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25 Movies You Don’t Want to Miss at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival

25 Films that are a must watch at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

The 2025 edition of the Sundance Film Festival is a little over a week away and it’s time for us to talk about movies that will be the talk of Sundance, movies that push the envelope of imagination and reality, movies that should not be missed and lastly underrated movies that are a must watch as well. The list below is not comprehensive and the goal is not to rank order any of the movies in this list. From films by critically acclaimed directors like Ira Sachs and Richard Linklater to actors like Benedict Cumberbatch, Diego Luna, Olivia Coleman, Dev Patel, Jennifer Lopez and Rose Bryne, the list also focuses on independent films by new exciting directors and filmmakers to look out for in the future. In no particular order, we are listing 25 feature films that are a must watch if you are planning to check out the festival.

Jimpa

Olivia Coleman and John Lithgow appear in Jimpa by Sophie Hyde, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Mark De Blok.

Synopsis: Hannah takes her nonbinary teenager, Frances, to Amsterdam to visit their gay grandfather, Jim — lovingly known as Jimpa. But Frances’ desire to stay abroad with Jimpa for a year means Hannah is forced to reconsider her beliefs about parenting and finally confront old stories about the past.

Directed By: Sophie Hyde

Cast: Olivia Colman, John Lithgow, Aud Mason-Hyde

Brides

Safiyya Ingar and Ebada Hassan appear in Brides by Nadia Fall, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Neon Films/Rosamont

Synopsis: Two teenage girls in search of freedom, friendship, and belonging run away from their troubled lives with a misguided plan of traveling to Syria.

Directed By: Nadia Fall

Cast: Ebada Hassan, Safiyya Ingar, Yusra Warsama, Cemre Ebuzziya, Aziz Capkurt

Bubble & Squeak

Himesh Patel and Sarah Goldberg appear in Bubble & Squeak by Evan Twohy, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Synopsis: Accused of smuggling cabbages into a nation where cabbages are banned, Declan and Delores must confront the fragility of their new marriage while on the run for their lives.

Directed By: Evan Twohy

Cast: Himesh Patel, Sarah Goldberg, Steven Yeun, Dave Franco, Matt Berry

All That’s Left of You

Saleh Bakri and Cherien Dabis appear in All That’s Left of You by Cherien Dabis, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Synopsis: After a Palestinian teen confronts Israeli soldiers at a West Bank protest, his mother recounts the series of events that led him to that fateful moment, starting with his grandfather’s forced displacement.

Directed By: Cherien Dabis

Cast: Cherien Dabis, Saleh Bakri, Adam Bakri, Mohammad Bakri, Maria Zreik, Muhammad Abed Elrahman

Twinless

Dylan O’Brien and James Sweeney appear in Twinless by James Sweeney, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Greg Cotten.

Synopsis: Two young men meet in a twin bereavement support group and form an unlikely bromance.

Directed By: James Sweeney

Cast: Dylan O’Brien, James Sweeney, Lauren Graham, Aisling Franciosi, Tasha Smith, Chris Perfetti

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

A still from If I Had Legs I’d Kick You by Mary Bronstein, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Logan White.

Synopsis: With her life crashing down around her, Linda attempts to navigate her child’s mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist.

Directed By: Mary Bronstein

Cast: Rose Byrne, A$AP Rocky, Conan O’Brien, Danielle Macdonald, Ivy Wolk, Daniel Zolghadri

Sukkwan Island

Swann Arlaud appears in Sukkwan Island by Vladimir de Fontenay, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Haut et Court – Maipo Film – Versus Production – Good Chaos – RTBF

Synopsis: On the remote Sukkwan Island, 13-year-old Roy agrees to spend a formative year of adventure with his father deep in the Norwegian fjords. What starts as a chance to reconnect descends into a test of survival as they face the harsh realities of their environment and confront their unresolved turmoil.

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Directed By: Vladimir de Fontenay

Cast: Swann Arlaud, Woody Norman, Alma Pöysti, Ruaridh Mollica, Tuppence Middleton

Rabbit Trap

Dev Patel appears in Rabbit Trap by Bryn Chainey, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Andreas Johannessen

Synopsis: When a musician and her husband move to a remote house in Wales, the music they make disturbs local ancient folk magic, bringing a nameless child to their door who is intent on infiltrating their lives.

Directed By: Bryn Chainey

Cast: Dev Patel, Rosy McEwen, Jade Croot

The Ballad of Wallis Island

Carey Mulligan and Tom Basden appear in The Ballad of Wallis Island by James Griffiths, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Alistair Heap.

Synopsis: Eccentric lottery winner, Charles, dreams of getting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer, back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig.

Directed By: James Griffiths

Cast: Tom Basden, Tim Key, Sian Clifford, Akemnji Ndifornyen, Carey Mulligan

East of Wall

Tabatha Zimiga appears in East of Wall by Kate Beecroft, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Synopsis: After the death of her husband, Tabatha — a young, tattooed, rebellious horse trainer — wrestles with financial insecurity and unresolved grief while providing refuge for a group of wayward teenagers on her broken-down ranch in the Badlands.

Directed By: Kate Beecroft

Cast: Tabatha Zimiga, Porshia Zimiga, Scoot McNairy, Jennifer Ehle

Bunnylovr

A still from Bunnylovr by Katarina Zhu, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Synopsis: A drifting Chinese American cam girl struggles to navigate an increasingly toxic relationship with one of her clients while rekindling her relationship with her dying estranged father.

Directed By: Katarina Zhu

Cast: Katarina Zhu, Rachel Sennott, Austin Amelio, Perry Yung, Jack Kilmer

The Thing with Feathers

Benedict Cumberbatch appears in The Thing with Feathers by Dylan Southern, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Anthony Dickenson.

Synopsis: Struggling to process the sudden and unexpected death of his wife, a young father loses his hold on reality as a seemingly malign presence begins to stalk him from the shadowy recesses of the apartment he shares with his two young sons.

Directed By: Dylan Southern

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Boxall, Henry Boxall, Eric Lampaert, Vinette Robinson, Sam Spruell

Train Dreams

Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones appear in Train Dreams by Clint Bentley, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Adolpho Veloso.

Synopsis: Robert Grainier is a day laborer building America’s railroads at the start of the 20th century as he experiences profound love, shocking defeat, and a world irrevocably transforming before his very eyes.

Directed By: Clint Bentley

Cast: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon, William H. Macy

Oh, Hi!

Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman appear in Oh, Hi! by Sophie Brooks, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Synopsis: Iris and Isaac’s first romantic weekend getaway goes awry.

Directed By: Sophie Brooks

Cast: Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, John Reynolds

Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)

Maren Heary appears in Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) by Sierra Falconer, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Marcus Patterson.

Synopsis: Lives intertwine around Green Lake as a girl learns to sail, a boy fights for first chair, two sisters operate a bed-and-breakfast, and a fisherman is after the catch of his life.

Directed By: Sierra Falconer

Cast: Maren Heary, Jim Kaplan, Karsen Liotta, Dominic Bogart, Tenley Kellogg, Emily Hall

Kiss Of The Spider Woman

Tonatiuh and Diego Luna appear in Kiss of the Spider Woman by Bill Condon, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Synopsis: Valentín, a political prisoner, shares a cell with Molina, a window dresser convicted of public indecency. The two form an unlikely bond as Molina recounts the plot of a Hollywood musical starring his favorite silver screen diva, Ingrid Luna.

Directed By: Bill Condon

Cast: Diego Luna, Tonatiuh, Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Bichir, Josefina Scaglione, Aline Mayagoitia

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Together

Alison Brie and Dave Franco appear in Together by Michael Shanks, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Synopsis: With a move to the countryside already testing the limits of a couple’s relationship, a supernatural encounter begins an extreme transformation of their love, their lives, and their flesh.

Directed By: Michael Shanks

Cast: Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Damon Herriman

Peter Hujar’s Day

Ben Whishaw appears in Peter Hujar’s Day by Ira Sachs, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Synopsis: A recently discovered conversation between photographer Peter Hujar and his friend Linda Rosenkrantz in 1974 reveals a glimpse into New York City’s downtown art scene and the personal struggles and epiphanies that define an artist’s life.

Directed By: Ira Sachs

Cast: Ben Whishaw, Rebecca Hall

Opus

Ayo Edebiri appears in Opus by Mark Anthony Green, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by A24

Synopsis: A young writer is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star who mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago. Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan.

Directed By: Mark Anthony Green

Cast: Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder

Last Days

Sky Yang appears in Last Days by Justin Lin, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Tanasak “Top” Boonlam.

Synopsis: Determined to fulfill his life’s mission, 26-year-old John Allen Chau embarks on a dangerous adventure across the globe to convert the uncontacted tribe of North Sentinel Island to Christianity, while a detective from the Andaman Islands races to stop him before he does harm to himself or the tribe.

Directed By: Justin Lin

Cast: Sky Yang, Radhika Apte, Naveen Andrews, Ken Leung, Toby Wallace, Ciara Bravo

Sabar Bonda

Bhushaan Manoj and Suraaj Suman appear in Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Vikas Urs.

Synopsis: Anand, a 30-something city dweller compelled to spend a 10-day mourning period for his father in the rugged countryside of western India, tenderly bonds with a local farmer struggling to stay unmarried. As the mourning ends, forcing his return, Anand must decide the fate of his relationship born under duress.

Directed By: Rohan Parashuram Kanawade

Cast: Bhushaan Manoj, Suraaj Suman, Jayshri Jagtap

Didn’t Die

Kiran Deol and George Basil appear in Didn’t Die by Meera Menon, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Paul Gleason

Synopsis: A podcast host desperately clings to an ever-shrinking audience in the zombie apocalypse.

Directed By: Meera Menon

Cast: Kiran Deol, George Basil, Samrat Chakrabarti, Katie McCuen, Vishal Vijayakumar

Omaha

John Magaro, Molly Belle Wright, and Wyatt Solis appear in Omaha by Cole Webley, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Synopsis: After a family tragedy, siblings Ella and Charlie are unexpectedly woken up by their dad and taken on a journey across the country, experiencing a world they’ve never seen before. As their adventure unfolds, Ella begins to understand that things might not be what they seem.

Directed By: Cole Webley

Cast: John Magaro, Molly Belle Wright, Wyatt Solis, Talia Balsam

Love, Brooklyn

Nicole Beharie and André Holland appear in Love, Brooklyn by Rachael Abigail Holder, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Synopsis: Three longtime Brooklynites navigate careers, love, loss, and friendship against the rapidly changing landscape of their beloved city.

Directed By: Rachael Abigail Holder

Cast: André Holland, Nicole Beharie, DeWanda Wise, Roy Wood Jr., Cassandra Freeman, Cadence Reese

The Wedding Banquet

Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone, Han Gi-Chan, Bowen Yang appear in The Wedding Banquet by Andrew Ahn, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Luka Cyprian.

Synopsis: Frustrated with his commitment-phobic boyfriend, Chris, and out of time, Min makes a proposal: a green card marriage with his friend Angela in exchange for expensive in vitro fertilization treatments for her partner, Lee. Plans change when Min’s grandmother surprises them with an elaborate Korean wedding banquet.

Directed By: Andrew Ahn

Cast: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, Youn Yuh-jung

For Screening Dates and Times, visit https://festival.sundance.org/program/films/

Prem

Founder/Creator of Talking Films. Created Talking films back in 2009 and has been an ardent cinema lover for the past 2 decades.

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