In the Heights (2021)

Nominated for the People’s Choice Award for The Drama Movie of 2021 and the 2022 Grammy Award for its soundtrack, In the Heights brings us a sueñito – a little dream – for a better life, in a community powered by music (and sueñitos) in Washington Heights, New York City.

Directed by Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M Chu, In the Heights is based on the Tony Award-winning musical by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes and multiple Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, tick, tick… BOOM!, Encanto), who also produced the film.

Anthony Ramos (Hamilton, A Star is Born) won the 2022 Black Reel Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, while Melissa Barrera (Vida), Olga Merediz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine and the singing voice of Abuela Alma in Encanto), and acting newcomer Leslie Grace (now soon-to-be the new Batgirl) were all nominated for awards for their performances.

In the Heights has a 94% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus hails it as “a joyous celebration of heritage and community fuelled by dazzling direction and singalong songs.” As Financial Times says, “They don’t make ’em like this any more, truly.”