Thirty Ace Movies From 2021 That You Should Definitely Catch Up on Over Summer
Tick 'em off.
Hundreds of movies release in Australia each year — even in 2021. Still, even the most devoted cinephiles can't see them all when they first come out, no matter how much you might want to.
Thankfully, that's what catching up over summer is all about. As time ticks by, technology just keeps making it easier, too. So, just what should you make sure you check out? That's where we come in. We've hunted down the standout 2021 flicks now ready for your home-viewing consumption, and put together your holiday watch list.
Looking for more choices? We also picked 12 stellar movies from 2021 that you might've completely bypassed.
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High Ground
Thu, 28 Jan - Wed, 17 Feb 2021
Various cinemas in Sydney
Australia's latest exceptional outback western interrogates the atrocities of the country's colonial past.
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Synchronic
Thu, 11 Feb - Wed, 3 Mar 2021
Various cinemas in Sydney
Starring Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan, this sci-fi thriller follows two paramedics dealing with a trippy new designer drug.
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Another Round
Thu, 11 Feb - Wed, 3 Mar 2021
Select cinemas in Sydney, Various locations
Four teachers test a theory that humans actually need a constant supply of alcohol in their blood in this Oscar-shortlisted Danish drama.
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Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra
Thu, 18 Feb - Wed, 10 Mar 2021
Select cinemas in Sydney, Various locations
Celebrating Australia's acclaimed Indigenous dance theatre, this excellent documentary also steps through the nation's past and paints a portrait of three siblings with dreams as big as their talents.
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Judas and the Black Messiah
Thu, 11 Mar - Wed, 31 Mar 2021
Various cinemas in Sydney
Already winning Daniel Kaluuya a Golden Globe, this ferocious historical drama steps inside the FBI's quest to bring down a Black Panther Party leader.
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French Exit
Thu, 18 Mar - Wed, 7 Apr 2021
Select cinemas in Sydney, Various locations
Michelle Pfeiffer is magnificent and magnetic in this comedy about a broke Manhattan socialite's chaotic move to Paris.
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The Father
Thu, 1 Apr - Wed, 21 Apr 2021
Various cinemas in Sydney
With remarkable performances from Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman and a purposefully puzzle-like approach, this drama about dementia leaves a lasting imprint.
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Collective
Thu, 8 Apr - Wed, 28 Apr 2021
Select cinemas in Sydney, Various locations
Nominated for two Oscars, this compelling and confronting Romanian documentary spirals from a tragic fire to corruption in the country's health system.
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Wrath of Man
Thu, 29 Apr - Wed, 19 May 2021
Various cinemas in Sydney
Reuniting for the first time in 16 years, Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie avoid simply rehashing their shared past glories in this effective revenge thriller.
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The Perfect Candidate
Thu, 6 May - Wed, 26 May 2021
Ritz Cinema, Randwick
Following a doctor who runs for local council, this rousing drama unpacks life in Saudi Arabia today and agitates passionately for change.
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A Quiet Place Part II
Thu, 27 May - Wed, 16 Jun 2021
Various cinemas in Sydney
The sequel to 2018's big horror hit is just as savvy, smart and engaging — and places just as much emphasis on silence.
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In the Heights
Thu, 24 Jun - Sun, 31 Oct 2021
Various cinemas in Sydney and online
Lin-Manuel Miranda's vibrant love letter to Washington Heights hits the big screen, with intoxicating, invigorating and exuberant results.
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Black Widow
Fri, 9 Jul - Sun, 31 Oct 2021
Various cinemas in Sydney and online
Combining spy thrills with family dramas — and aided by a top-notch cast — the 24th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe finally gives the first female Avenger her own solo feature.
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Shiva Baby
Mon, 11 Oct - Sun, 31 Oct 2021
Select cinemas in Sydney, Various locations
Sharp, relatable and also filled with cringe-inducingly awkward moments, this impressive debut feature spends a day at a shiva with a college senior.
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Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Wed, 29 Sep - Sun, 31 Oct 2021
Select cinemas in Sydney and online, Various locations
Questlove jumps behind the lens with this exceptional documentary, which brings footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival — aka "Black Woodstock" — to the screen.
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The Night House
Mon, 11 Oct - Sun, 31 Oct 2021
Various cinemas in Sydney
Rebecca Hall is exceptional in a haunted house movie that's made with horror style as well as smarts, but also sometimes falls victim to its own indulgences.
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The Harder They Fall
Thu, 21 Oct - Wed, 10 Nov 2021
Select cinemas in Sydney, Various locations
Stepping back to the Old West with an all-star cast, this revisionist western is ambitious and memorable, smart and suave, and an all-round swaggering film
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Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
Thu, 21 Oct - Wed, 10 Nov 2021
Select cinemas in Sydney, Various locations
This emotional documentary isn't without its missteps, but still simmers with the celebrity chef, author and travel documentarian's passion and curiosity.
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The Last Duel
Thu, 21 Oct - Wed, 10 Nov 2021
Various cinemas in Sydney
Matt Damon, Adam Driver and 'Killing Eve' star Jodie Comer recreate medieval history in this weighty and savage drama from Ridley Scott.
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The Many Saints of Newark
Thu, 4 Nov - Wed, 24 Nov 2021
Various cinemas in Sydney
Fourteen years after fading to black, 'The Sopranos' gets a firmly familiar but still powerful and engaging big-screen prequel starring James Gandolfini's son Michael.