A.O. Scott: Best Movies of 2021, as published by The New York Times under the subhead "The 10 Best Arguments for the Importance of Movies"
[see also 2022 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]
Also ...
Time Magazine: The 10 Best Albums of 2021, compiled by Andrew R. Chow and Cady Lang
[see also 2022 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2015]
Caitlin Quinlan: Best Films of 2021, as posted to Letterboxd
[see also 2022 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018]
This list contributes to:
Vadim Rizov: Best Films of 2021, as submitted to the Sight & Sound Poll
[see also 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2012]
This list contributes to:
Christina Newland: Best Films of 2021, as submitted to the Sight & Sound Poll
[see also 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016]
This list contributes to:
Matthew Gilbert: The 10 Best TV Shows of 2021, as published by The Boston Globe
[see also 2023]
The Second Ten
Cassie da Costa: 21 Most Underrated Movies of 2021, as published by Vanity Fair. Da Costa doesn't like lists but makes them anyway, "because sometimes they can encourage readers to seek out what they may have not heard of, not been told about, or chose to ignore."
[see also Best Films of 2021 • 10 Best Films of 2020]