Jessica's Favorite Movies and TV Shows of 2021
Guys, it has been quite a year. I got to watch a lot of movies and TV shows this year that had been put off in the 2020 pandemic, and it was great to catch up. I got back to the movie theatre, and saw some great films, as well as some solid series at home. Below, I’ll give you a rundown of what I saw and what I thought. Let me know what your favorites were this year, and if you have any recommendations.
Movies 2021
I saw a lot of animated and family friendly movies this year with my kids. My two favorite animated movies were Encanto and The Mitchells vs the Machines.
My favorite action/comedy of the year was Free Guy. Ryan Reynolds delivered his unique brand of humor opposite the incredible Jodie Comer in this hilarious romp into the world of video gaming.
The Last Duel had fantastic acting and told an interesting story, but I never want to watch it again. Trigger warning for those sensitive to sexual assault.
Last Night in Soho was a super fun thriller that I truly enjoyed, despite the reviews of an imperfect storyline. Don’t read that much into it. Just enjoy it.
We had a lot of superhero movies this year! Yay! I truly loved them all, and would recommend all five, but Spider-Man: No Way Home was my number one favorite. Honorable mentions to Black Widow, Eternals, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and The Suicide Squad.
Best ridiculous movie that made me laugh: Bad Trip, with Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar in a close second. So dumb, and so funny.
Cruella was much better than I thought it would be, and had a fantastic soundtrack.
Spencer - Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Princess Diana was breathtaking.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye - Jessica Chastain did an incredible job as Tammy Faye Bakker, and the film was eye-opening and captivating.
Coda was one of my two favorite films of the year. This movie followed a girl on the verge of adulthood who has to choose between staying in the place she was brought up to help her deaf family with their business and their lives, or move on and start her own. Beautiful original story, impeccable acting.
My other favorite movie this year was Gunpowder Milkshake. This was the most fun movie of the year. So much blood, and it made me put “stabby gun” on my Christmas wish list. With every scene, I thought to myself, “this is the greatest action/fight scene I’ve ever seen!”, then I’d watch the next scene and think the exact same thing. This movie helped me channel my rage, and I am crossing my fingers for a sequel.
Honorable mention to Judas and the Black Messiah. Important story, incredible storytelling.
Movies I haven’t seen yet, but are on my list:
Nightmare Alley, C'Mon C'Mon, Belfast, The Tender Bar, Encounter
TV - 2021
We got some awesome Marvel series this year thanks to the MCU and Disney+. I watched all the series available this year, and my top three favorites are: WandaVision, Hawkeye, and Loki
My favorite brand new series to be released this year were:
Reservation Dogs (FX; FX on Hulu) - A comedy series about a group of Native American teenagers who are close friends, growing up on a reservation and getting into trouble in Oklahoma.
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) - Super charming crime comedy with the perfect cast of Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin.
And Just Like That - The follow up to Sex and the City on HBO Max. A must-watch for fans of the original series.
Resident Alien (Syfy) - Ridiculous comedy series about an alien trying to pass himself off as a human so he can repair his ship and destroy earth. Stars the ever-entertaining Alan Tudyk.
Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu) - Twisty and turny. Great cast. Based on the book by Lianne Moriarty, who penned Big Little Lies.
Schmigadoon! (Apple TV+)- A couple trying to save their relationship gets lost in the woods during a retreat and happens upon a town that happens to be stuck in a musical. Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong. Super charming and hilarious.
The Wonder Years (ABC) - This series had big shoes to fill, as it was coming out as kind of a sister series to its original of the same name, which happens to be my favorite show of all time. This one captures the same charm, and has its own point of view. Great cast, great storytelling.
Cruel Summer (Freeform, Hulu) - Want a cheesy teen mystery series? Look no further.
Vigil (BBC, Peacock) - Guys, I just binged the first season of this series over two nights (6 episodes total), and this was the most riveting series I’ve watched in a long time. It follows a detective who is flown out to board a submarine to investigate a possible murder that happened on board while her colleague works the case and it’s corresponding crimes on land. It kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend.
The shows I was happy to see come back:
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Bravo) - It’s garbage, I know, don’t judge me.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO, HBO Max) - because Larry David is STILL funny after all these years.
The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu) - Intense season, as usual. This series hits hard and never backs down from the tough storylines.
The Morning Show (Apple TV+) - Great acting, a wild ride.
Cobra Kai (Netflix) - Can we just take a moment to appreciate the fact that this series put out a season on the first day of the year AND the last day of the year?? And it’s consistently my favorite show on TV right now. Go watch season 4. It’s fantastic.
Never Have I Ever (Netflix) - This dang show makes me laugh out loud all the time, never fails. Mostly because John McEnroe narrates the life of a teenage girl, and it’s the best. Another fun one with a similar style of comedy that I recently discovered is Pen15. Also hilarious.
Chad (TBS) - This show is hilarious, awkward, and brilliant. Every episode makes me so uncomfortable and makes me laugh so hard. Who knew Nasim Pedrad could so perfectly play a teenage boy in all his awkward, cringey glory? I love this show, and making people watch it to see their reactions.
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) - Cobra Kai is actually tied for my favorite show on TV right now with Ted Lasso. It’s a gem of a series with all the optimism we need and all the humor we love. This show came out during a pretty dark time in so many of our lives. It’s the smartest show on TV, and I love it with all my heart.
Schitt's Creek (Netflix) - Yeah, this show ended in 2020, but I only discovered it in 2021, and I have watched the entire series 4 times through. It’s my comfort show, and I will never stop watching it. The series is so funny, has such original characters that are played by comedy geniuses, and it has the best character growth of any series I know. I love it, and I will be quoting it for the rest of my days.
The shows that should have come back this year if it hadn’t been for the blasted pandemic:
Barry, Stranger Things, Los Espookys, The Righteous Gemstones, Killing Eve. I’m sure there are more, but those are the ones that readily come to mind. Four of the five are headed our way in 2022, and I am excited about it.
What were your favorite movies and shows this year? Do you have any recommendations? Happy New Year, and happy watching.