From three-and-a-half-hour documentaries about Pee-Wee Herman to the funniest Drake-related piece of media to hit the scene since “Not Like Us,” there were some incredible movies to check out at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Well, that is if you could stop staring at those gorgeous mountains in the distance.
Over the five days that Vanyaland was on the ground in Park City and the following five that we watched their programming from their online portal, we got a chance to preview the most exciting independent films that will be (hopefully) coming soon to a theater near you. That included new selections from A24 like The Legend of Ochi, Opus, and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You; horror hits like Together, which was acquired by NEON during the festival for a late-summer release; and docs like Sly Lives and the aforementioned Pee-Wee as Himself.
Here’s our complete coverage from Sundance this year, which will hopefully not be the second-to-last time we get to visit Utah – again, we can’t stand that Skyline Chili they’ve got in Cincinnati, as much as we might like Joe Burrow’s swag. – Nick Johnston, Film Editor
Sundance 2025: Five films we’re excited about at this year’s festival —
This year’s Sundance features a horror flick led by Boston’s brightest lights, docs about Sly Stone and Pee-Wee Herman, and much more.
Sundance 2025: Paul Reubens takes a bow in ‘Pee-wee as Himself’ —
Matt Wolf’s documentary is just so good it’s practically painful to watch, even as a frequently joyous celebration of Pee-wee Herman.
Sundance 2025: Paul Reubens takes a bow in ‘Pee-wee as Himself’
Sundance 2025: ‘SLY LIVES!’ thanks Sly Stone for being himself —
‘SLY LIVES!’ is an affectionate portrait of Sylvester Stewart, whose personal contributions to pop, soul, and rock music live on in ways obvious and subtle.
Sundance 2025: ‘SLY LIVES!’ thanks Sly Stone for being himself
Sundance 2025: Rose Byrne walks away with ‘If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You’ —
Mary Bronstein‘s latest is likely to make any normal viewer’s fingers curl into their sweaty palms with sheer panic and dread.
Sundance 2025: ‘The Legend of Ochi’ will make you a kid again —
Isaiah Saxon’s fantastic feature is a throwback to the classic films of our youth, and is gorgeous, compelling, and just plain weird.
Sundance 2025: Ayo Edibiri and John Malkovich rock out in ‘Opus’ —
‘Opus’ is a wonderfully entertaining film, and, as far as the Boston vs. Cambridge angle is concerned, both Edibiri and Malkovich are amazing.
Sundance 2025: Ayo Edibiri and John Malkovich rock out in ‘Opus’
Sundance 2025: Alison Brie and Dave Franco are better ‘Together’ —
Michael Shanks’ debut is a first-rate horror-comedy, using its charismatic leads to sell the emotional reality of its world.
Sundance 2025: ‘Serious People’ will make you laugh now, cringe later —
Music video director Pasqual Gutierrez makes a mockumentary about hiring a doppelganger in the hilarious and cringeworthy ‘Serious People.’
Sundance 2025: Your mileage may vary with ‘Bubble and Squeak’ —
Evan Twohy’s absurdist comedy ‘Bubble and Squeak’ will either make you laugh (a lot) or groan in pain. How much do you like cabbage?
Sundance 2025: Josh O’Connor leads the warm and lovely ‘Rebuilding’ —
Max Walker-Silverman’s ‘Rebuilding’ is a gorgeous and heartfelt tale of a cowboy trying to put his life together again after a fire.
Sundance 2025: Josh O’Connor leads the warm and lovely ‘Rebuilding’