belle Reve prison, but when they have the opportunity to get out by joining Task Force X, they jump at the chance.

In this incredible clash of the titans-tale, King Kong is going head-to-head with Godzilla. But it’s not just all mindless, city-levelling violence, the fate of the world is on the line. Millie Bobby Brown, Alexander Skarsgård and Rebecca Hall star.

The mischievous Beatrix Potter bunny is back for more in Peter Rabbit 2. In this instalment, Peter (voiced by James Corden) heads out for the big city. But, as it turns out, it can be quite a scary place for a certain somebunny.

Karen Gillan and Lena Headey play a smooth mother-daughter assassin duo who must protect a small girl from a ruthless crime syndicate. This is one classy (and pretty violent) affair.

This is director Zack Snyder’s definitive vision for his Justice League movie, after some well-publicised issues around the orignal release and fan outcry for “The Snyder Cut”. Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), in the wake of Superman’s death, must assemble a team to fight a Superman-sized threat to life as we know it. A black-and-white version, Zack Snyder’s Justice League: Justice Is Grey, is also available.

This cleaned up in the Oscars this year, and it’s easy to see why. This biographical drama about the betrayal of Fred Hampton, chairman of the Black Panther Party in late-1960s Chicago, is an incredible piece of work. Daniel Kaluuya stars as Hampton, with LaKeith Stanfield as his nemesis.

All you really need to know about this comedy is that it’s from the women who gave the world the instant classic of Bridesmaids. That, and that the plot is the title. So sit back and laugh your socks off. Starring Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo.

Prime Video is available to all Virgin TV customers with a V6 box, powered by TiVo®, and a subscription to the service. Simply sign up to Amazon Prime Video via their website, and you can log in on the box. And because Prime Video is fully integrated into TiVo®, you can search without even going into the app. Just select Search & Discover from the Home menu and type in the name of the show or movie you’re after.

Virgin TV 360 customers can get to Prime Video faster than ever with super-powerful Voice Search and Control. Just say “Prime Video”, or you can watch by launching Prime Video from the Apps section.

If you have a TiVo® box or Virgin TV V6 box, powered by TiVo®:

Press home on your remote

Select Apps & Games

Select All Apps

Select Netflix

If you’re already a Netflix subscriber, you can also access the app through Search & Discover or by pressing Red on channel 204. Just sign in with your existing login and start watching. And you’ll only have to log in the first time you use it.

If you’re new to Netflix, then you’ll need to subscribe to use the app. The easiest way to do this is by going to netflix.com/virginmedia. You can also subscribe using the Netflix app in Apps & Games.

If you subscribe to Sky Cinema on Virgin TV, you can watch on the go with Virgin TV Go. And with loads of sport and Box Sets to try out, too, you’ll always be entertained wherever you are!

The app is available to all Virgin TV customers at no extra cost and is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows 10 and PC/Mac. Get downloading (from the links below) and you’ll be one step closer to watching what you want, when you want.

Download the Virgin TV Go app from the Apple app store

Download the Virgin TV Go app from Google Play

Download the Virgin TV Go app for Windows 10

Don’t have Sky Cinema? You can find out about our Sky Cinema package and upgrade here.