The 10 Best Pinoy Movies of 2021
2021 remained challenging for Filipino cinema, with Philippine theaters still closed for much of the year. However, international festivals and the limited reopening of cinemas during fall ensured that a decent number of Filipino movies could still reach audiences.
So, of those that managed to release, what were the Best Pinoy Movies of 2021?
Cinema Escapist’s staff has curated this list of 10 top Filipino films (feature-length, not shorts) to answer that question. We’ve selected both blockbuster and indie movies across genres like romance, comedy, fantasy, action, and more. Furthermore, we tried choosing Pinoy films that are not only entertaining or artistically distinctive, but also have societal significance. Those who follow stars like Daniel Padilla, Janine Gutierrez, Dingdong Dantes, and so forth will also see them represented in this list.
Read on to learn more about 2021’s best Filipino movies! When available, we’ve included links to stream these films on platforms like Netflix.
10. Rabid
Director: Erik Matti | Starring: Ameera Johara, Ayeesha Cervantes, Brace Arquiza | Genre: Horror, Comedy
Noted director Erik Matti’s anthology Rabid features four distinct but related stories that explore how humans face paranoia, uncertainty, and fear. The segments capture a variety of subgenres and styles—home invasion, black-and-white art piece, hospital horror, and more.
Rabid is reminiscent of Netflix’s Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone, and captures the zeitgeist of COVID-infected times quite well. That’s not surprising, given Matti himself has stated that the film was inspired by the feelings of “helplessness that bordered on insanity” that arose for him during lockdowns.
Stream this Filipino movie on Upstream
9. Last Rain in Summer (Huling Ulan sa Tag-Araw)
Director: Louie Ignacio | Starring: Ken Chan, Rita Daniela | Genre: Romance, Drama
Last Rain in Summer (Huling Ulan sa Tag-Araw) has a rather provocative premise: what if a seminary student and an exotic dancer strike up a romance?
In this debut of Ken Chan and Rita Daniela as a loveteam, Chan stars as the seminarian and Daniela the dancer. The two have good chemistry, which helps make the film watchable as it proceeds through melodramatic bumps and tragedies. Perhaps that’s also why Last Rain in Summer was selected as one of the entries for 2021’s Metro Manila Film Festival.
8. GameBoys: The Movie
Director: Ivan Andrew Payawal | Starring: Elijah Canlas, Kokoy de Santos | Genre: Romance, Drama, LGBTQ, Boys Love
If you’re interested in Boys Love (BL) movies, GameBoys: The Movie may suit your fancy. This film is derived from the popular 2020 BL series of the same name, and picks up where its last episode left off.
Unlike the series, which primarily showed the two leads’ relationships through online chats, Gameboys: The Movie unites Cairo (Eliah Canlas) and Gavreel (Kokoy de Santos) in the same location. This gives the movie a more sensual dimension, and should please those who want to see more chemistry between the original series’ two actors.
7. Hello Stranger: The Movie
Director: Dwein Baltazar | Starring: Tony Labrusca, JC Alcantara | Genre: Romance, LGBTQ, Boys Love, Comedy
Two BL movies made it onto our list this year, with Hello Stranger: The Movie as the next instance. Like with GameBoys: The Movie, Hello Stranger also begins after the end of an eponymous popular YouTube series.
LGBTQ critics have praised the movie for its acting and writing, while others have also analyzed how the movie explores how the notions of courage and connection come into conflict during relationships.
Stream this Filipino movie on Amazon Prime
6. Here and There (Dito At Doon)
Director: Jaime P. Habac Jr. | Starring: Janine Gutierrez, JC Santos, Victor Anastacio | Genre: Romance, Drama
If you’re looking for a COVID-themed romance movie, check out Here and There (Dito at Doon). Starring Janine Gutierrez (of Babae at Baril) and JC Santos, the movie focuses on the relationship between two young people which develops online during quarantine.
What makes Here and There stand out from other Pinoy romance movies is its filmmaking technique. Given its premise of an online romance, it features numerous video calls. However, some of these video calls are re-imagined with the two leads in the same room, while others don’t. The switch between these two modes helps the film communicate the characters’ sense of alienation and connection amidst COVID, and will help it resonate with broader audiences.
Stream this Filipino movie on Netflix
