34 Single-Take Movies to Watch
34 titles
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El triste olor de la carneMovie · 2013A visually stunning, single-take plane shot – blending elements of "Falling Down" and "Time Out" – follows a man grappling with a personal crisis that seems to have shaped him. He's dressed for a stressful day as he attempts to make a decisive break from his past. Normally, he rises early for his senior executive job, but today he's a desperate man fighting to maintain appearances while a debt collector arrives to finalize his downfall – ironically, concealing his true destination.IMDb 6.0TMDB 5.0 - 2AgadamMovie · 2014Under the cover of darkness, three men bury a woman they've killed. Their clandestine operation is interrupted by a visitor offering a deal. Suddenly, the ghost of the deceased girl appears, forcing them to flee for their lives.IMDb 7.7TMDB 3.0
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Russian ArkMovie · 2002 · 99m · Drama, Fantasy, HistoryA ghost and a French marquis explore the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, experiencing glimpses of the palace's diverse past.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.2 - 4
VictoriaMovie · 2015 · 138m · Crime, Thriller, RomanceA young woman recently relocated to Berlin begins a romantic connection with a local man. Their evening with his friends takes a dark turn when a hidden danger is revealed, threatening their safety.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.6 - 5
TimecodeMovie · 2000 · 97m · Drama, RomanceA film company starts casting for a new movie, and ambitious actress Rose tries to pressure her filmmaker boyfriend, Alex, into giving her a chance to audition. Alex's wife, Emma, is aware of the affair and contemplating divorce. Meanwhile, Rose’s girlfriend secretly monitors her and tries to disrupt the relationship. The film presents these four interconnected stories, each shot in a single take and displayed simultaneously, occupying a quarter of the screen.IMDb 6.0TMDB 5.5 - 6
Lost in LondonMovie · 2017 · 103m · Comedy, DramaOne night in London takes Woody Harrelson from one thing to another, ultimately landing him in jail.IMDb 6.1TMDB 5.9 - 7
BushwickMovie · 2017 · 94m · Thriller, ActionIn Bushwick, a Brooklyn neighborhood, a sudden invasion by an unidentified military force forces young student Lucy and war veteran Stupe to work together to escape and stay alive.IMDb 5.2TMDB 5.2 - 8
PVC-1Movie · 2007 · 85m · Drama, ThrillerThis is based on a true story about a woman who is transformed into a living bomb as part of a shocking terrorist attack.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.4 - 9
King DaveMovie · 2016 · 99mDave is a young man with a rebellious streak, who sees himself as a King, though not without awareness of his influences. After his girlfriend is assaulted and the perpetrator acts with impunity, Dave decides to take matters into his own hands. His pursuit of justice leads him through violence, heartbreak, and betrayal by friends, pushing him relentlessly forward.IMDb 7.0TMDB 5.0 - 10
Silent HouseMovie · 2011 · 86m · Horror, Mystery, DramaSarah returns to her family's summerhouse with her father and uncle to repair damage caused by squatters. While working inside the darkened house, Sarah starts hearing strange noises coming from within the walls. Though she has few memories of the place, Sarah feels a sense that the house holds lingering secrets from its past.IMDb 5.2TMDB 5.4 - 11
Running TimeMovie · 1997 · 69m · Crime, ThrillerCarl, a career criminal, is unexpectedly released from prison after serving a long sentence. Determined to finally retire, he begins planning one last, elaborate heist for a comfortable life. Returning to the criminal underworld, Carl assembles a team and puts his intricate plan into motion. He's forced to confront the repercussions of his past and question whether he can truly escape the life he's always known. This intense crime drama examines redemption, loyalty, and the lasting impact of personal choices.IMDb 6.8TMDB 5.6 - 12
21 BrothersMovie · 2011 · 95m21 Brothers depicts the Canadian 21st Battalion's preparations for the Battle of Courcellette during WWI. The film unfolds in real time, focusing on Sgt. Reid's efforts to prepare his men for the upcoming battle. He faces the challenges of trench warfare: tending to wounded soldiers, managing dwindling supplies, and integrating a newly arrived underage recruit into the front lines.IMDb 3.6TMDB 5.2 - 13
EightMovie · 2015 · 82mFor the past two years, Sarah Prentice has been housebound, her fear of the outside world making it impossible for her to connect with others. She battles daily with an uncontrollable Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, making even basic tasks a struggle. Her life revolves around the ritual of preparing for work, a process that for most is routine, but for Sarah is an emotionally charged ordeal.IMDb 5.3TMDB 4.4 - 14
Utøya: July 22Movie · 2018 · 92m · History, DramaDuring the 2011 terrorist attack on a political summer camp in Norway's Utøya island, a teenage girl struggles to survive and find her younger sister.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.2 - 15
Fish & CatMovie · 2013 · 142mStudents journey to a secluded area for a kite festival and set up camp by a lake. A nearby restaurant's staff are wary of them. Strange occurrences escalate, trapping the students in an increasingly difficult predicament with no way out.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.4 - 16
RopeMovie · 1948 · 81m · Thriller, Crime, DramaTwo friends host a dinner party to convincingly portray a murder they orchestrated. Their victim is a classmate, and his grieving family is unaware they are dining with the people responsible for his death. As the dinner progresses, secrets emerge, revealing the dark motives and capabilities of the two men. This suspenseful drama explores friendship, deception, and the human mind, creating a tense atmosphere that challenges the audience's perception of innocence.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.9 - 17
Son of SaulMovie · 2015 · 107m · War, Drama, ThrillerIn 1944, at the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz, a prisoner tasked with cremating the bodies of fellow inmates struggles with his conscience. He attempts to secretly give a young boy, whom he sees as his own son, a proper Jewish burial by saving his body from the flames.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.1 - 18
ImmortalityMovie · 2016 · 151mSix families travel together on a train during a rainy night, each in their own compartment. The film unfolds in one continuous 145-minute shot, showing how their lives become connected. Stories shift between dreams and reality, building upon each other as they progress. The fates of the passengers are intertwined, influenced by those around them, as they all journey towards a shared destination.IMDb 6.0TMDB 5.7 - 19
SábadoMovie · 2003 · 65mAntonia wears a t-shirt that reads "Mother" on the front and "Fucker" on the back, reflecting her angry demeanor. She's pregnant, and Victor, the man who got her pregnant, is marrying Blanca in just a few hours.IMDb 6.9TMDB 5.2 - 20
One Shot LeftMovie · 2017IMDb 6.2 - 21
A Boy. A Girl. A DreamMovie · 2018 · 89mThe night of the 2016 Presidential election brings Cass, a Los Angeles club promoter, together with Frida, a visitor from the Midwest. Their connection sparks a journey of self-discovery, as Frida encourages Cass to reconnect with his abandoned aspirations, and he prompts her to consider her own.IMDb 4.7TMDB 6.5 - 22
IrreversibleMovie · 2002 · 93m · Drama, Thriller, CrimeAfter a woman is brutally raped, her lover and her ex-boyfriend decide to take matters into their own hands. Driven by the belief that some wrongs can't be forgiven, fueled by primal rage, and frustrated by the failures of the justice system, they seek vengeance.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 23
Ana ArabiaMovie · 2013 · 85mAna Arabia is filmed in a single, 1 hour and 25-minute shot, offering a glimpse into the lives of a small community of marginalized people – Jews and Arabs – living together in a forgotten area between Jaffa and Bat Yam, Israel. A young journalist named Yael visits them one day. In their humble shacks, amidst an orchard and surrounded by apartment buildings, she encounters people who defy typical regional stereotypes. Yael feels like she's found a wealth of human stories. She becomes engrossed in the lives of Youssef and Miriam, Sarah and Walid, and their neighbors, hearing about their dreams, loves, disappointments, and how they experience time differently from the city. This fragile community presents a possibility for coexistence, a universal reflection.IMDb 5.9TMDB 6.2 - 24
Blind SpotMovie · 2018 · 98mBlind Spot explores the complexities of mental illness, focusing on the hidden difficulties often overlooked. The story follows a mother's gradual realization that her daughter is facing much deeper challenges than she had previously understood.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.6 - 25
Shadow Behind the MoonMovie · 2015 · 120mSet against the backdrop of the Philippine military's conflict with communist rebels in the early 1990s, this story follows three people each grappling with a difficult situation they desperately want to fix.IMDb 7.4TMDB 5.8 - 26
Rati ChakravyuhMovie · 2014 · 106mDuring a lunar eclipse at midnight, six newlyweds and a priestess gather in a remote temple after their wedding ceremony. Seated in a circle, they share a final conversation – a discussion about life, death, beginnings, endings, and everything in between.IMDb 6.5 - 27
The MagiciansMovie · 2006 · 95mTwo longtime friends, former members of the band "The Magicians," are having drinks at Jae-sung's bar/cafe, located deep in the woods.IMDb 6.5TMDB 5.2 - 28
MacbethMovie · 1982 · 62mIn two long shots, three witches foresee Macbeth becoming King of Scotland. Driven by this prophecy, Lady Macbeth persuades her husband to murder King Duncan during a visit to their home. The resulting crime throws Macbeth into a dark path of guilt and madness.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.3 - 29
1917Movie · 2019 · 119m · War, History, DramaDuring World War I, two young British soldiers undertake a dangerous mission across enemy lines. Their task: deliver a crucial message that could prevent a devastating attack targeting hundreds of their comrades.IMDb 8.2TMDB 8.0 - 30
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)Movie · 2014 · 120m · Drama, ComedyA once-famous actor, now past his prime and known for playing a beloved superhero, tries to revive his career with a Broadway show. As the play's opening night nears, his efforts to appear more selfless, regain his standing in the industry, and repair relationships with old friends and family face unexpected challenges.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.4 - 31
The Silent HouseMovie · 2010 · 79m · Drama, Horror, MysteryLaura and her father, Wilson, travel to a remote cottage to prepare it for sale. They plan to spend the night before starting repairs. Initially peaceful, their stay takes a turn when Laura hears escalating noises from the upper floor. Wilson investigates, while Laura waits below. Based on a true story from 1940s Uruguay, *La casa muda* meticulously chronicles the final seventy-eight minutes as Laura attempts to escape the house unharmed and uncover its hidden secret.IMDb 5.3TMDB 5.4 - 32
The Wedding PartyMovie · 2016 · 119mTHE WEDDING PARTY is filmed in a single 119-minute take and follows a groomsman as he tries to manage a series of chaotic events and keep things running smoothly throughout his best friend's wedding reception.IMDb 5.0TMDB 4.6 - 33
The CircleMovie · 2005 · 103mA desperate young woman pleads with a stranger for help to save her husband, unaware he's the assassin sent to kill him. This experimental film is shot in a single, continuous take, capturing the entire story in real time.IMDb 5.4TMDB 4.6 - 34
InvasionMovie · 2017 · 102mA murder has occurred inside a stadium, and police are investigating the crime scene. A suspect has been arrested, but detectives struggle to understand the complex method used to kill the victim. The victim's friends are uncooperative with the investigation.IMDb 6.0TMDB 6.5
