The Best Foreign Films Of 2021
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1Andi Matichak, Emile Hirsch, Luke David BlummSon is a 2021 Irish horror thriller film directed by Ivan Kavanagh. When a young boy falls ill to a mysterious illness, his mother must decide how far she will go to protect him from terrifying forces in her past.More Son
- #5 of 80 onThe Best Shudder Original Movies
- #74 of 145 onThe 100+ Best New & Recent Horror Movies, Ranked
- #138 of 144 onThe Best Supernatural Horror Movies, Ranked
2Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Andrea Heick GadebergMarkus returns home to care for his daughter when his wife dies in a tragic train accident. However, when a survivor of the wreck surfaces and claims foul play, Markus suspects his wife was murdered and embarks on a mission to find those responsible.More Riders of Justice- #195 of 425 onThe Greatest Movies in World Cinema History
- #51 of 137 onThe 100+ Best New & Recent Action Movies, Ranked
- #6 of 141 onThe 140+ Best Recent Thriller Movies, Ranked
3Enforcement
Jacob Lohmann, Simon Sears, Tarek ZayatEnforcement (aka Shorta) is a 2021 Danish action crime film directed by Frederik Louis Hviid and Anders Ølholm. Two police officers on routine patrol find themselves trapped in a maze of buildings when unrest spreads.
4Jasna Djuricic, Izudin Bajrovic, Boris LerQuo Vadis, Aida? is a 2020 Bosnian war drama film directed by Jasmila Žbanić. When the Serbian army takes over the small town of Srebrenica, a translator for the UN and her family are among the thousands of citizens looking for shelter in the UN camp.More Quo Vadis, Aida?- #262 of 425 onThe Greatest Movies in World Cinema History
- #10 of 16 on16 Anti-War Movies That Have Us Marching For Peace
- #13 of 16 onThe Best Movies On Hulu Right Now
5Naian González Norvind, Diego Boneta, Samantha Yazareth AnayaMembers of a wealthy family gather for a wedding as a nearby protest escalates into violence in Mexico City.
6Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher, Leslie MannBlithe Spirit is a 2020 British fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Edward Hall, based upon the 1941 play by Noël Coward. A spiritualist medium holds a seance for a writer suffering from writer's block but accidentally summons the spirit of his deceased first wife, which leads to an increasingly complex love triangle with his current wife of five years.More Blithe Spirit- #616 of 702 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- #47 of 102 onThe Best British Comedy Movies
- #88 of 89 onThe Most Rewatchable Comedy Movies
7Olivia Cooke, Ben Hardy, Colm MeaneyPixie is a 2021 British black comedy crime thriller film directed by Barnaby Thompson. To avenge her mother's death, a young woman masterminds a heist but must flee across Ireland from gangsters, take on the patriarchy, and choose her own destiny.More Pixie- #25 of 70 onGreat Quirky Movies for Grown-Ups
- #92 of 102 onThe Best British Comedy Movies
- #36 of 64 onThe Funniest Crime Parodies and Spoof Movies, Ranked
8Berlin Alexanderplatz
Welket Bunguê, Jella Haase, Albrecht SchuchBerlin Alexanderplatz is a 2020 German-Dutch drama film directed by Burhan Qurbani, an adaptation of Alfred Döblin's influential 1929 novel. A 30-year-old refugee Francis, the sole survivor of a boat which crossed the Mediterranean illegally, must navigate the underbelly of the city without citizenship papers.
9Barbara Sukowa, Martine Chevallier, Léa DruckerTwo elderly women carry on a secret affair.
10Jennifer Ehle, Morfydd Clark, Lily FrazerSaint Maud is a 2021 British psychological horror film directed by Rose Glass. Hospice nurse and recent Roman Catholic convert, Maud (Morfydd Clark) is concerned that she may be possessed when she becomes infatuated with Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), a former dancer in her care.More Saint Maud- #29 of 61 onThe Best A24 Movies Of All Time
- #2 of 12 onThe Best British Movies Streaming on Hulu
- #12 of 21 onUnderrated Horror Masterpieces That Are Streaming Right Now
11Yahya Mahayni, Monica Bellucci, Koen de BouwA Syrian refugee in Lebanon allows his back to become a canvas for a famous tattoo artist. Soon, collectors become interested in this work of art.
12Tae-goo Eom, Jeon Yeo-been, Cha Seung-wonThe story of a man targeted by gangsters and a woman who has given up on life.More Night in Paradise- #36 of 114 onThe Best Korean Movies Of All Time
- #61 of 145 onThe Best Foreign Romance Movies, Ranked
- #16 of 72 onThe Best Korean Thrillers Of All Time
13Clare Dunne, Harriet Walter, Conleth HillHerself is a 2020 British drama film directed by Phyllida Lloyd. After the housing system refuses to give her a new home, a single mother decides to build her own while the help of a friendly community and a handful of new friends.
14Alain Uy, Ron Yuan, Mykel Shannon JenkinsThree middle-aged men polish their martial arts skills to avenge their fallen master.
15Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie DornanBelfast is a semi-autobiographical film directed by Kenneth Branagh that captures the tumult of the late 1960s in Northern Ireland. The story is told through the eyes of young Buddy (Jude Hill), as he navigates the innocence of childhood amidst the social and political upheaval of The Troubles in Belfast. With a backdrop of familial love and cultural conflict, the film stars Jamie Dornan and Caitríona Balfe as Buddy's parents, with Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds as his grandparents. Belfast threads themes of home, identity, and community, showcasing how a family's bond can endure even through times of strife. The film has been recognized with several awards nominations for its poignant storytelling and direction.More Belfast- #13 of 20 onMovies Directed By Kenneth Branagh
- #49 of 60 onThe Best Coming of Age Movies About Boys
- #4 of 18 on18 Irish War Movies That You've Probably Never Seen
16Hailu Qin, Hewei Yu, Yi ZhangCliff Walkers is a 2021 Chinese spy thriller film directed by Zhang Yimou. In the puppet state of Manchukuo in the 1930s, four Communist party special agents, afterreturning to China, embark on a secret mission. Sold out by a traitor, the team find themselves surrounded by threats on all sides.
17Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent, Eddie IzzardSix Minutes to Midnight is a 2021 British World War II drama film directed by Andy Goddard. Summer 1939. Influential families in Nazi Germany send their daughters to a finishing school in an English seaside town to learn the language and be ambassadors for a National Socialist future, but when teacher there sees what is coming and tries to raise the alarm, the authorities believe he is the problem.
18Dan Stevens, Maren Eggert, Sandra HüllerI'm Your Man is a romantic dramedy from 2021. The plot follows Alma, an anthropologist who becomes involved in an extraordinary experiment to evaluate a humanoid robot designed to be her ideal life partner. The robot, Tom (Dan Stevens), is a charming and unsettlingly perfect android, who is programmed to make her happy. Over time, Alma confronts existential questions about love, companionship, and what it truly means to be human. The film looks into themes such as artificial intelligence ethics, the longing for connection, and the definition of happiness. I'm Your Man shines a light on the evolving nature of relationships in an ever-advancing technological world.More I'm Your Man- #425 of 425 onThe Greatest Movies in World Cinema History
- #12 of 58 onThe 55+ Best Recent Romantic Movies, Ranked
- #31 of 114 onThe 100+ Best New & Recent Drama Films, Ranked
19Lee Kang-sheng, Anong HoungheuangsyDays, a 2020 film by acclaimed Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang, is an introspective piece that unfolds in the director's signature meditative style. The narrative is minimalistic, focusing on two main characters: Kang (Lee Kang-sheng), a middle-aged man suffering from chronic neck pain, and Non (Anong Houngheuangsy), a young Laotian immigrant, who eases Kang’s affliction through massage. Through long, static takes and a lack of dialogue, the film artfully captures the alienation and isolation of modern life, while also touching on themes of human connection and the transient nature of comfort. "Days" was selected for competition at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival where it received a Teddy Award special mention for its tender depiction of queer desire and connection.
20Hidetoshi Nishijima, Toko Miura, Reika KirishimaAn aging, widowed actor seeks a chauffeur. The actor turns to his go-to mechanic, who ends up recommending a 20-year-old girl. Despite their initial misgivings, a very special relationship develops between the two.
21John Byrne, Lexi Skeldon, Kieran DaleA scientist investigates strange events inside a train tunnel.
22Lily James, Ralph Fiennes, Carey MulliganThe Dig is a 2020 British biographical drama film directed by Simon Stone, based on the novel of the same name by John Preston. In 1938, an archeologist begins a historically significant excavation of Sutton Hoo.
23Vincent Lindon, Agathe Rousselle, Garance MarillierTitane, a provocative 2021 French film directed by Julia Ducournau (Agathe Rousselle), presents a visceral tale of identity, transformation, and the human capacity for connection despite extreme circumstances. The story follows Alexia, a woman with a titanium plate in her head from a childhood car accident, who embarks on a dark and violent journey after a series of disturbing events. The film probes themes of body horror and unconventional desires, with a narrative that challenges viewers' perceptions of gender and humanity. Titane won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, marking Ducournau as the second female director to clinch the top honor.
24Vicky Krieps, Tim Roth, Mia WasikowskaBergman Island is a 2021 French-American drama film directed by Mia Hansen-Løve. A filmmaking couple go to the island where Ingmar Bergman was inspired and find that the lines between reality and fiction start to blur.
25Here Are the Young Men
Dean-Charles Chapman, Finn Cole, Anya Taylor-JoyHere Are the Young Men is a 2020 Irish drama film directed by Eoin Macken, based on the novel of the same name by Rob Doyle. Dublin teenagers Matthew, nihilistic Rez, and the deranged Kearney, leave school to a social vacuum of drinking and drugs, falling into shocking acts of transgression.
26Kiko Mizuhara, Honami SatoHer abusive husband is dead, killed by her lesbian friend who would do anything for her. Now they're running for their lives.More Ride or Die- #396 of 425 onThe Greatest Movies in World Cinema History
- #23 of 54 onThe Best Foreign Films Streaming on Netflix
- #157 of 326 onThe 300+ Best Netflix Original Movies Of All Time
27Amir El-Masry, Vikash Bhai, Ola OrebiyiLimbo is a 2020 British comedy-drama film directed by Ben Sharrock. Four asylum seekers who are staying on a remote island in Scotland, and taking cultural awareness classes, while awaiting the processing of their refugee claims.More Limbo- #102 of 102 onThe Best British Comedy Movies
- #97 of 194 onThe 150+ Best New Comedies Of The Last 5 Years, Ranked
- #99 of 122 onThe 100+ Best Indie Comedies, Ranked
28Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev, Lavrenti BeriaMourners flock to Moscow's Red Square to attend Josef Stalin's funeral.
29Baoqiang Wang, Liu Haoran, Tachakorn YeerumDetectives investigate a mysterious murder in Tokyo.
30Takeru Satô, Emi Takei, MackenyuIn 1879, Kenshin and his allies face their strongest enemy yet: his former brother-in-law Enishi Yukishiro and his minions, who've vowed their revenge.
