TAGGED AS: festivals, Film Festival, movies, SXSW
The SXSW 2021 Movie Scorecard
SXSW, the first film festival to cancel its in-person events as the 2020 pandemic began last year, returned for an all-virtual edition in 2021. With our SXSW 2021 Movie Scorecard, see all the movies that played this year and, with enough critics reviews, got their Tomatometer scores! —Alex Vo
#57
Critics Consensus: Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché pays worthy tribute to its trailblazing subject with a documentary that honors her life as engagingly as it chronicles her career.
Synopsis: Poly Styrene was the first woman of color in the UK to front a successful rock band. She introduced the
[More]
#56
Critics Consensus: Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror takes a fascinating deep dive that'll leave like-minded viewers making numerous new additions to their streaming queues.
Synopsis: WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED is the first feature-length documentary on the history of folk horror, exploring the phenomenon from
[More]
#55
Critics Consensus: Introducing, Selma Blair lives up to its title with a personal look at a celebrity pulling back the curtain with courage, humor, and grace.
Synopsis: One woman's journey of personal acceptance and resilience after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
[More]
#54
Critics Consensus: Udo Kier's layered performance lends Swan Song a nuance and poignancy that offset its potentially outlandish story.
Synopsis: Legendary actor Udo Kier stars as retired hairdresser Pat Pitsenbarger, who escapes the confines of his small-town Sandusky, Ohio nursing
[More]
#52
Critics Consensus: Dear Mr. Brody uses its stranger-than-fiction true story to take a touching look at how an act of kindness can reverberate for years.
Synopsis: When 21-year-old hippie-millionaire Michael Brody Jr. decided to give away his $25-million fortune to anyone in need, he ignited a
[More]
#51
Critics Consensus: Led by Kristine Kujath Thorp's charming performance, Ninjababy offers a refreshingly -- and rudely -- honest take on unplanned pregnancy.
Synopsis: When Rakel (23), way too late, finds out she's six months pregnant after a not-so-romantic one-night stand, her world changes.
[More]
#50
Critics Consensus: More than a making-of documentary, Charli XCX: Alone Together ties the story of a new album's creation to the bond between the artist and her fans.
Synopsis: Seeking solace in music during the COVID-19 pandemic, global pop star Charli XCX asks her fans to help her make
[More]
#49
Critics Consensus: Not Going Quietly uses its subject's remarkable story to offer an uplifting tribute to the way an individual voice can lead to activism and collective change.
Synopsis: A rising star in progressive politics and a new father, 32-year-old Ady Barkan's life is upended when he is diagnosed
[More]
#48
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: This unscripted feature follows five years in the life of Claude Motley as he tries to recover mentally and physically
[More]
#47
Critics Consensus: Language Lessons extols the value of friendship with a simple story rendered all the more effective by its pure spirit and the chemistry between its leads.
Synopsis: When Adam's (Mark Duplass) husband surprises him with weekly Spanish lessons, he's unsure about where or how this new element
[More]
#46
Critics Consensus: A character-driven treat for fans of conversation-based drama, the well-acted See You Then offers a refreshing perspective on relationship stories and gender roles.
Synopsis: A decade after abruptly breaking up with Naomi, Kris invites her to dinner to catch up on their complicated lives,
[More]
#45
Critics Consensus: Uneven yet powerfully affecting, I'm Fine (Thanks for Asking) looks at life below the poverty line with clear-eyed compassion.
Synopsis: When a recently widowed mother becomes houseless, she convinces her 8-year-old daughter that they are only camping for fun while
[More]
#44
Critics Consensus: A delight for fans of Ridley Scott's 1979 classic, Alien on Stage celebrates the power that art possesses to bring people together to honor their dreams.
Synopsis: British bus drivers spend one year creating a stage production of Ridley Scott's classic 1979 science fiction film "Alien."
[More]
#43
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Scientists prepare to launch NASA's Webb Space Telescope, a massive machine that can peer more than 13 billion light-years into
[More]
#42
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Kid Candidate tells the story of Hayden Pedigo, a 24-year-old experimental musician and his unlikely run for city council in
[More]
#41
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Examining the life and career of indie filmmaking icon Kevin Smith. Featuring interviews with friends, family, filmmaking peers, and icons
[More]
#40
Critics Consensus: Resting its slowly twisting tale on a magnetic Andrea Riseborough performance, Here Before is a solidly unsettling effort from debuting writer-director Stacey Gregg.
Synopsis: When a new family moves in next door, their young daughter, Megan, quickly captivates Laura, stirring up painful memories of
[More]
#39
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A coming-of-middle-age film about a timid Filipino immigrant struggling with the care of an elderly parent while managing his first
[More]
#38
Critics Consensus: Empathetic and well-acted, The Fallout uses the aftermath of teen trauma to grapple with the experience of grief.
Synopsis: Bolstered by new friendships forged under sudden and tragic circumstances, high schooler Vada (Jenna Ortega) begins to reinvent herself, while
[More]
#37
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Set in a dystopian near future in Rio de Janeiro, a lawyer (Alfred Enoch) sues the Brazilian government for reparation
[More]
#36
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The film is an intimate portrait of three courageous female wrestlers (Luchadoras) from Ciudad Juarez. Despite being surrounded by machismo
[More]
#35
Critics Consensus: With a hard fantasy story that stands in service of its eye-catching animation, The Spine of Night is a distinctive treat for genre enthusiasts.
Synopsis: In THE SPINE OF NIGHT, an ultra-violent fantasy epic, ancient dark magic falls into sinister hands and unleashes ages of
[More]
#34
Critics Consensus: Traditional horror may not be on the menu, but for fans of the gruesomely disquieting, The Feast more than lives up to its name.
Synopsis: An affluent family gathers at their lavish home in the Welsh mountains for a dinner party, hosting a local businessman
[More]
#33
Critics Consensus: A layered look at fame in the digital era, Lily Topples the World benefits immensely from a subject with an uplifting story and immense charm.
Synopsis: LILY TOPPLES THE WORLD follows 20-year-old sensation Lily Hevesh -- the world's most acclaimed domino toppler and the only girl
[More]
#32
Critics Consensus: It's hard to ignore the parts that are left unexamined, but WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn does well enough by its real-life stranger-than-fiction story.
Synopsis: WeWork: or The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn is a feature documentary that explores the rise and
[More]
#31
Critics Consensus: Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free is a lovingly crafted and soulfully rich tribute that poignantly captures the rock legend at his creative peak.
Synopsis: Never-before-seen footage and interviews provide insight into the creative spirit of rocker Tom Petty as he works on his seminal
[More]
#30
Critics Consensus: If its narrative ambitions aren't always equaled by its chilling visuals, Gaia remains an effective slice of ecological horror.
Synopsis: An injured forest ranger on a routine mission is saved by two off-the-grid survivalists. What is initially a welcome rescue
[More]
#28
Critics Consensus: Led by strong performances from Jocelin Donahue and Melora Walters, Offseason is a solid supernatural horror story that casts a sneaky spell.
Synopsis: Upon receiving a mysterious letter that her mother's grave site has been vandalized, Marie quickly returns to the isolated offshore
[More]
#27
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: 1960s Chicago, a baby is kidnapped from a hospital. Fifteen months later, a toddler is abandoned. Could he be the
[More]
#26
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The Oxy Kingpins covers the untold story of how a network of pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and retailers worked together to
[More]
#25
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Desperate to send money to her family back in Haiti, hardworking and exhausted nurse Ludi Alcidor spends a chaotic day
[More]
#24
Critics Consensus: Jakob's Wife gives genre legend Barbara Crampton an opportunity to carry an old-school horror story -- and she bloody well delivers.
Synopsis: Anne is married to a small-town minister and feels like her life and marriage have been shrinking over the past
[More]
#23
Critics Consensus: The consistency isn't always smooth, but Sound of Violence's blend of character study and horror marks writer-director Alex Noyer as an ambitious, visually distinctive filmmaker.
#22
Critics Consensus: Witch Hunt's smart social commentary is undercut by its lack of original storytelling ideas, but this supernatural horror outing has just enough bite to recommend for teens.
Synopsis: In a modern America where magic is real and witches are persecuted by US authorities, teenager Claire and her family
[More]
#21
Critics Consensus: While it might have benefited from a subtler approach to its message, Women Is Losers is elevated by outstanding work from lead Lorenza Izzo.
Synopsis: In 1960's San Francisco, bright and talented catholic school girl Celina Guerrera (ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD's Lorenza Izzo)
[More]
#20
Critics Consensus: Although it's undermined by uneven execution and a subpar script, Potato Dreams of America puts a singular spin on the crowded coming-of-age genre.
Synopsis: Wes Hurley's autobiographical dark comedy about a gay boy growing up in the collapsing USSR, his courageous mail-order bride mother
[More]
#19
Critics Consensus: The End of Us approaches the breakup dramedy from an intriguingly timely angle, but its overall lack of new ideas undermines strong work from its charming stars.
Synopsis: A witty and timely comedy full of heart and humor. Cohabitating couple Nick and Leah are on the verge of
[More]
#18
Critics Consensus: The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson occasionally struggles to cohere, but writer-director-star Leah Purcell offers a unique, compelling perspective on historic myths.
Synopsis: In 1893 on an isolated property, a heavily pregnant woman named Molly Johnson (Leah Purcell) and her children struggle to
[More]
#17
Critics Consensus: Broadcast Signal Intrusion struggles to satisfactorily resolve its setup, but for much of its runtime, it offers an intriguing, well-acted diversion for horror fans.
Synopsis: While logging tapes of decades-old TV broadcasts, video archivist James (Harry Shum Jr.) discovers a surreal and disturbing clip that
[More]
#16
Critics Consensus: Uneven yet admirably ambitious, Violet takes a thoughtful look at the occasionally profound difference between a person's private thoughts and public face.
Synopsis: What would you do if you weren't afraid? After realizing she's spent years allowing fear to drive every decision she
[More]
#15
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Two sisters (Baize Buzan and Allison Torem) go in search of a long-forgotten uncle.
[More]
#14
Critics Consensus: A silly bloody good time, Paul Dood's Deadly Lunch Break is an all-you-can-eat buffet not easily digestible for every stomach.
Synopsis: Paul, a weedy charity-shop worker, has his heart set on winning a national talent competition. With a sparkly suit, killer
[More]
98%
100%
42%
