Explore 20 Unique Indie Films That Break Away from Mainstream Blockbusters

For those tired of superhero sagas and high-octane franchises, these distinctive dramas, comedies, and even horror films offer refreshing storytelling and artistic depth.

20. Annette

Annette

• Produced by France, Mexico, USA, and Switzerland, released in 2021.
• Musical drama.
• Duration: 141 minutes.
• Directed by Leos Carax.
• IMDb rating: 6.4.

French director Leos Carax, a two-time César nominee, returned with his first feature film since 2012, venturing into the musical genre with a story inspired by the legendary band Sparks' compositions.

The film follows a stand-up comedian who is left to care for his young daughter after his wife's death, only to discover her extraordinary gift.

Starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard in leading roles.

19. I'm Thinking of Ending Things

I'm Thinking of Ending Things

• USA, 2020.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 134 minutes.
• Directed by Charlie Kaufman.
• IMDb rating: 6.6.

Charlie Kaufman, renowned for his unconventional screenplays like "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation," maintains his signature surreal style in this Netflix original.

The story centers on Lucy, a woman contemplating ending her relationship with Jake. On a trip to meet his parents, she encounters increasingly strange and unsettling events.

Understanding the film requires attention to subtle details such as characters' clothing, interactions, and surroundings, revealing a deeper narrative beneath the surface.

18. Titane

Titane

• France and Belgium, 2021.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• Directed by Julia Ducournau.
• IMDb rating: 6.6.

Julia Ducournau gained acclaim with her 2016 body horror "Raw" and made international headlines with "Titane," which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

The protagonist, Alexia, survives a car accident with a titanium plate implanted in her head. Years later, she works as a stripper, but after a traumatic encounter, she embarks on a violent path and becomes pregnant by a car. She then hides with a rescue team leader who mistakes her for his missing son.

Available for streaming on major platforms.

17. The Green Knight

The Green Knight

• Co-production of Ireland, Canada, USA, and the UK, 2021.
• Drama, fantasy.
• Duration: 130 minutes.
• Directed by David Lowery.
• IMDb rating: 6.6.

Sir Gawain, a knight of King Arthur's court, accepts a challenge from the enigmatic Green Knight: to strike him and receive a reciprocal blow in a year. Gawain beheads the Green Knight, who then calmly departs with his severed head.

David Lowery adapts this classic legend into a slow-burning parable focusing on inner turmoil and breathtaking visuals that immerse viewers in a mystical realm.

Available on popular digital platforms.

16. Mank

Mank

• USA, 2020.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 131 minutes.
• Directed by David Fincher.
• IMDb rating: 6.8.

Following the conclusion of "Mindhunter," Netflix enabled David Fincher to realize his dream project.

This biopic explores screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz's journey as he recovers from a car accident and crafts the screenplay for Orson Welles' debut film "Citizen Kane."

The script was penned by Fincher's father decades ago, and the film pays homage to the style of "Citizen Kane."

15. Everything Went Fine

Tout s’est bien passé

• France, 2021.
• Drama.
• Duration: 113 minutes.
• Directed by François Ozon.
• IMDb rating: 6.8.

Prolific filmmaker François Ozon adapts Emmanuèle Bernheim's novel about a woman facing a difficult decision after her elderly father suffers a stroke and requests assistance with euthanasia.

The cast includes Sophie Marceau, Hanna Schygulla, and Charlotte Rampling, a favorite of Ozon.

14. The Power of the Dog

The Power of the Dog

• UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, USA, 2021.
• Drama, western.
• Duration: 126 minutes.
• Directed by Jane Campion.
• IMDb rating: 6.9.

Oscar-winning director Jane Campion returned after over a decade with a powerful drama featuring Benedict Cumberbatch in one of his finest roles.

Set in 1920s America, the story follows two brothers running a large ranch whose relationship deteriorates when one marries a widow. The arrival of her enigmatic son changes the family dynamics.

13. Midsommar

Midsommar

• USA and Sweden, 2019.
• Horror, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 148 minutes.
• Directed by Ari Aster.
• IMDb rating: 7.1.

Ari Aster, known for his complex horror dramas, presents the story of Dani, a student whose family dies tragically. Accompanied by her boyfriend Christian and friends, she visits a remote Swedish village's midsummer festival, where disturbing truths unfold.

The film uniquely contrasts traditional horror darkness with bright, unsettling visuals.

Available on iTunes and Google Play.

12. Last Night in Soho

Last Night in Soho

• UK, 2021.
• Horror, thriller.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• Directed by Edgar Wright.
• IMDb rating: 7.1.

Edgar Wright, acclaimed for stylish comedies like "Shaun of the Dead" and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," ventures into horror with this film.

The plot follows a design enthusiast who mysteriously travels back to 1960s London, inhabiting the body of singer Sandy and uncovering dark secrets behind the glamorous facade.

11. The French Dispatch

The French Dispatch

• Germany and USA, 2021.
• Drama, romance, comedy.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• Directed by Wes Anderson.
• IMDb rating: 7.2.

Each Wes Anderson film is a cinematic event, featuring elegant retro aesthetics and star-studded casts.

This film weaves multiple stories connected to the fictional newspaper The French Dispatch, touching on 1968 student protests and an art dealer's life, inspired partly by The New Yorker.

The cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Benicio Del Toro, Bill Murray, Léa Seydoux, and Frances McDormand.

Available on iTunes and Google Play.

10. Don’t Look Up

Don’t Look Up

• USA, 2021.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 138 minutes.
• Directed by Adam McKay.
• IMDb rating: 7.2.

Adam McKay, known for satirical films based on real events like "The Big Short" and "Vice," delivers a dark comedy about two astronomers who discover an impending comet collision with Earth.

They struggle to convince a skeptical public and government, featuring performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Timothée Chalamet, and Jonah Hill.

9. Nomadland

Nomadland

• USA and Germany, 2020.
• Drama.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• Directed by Chloé Zhao.
• IMDb rating: 7.3.

After losing her husband and job, 60-year-old Fern buys a van and embarks on a nomadic journey across the USA. Along the way, she meets fellow travelers and learns to survive on the road.

Chloé Zhao blends fiction with documentary elements, casting real nomads in supporting roles. Frances McDormand stars and inspired the story.

Following this, Zhao directed the Marvel film "Eternals."

Available on iTunes and Google Play.

8. Uncut Gems

Uncut Gems

• USA, 2019.
• Thriller, drama.
• Duration: 135 minutes.
• Directed by the Safdie Brothers.
• IMDb rating: 7.4.

Jewelry store owner Howard Ratner is a gambling addict drowning in debt. Constantly evading creditors, he concocts risky schemes that often fail. His luck changes when he acquires a rare uncut opal.

Directed by the Safdie Brothers, known for "Good Time," with Adam Sandler delivering a compelling dramatic performance.

7. The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse

• Canada, USA, Brazil, 2019.
• Drama, horror.
• Duration: 109 minutes.
• Directed by Robert Eggers.
• IMDb rating: 7.4.

Young Ephraim Winslow takes a job as assistant lighthouse keeper under a gruff supervisor who forbids him from accessing the lamp. The men descend into madness, losing track of time.

Robert Eggers, acclaimed for "The Witch," crafts an arthouse horror rich with mythological references, shot in black and white with a unique 1.19:1 aspect ratio.

Available on iTunes and Google Play.

6. A Hidden Life

A Hidden Life

• USA, UK, Germany, 2020.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 174 minutes.
• Directed by Terrence Malick.
• IMDb rating: 7.4.

Terrence Malick, revered for films like "The Thin Red Line" and "The Tree of Life," returns with a more straightforward narrative.

The film tells the true story of Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer who refuses to fight for the Nazis, enduring imprisonment and death threats while staying true to his conscience.

Available on iTunes and Google Play.

5. The Hand of God

È stata la mano di Dio

• Italy, USA, 2021.
• Drama.
• Duration: 130 minutes.
• Directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
• IMDb rating: 7.4.

Young Fabietto Schisa lives with his family in 1980s Naples, longing for his football hero Diego Maradona's arrival. Amidst family joys and profound loss, he navigates adolescence.

Paolo Sorrentino's semi-autobiographical film evokes warmth and nostalgia, akin to Almodóvar's "Pain and Glory."

4. Pain and Glory

Dolor y gloria

• Spain, France, 2019.
• Drama.
• Duration: 113 minutes.
• Directed by Pedro Almodóvar.
• IMDb rating: 7.5.

Acclaimed director Salvador Mallo faces a creative crisis while preparing a retrospective of his work. Reflecting on his past and reconnecting with an old friend, he confronts his memories.

Starring Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz, the film mirrors Almodóvar's own life, making it one of his most personal works.

Available on iTunes and Google Play.

3. Licorice Pizza

Licorice Pizza

• USA, 2022.
• Drama.
• Duration: 133 minutes.
• Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
• IMDb rating: 7.6.

Eight-time Oscar nominee Paul Thomas Anderson, known for "Boogie Nights," "There Will Be Blood," and "Magnolia," returns with a coming-of-age story set in 1970s San Fernando Valley.

The film follows teenager Gary Valentine as he embarks on a romantic relationship with an older woman and ventures into mattress sales.

Co-starring newcomer Cooper Hoffman, son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who frequently collaborated with Anderson.

2. Another Round

Druk

• Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, 2020.
• Comedy, drama.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• Directed by Thomas Vinterberg.
• IMDb rating: 7.7.

Four friends, all high school teachers in Copenhagen, experiment with maintaining a constant low level of alcohol in their blood to boost happiness and creativity.

Directed by Thomas Vinterberg, known for "The Hunt," the film addresses the widespread issue of alcoholism in Denmark without preaching, earning the Oscar for Best International Feature.

Available on iTunes and Google Play.

1. The Trial of the Chicago 7

The Trial of the Chicago 7

• USA, UK, India, 2020.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 129 minutes.
• Directed by Aaron Sorkin.
• IMDb rating: 7.8.

Legendary screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, known for "The Social Network" and "Steve Jobs," directs this gripping drama based on true events.

The film depicts the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests in Chicago, where seven activists are charged with conspiracy and inciting riots amid political unrest and anti-Vietnam War demonstrations.

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