21 Essential Independent Films
21 titles
- 1
Closet MonsterMovie · 2016 · 90m · Drama, Fantasy, MysteryA talented and ambitious young person longs to leave their hometown behind, seeking refuge from painful memories of a difficult upbringing.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.1 - 2
BreatheMovie · 2014 · 91m · DramaSeventeen-year-old Charlie, struggling with self-doubt, finds a lifeline in a new friendship with Sarah. However, when Sarah grows tired of Charlie and seeks someone else to befriend, their connection shifts into something unsettling.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.1 - 3
Palo AltoMovie · 2014 · 100m · DramaIn a wealthy California community, teenagers struggle with a lack of parental supervision, leading them to engage in substance abuse and casual sexual behavior as a form of rebellion.IMDb 6.1TMDB 6.1 - 4
The MachinistMovie · 2004 · 102m · Thriller, DramaTrevor, a lathe operator plagued by insomnia, begins to experience unsettling events both at his job and in his personal life. He's relentlessly pursued by an odd stranger, though no one else appears to see him.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.5 - 5
The Diary of a Teenage GirlMovie · 2015 · 102m · Drama, Romance, ComedyIn 1970s San Francisco, fifteen-year-old Minnie Goetze dreams of becoming a comic-book artist and navigates typical teenage life. However, her world takes an unexpected turn as she secretly has a relationship with her mother's boyfriend.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.6 - 6
ElephantMovie · 2003 · 81m · Crime, DramaThe film follows the everyday lives of a group of typical high school students, while two others secretly plot something sinister.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.0 - 7
Laurence AnywaysMovie · 2012 · 168m · Drama, RomanceFred and Laurence develop a profound connection, a love that defies societal expectations. Laurence shares her deeply personal journey of self-discovery, revealing her long-held desire to live authentically as her true gender.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.6 - 8
Me and Earl and the Dying GirlMovie · 2015 · 105m · Drama, ComedyGreg is drifting through his senior year, deliberately staying out of the spotlight and only connecting with his best friend, Earl, through their odd filmmaking projects. This carefully constructed quiet life is disrupted when his mother insists he befriend a classmate who has leukemia.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.5 - 9
I Don't Want to Go Back AloneMovie · 2011 · 17m · Drama, RomanceA new student arrives at school and disrupts Leonardo's life. The 15-year-old, who is blind, navigates the jealousy of his friend Giovana while also grappling with unexpected feelings for his new friend, Gabriel.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.7 - 10
Swiss Army ManMovie · 2016 · 97m · Comedy, Drama, RomanceStranded on a remote island and resigned to a hopeless fate, Hank's life takes an unexpected turn when a body washes ashore. He sees this as a potential chance for escape. With this unlikely companion and a collection of resourceful tools, Hank embarks on a journey to return home to the woman he loves.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.9 - 11
HerMovie · 2013 · 126m · Romance, Science Fiction, DramaIn the near future, Theodore, a solitary writer, buys a new operating system made to fulfill any desire. He's surprised when he develops a romantic connection with it. This unusual love story combines science fiction and romance in a gentle exploration of love and how technology both isolates and connects us.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.8 - 12
Suicide RoomMovie · 2011 · 116m · Drama, ThrillerDominik, a brooding and attractive young man, is relentlessly bullied by his peers after a video of him drunkenly kissing a classmate, Alex, goes viral. Struggling with the intense public embarrassment, Dominik finds comfort in an online "suicide room" accessed through an avatar. There, he receives support from Sylvia, a defiant girl with pink hair.IMDb 6.6TMDB 7.3 - 13
BoysMovie · 2014 · 78m · Drama, Romance, TV MovieTwo teenage athletes on the track team fall in love while preparing for their most important race yet.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.7 - 14
The Way He LooksMovie · 2014 · 96m · Drama, RomanceLeonardo, a blind teenager, struggles for independence under his mother's watchful eye. His best friend, Giovana, is disappointed he's planning an exchange program overseas. The arrival of Gabriel, a new student, stirs unexpected emotions in Leonardo, causing him to reconsider his plans.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.9 - 15
The Truth About EmanuelMovie · 2013 · 96m · Drama, ThrillerHaunted by her past, a young woman develops an intense fascination with her enigmatic new neighbor. He bears a remarkable physical similarity to her deceased mother.IMDb 6.0TMDB 6.0 - 16
The Summer of SangaileMovie · 2015 · 88m · Drama, RomanceSeventeen-year-old Sangaile is spending the summer at her family's lakeside home when she meets a spirited girl at an air show. As the two girls bond, Sangaile starts to overcome her anxieties and embrace a relationship that inspires her to follow her dream of flying.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.4 - 17
JittersMovie · 2010 · 93m · DramaA surprising first kiss ignites unexpected feelings of love and desire in Gabriel for the carefree Marcus, making for a memorable end to his study abroad summer. Discovering he's gay, Gabriel returns home to a family and friends who sense a change in him. As the school year begins, with Gabriel caught up in social life and his friends' issues, Marcus reappears, bringing back the intense emotions of a first crush. *Jitters* is a fresh and engaging look at the complexities of first love and self-discovery, featuring a compelling cast and energetic music.IMDb 6.7TMDB 5.9 - 18
I OriginsMovie · 2014 · 106m · Science Fiction, DramaA molecular biologist's research into the human eye unexpectedly challenges fundamental assumptions about science and spirituality.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.6 - 19
SeashoreMovie · 2015 · 83m · DramaOn a secluded beach in southern Brazil, two friends approaching adulthood grapple with their identities and their relationship. Martin travels with his father's request to collect a document from his late grandfather's family. Tomaz joins him, hoping to reconnect. Together, they find refuge in a glass house overlooking the wild, stormy ocean.IMDb 6.0TMDB 6.2 - 20
BlackbirdMovie · 2012 · 103m · DramaThe film follows Sean Randall (Connor Jessup), a troubled teenager wrongly accused of planning a Columbine-style school shooting. His connection with Deanna Roy (Alexia Fast), a popular girl, sparks jealousy in her boyfriend and leads to a violent incident. In an attempt to protect himself, Sean posts a death threat online and is quickly arrested. A police search of his home reveals firearms and ammunition belonging to his father, Ricky (Michael Buie), a hunter, along with a list of names of people who have bullied Sean. Authorities and the media declare another Columbine has been prevented, and Sean faces a harsh sentence in a youth detention center. He must now fight to clear his name and regain the trust of Deanna and his community.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.6 - 21
Magic MagicMovie · 2013 · 97m · ThrillerDuring a trip to remote Chile, a young woman's mental state deteriorates. Her friends dismiss her concerns until it's too late.IMDb 5.0TMDB 5.1
