Yahoo Lifestyle The 8 Must-See Movies From 2025 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival has officially come to a close. Kicking off the year with some of the most exciting and boundary-pushing projects independent cinema has to offer, the beloved festival returned to Park City once again for its 41st edition. Over 11 days, the festival premiered over 90 projects across their U.S. Dramatic, Documentary, U.S. Episodic, Spotlight and MIDNIGHT competitions, each with plenty of innovative projects for viewers to see.
Parade got a chance to attend Sundance this year, getting a look at some of the biggest premieres and moments from the festival. We're breaking down some of the most promising and exciting titles from Sundance 2025, specifically from the U.S. Dramatic and Premieres categories. While you may not be able to watch these films in theater at the moment, with acquisitions taking place, many of these movies will premiere over the coming months.
If you weren't able to make it to Park City, here are eight titles you'll want to keep a watch out for:
The eight must-see movies from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival
Sorry, Baby
If you don't know Eva Victor yet, it's only a matter of time before you do. The festival's strongest standout and perhaps biggest acquisition (so far) is Victor's masterful debut, Sorry Baby. Written and directed by the TikTok personality herself, Victor stars as Agnes, a woman who is trying her best to move on from a life-altering event in her past. As devastating as it is uplifting, the film is gorgeously shot and delicately staged. It's the one to watch from Sundance, and A24 knows it too, as the powerhouse entertainment company purchased it on the final day of the festival.
Twinless
Teen Wolf fans, your time is now. Dylan O'Brien fanatics have been well aware of his seemingly boundless talents for quite some time, but with Twinless, he's landed his best role yet. Set around two young men who form an unlikely bromance in a twin bereavement support group, James Sweeney (star, writer and director) handles his film with ease. Equal parts hilarious and challenging, this is a story of loss, love, friendship and the lengths we'll go to in hopes of preserving them.
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Musical theater fans, you can exhale now. J. Lo fans ... you can also exhale now, as Bill Condon's highly anticipated adaptation of Kander and Ebb's beloved musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman, is a bonafide hit. Based on the musical, film and novel of the same name, Condon's latest feature is everything you could want from a modern movie musical—exquisite dancing, tremendous singing, and fabulous performances (all in vibrant and lively technicolor). As much of the film takes place in a movie within the movie (where Lopez's character gets the spotlight and then some), the piece stands as an ode not only to the art of the movie musical, but to art itself and the ways in which it transports, elevates, and ultimately heals us in our darkest hours. Diego Luna brings a grounding force to the story, while newcomer Tonatiuh emerges as the film's true standout.
Omaha
One of the most emotional offerings from the festival is by far Omaha, a film by Cole Webley. A masterful showcase for John Magaro, Omaha sees the Past Lives actor play a father who, after a family tragedy, takes his two children on a journey across the country. Through the lens of his children (wonderfully performed by Molly Belle Wright and Wyatt Solis), we learn that there is more to the trip than meets the eye.
Plainclothes
It's hard to think of a selection as immediately transporting as Plainclothes. Carmen Emmi's '90s-set debut centers on a promising undercover cop tasked with luring and arresting gay men, who ultimately defies orders when he falls in love with a target. Tom Blythe (Andrew), in his best performance yet, grounds the story with astounding emotional depth while Russell Tovey serves as a wonderful scene partner and the pivotal figure in Andrew's life. While the premise is admittedly a bit of a tough sell, the film proves itself and then some, specifically with a gloriously cathartic ending.
Rebuilding
Challengers star Josh O'Connor and The White Lotus alum Meghann Fahy star in Max Walker-Silverman's stunning film, Rebuilding. O'Connor plays Dusty, a rancher seeking a path forward after a devastating wildfire completely wipes out his family farm. Much like Omaha, come for the established actors in leading roles, stay for truly astounding performances from the child stars—in this case, Lily LaTorre's turn as Dusty's daughter Callie Rose.
The Wedding Banquet
Lily Gladstone. Bowen Yang. Kelly Marie Tran. Joan Chen. Youn Yuh-jung. It's hard to think of a more "stacked" cast than Andrew Ahn's 2025 update of The Wedding Banquet. While the younger actors certainly hold their own in this queer tale of found family (Tran specifically shines brightest), it's Joan Chen and Youn Yuh-jung who absolutely devour every scene they're in. During two pivotal moments anchored by both veteran actors, there was not a dry eye in the house at the film's premiere screening. The movie itself is a mixed bag of highs and lows, but those performances alone, as well as a star-turn from U.S. newcomer Han Gi-chan, makes The Wedding Banquet one of the most emotionally resonant and entertaining offerings from the festival this year.
Oh, Hi!
Sophie Brooks comes to Sundance with Oh, Hi!, one of the fest's most charming offerings. Filled with belly laugh moments and jaw-dropping twists, the film stars Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman as Iris and Isaac, two New Yorkers in the early throes of a situationship who embark on their first romantic weekend getaway (which naturally goes awry). It loses steam in the back half, but genuinely thrilling performances and sharp dialogue keep you locked into Brooks and Gordon's story until the very last frame, even if you have to suspend any and all disbelief to get yourself there.
