The best documentaries of 2021

27 documentaries from 2021, ranked by a 0–100 score from IMDb ratings, critics, major awards and box office, compared with every film from the same year.

  1. Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised) Score 64.2 · IMDb 8.0 · Tomatometer 99% · Metascore 96 · Music, Documentary, History
  2. Flee Score 63.3 · IMDb 7.9 · Tomatometer 98% · Metascore 91
  3. The Rescue Score 61.5 · IMDb 8.3 · Tomatometer 96% · Metascore 84
  4. Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain Score 58.8 · IMDb 7.7 · Tomatometer 91% · Metascore 78
  5. Ennio Score 58.6 · IMDb 8.2 · Tomatometer 91% · Metascore 75
  6. The Alpinist Score 57.0 · IMDb 7.9 · Tomatometer 93% · Metascore 67
  7. 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible Score 56.8 · IMDb 7.7 · Tomatometer 92% · Metascore 68
  8. Seaspiracy Score 56.5 · IMDb 8.1 · Tomatometer 75%
  9. Val Score 55.1 · IMDb 7.6 · Tomatometer 93% · Metascore 73
  10. Tina Score 54.4 · IMDb 7.9 · Tomatometer 92% · Metascore 81