The Sundance Film Festival remains one of the most important gatherings in the world for independent cinema. 2025 will be no exception. From hotly-anticipated premieres to a myriad of potential surprises, Sundance 2025 is bringing the heat. With so many indie films making their debut, we here at DiscussingFilm decided to look at the top 25 narrative features festivalgoers, and those watching online from afar, can look forward to at this year’s festival. Without further ado, in alphabetical order, here are all the must-see movies premiering at Sundance 2025.
The Top 25 Films to Look Out For from Sundance 2025
1. Atropia
Directed by Hailey Gates.
Written by Hailey Gates.
Produced by Naima Abed, Emilie Georges, Luca Guadagnino, Lana Kim, & Jett Steiger.
Main Cast: Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner, Chloë Sevigny, Tim Heidecker, & Jane Levy.
What’s the Sundance Film Festival without something quirky to lead the pack? The directorial debut of actress Hailey Gates (Challengers, Uncut Gems), Atropia brings to life a fake simulation of overseas war where down-on-their-luck actors bring to life an uncanny recreation of the battlefield. The immersion, it seems, is doomed to break when a woman (Alia Shawkat) cast as a villager finds herself falling for someone cast as an enemy soldier. With a winning concept, a stable of dependable comedic actors, and modern auteur Luca Guadagnino producing, it’s hard not to imagine what strange delights Atropia has in store.
2. Bunnylovr
Directed by Katarina Zhu.
Written by Katarina Zhu.
Produced by Tristan Scott-Behrends, Ani Schroeter, Rhianon Jones, Roger Mancusi, & Rachel Sennott.
Main Cast: Katarina Zhu, Rachel Sennott, Austin Amelio, Perry Yung & Jack Kilmer.
With hit indie movies like Anora generating conversation, the path has been paved for more on-screen stories about sex work. Bunnylovr, spearheaded by writer-director-star Katarina Zhu, tells the story of a Chinese-American cam girl who gets the chance to rekindle with her estranged father while also navigating crossed boundaries with one of her clients. Co-produced and co-starring Rachel Sennott (Bottoms, Bodies Bodies Bodies), Bunnylovr promises an insightful slice-of-life look into an often glossed-over profession with strong female voices both in front and behind the camera.
3. By Design
Directed by Amanda Kramer.
Written by Amanda Kramer.
Produced by Miranda Bailey, Sarah Winshall, Natalie Whalen, & Jacob Agger.
Main Cast: Juliette Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Melanie Griffith, Samantha Mathis, Robin Tunney & Udo Kier.
Now, here’s a fun one. By Design boasts a logline for the ages: “A woman swaps bodies with a chair, and everyone likes her better as a chair.” Those familiar with writer-director Amanda Kramer from her two films, Ladyworld (2018) and Please Baby Please (2022), can expect a certain amount of biting satire. Additionally, dedicated fans of main star Juliette Lewis, who are primed and ready for another juicy role for the prolific actress, will be well served.
4. Didn’t Die
Directed by Meera Menon.
Written by Meera Menon & Paul Gleason.
Produced by Erica Fishman, Joe Camerota, Luke Patton, Meera Menon, & Paul Gleason.
Main Cast: Kiran Deol, George Basil, Samrat Chakrabarti, Katie McCuen, & Vishal Vijayakumar.
Writer-director Meera Menon is no stranger to genre work or Sundance, working on shows like Ms. Marvel and The Walking Dead while debuting her second feature, Equity, at the fest in 2016. Her latest, Didn’t Die, is the perfect movie for the Sundance 2025’s Midnight category. The plot focuses on a podcast host trying to hold onto her audience amidst a zombie apocalypse. Judging by the synopsis alone, Didn’t Die will be an interesting blend of social commentary on how we deal with large-scale upheaval as well as a loving ode to the works of zombie godfather George A. Romero.
5. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Directed by Mary Bronstein.
Written by Mary Bronstein.
Produced by Sara Murphy, Ryan Zacarias, Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Eli Bush, Richie Doyle, & Conor Hannon.
Main Cast: Rose Byrne, A$AP Rocky, Conan O’Brien, Danielle Macdonald, Ivy Wolk, & Daniel Zolghadri.
One of the bigger premieres of Sundance 2025 is writer-director Mary Bronstein’s second feature, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, produced by A24. The movie’s logline is (probably for a reason) very vague, but it centers on a woman whose life starts to crumble as she deals with mounting stresses such as parenthood, home repair, and parking. What’s most intriguing about this one, other than giving actress Rose Byrne the showcase she deserves, is the apparent aspects of dark comedy. That and the involvement of rap star A$AP Rocky and comedic legend Conan O’Brien make If I Had Legs I’d Kick You a buzzy title that many will be eager to get their hands on.
6. Jimpa
Directed by Sophie Hyde.
Written by Matthew Cormack & Sophie Hyde.
Produced by Liam Heyen, Sophie Hyde, Bryan Mason, & Marleen Slot.
Main Cast: Olivia Colman, John Lithgow, & Aud Mason-Hyde.
Sophie Hyde is no stranger to Sundance. The filmmaker’s 2014 movie 52 Tuesdays won the World Dramatic Cinema Directing Award. Her latest, Jimpa, feels like something really special. The narrative revolves around a mother (Olivia Colman) taking her non-binary teen (Aud Mason-Hyde) to visit their grandfather Jim (John Lithgow) in Amsterdam, only for them to want to stay with their beloved “Jimpa” for a year, much to their mother’s trepidation. Jimpa looks to be a heartfelt piece of work, aiming to tackle the generational divide between members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as non-traditional family dynamics, fitting nicely into Sundance’s long-standing tradition of putting the spotlight on stories seldom told.
7. Kiss of the Spider Woman
Directed by Bill Condon.
Screenplay by Bill Condon.
Based on the 1992 musical by Terrence McNally, John Kander, & Fred Ebb, the 1976 novel by Manuel Puig.
Produced by Barry Josephson, Tom Kirdahy, & Greg Yolen.
Main Cast: Diego Luna, Tonatiuh, Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Bichir, Josefina Scaglione, & Aline Mayagoitia.
It’s been a minute since moviegoers last heard of director Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, 2017’s live-action Beauty and the Beast), but he’s now returning with a bang. Based on the 1992 stage musical of the same name, Kiss of the Spider Woman follows two prisoners (played by Diego Luna and Tonatiuh) during Argentina’s Dirty War of the 1980s as they mentally escape their situation by recounting the plot of one of the prisoner’s favorite musicals, brought to life by an apparently “scene-stealing” performance from Jennifer Lopez as the classic screen actress Ingrid Luna. With a long list of executive producers, including Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, this reinterpretation of the famed musical has all eyes on it going into Sundance 2025.
8. Magic Farm
Directed by Amalia Ulman.
Written by Amalia Ulman.
Produced by Alex Hughes, Eugene Kotlyarenko, & Riccardo Maddalosso.
Main Cast: Chloë Sevigny, Alex Wolff, Joe Apollonio, Camila del Campo, & Simon Rex.
A film crew meant to be chronicling an Argentinian musician bumble their way into the wrong country. With nothing left to do, they decide to fabricate their own trend. Multi-disciplinary artist Amalia Ulman’s follow-up to El Planeta promises to be anything but conventional. From a ragtag cast featuring Chloë Sevigny’s second showing at this year’s festival to an undeniable concept, there’s already a certain type of magic surrounding Magic Farm that only seems primed to grow once audiences get to see it finally.
9. Last Days
Directed by Justin Lin.
Screenplay by Ben Ripley.
Based on The Last Days of John Allen Chau by Alex Perry.
Produced by Justin Lin, Clayton Townsend, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Eric Robinson, Salvador Gatdula, & Andrew Schneider.
Main Cast: Sky Yang, Radhika Apte, Naveen Andrews, Ken Leung, Toby Wallace, & Ciara Bravo.
A far cry from the world of the Fast & Furious, it’s easy to consider Last Days a “return to form” for director Justin Lin in the vein of his 2002 Sundance breakout film Better Luck Tomorrow. Last Days, however, is a different beast. Telling the true story of John Allen Chau (Sky Yang), an evangelical Christian missionary whose attempt to reach the uncontacted native tribe of North Sentinel Island led to his demise, Lin’s first movie since leaving the Fast & Furious franchise (he previously helmed 5 out of the 10 films) immediately prompts visions of something harrowing. At the same time, though, you can’t help but wonder how Lin will handle the real-life tragedy of Chau’s story.
10. Oh, Hi!
Directed by Sophie Brooks.
Screenplay by Sophie Brooks.
Story by Sophie Brooks & Molly Gordon.
Produced by David Brooks, Dan Clifton, Julie Waters, Sophie Brooks, & Molly Gordon.
Main Cast: Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, & John Reynolds.
There’s nothing worse than seeing a lover’s interest start to wane. Well, maybe the delusion that you can win them back is a bit worse. In this unhinged romantic comedy, based on a story by director Sophie Brooks (The Boy Downstairs) and star/producer Molly Gordon, that’s exactly what one woman does, going to desperate lengths to try and hold onto her former beloved (Logan Lerman).
11. Opus
Directed by Mark Anthony Green.
Written by Mark Anthony Green.
Produced by Collin Creighton, Brad Weston, Poppy Hanks, Jelani Johnson, Mark Anthony Green, & Josh Bachove.
Main Cast: Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, & Amber Midthunder.
The buzz around A24’s latest flavor of horror, Opus, is palpable despite it being a directorial debut. With two major young stars at the forefront, Ayo Edebiri and Amber Midthunder, Opus was always going to be a subject of hot discussion. The film’s wild hook, which sees a young journalist (Edebiri) visiting a reclusive pop star, played by the inimitable John Malkovich, in his private compound for a mysterious gathering with his own cult, is enough to make anyone lean forward in their chair. The anticipation is mounting for this one, expect the reactions to pour in as soon as the first screening at Sundance 2025 ends.
12. Peter Hujar’s Day
Directed by Ira Sachs.
Written by Ira Sachs.
Produced by Jordan Drake & Jonah Disend.
Main Cast: Ben Whishaw & Rebecca Hall.
For Peter Hujar’s Day, the title couldn’t be more literal. Written and directed by New York filmmaker Ira Sachs (Passages), Peter Hujar’s Day is based around a recently discovered conversation between the titular photographer, Peter Hujar (Ben Whishaw), and his friend, writer Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall). The film is said to be an insightful look into the New York City art scene circa 1974 that flaunts a cinematic language all of its own.
13. Plainclothes
Directed by Carmen Emmi.
Written by Carmen Emmi.
Produced by Colby Cote, Arthur Landon, Eric Podwall, & Vanessa Pantley.
Main Cast: Tom Blyth, Russell Tovey, Maria Dizzia, Christian Cooke, Gabe Fazio, & Amy Forsyth.
Fans of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes breakout star Tom Blyth didn’t expect Plainclothes to be his next big role. Nevertheless, it’s a meaty one for him, as writer-director Carmen Emmi’s latest sees Blyth take on the role of a closeted police officer whose secret desires turn his job to lure and arrest gay men into a suffocating source of tension. Already, Plainclothes has a narrative worth investing in, but it’s the film’s purported use of VHS-style footage in key moments that intrigues the most. It will certainly be interesting to see how Plainclothes handles its complex premise, especially as William Friedkin famously was accused of exploitation for the similarly plotted Cruising.
14. Rebuilding
Directed by Max Walker-Silverman.
Written by Max Walker-Silverman.
Produced by Jesse Hope, Dan Janvey, & Paul Mezey.
Main Cast: Josh O’Connor, Lily LaTorre, Meghann Fahy, Kali Reis, & Amy Madigan.
Max Walker-Silverman’s debut feature, A Love Song, made quite the splash upon its premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, so all eyes are on his follow-up. The Crown and Challengers star Josh O’Connor headlines Rebuilding, a love story (no pun intended) set in the modern American West where a man struggles to keep his homestead together in the face of change. The film also includes the talents of The White Lotus Season 2 star Meghann Fahy and True Detective: Night Country lead Kali Reis.
15. Rabbit Trap
Directed by Bryn Chainey.
Written by Bryn Chainey.
Produced by Lawrence Inglee, Daniel Noah, Elijah Wood, Elisa Lleras, Alex Ashworth, Sean Marley, Adrian Politowski, & Martin Metz.
Main Cast: Dev Patel, Rosy McEwen, & Jade Croot.
Where Dev Patel goes, the people follow. Therefore, it’s no wonder his latest horror film, Rabbit Trap, is getting plenty of attention before its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Produced by genre connoisseur Elijah Wood, Rabbit Trap finds Patel as the withdrawn husband of a musician (Rosy McEwen). Their idyllic stay at a Welsh cabin is interrupted when a mysterious rabbit-trapping child (Jade Croot) shows up at their door. What happens next? We’ll find out soon enough!
16. Ricky
Directed by Rashad Frett.
Written by Rashad Frett & Lin Que Ayoung.
Produced by Pierre M. Coleman, Simon TaufiQue, Rashad Frett, Sterling Brim, DC Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Josh Peters, & Mark Steele.
Main Cast: Stephan James, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Titus Welliver, Maliq Johnson, Imani Lewis, & Simbi Kali.
Sundance is where we come for humanist stories. Ricky exactly fits the bill. From award-winning Caribbean-American filmmaker Rashad Frett, Ricky tells the story of its titular character (Stephan James) being released from prison after an incarceration in his youth. Struggling to navigate the world for the first time as an adult, Ricky seems to be a perfect selection for Sundance 2025, with a supporting performance from 2x Emmy-winner Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary) to boot.
17. Sukkwan Island
Directed by Vladimir de Fontenay.
Written by Vladimir de Fontenay.
Produced by Carole Scotta, Eliott Khayat, & Caroline Benjo.
Main Cast: Swann Arlaud, Woody Norman, Alma Pöysti, Ruaridh Mollica, & Tuppence Middleton.
The second feature from Vladimir de Fontenay (Noah: Le sens de la gagne), Sukkwan Island marries the survival thriller with the family drama. The film centers on a father taking his son into the Norweigan fjords for an “adventure,” only for the two of them to have to fight for their lives. Everyone loves a classic survival thriller, but one starring Anatomy of a Fall’s Swann Arlaud will be a must-watch for a good swath of festivalgoers.
18. The Ballad of Wallis Island
Directed by James Griffiths.
Written by Tom Basden & Tim Key.
Produced by Rupert Majendie.
Main Cast: Carey Mulligan, Tom Basden, Tim Key, Sian Clifford, & Akemnji Ndifornyen.
One of the few titles debuting at the festival that already has a trailer out, The Ballad of Wallis Island is familiar in the sense that it’s yet another film at this year’s Sundance that involves music. That doesn’t diminish the charm apparent in its trailer and synopsis, which is about a lottery winner getting his favorite folk duo back together on a remote island, with one of these beloved musicians played by the much-lauded Carey Mulligan. Helmed by British television director James Griffiths, The Ballad of Wallis Island looks heartwarming and hilarious in equal measure.
19. The Legend of Ochi
Directed by Isaiah Saxon.
Written by Isaiah Saxon.
Produced by Richard Peete, Traci Carlson, Isaiah Saxon, & Jonathan Wang.
Main Cast: Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, Emily Watson, & Willem Dafoe.
Another highly-anticipated A24 title premiering at Sundance 2025 is Isaiah Saxon’s The Legend of Ochi. The famed music video director is making his feature debut with a family-friendly narrative that calls back to the heydays of Amblin. The Legend of Ochi follows a young girl (Helena Zengel) in a remote village on the island of Carpathia as she discovers a bizarre, hunted creature and takes it on a journey to safety. The first trailer put a strong emphasis on the movie’s blend of practical and digital effects to bring the titular creature to life, giving it some undeniable charm. If that doesn’t sell you, then a stacked supporting cast including Finn Wolfhard, Emily Watson, and Willem Dafoe certainly will.
20. The Thing With Feathers
Directed by Dylan Southern.
Screenplay by Dylan Southern.
Based on Grief is the Things with Feathers by Max Porter.
Produced by Andrea Cornwell, Leah Clarke, & Adam Ackland.
Main Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Boxall, Henry Boxall, Eric Lampaert, Vinette Robinson, & Sam Spruell.
Benedict Cumberbatch in a horror movie is enough of a sell for most. Throw in known music director Dylan Southern (Meet Me in the Bathroom), and it’s a done deal. Based on Max Porter’s 2015 novella Grief is the Thing with Feathers, Southern’s film is a trauma-based horror that revolves around a recently widowed father (Cumberbatch) suddenly stalked by a malevolent presence that represents, you guessed it, his grief. It’s a well-worn subgenre of horror, yet one that Benedict Cumberbatch has the opportunity to inject new energy into.
21. The Wedding Banquet
Directed by Andrew Ahn.
Screenplay by Andrew Ahn & James Schamus.
Based on The Wedding Banquet by Ang Lee, Neil Peng, & James Schamus.
Produced by Anita Gou, Joe Pirro, Caroline Clark, & James Schamus.
Main Cast: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, & Youn Yuh-jung.
A reimagining of Ang Lee’s 1993 classic The Wedding Banquet, this remake keeps the same basic premise with some modern flourishes. Chris (Bowen Yang) agrees to a green card marriage with his friend Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) in exchange for helping Angela and her partner with their in vitro fertilization treatment. Co-starring the iconic Joan Chen, the modern The Wedding Banquet has a lot to live up to, but there’s a sneaking suspicion writer-director Andrew Ahn (Fire Island) just might knock it out of the park.
22. Together
Directed by Michael Shanks.
Written by Michael Shanks.
Produced by Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Mike Cowap, Andrew Mittman, Erik Feig, Max Silva, Julia Hammer, & Tim Headington.
Main Cast: Dave Franco, Alison Brie, & Damon Herriman.
The synopsis for Together is quite coy. When a couple, played by real-life married couple Alison Brie and David Franco, move out of the city to a more secluded location, their getaway becomes a nightmare as elements of the supernatural and body horror start to kick in. Alison Brie, who made her comedic breakout on NBC’s Community, has shown she can handle both more dramatic and genre work from such films as Horsegirl and Promising Young Woman, so with that and the air of mystery surrounding the film, Together feels poised to be a huge highlight from Sundance 2025’s Midnight category.
23. Touch Me
Directed by Addison Heimann.
Written by Addison Heimann.
Produced by John Humber, David Lawson Jr., & Addison Heimann.
Main Cast: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jordan Gavaris, Marlene Forte, & Paget Brewster.
Another Midnighter that lives up to its designation, Touch Me is the second feature from filmmaker Addison Heimann (Hypochondriac), whose stated goal is to make queer cinema that addresses mental health. It will be interesting to see how Touch Me lives up to that, as its concept sees two friends becoming addicted to the euphoria of touching an alien visitor. Described as an ode to Japanese cinema of the ‘60s and ‘70s, Touch Me seems like the kind of horror flick that knows its audience and will play to them well.
24. Train Dreams
Directed by Clint Bentley.
Screenplay by Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar.
Based on Train Dreams by Denis Johnson.
Produced by Marissa McMahon, Teddy Schwarzman, Will Janowitz, Ashley Schlaifer, & Michael Heimler.
Main Cast: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon, & William H. Macy.
Ah yes, every festival needs its epic. Train Dreams, the latest film from Jockey director and Sing Sing co-writer Clint Bentley, is more than happy to fill that space. The epic is based on the 2002 novella by Denis Johnson of the same name, focusing on Robert Granier (Joel Edgerton), a day laborer who helps build railroads during the 20th century. Promising to be as intimate as it is sweeping, Train Dreams will undoubtedly draw comparisons to The Brutalist due to its scope, time period, and the involvement of actress Felicity Jones. Make no mistake, though, this is very much its own animal and will surely be the talk of the town at Sundance 2025.
25. Twinless
Directed by James Sweeney.
Written by James Sweeney.
Produced by David Permut & James Sweeney.
Main Cast: Dylan O’Brien, James Sweeney, Lauren Graham, Aisling Franciosi, Tasha Smith, & Chris Perfetti.
Last but certainly not least is writer-director-star James Sweeney’s Twinless, which actually premieres on the first night of Sundance 2025. As the title suggests, the film follows a support group for twins who have lost their other twin. In this support group, two twinless twins (Sweeney and Dylan O’Brien) develop a friendship. Set to be a springboard to explore grief in the dramedy framework, Twinless is the ideal film to end this list as it epitomizes what some of the greatest Sundance movies are all about: human stories that give us a chance to see another side of prolific creatives.
