With more films finally hitting theaters (despite COVID concerns) and streaming services releasing record numbers of films and TV series this year, we’re seeing so many projects fall between the cracks. It used to be that film/TV fans could cherry-pick what to watch and somewhat keep up with all the new releases. But 2021 has shown that unless you are a robot who doesn’t require sleep, food, bathroom breaks, and/or human connection, it’s just impossible to watch everything thrown your way.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2021
So, instead of doing a typical Top 10 Best Films/TV Series of 2021 list (honestly, just read our Best Of lists for quality choices anyway), I’ve decided to stick with my tradition of taking this opportunity to point out five films and TV series that I adored in 2021 that I feel might have been overlooked by many people, for one reason or another. Because let’s be real, you could have the best film or TV show around, but if it gets a bad release date, terrible marketing, or doesn’t feature some sort of A-list talent, that piece of content can very easily cruise under the radar of even the most avid consumer.
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Without further ado, here are some choices I think everyone should add to their immense watchlists before we get inundated with even more must-see content in 2022.
“Jacinta” (Hulu)
I had the joy of seeing “Jacinta” during its original festival run at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. And I was absolutely shocked to see that it took more than a year for the film to finally get a proper release in 2021, thanks to Hulu. And unfortunately, when it was released, it hit with very little fanfare and didn’t have the impact the documentary truly deserves. I won’t repeat what I wrote in our Best Documentaries of 2021 list, but suffice it to say, Jessica Earnshaw’s film is one of the most heartbreaking, harrowing, and emotional films you’ll see all year. As a film about the generational effects of drug abuse, “Jacinta” is a gut-punch of a movie. But where the doc truly soars is in its unfiltered look at the incredible bond between mothers and daughters, and how this connection can survive even the most trying circumstances. Easily my favorite documentary of the year, and one of my favorites of 2021, full stop.
READ MORE: The Best Documentaries Of 2021
“Mayans MC” Season 3 (FX/Hulu)
When “Mayans MC” was announced as a spinoff of “Sons of Anarchy,” it didn’t really register as something I had to watch. Sure, I enjoyed ‘Sons’ for its over-the-top Shakespearean drama and pulpy violence, but did I really need to see more of it from the perspective of the Mayans Motorcycle Club? The first two seasons didn’t do much to dissuade my initial preconceptions, as Kurt Sutter littered the series with ‘Sons’ allusions and a very similar plot structure. After two seasons, ‘Mayans’ felt like ‘Sons’-lite. But then after some behind-the-scenes drama, Kurt Sutter left the series and his co-showrunner, Elgin James, was elevated to the top spot and delivered a Season 3 that effectively served as a soft reboot of the show. Gone were the unearned melodramatic moments, the silly jokes, and the constant specter of ‘Sons’ looming large. Instead, James delivered a “Mayans MC” season with a new purpose and style. The filmmaking was elevated to new heights. The writing leaned into the realism and cultural aspects of the largely Latinx cast. And best of all, characters who were overlooked in previous seasons were given fully fleshed out stories, presenting a show that is so incredibly well-rounded, it’s a shame it took three seasons to get here. After Season 3, “Mayans MC” isn’t just a fun diversion if you’re looking for something to watch. This is now a must-watch series tackling real issues with a punk rock attitude and purpose. It’s just a shame FX is filled with so many great series that ‘Mayans’ will often get shoved to the side. It deserves to be up there with the best of the best on TV.
“Station Eleven” (HBO Max)
The major problem with “Station Eleven” has nothing to do with its content. The acting, the writing, the direction, and the structure are all top-notch. The series presents a view of the post-apocalypse that is, at once, scary and beautifully human. Unfortunately, HBO Max released it in the middle of December, when everyone is focused on the holidays and compiling their respective Best of the Year lists. This meant “Station Eleven” received solid reviews, but the series didn’t get the proper marketing blitz it definitely deserved. For those people looking for the spiritual successor to “The Leftovers” or the recently-canceled “Y: The Last Man,” “Station Eleven” is your best bet. This is the rare HBO Max series that should have been elevated to HBO proper and not just lumped in with all the other things the streaming platform releases on a weekly basis. Hopefully, people will catch up with the series in 2022.
“The Mitchells vs. the Machines” (Netflix)
2021 saw quite a few films lose their theatrical runs and get sold off to streaming platforms. For the most part, these films weren’t going to be major blockbusters and just weren’t great, in general, (looking at you, “Infinite”). But in the case of Lord and Miller’s “The Mitchells vs. the Machines,” the fact that Sony sold the distribution rights to Netflix meant this incredible animated film wasn’t going to get the marketing push it deserved and was instead forced to fight for eyeballs on a streaming platform chock full of new content on almost a daily basis. This means most people haven’t watched ‘Mitchells’ and are missing one of the best films of 2021. No, not just the best animated films. Best films, period.
“Nine Days” (VOD)
Yet another film that debuted to strong reviews at a 2020 festival that got dumped during the COVID-affected theatrical landscape in 2021. After Edson Oda’s feature directorial debut earned great reviews at Sundance last year, the deeply personal, devastatingly emotional “Nine Days” was released in the middle of the summer by Sony Pictures Classics. The film had a fairly muted marketing push and didn’t resonate very well at the box office. (To be fair, nothing outside of superhero films did exceptionally well this year.) It’s a shame, too. “Nine Days” features great performances from its cast that includes Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz, Benedict Wong, Tony Hale, Bill Skarsgård, David Rysdahl, and Arianna Ortiz. The film is wonderfully shot, and it’s clear everyone is pouring their hearts and souls into all aspects of the drama. Hopefully, the film will find a new life on a streaming platform in the future. Until then, you can rent “Nine Days” on VOD now.