Worst Films of 2021: Why You Won’t Find Them Here

Taylor Swift as Bombalurina in "Cats," co-written and directed by Tom Hooper.

Solzy at the Movies did not publish a list of worst films in 2020 and is continuing this trend in 2021 after another dumpster fire year.

Maybe it is the fact that Jews are taught to be a light unto the nations or the fact that 2021 is another dumpster fire year but I don’t feel this need to rain on anybody’s parade at the end of the year. Not any more. I’m not going to lie to you: both 2020 and 2021 have seen repeated episodes of depression. And so at the end of the year, I don’t feel the need to write a list of the worst films that were released this year. I mean, I know what’s on my list but I’m going to write said list in public and certainly not on my site.

I would rather talk about the films that are good. Why Emilia Jones should be an Oscar nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in CODA. A film like CODA is exactly why the Oscars need a Best Casting or Best Ensemble category. It’s going to be one of my final repeat viewings this year.

I would rather talk about Ari Wegner’s gorgeous cinematography in The Power of The Dog. Or why Hank Corwin‘s editing in Don’t Look Up should earn him another Oscar nomination. I’d rather just talk about the films, performances, and crew that left a lasting impression on me.

Of course, there were films that left me bored or outright angry. If watched at home, they’d have been turned off immediately. Or there were films where you wonder why they hell they were even made in the first place because the content alone leaves you rolling your eyes. No, I will not name these films even though we know they came out during the past year. One of these films is still consistently bringing in traffic to the site. The only reason why there’s a Taylor Swift still from Cats is because 2019 is the last time I posted such a list or outright named a worst film of the year or decade.

If I’m being honest, I would rather choose not to write a review then write a pan. However, when I attend a press screening, I feel obligated to write a review whether I liked the film or not. But late in the year during awards season, I’ll watch several films from home for awards consideration first. Review consideration comes second. This doesn’t say anything about whether the film is good or bad. At least, this isn’t the case for me. No, it comes down to my brain being absolutely fried in December. When my brain is fried, it means the content is less likely to be my best. This is why vacations are so important! I didn’t travel until November but without the two trips, my mental health would have taken a bigger toll.

If you’re coming here to find the list of 2021’s worst films, you will not find it here.

Please subscribe to Solzy at the Movies on Substack.

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.