2020 has been a tough year; a year of mostly being inside. Whatever you accomplished over lockdown, it is likely that you watched more movies than usual this year. Despite cinema closures all over the world, Netflix signed two million more paying subscribers between July and September 2020 – a huge rise in subscribers compared to their usual numbers. Films are being watched in massive numbers around the world right now – but what can we expect for 2021?
While it is still unclear what will happen in 2021 when it comes to movie releases, we can guarantee that streaming services will continue to grow stronger. Let’s take a look at three movie genres you can revisit at home in 2021!
Post-Apocalyptic Movies
2020 has definitely brought apocalypse vibes, in more ways than one. Between the pandemic which can only be compared to the 2011 movie Contagion and the social unrest that parallels Detroit (2017), it’s not exactly been a peaceful year.
So what are some of the best post apocalyptic movies? From Will Smith’s dark, brooding movie I Am Legend to the frighteningly nightmarish A Quiet Place, the 21st Century has produced some freaky versions of what an apocalypse might have looked like. The one that might most represent our current scenario could be 10 Cloverfield Lane, a movie about a woman who has been kidnapped and held indoors by a man who tells her the world has been taken over by a dangerous chemical attack. They sit inside, waiting for something, or nothing, to happen – and the entire time you wonder whether any of this is real at all. Outside is unsafe, but inside is unbearable. Ring any bells?
The French New Wave
Another genre that may return to popularity in 2021 is the French new wave. The French new wave, which occurred during the 1950s and 1960s is influential to this day. It moved away from traditional filmmaking and towards out-of-the-ordinary jump edits, some jarring subject matters, unclear plots and handheld cameras. Here are two classic French new wave movies that’ll still shock you when you return to them in 2021.
A Bout De Souffle (Breathless) (1960)
This stunning love story, directed by Jean Luc Goddard, is told in a less than traditional manner. The protagonist, Michel, commits an impulsive and serious crime, then begs the woman he is precariously in love with, Patricia, to run off with him. This film will leave you breathless (pun intended) and give you a deep-dive into the French new wave.
Cléo From 5 to 7 (1962)
This seethingly tense French new wave film, directed by Agnes Varda, sees a real-time unfolding of a woman’s test for cancer. As she waits for the results, we wait alongside her, practically holding our breath. It is both experimental and easy to follow, creating a mesmerising atmosphere as we follow Cléo around Paris on this particularly uneasy day.
Movie Musicals
We all need a bit of fun in our lives in 2021, don’t we? While post-apocalyptic and French new wave movies might raise our heart rates and make us contemplate existence, too much of that might make our heads spin. Movie musicals aren’t for everyone, but they are also not a genre to be pooh-poohed as a frivolous type of bland entertainment.
Here are two movie musicals that have stood the test of time and might make you want to dance your socks off in 2021.
Chicago (2002)
This tantalisingly murderous movie musical follows aspiring cabaret star Roxie Hart (Renee Zellwegger) after she shoots and kills her lover in her home. She winds up in prison with celebrity performer Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), being represented by a hyper-successful lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), and realises that her act of murder might just get her the stardom she’s always wanted. With dance routines and raunchy outfits that would make any Drag Race fan’s head spin, Chicago is a sexy, fun, delicious movie musical.
The Sound of Music (1965)
The Sound of Music is well known for its delightfully whimsical setting of rural Austria, with kids running around in matching outfits and singing cute songs with Julie Andrews – but it’s so much more than that. Set in the beginnings of Nazism in central Europe, The Sound Of Music is a glimpse into the evil of the Third Reich, framed within a love story about family, duty and love.
In conclusion, there’s plenty to rediscover in 2021. While cinemas and movies might not be fully open any time soon, we can always take a second look at the legendary films of the past.
