47 Best Indie Films from 2020
47 titles
- 1
BooksmartMovie · 2019 · 102m · ComedyOn the night before graduating high school, two top academic students have a realization: they've spent too much time studying and not enough time having fun. Resolved to make up for lost time and avoid feeling behind, the girls embark on a plan to experience four years' worth of enjoyment in a single night.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.0 - 2
Wild Nights with EmilyMovie · 2018 · 84m · History, ComedyThe film explores a previously hidden aspect of Emily Dickinson's life: her lively and unconventional personality, often concealed throughout her career. It centers on her enduring romantic connection with a woman.IMDb 6.2TMDB 5.9 - 3
PrematureMovie · 2020 · 86mThe summer before starting college, Ayanna encounters Isaiah, a captivating and enigmatic newcomer. Her life is profoundly altered as she experiences the complexities of first love amidst evolving surroundings in Harlem.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.2 - 4
Honey BoyMovie · 2019 · 94m · DramaThis is the story of a child actor who tries to repair his fractured relationship with his father, a man with a history of legal trouble and alcohol abuse, over ten years. The film is inspired by Shia LaBeouf's own experiences.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.0 - 5
For SamaMovie · 2019 · 100m · Documentary, WarThis film is a love letter from a young mother to her daughter, chronicling Waad al-Kateab's life during five years of the Syrian uprising in Aleppo. It follows her as she finds love, marries, and has a daughter, Sama, amidst escalating conflict. Through her camera, Waad documents stories of loss, joy, and resilience. She faces an impossible decision: whether to leave the city to protect Sama, or remain and continue fighting for freedom, risking the sacrifices she's already made.IMDb 8.5TMDB 8.2 - 6
JudyMovie · 2019 · 118m · Drama, History, MusicThirty years after her iconic role in "The Wizard of Oz," legendary actress and singer Judy Garland travels to London for sold-out performances at the Talk of the Town nightclub. During her time there, she reconnects with friends and fans and embarks on a passionate romance with musician Mickey Deans, who will soon become her fifth husband.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.7 - 7
JaddolandMovie · 2018 · 88mThis film explores the meaning of identity and home through the experiences of three generations of an Iraqi family living in Texas. It shifts between lighthearted moments and deeper reflections on belonging.IMDb 6.1 - 8
Marriage StoryMovie · 2019 · 137m · DramaA stage director and an actress navigate a difficult divorce that spans the country, testing their limits and forcing them to confront their deepest selves.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.7 - 9
DrivewaysMovie · 2020 · 83m · DramaCody, eight years old, is spending the summer with his mom, Kathy, in a new place. He struggles to connect with the other children in the neighborhood, but his summer takes an unexpected turn when he forms an unlikely friendship with Del, the grumpy old man next door.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.9 - 10
High Flying BirdMovie · 2019 · 90m · DramaWith the NBA facing a lockout that puts his promising new player on hold, a determined agent devises a risky strategy to protect their futures—and challenge the established order of the league.IMDb 6.2TMDB 5.7 - 11
ColewellMovie · 2019 · 79mIn the quiet town of Colewell, Pennsylvania, life revolves around the post office – a place for mail and community connection. The peaceful routine is disrupted when the office faces closure. Nora, the longtime clerk, must fight to save her job and confront the decisions that have anchored her to Colewell for so long.IMDb 6.3TMDB 5.5 - 12
The Third WifeMovie · 2019 · 96m · DramaAt fourteen, May is chosen as the third wife of a wealthy landowner. Her new life appears perfect; her husband is kind, and she soon discovers she's pregnant with a son. But beneath the surface, problems are developing. May witnesses a secret affair, setting off a series of unfortunate events that awaken a strength within her she never knew she possessed.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.5 - 13
Island of the Hungry GhostsMovie · 2019 · 98mChristmas Island, Australia, is known for its massive annual crab migration – forty million crabs traveling from the jungle to the ocean. However, the island also hides a secret: a heavily guarded facility where people seeking asylum are held without end.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.0 - 14
The Last Black Man in San FranciscoMovie · 2019 · 121m · DramaJimmie Fails wants to restore the Victorian house his grandfather built in San Francisco. With his best friend Mont by his side, Jimmie looks for a sense of home in a city that's changing quickly and feels like it's forgotten them.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.0 - 15
Apollo 11Movie · 2019 · 93m · Documentary, History, DramaThis film chronicles the Apollo 11 mission, commanded by Neil Armstrong and piloted by Buzz Aldrin, to land on the moon.IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.9 - 16
ClemencyMovie · 2019 · 112m · DramaWarden Bernadine Williams has spent years carrying out death row executions, and the work has deeply affected her. As she prepares for another execution, Bernadine is forced to confront the psychological and emotional toll of her job, leading her to unexpectedly connect with the inmate she is ordered to kill.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.3 - 17
The SouvenirMovie · 2019 · 119m · Romance, DramaA reserved film student becomes deeply involved with a captivating but unreliable older man, leading to a passionate and complicated relationship.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.1 - 18
The FarewellMovie · 2019 · 100m · Comedy, DramaBilli, a determined Chinese-American woman, travels to China after her grandmother receives a terminal diagnosis. She grapples with her family's choice to conceal the truth from their grandmother, leading them to organize a spontaneous wedding for a final family gathering.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4 - 19
Invisible LifeMovie · 2019 · 140m · DramaRio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1950. In the traditional Gusmão household, sisters Eurídice and Guida are deeply devoted to each other. Guida openly shares her romantic life with Eurídice, who in turn finds in her older sister the support she needs to follow her ambition of becoming a professional pianist.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.8 - 20
Greener GrassMovie · 2019 · 96m · ComedyIn a quiet suburb, the lives of soccer moms become a constant competition. Their personal rivalries mirror the ongoing conflicts between their children on the soccer field.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.1 - 21
RetabloMovie · 2018 · 95m · DramaSegundo uses silence to cope with his father Noé's secret. The 14-year-old lives with his parents in a mountain village. Noé is a respected artisan and Segundo’s role model, carefully crafting altarpieces for churches and homes while preparing his son to follow in his footsteps. But their close relationship begins to unravel.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4 - 22
WavesMovie · 2019 · 136m · Romance, DramaA father's overbearing efforts to guarantee his children's success in high school unravel when his son suffers a career-ending sports injury. The family's relationships are then severely tested by an unforeseen tragedy.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4 - 23
HoneylandMovie · 2019 · 89m · DocumentaryIn Honeyland, a traditional nomadic beekeeper violates the fundamental rule of her craft: taking only half the honey, leaving the rest for the bees. The last female beehunter in Europe must then intervene to protect the bees and re-establish the natural order.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.9 - 24
Sword of TrustMovie · 2019 · 89m · ComedyCynthia and Mary arrive to claim Cynthia's inheritance from her grandfather, but the only thing she receives is an antique sword. Her grandfather had always believed the sword was evidence that the Confederacy actually won the Civil War.IMDb 6.3TMDB 5.9 - 25
LuceMovie · 2019 · 109m · Drama, ThrillerLuce is a high-achieving athlete and student, but his carefully constructed world begins to crack when a teacher reveals troubling views on political violence. This revelation creates conflict within his family and sparks heated discussions about race and who he is.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.4 - 26
Uncut GemsMovie · 2019 · 136m · Drama, Thriller, CrimeA charming New York City jeweler, constantly searching for his next big opportunity, takes a series of risky bets that promise a life-changing fortune. Howard navigates a dangerous path, trying to manage his business, his family, and growing threats from rivals as he chases the ultimate prize.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.2 - 27
To DustMovie · 2019 · 105mIn Upstate New York, Shmuel, a Hasidic cantor grieving his wife's sudden death, searches for spiritual comfort. He becomes consumed by morbid thoughts about her physical decomposition. He forms a secret alliance with Albert, a community college biology professor, and together they delve into a darkly humorous and increasingly literal exploration of the afterlife.IMDb 6.0TMDB 5.7 - 28
See You YesterdayMovie · 2019 · 86m · Science Fiction, Drama, AdventureTwo teenage geniuses attempting to perfect time travel find themselves on a perilous path after witnessing a fatal police shooting. The incident triggers a series of risky journeys into the past.IMDb 5.3TMDB 5.5 - 29
MidsommarMovie · 2019 · 147m · Horror, Drama, MysteryA group of friends journeys to Sweden for a summer anthropology program, centered around a rare, ninety-year festival in the secluded hometown of one of them. What starts as an idyllic getaway in a land of perpetual daylight slowly descends into a terrifying ordeal. The enigmatic locals lure the friends into their unsettling festival traditions, transforming their dream vacation into a horrifying nightmare.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.2 - 30
DianeMovie · 2019 · 96m · DramaDiane is a loyal friend and caregiver, especially to her son who struggles with addiction. As people close to her start to leave her, Diane is forced to confront decisions from her past and memories she'd long suppressed.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.1 - 31
Blow the Man DownMovie · 2019 · 90m · Drama, Mystery, ComedyMourning their mother's death, the Connolly sisters unexpectedly become involved in a cover-up, pulling them into the hidden world of their rugged Maine fishing town.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.2 - 32
American FactoryMovie · 2019 · 110m · DocumentaryIn a post-industrial Ohio town, a Chinese billionaire establishes a factory in a former General Motors plant, employing two thousand American workers. Initial optimism fades as the advanced technology of China encounters the realities of the American workforce.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.2 - 33
Burning CaneMovie · 2019 · 77mBurning Cane is set in the Louisiana cane fields and centers on a devoutly religious mother. She grapples with the conflict between her strong beliefs and her affection for her difficult son.IMDb 5.4TMDB 5.7 - 34
Give Me LibertyMovie · 2019 · 110m · Comedy, DramaIn Milwaukee, a city deeply divided by segregation, medical transport driver Vic faces a difficult choice. He's committed to taking a group of elderly Russian people to a funeral, but also feels compelled to assist Tracy, a young Black woman living with ALS.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.5 - 35
AméricaMovie · 2018 · 75mThis lively and heartfelt creative nonfiction work marks the debut of a promising filmmaking duo. After their father's arrest, three brothers – a trio of performers – take responsibility for their grandmother in Colima, Mexico. Rodrigo, Diego, and Bruno are skilled stilt-walkers, acrobats, Elvis impersonators, and unicycle riders, alongside their work running the family's agricultural warehouse. With casual warmth, Stoll and Whiteside capture the family’s inherent theatricality, making even intense moments feel natural. The touching scenes between Diego and his grandmother highlight the strength of family bonds across generations.IMDb 7.5TMDB 8.5 - 36
The ClimbMovie · 2018 · 7mKyle is feeling down, and a planned weekend bike ride with his best friend, Mike, is meant to lift his spirits. The idea is simple: fresh air, friendship, and physical activity. However, Mike has something he wants to discuss that could potentially disrupt their trip.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.2 - 37
A Hidden LifeMovie · 2019 · 173m · History, Drama, WarIn World War II, Austrian farmer Franz Jägerstätter is condemned to death for his refusal to serve in the Nazi military.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.2 - 38
HustlersMovie · 2019 · 110m · Drama, Comedy, CrimeA group of resourceful ex-strippers team up to get revenge on the wealthy clients they once served in a Wall Street nightclub.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.5 - 39
Portrait of a Lady on FireMovie · 2019 · 121m · Drama, Romance, HistoryIn late 18th-century Brittany, a female painter living in isolation is commissioned to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman.IMDb 8.0TMDB 8.1 - 40
Her SmellMovie · 2019 · 136m · Drama, MusicA punk rocker battling addiction tries to find her spark again as she attempts to reignite the creativity that once fueled her band's rise to fame.IMDb 5.9TMDB 5.8 - 41
17 BlocksMovie · 2019 · 98mThis film uses twenty years of home video footage to tell the story of the Sanford family. It follows their battles with addiction and gun violence, ultimately charting a path toward love, loss, and acceptance.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.4 - 42
The LighthouseMovie · 2019 · 109m · Drama, Fantasy, ThrillerIn 1890s New England, two lighthouse keepers struggle to hold onto their minds while stationed on a secluded and enigmatic island.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.5 - 43
The Vast of NightMovie · 2019 · 91m · Drama, Mystery, Science FictionIn the early days of the space race, two teenagers who are passionate about radio pick up an unusual signal. This discovery marks a pivotal night, not only for them but also for their entire town.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.5 - 44
Les MisérablesMovie · 2019 · 104m · Crime, Drama, ThrillerIn Montfermeil, a suburb of Paris where Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" is set, new Anti-Crime Squad member Stéphane joins experienced colleagues Chris and Gwada. He quickly learns of escalating tensions between local gangs. During an arrest, the trio is overwhelmed, and a drone captures the event, potentially revealing the harsh realities of daily life.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.6 - 45
ParasiteMovie · 2019 · 133m · Comedy, Thriller, DramaWith no jobs, Ki-taek's family develops an unusual fascination with the affluent Park family, hoping to make a living from them. Their lives become complicated when they are unexpectedly drawn into an unforeseen event.IMDb 8.5TMDB 8.5 - 46
Black MotherMovie · 2018 · 77mKhalik Allah's *Black Mother* is a spiritual journey through Jamaica, blending documentary and portraiture. The film explores the island's vibrant cities and peaceful landscapes, introducing viewers to a diverse group of people and their personal stories. These candid testimonies create a rich tapestry of voices, captured in striking visual portraits that feel like a visual prayer. The film explores the intersection of the sacred and everyday life in Jamaica, weaving together themes of rebellion and reverence within a deeply personal narrative informed by the country's history and relevant to today.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.6 - 47
The MustangMovie · 2019 · 96m · DramaA convict in a wild mustang rehabilitation program initially finds it difficult to connect with the horses and the other inmates. However, as he works to calm a particularly spirited horse, he begins to confront the violent events of his past.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.9
