Best Movies of 2011

These are the 48 best-rated movies released in 2011, led by Jascha Heifetz: God's Fiddler, Boteti: The Returning River and X-Ray Earth. Ranked by audience score, with cast, trailers and legal places to watch on every page.

1. Jascha Heifetz: God's Fiddler (2011)

★ 10.0/10

Not since Paganini had there been such a magician on the violin. Jascha Heifetz was the first truly modern virtuoso, a man about whom Itzhak Perlman said, 'When I spoke with him, I can't believe, I'm talking to God'…
2. Boteti: The Returning River (2011)

★ 9.5/10

After years of extreme drought, the Boteti river in Botswana has finally returned in all its glory. This film documents the extraordinary shift in the ecosystem and the dramatic changes it brings to the resident animals.
3. X-Ray Earth (2011)

★ 9.0/10

From the churning interior to the oceans and life on land, view the world as it's never been seen before. Cutting-edge tools offer an inside look at Earth as it breathes, heals and flexes its muscles.
4. The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)

★ 8.4/10

A disfigured musical genius, hidden away in the Paris Opera House, terrorises the opera company for the unwitting benefit of a young protégée whom he trains and loves. The 25th anniversary of the first public…
5. The Intouchables (2011)

★ 8.3/10

A true story of two men who should never have met – a quadriplegic aristocrat who was injured in a paragliding accident and a young man from the projects.
6. Hotarubi no Mori e (2011)

★ 8.3/10

One hot summer day a little girl gets lost in an enchanted forest of the mountain god where spirits reside. A young boy appears before her, but she cannot touch him for fear of making him disappear. And so a wondrous…
7. The Help (2011)

★ 8.2/10

Aibileen Clark is a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson is an African-American maid who has often offended her employers…
8. Silenced (2011)

★ 8.2/10

Based on actual events that took place at Gwangju Inhwa School for the hearing-impaired, where young deaf students were the victims of repeated sexual assaults by faculty members over a period of five years in the…
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

★ 8.1/10

Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their quest to vanquish the evil Voldemort once and for all. Just as things begin to look hopeless for the young wizards, Harry discovers a trio of magical objects that endow him with…
10. Queen: Days of Our Lives (2011)

★ 8.1/10

In 1971, four college students got together to form a rock band. Since then, that certain band called Queen have released 26 albums and sold over 300 million records worldwide. The popularity of Freddie Mercury, Brian…
11. Samsara (2011)

★ 8.1/10

Filmed over nearly five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on seventy-millimetre film, Samsara transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and…
12. Radiohead: The King Of Limbs – Live From The Basement (2011)

★ 8.0/10

A live performance by Radiohead of their 2011 album The King Of Limbs. This is their second full-episode performance, filmed at Maida Vale Studios in London, as part of the ‘From The Basement’ television series…
13. Sheryl Crow - Miles from Memphis - Live at the Pantages Theatre (2011)

★ 8.0/10

Filmed in November 2010 in the palatial surroundings of the wonderful art deco Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, this Blu-ray captures Sheryl Crow on tour in support of her recent hit album "100 Miles From Memphis". The…
14. LeapFrog: The Amazing Alphabet Amusement Park (2011)

★ 8.0/10

When their firefly friend, Edison, takes Tad, Lily and Scout to the place of his childhood dreams, teh gang is shocked to dicover that Alistair Alphabelly's Amazing Amusement Park is...closed! To make matters worse…
15. My Way (2011)

★ 7.9/10

During the invasion of Normandy the photograph of a slim Korean man in German uniform was found. It transpired that the man had served as a soldier in the Japanese, Russian and German armies. His incredible story…
16. A Separation (2011)

★ 7.9/10

A married couple are faced with a difficult decision - to improve the life of their child by moving to another country or to stay in Iran and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimer's disease.
17. Sunny (2011)

★ 7.9/10

Seven girls become good friends in high school, then events pull them apart for 25 years. When one of the friends lies dying in a hospital, she wishes to see each of them one last time.
18. Warrior (2011)

★ 7.8/10

The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged…
19. Polisse (2011)

★ 7.8/10

Paris, France. Fred and his colleagues, members of the BPM, the Police Child Protection Unit, dedicated to pursuing all sorts of offenses committed against the weakest, must endure the scrutiny of Melissa, a…
20. The Legend of La Llorona (2011)

★ 7.8/10

Based on a famous Mexican legend, a group of kids must stop the ghost of a woman whose guilt over the drowning of her own children leads her to abduct youngsters who wander the woods at night.
21. Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur (2011)

★ 7.8/10

A relaxing spa getaway evolves into a prehistoric panic when Scooby-Doo and the gang uncover the horrible Phantosaur, an ancient legend come to life to protect hidden treasures buried in secret desert caves. But this…
22. Louis C.K.: Live at the Beacon Theater (2011)

★ 7.8/10

Recorded November 10th, 2011 as part of the New York Comedy Festival, and only available for purchase online, Louis C.K. follows up his 2010 concert film Hilarious with a new hour’s worth of shrewdly observed and…
23. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

★ 7.7/10

Revered sushi chef Jiro Ono strives for perfection in his work, while his eldest son, Yoshikazu, has trouble living up to his father's legacy.
24. I Don't Want to Go Back Alone (2011)

★ 7.7/10

The arrival of a new student in school changes Leonardo's life. This 15 year-old blind teenager has to deal with the jealousy of his friend Giovana while figuring out the new feelings he's having towards his new…
25. Ride, Rise, Roar (2011)

★ 7.7/10

David Byrne is a visual artist as well as a musician, and ever since his early days as a member of Talking Heads, he's wanted his concerts to be more than just a static performance. In 1984, Byrne and filmmaker…
26. Detachment (2011)

★ 7.6/10

A chronicle of three weeks in the lives of several high school teachers, administrators and students through the eyes of substitute teacher, Henry Barthes. Henry roams from school to school, imparting modes of…
27. Drive (2011)

★ 7.6/10

Driver is a skilled Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals. Though he projects an icy exterior, lately he's been warming up to a pretty neighbor named Irene and her young son, Benicio. When…
28. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

★ 7.6/10

Three friends who were inseparable in childhood decide to go on a three-week-long bachelor road trip to Spain, in order to re-establish their bond and explore thrilling adventures, before one of them gets married. What…
29. We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

★ 7.6/10

After her son Kevin commits a horrific act, troubled mother Eva reflects on her complicated relationship with her disturbed son as he grew from a toddler into a teenager.
30. Courageous (2011)

★ 7.6/10

Law enforcement officers Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, and their partners stand up to the worst the streets have to offer with confidence and focus. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are…
31. The Turin Horse (2011)

★ 7.6/10

A monumental windstorm and an abused horse's refusal to work or eat signal the beginning of the end for a poor farmer and his daughter.
32. Jig (2011)

★ 7.6/10

Documentary telling the compelling story of the 40th Irish Dancing World Championships.
33. The Artist (2011)

★ 7.5/10

Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break.
34. Midnight in Paris (2011)

★ 7.5/10

While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.
35. High School of the Dead: Drifters of the Dead (2011)

★ 7.5/10

In their efforts to find a safe haven from the zombie apocalypse, the gang find themselves on a deserted island. Now, they take advantage of the momentary respite to enjoy some surf, sand and bathing suits!
36. Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011)

★ 7.5/10

A group of men lead a search for a victim of a murder to whom a suspect named Kenan and his mentally challenged brother confessed. However, the search is proving more difficult than expected as Kenan is fuzzy as to the…
37. Oslo, August 31st (2011)

★ 7.5/10

A recovering drug addict is granted a day’s leave from rehab and returns to Oslo, where he reconnects with friends, faces the weight of his past, and struggles with uncertainty about his future. Over the course of one…
38. Barbie: Princess Charm School (2011)

★ 7.5/10

Barbie stars as Blair Willows, a kind-hearted girl who is chosen to attend Princess Charm School: a magical, modern place that teaches dancing, how to have tea parties, and proper princess manners. Blair loves her…
39. The Skin I Live In (2011)

★ 7.5/10

A brilliant plastic surgeon creates a synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage. His guinea pig: a mysterious and volatile woman who holds the key to his obsession.
40. From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)

★ 7.5/10

Yokohama, 1963. Japan is picking itself up from the devastation of World War II and preparing to host the 1964 Olympics—and the mood is one of both optimism and conflict as the young generation struggles to throw off…
41. 5 Broken Cameras (2011)

★ 7.5/10

Five broken cameras – and each one has a powerful tale to tell. Embedded in the bullet-ridden remains of digital technology is the story of Emad Burnat, a farmer from the Palestinian village of Bil’in, which famously…
42. Autoluminescent: Rowland S. Howard (2011)

★ 7.5/10

From myth to legend Rowland Howard appeared on the early Melbourne punk scene like a phantom out of Kafkaesque Prague or Bram Stoker’s Dracula. A beautifully gaunt and gothic aristocrat, the unique distinctive fury of…
43. The Maker (2011)

★ 7.5/10

A strange creature races against time to make the most important and beautiful creation of his life.
44. African Cats (2011)

★ 7.4/10

African Cats captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. The story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and…
45. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

★ 7.4/10

Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist investigates the disappearance of a weary patriarch's niece from 40 years ago. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander. As they work…
46. Lemonade Mouth (2011)

★ 7.4/10

When five ragtag freshman first meet in detention, it seems they have nothing in common. But, through music, they form an unbreakable bond and discover they have the makings of the greatest high school garage band in…
47. The Flowers of War (2011)

★ 7.4/10

A Westerner finds refuge with a group of women in a church during Japan's rape of Nanking in 1937. Posing as a priest, he attempts to lead the women to safety.
48. 50 Greatest Harry Potter Moments (2011)

★ 7.4/10

To mark the release two weeks ago of the eighth and final movie in the series, Robbie Coltrane narrates a countdown of the movie franchise's best moments. From Harry's first meeting with Ron and Hermione aboard the…