The Most Underrated Movies Of 2021

It's honestly hard to gauge what can even be considered an "underrated" film in 2021. With so much of this year devoted to at-home viewing, it can often be tough to figure out what films are and aren't in the cultural zeitgeist at any particular moment. But as the year has continued on its merry way, it's becoming clearer what 2021 movies aren't getting the attention they so duly deserve.

From underseen comedies and totally insane gorefests to introspective dramas that have gotten lost in the shuffle, 2021 has contained a heap of cinematic surprises that all deserve to get their time in the spotlight. Be sure to keep an eye on this list as 2021 proceeds to make sure you're up to date on all of the most underrated films of the year. And be sure not to miss out on all these soon-to-be classics that you might've missed.

Updated on December 30, 2021: Movies are coming out all the time, and it's easy for films to get lost in the shuffle. As a result, we've updated this list to keep you current on all the underseen and underappreciated flicks this year has to offer. If you're looking for something unique to watch, keep coming back for the most underrated movies of 2021.

With its initial release coming right in the middle of Oscar season where attention was being lavished on a heap of other films, it's only fair to shine a light on "The White Tiger." This Netflix film was able to snag a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 93rd Academy Awards, but other than that very notable Oscar nod, this movie has been flying under the radar. However, as it's been compared to beloved films like "Joker" and "Parasite," it's a film that definitely deserves some attention.

Adapted and directed by critically acclaimed director Ramin Bahrani, "The White Tiger" follows the young Balram as he tries to navigate the brutal class system in India. However, his lower-class beginnings shape the world around him as he tries to climb the capitalist ladder — a ladder that can only lead to the worst places. With an exacting eye, lush visuals, and brilliant social commentary, "The White Tiger" is a film worth seeking out amongst Netflix's wide array of feature film options.

There have been plenty of documentaries over the years following the lives of the rich and famous, especially musicians and recording artists we know and love. These films can range from incisive, introspective looks inside the world of an artist or just another piece of puff-filled P.R. to boost an artist's ego. "Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry," thankfully, sits primarily in the former category, providing audiences a dark and detailed look inside the world of this particular brilliant performer and the emotional, mental, and physical strain it takes to become one of the world's leading pop stars.

Directed intimately and artfully by R.J. Cutler, "The World's a Little Blurry" follows the entire songwriting process of Eilish's hit debut album all the way to her titanic Grammy Awards sweep, with detours into festivals, recording sessions, and personal moments with her family and her own reckoning with depression. Eilish comes across as a wonderfully personable figure with little desire for the glam of celebrity and a hyper-focus on the passion of her songwriting and creative output. It's an epic and humanizing film, one that gives us that most wondrous and personal look at a world that can often seem so far away.

Is "Shiva Baby" a comedy or a horror film? More likely, it's some brilliant, fantastically Jewish amalgam of the two — a combination that's only possible through the mind of writer-director Emma Seligman in this frighteningly funny debut feature. Rachel Sennott stars as Danielle, a college senior who's heading straight from her appointment with her sugar daddy to meet up with her family at a shiva. But when these two worlds suddenly combine, the levels of anxiety and awkwardness build in a most nightmarish fashion.

The film features an ensemble of absolutely sensational performers — including Molly Gordon, Danny Deferrari, and Dianna Agron — and some absolutely fierce and passionate scenes of reckoning with growing up in contemporary Jewish America, all packed into a tight 77-minute runtime. In other words, "Shiva Baby" is the perfect comedy to remind you of the horrors and anxieties of the world, and it'll give you a good excuse to laugh and cry about them all day.

The most important thing to know is that Derek DelGaudio wants you to leave your assumptions about him at the door. That's all part of the illusion — both literally and spiritually — embedded in "In & Of Itself," a filmed version of DelGaudio's hit stage show that confounded and enlightened off-Broadway audiences under the direction of the legendary Frank Oz (Oz returns here to provide cinematic direction, perhaps his best work in years).

Now available to stream on Hulu, DelGaudio's solo performance/illusionary spectacle is honestly better the less you know going in, but be ready for a wonderfully introspective piece of theatrical filmmaking that dares to ask us all if we really know who we are at the end of the day. At the beginning of the film, the text on the screen asks us to put our phones away, and it's advice best heeded for this wonderfully underrated piece of magical filmmaking at its finest.

Whether you're a lifelong fan of the notorious music group Sparks — comprised of real-life brothers Ron and Russell Mael — or this is the first time you've ever even heard of them, chances are that Edgar Wright's freshman foray into the world of documentary film, "The Sparks Brothers," is just the thing for you. Chronicling the duo's musical journey over 50 years and featuring interviews with titans of the entertainment industry like Mike Myers, Jack Antonoff, and "Weird Al" Yankovic, Wright's signature frenetic and free-wheeling style of filmmaking is used to glorious effect here to make you fall in love with this dynamic duo as fast as Wright did.

This is a huge year for the heretofore less-than-famous music duo, as they're also the songwriters and creative voices behind the new Leos Carax movie musical "Annette," slated for release later this year. Who knew that 2021 would be the year that these genius creative voices would emerge into the mainstream to encompass the world of entertainment? Maybe it's just the way the Sparks brothers wanted it all along.

Like many of the most overlooked films this year, "Limbo," an altogether charming sophomore feature from director Ben Sharrock, got a stateside theatrical release with no streaming service tie-in to boost its profile, resulting in its sad exclusion from an already bustling year of new cinematic releases. Which is honestly a darn shame, as "Limbo" is one of the more creative, humorous, and heartwarming new films to emerge this year, providing a platform for a story with political relevance told through heartfelt means.

On a fictional island in Scotland, a group of refugees must spend their days waiting to find out whether they've been granted asylum or not. Sharrock's film focuses on Omar (Amir El-Masry), a Syrian refugee whose love of music has been tamped down ever since a tragic accident and exacerbated by the cruel monotony of his situation. Told with an exceedingly dry wit but always rooted in the truthful pain of this scenario, "Limbo" is undoubtedly a charming movie that you shouldn't keep waiting this year.

Guy Ritchie brought King Arthur back to the big screen in 2017, though his action packed blockbuster "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" failed to impress. However, 2021's "The Green Knight" took a different route, shunning big set pieces in favor of a more artistic approach. Writer-director-editor David Lowery goes out of his way to make the film feel ethereal, with hazy lighting and immaculately framed shots bringing a dreamlike quality to it. Lowery's filmmaking style appeared to put a lot of regular moviegoers off, but those who were willing to go with the flow were rewarded with an epic fantasy ride anchored by a brilliant performance.

Dev Patel stars as Gawain, one of King Arthur's knights and the lead character in the classic poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." In the film, Gawain is Arthur's (Sean Harris) nephew, and he steps up to defeat the titular knight (a creature made of bark and branches) after he arrives at Camelot with a challenge — strike a blow against him and earn his green ax. Gawain decapitates the otherworldly intruder — who proceeds to pick up his severed head and tell Gawain that they must meet again in one year's time. The film unfolds as that date draws near, and Patel (alone for long stretches) is forced to do a lot of his acting with his face alone, which he does with aplomb. The Oscar-nominated Brit gives his most understated performance to date here, and it shouldn't be missed.

"They don't make them like this anymore" is a phrase that's been used regularly by fans of the animated cult classic "Heavy Metal" over the years, though that's not strictly true. In 2021, four decades after "Heavy Metal" (an Ivan Reitman-produced sci-fi/fantasy anthology movie with extremely mature themes) left critics in a state of shock and awe, "The Spine of Night" was finally released, ending the wait for a spiritual sequel. Using the same rotoscoped animation, it achieves a familiar (though, as you might expect, slightly more polished) look, and it more than matches up to "Heavy Metal" in terms of visual impact. It's visceral, experimental, and an absolute treat for grown-up eyes.

"The Spine of Night" follows heroes from different eras, all of whom must do their bit to stop those who want to use ancient dark magic for wicked deeds. There's nothing revolutionary about the plot of this genre-blending throwback (it leans heavily towards full-blown horror at times), but the animation is like nothing you've ever seen before, even outdoing "Heavy Metal" for weirdness. The film starts to feel like a bad trip at times, but it's all part of the experience. This is one wild ride that you won't forget in a hurry. The hard-rocking soundtrack and pitch-perfect voice performances from Richard E. Grant (The Guardian), Lucy Lawless (Tzod), Patton Oswalt (Lord Pyrantin), Betty Gabriel (Phae-Agura), Joe Manganiello (Mongrel), and Larry Fessenden (Prophet of Doom) bring it all together.