2021

2021: The Comeback Year for Cinema at Home and Beyond. After the disruption of 2020, the year 2021 offered a cautious but welcome return to cinematic rhythm. While theatres slowly reopened, many viewers continued to explore stories from home, leading to a year where streaming, disc rental, and hybrid releases coexisted more than ever. At CinemaParadiso.co.uk, our members embraced a wide range of titles - thought-provoking dramas, long-delayed blockbusters, indie gems, and genre favourites - making 2021 a truly eclectic and rewarding year for film.

One of the most anticipated titles was Tenet, Christopher Nolan's ambitious time-bending thriller that demanded rewatching (and some rewinding) to fully appreciate. It was quickly followed by Zack Snyder's Justice League, a fan-driven phenomenon that redefined the superhero team-up with a darker, more expansive vision. Meanwhile, Black Widow and Wonder Woman 1984 marked major returns for two of cinema's most iconic heroines.

In the world of bold storytelling, Promising Young Woman stunned audiences with its stylish take on justice and trauma, while The Father offered a devastating yet empathetic portrayal of dementia, with Anthony Hopkins in a career-defining performance. Quietly powerful titles like Minari, Nomadland, and Another Round reminded us of cinema's emotional range, each telling deeply personal stories with universal resonance.

Thrills and chills were also in abundance. A Quiet Place: Part II, Saint Maud, Relic, Synchronic, Possessor, and The Invisible Man delivered inventive approaches to horror and suspense. Meanwhile, action-lovers were treated to Nobody, The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Free Guy - each one providing escapism with energy and humour.

Historical and character-driven dramas like Judas and the Black Messiah, Dark Waters, Let Him Go, and Ammonite added gravitas, while The Courier, The Little Things, and Six Minutes to Midnight kept audiences hooked with intrigue and atmosphere. At the lighter end of the scale, Cruella, Jungle Cruise, The Secret Garden, and Blithe Spirit offered fantasy and whimsy for the whole family.

Elsewhere, sci-fi fans found plenty to love in Chaos Walking, Mortal Kombat, Monster Hunter, Archive, and Old - films that blended spectacle with fresh world-building. And for those discovering or revisiting modern classics, titles like Parasite, Jojo Rabbit, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood remained favourites on rental lists throughout the year.

Looking back, 2021 proved to be a turning point - a year where audiences reconnected with cinema in all its forms. Whether it was a blockbuster viewed on a big screen or a quiet indie discovered at home, the stories of 2021 reminded us that film is still one of the most powerful ways we reflect, escape, and feel.