20 Best Films Of 2021

This adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical may have been one of 2021's most surprising box office flops, but there's little arguing with its technically stunning, utterly infectious appeal.

Even with an unwieldy 143-minute runtime, this vibrant musical soars courtesy of its array of catchy songs, Jon M. Chu's thrillingly free-wheeling direction, and the performances of its exceptional cast.

As a celebration of a community thoroughly under-represented in cinema, In the Heights is a testament to the cultural melting pot that is the United States, while wrestling with the notion of the American Dream in all of its complexity.

Despite tanking commercially and taking its wider Oscar chances with it, In the Heights will likely sustain as a classic musical years or maybe even decades from now.