The best documentaries of 2021
The top 3 according to 47 votes from people: Flee (2021) · The Rescue (2021) · Summer of Soul (2021). (Updated Dec 7, 2022.)
From Summer of Soul to Flee: the 2021 documentaries that topped critics' lists and the Critics Choice Documentary Awards (POV Magazine, RogerEbert.com, The Hollywood Reporter).
Top 13
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1
Flee (2021)
An Afghan refugee's story told in animation.
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2
The Rescue (2021)
The divers behind the 2018 Thai cave rescue.
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3
Summer of Soul (2021)
The 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival; Oscar and six Critics Choice awards.
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4
Attica (2021)
The 1971 prison uprising.
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5
The Velvet Underground (2021)
Todd Haynes on the band and 1960s New York.
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6
Julia (2021)
Julia Child and the birth of TV cooking.
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7
Procession (2021)
Survivors of abuse turn their memories into short films.
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8
Ascension (2021)
The pursuit of prosperity in modern China.
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9
Becoming Cousteau (2021)
Jacques Cousteau's life and legacy.
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10
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)
The chef and traveller's life.
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11
A Night of Knowing Nothing (2021)
Letters from an Indian film student amid campus protests.
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12
Writing with Fire (2021)
India's only newspaper run by Dalit women.
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13
All Light, Everywhere (2021)
An essay on seeing, cameras and surveillance.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (1)
Flee should be #1. An animated documentary that hits harder than most dramas.