The Best & Worst of Sundance 2025
Another one in the books
Just a few weeks ago the 2025 edition of the Sundance Film Festival came to a close. It was my fourth consecutive year covering the festival virtually & while there were some great films on display (per usual), the main takeaways from the week unfortunately weren’t so positive.
The biggest storyline was how unusually quiet the marketplace was throughout the festival. Sundance usually serves as a sentiment check for how the studios are feeling & from a pure numbers perspective, this year was lacking. The acquisitions that did happen were big ones from some of the studios that are regulars when it comes to buying Sundance titles (Netflix, A24, and Neon), but the lack of representation from the major studios (Disney, Sony, Warner, Paramount, or Universal) was a bit concerning.
As for what acquisitions did happen:
Body-horror film “Together” staring real life couple Dave Franco & Alison Brie sparked a bidding war that was ultimately won by Neon for $10 million.
The breakout of the festival, “Sorry, Baby” (I review the film below) was purchased by A24 for $8 million.
“Train Dreams” the new film from the writers of “Sing Sing” & starring Joel Edgerton was purchased by Netflix for over $15 million.
“The Perfect Neighbor” (I review the film below) the new documentary pieced together entirely from police body cam footage was acquired by Netflix for around $5 million.
The most unfortunate takeaway from the festival is that 2025 may be the last year of the virtual component of Sundance. Why you may ask? Well, a few idiots decided to use their phone to record scenes of Dylan O’Brien in the film “Twinless” & then leak the scenes onto Reddit & Twitter. As a response, the festival pulled the film from the online platform (thankfully I was able to see it just before they did). This also happened to the “Selena y Los Dinos” documentary that premiered at the festival.
The whole beauty of Sundance even having this virtual component was that it gave people the opportunity to participate in the festival that otherwise never would have been able to afford to go. Now, a few bad apples may have ruined it for everyone else. There is no word yet on how this will impact the 2026 festival, but it is hard to imagine that filmmakers will want their films to be accessible on the virtual platform and run the risk that they get spoiled before they are even out in the world.
What makes it all even more unfortunate is that “Twinless” is genuinely one of the best things I saw during the festival. It came into the festival seeking a distributor & with all of the negative attention, it hasn’t found one yet. There is still hope it will be acquired, but if these selfish idiots ruin a great film’s chances of being out in the world because they want some extra likes and clicks, I will be beyond upset.
Alright, enough talking! Lets get to the movies. I will start with a brief summary/review of the 12 films I saw at this years festival and then close with a ranking of those 12 films.
Bubbles & Squeak (Directed by Evan Twohy)
Plot - “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.”
My thoughts - A film so focused on trying to mimic the tone & style of Wes Anderson that it ends up being too idiosyncratic to be funny & too messy to ever clearly say what it wants.
When Dave Franco shows up in the second act, you get the best 10 minutes of the film & a glimpse at what it could have been from start to finish. It’s the only time throughout the painfully long 95 minute runtime where you feel connected to the characters & don’t resort to sympathy chuckles but actually laugh uncontrollably. Some of that is at the script level, but some of it is also that Dave Franco is bringing a comedic energy that no other member of the cast ever comes close to.
Sure, the themes needed to be fleshed out more clearly in the screenplay, but above all there needed to be actors (outside of Franco & a one minute scene with Steven Yeun) that could comedically deliver such zany material or at least a director that better understood how to best get such performances out of his cast.
Rating - 2/5
Future of the film - Still seeking distribution
Andre is an Idiot (Directed by Tony Benna)
Plot - “Andre, an irreverent man, embarks on an unexpected journey after receiving a terminal diagnosis, determined to maintain his humor while learning to die happily.”
My thoughts - The difficulty (& also the beauty) in reviewing a film like “Andre is an idiot” is that the whole project is essentially a reflection of Andre & his life. Sure, the mistake he makes & what that later leads to, but also the way he made others laugh & loved those around him.
The tension in watching this play out as an audience member is that we ultimately have no connection to Andre. Sure, he is a funny guy that lived a wild life prior to this tragedy, but at the end of the day Andre is nothing more than a random guy. This results in some moments towards the beginning of the film where one could easily think “Why should I even care about this guy”?
As the film progress along, you realize that the beauty in Andre being a random person is that you can much more easily project whoever you want onto him (whether that be a loved one, a friend, or even yourself). If this was a famous movie star or another celebrity, you wouldn’t be able to do that as easily because you would fixate on watching how that specific person went through this.
Watching Andre go through this is much less about him specifically (although there is much to learn from how he navigates it) & much more about just watching another human go through this.
After all, what is a more effective PSA? Watching a silly ad reminding you to go get a colonoscopy? Or spending 87 minutes watching a joyful father, husband, and friend slowly wither away because he neglected to get one?
Rating - 3/5
Future of the film - Came into the festival owned by A24
Bunnylovr (Directed Katarina Zhu)
Plot - “A cam girl navigates a toxic client relationship while reconnecting with her estranged, dying father, exploring complex relationships and family dynamics.”
My thoughts - Part of the magic of Sundance is watching members of my generation (Gen Z) get an opportunity to showcase their work at a major level. The festival has already given us so many great films from Gen Z filmmakers like Molly Gordon (2023 festival), Cooper Raiff (2022 & 2025 festival), & Sean Wang (2024 festival).
All that to say, I had high hopes that Katarina Zhu & her first feature “Bunnylovr” would be added to that list.
While I think that Zhu does a good job capturing the anxiety & social challenges that can come from being raised in a chronically online world, the whole thing pretty hollow and hard to engage with. Aimlessness seems to be part of the point that she is going for in the script, but that aimlessness really works against the film, not for it.
I think that Zhu has a good movie in her (you can tell by her control of tone & suspense in moments that she knows what she is doing), it’s just not this one.
Rating - 1.5/5
Future of the film - Still seeking distribution
Plainclothes (Directed by Carmen Emmi)
Plot - “A promising undercover agent assigned to lure and arrest gay men defies professional orders when he falls in love with a target.”
My thoughts - There is never a convenient time to experience tragedy in your life, but it happening as you are still figuring out your place in the world is a whole different kind of suffocating.
You can convince yourself that carrying the weight of everything is possible. Yet, deep down, all you really want is someone to hold you. When it looks like that may not be possible, let’s just say that it can send you spiraling like never before.
“Plainclothes” does a masterful job showcasing the anxiety & stress that comes from trying to process trauma all while holding relationships together, protecting loved ones, & trying to find your true self. The film successfully weaves many complicated themes & timelines together with ease & clarity.
Really confident & assured debut from Carmen Emmi. There are moments I wish that he wouldn’t try & get too cute with the camera, but the script is so tight & performances so solid that it evens things out. Speaking of performances, Tom Blyth continues to remind Hollywood he is going to be one of the defining leading men of the next generation.
Rating - 3.5/5
Future of the film - Still seeking distribution
Sorry, Baby (Directed by Eva Victor)
Plot - “Something bad happened to Agnes. But life goes on - for everyone around her, at least.”
My thoughts - What Eva Victor accomplishes in her directorial debut is nothing short of a movie miracle. Her voice as a writer is so singular & fresh. Her handle of tone will make veteran filmmakers jealous. Her human first approach to filmmaking so intricately highlights moments big & small where we forget the humanity of those around us. Her lively screenplay feels lived in and authentically human in the best way possible. Heck, she even finds the perfect balance tonal balance between tragedy & comedy.
There are lots of things that Eva Victor does remarkably well throughout her assured directorial debut. Most importantly though, she makes you contemplate what kind of person you are & what kind of person you ultimately want to be in this scary world.
Rating - 4/5
Future of the film - Bought by A24
Omaha (Directed by Cole Webley)
Plot - “After a family tragedy, siblings Ella and Charlie are woken up by their dad and taken on a cross-country journey, experiencing a new world. As their adventure unfolds, Ella begins to understand that things might not be what they seem.”
My thoughts - Both heart warming & wrenching in the best way possible. I love the choice to frame the film through the eyes of the children(very Aftersun/Flordia Project coded) because it takes material that may not be approachable to some & makes it immediately relatable to everyone.
Everyone has moments they will never forget from childhood & others that they want desperately to forget. You can’t always pinpoint the good ones until you reflect back, but even at a young age the bad ones sear into your mind.
Omaha holds back no punches in bringing those moments to life. None of which would be possible without the performance of Molly Belle Wright playing a 9 year old who is too smart to be naive yet too young to fully accept the responsibility placed upon her. Genuinely one of the best child performances I have ever seen.
And if you somehow make it through the 83 minute runtime without having your emotions stirred, I promise you will as the credits roll.
Rating - 3.5/5
Future of the film - Still seeking distribution
Speak (Directed by Jennifer Tiexiera & Guy Mossman)
Plot - “Ambitious teen orators hone their craft, vying for glory in a prestigious global speech contest. Through dedication and artistry, they prepare to showcase their talents on the ultimate stage.”
My thoughts - Ever since “Boys State” shocked the world at the 2020 Sundance film festival, it seems to be an annual tradition for the festival to show a documentary following exceptionally talented young people.
It’s the type of story that will never get old to me. There will just never be a better version of it than “Boys State”.
Rating - 3/5
Future of the film - Still seeking distribution
The Perfect Neighbor (Directed by Geeta Gandbhir)
Plot - “A minor disagreement between neighbors in Florida takes a lethal turn, with police body camera footage and interviews probing the aftermath of the state's controversial "stand your ground" laws.”
My thoughts - When a title card early on shows that the story will primarily get told through police body cam, you get a bit worried about how you are going to stay engaged. By the end you can’t imagine the story being told any other way. The best kind of documentary. No talking heads, just the facts, the story, and the raw look at everyone involved.
Like most kids, I had a neighbor exactly like this growing up. They weren’t near as obnoxious as the woman in the film, but they would go out of their way to bully kids & make them feel uncomfortable. I shudder to think about what could have happened after seeing this.
Rating - 4/5
Future of the film - Bought by Netflix
Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) (Directed by Sierra Falconer)
Plot - “An anthology following the residents of a small town and the lake that binds them together.”
My thoughts - The most difficult part of making a successful anthology is that inevitably one story will seem more interesting than the others & the audience will wish that more time was spent on that story.
Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) works so well because that isn’t the case. Sure, there are some stories that are more interesting than others. But for the most part, each story is interesting enough that you want to know more but not so interesting that we aren’t ready to move on after 20 minutes.
That’s a tough needle to thread & why most anthologies end of being pretty bad. I actually think that the anthology structure works in the films favor, which is a massive compliment.
Rating - 3/5
Future of the film - Still seeking distribution
Predators (Directed by David Osit)
Plot - “Exploring the controversial NBC series that caught potential child predators in sting operations, leading to arrests, and its eventual cancellation.”
My thoughts - Every time I sit down to watch a documentary, this is exactly what I am hoping for - a remarkably nuanced & detailed look into a person or event that examines the subject in a way you never would have considered otherwise.
99% of documentaries don’t meet that hope, but “Predators” doesn’t just meet it, it exceeds it. From the interviews to the archival footage to probably my favorite “expert” talking head I have ever seen in a doc - it all just knocks it out of the park. I hope this one gets the flowers it deserves in the long run.
Rating - 4/5
Future of the film - Still seeking distribution
Twinless (Directed by James Sweeney)
Plot - “Two young men strike up an unlikely friendship after meeting in a support group for twinless twins”
My thoughts - An astonishingly brilliant conceit for a film brought to life by a screenplay, direction, and performances that are somehow just as equally brilliant. The whole thing is truly one of a kind & such a unique vision from Sweeney.
I really hope this finds a distributor & gets a theatrical release. Dylan O’brien’s best performance to date & Sweeney’s tender screenplay deserve to be seen on the biggest screen with the widest audience possible.
Rating - 4/5
Future of the film - Still seeking distribution
Atropia (Directed by Hailey Gates)
Plot - “Follows an aspiring actress working on a U.S. military base that simulates an Iraqi war zone.”
My thoughts - A perfect example of why “Twinless” is such a brilliant success. Having a great premise and pulling it off are two VERY different things.
There is a cameo that only lasts a few minutes but completely steals the show. It’s one of the few moments where the actor truly understands the assignment, which inevitably never reaches that pinnacle the remainder of the runtime.
Rating - 2.5/5
Future of the film - Still seeking distribution
2025 Sundance Film Festival Rankings (Based on what I saw)
Sorry, Baby (Directed by Eva Victor)
Predators (Directed by David Osit)
Twinless (Directed by James Sweeney)
The Perfect Neighbor (Directed by Geeta Gandbhir)
Plainclothes (Directed by Carmen Emmi)
Omaha (Directed by Cole Webley)
Andre is an Idiot (Directed by Tony Benna)
Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) (Directed by Sierra Falconer)
Speak (Directed by Jennifer Tiexiera & Guy Mossman)
Atropia (Directed by Hailey Gates)
Bubbles & Squeak (Directed by Evan Twohy)
Bunnylovr (Directed Katarina Zhu)
That is all for now!
As always, enjoy some great films until next time!
Aaron Nolan