Elijah Wood and Melanie Lynskey star in Macon Blair’s award-winning film “I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore,” which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
By Lucy Spicer
Summer is for the movies. And lovers of Sundance Institute–supported filmmakers are spoiled for choice this summer, with a whopping 16 new releases coming from alums of the Sundance Film Festival and Sundance Institute artist programs. Take your pick from films by veterans like Danny Boyle, Darren Aronofsky, and Ethan Coen, and explore a selection of sophomore features by artists such as Celine Song, the Philippou brothers, and John Maclean, who previously screened their directorial debuts at the Sundance Film Festival.
As you can imagine, there’s something for just about everyone in such a lengthy list of titles. Whether you’re looking for a rom-com, survival thriller, black comedy, zombie horror, western, queer romance, or even a superhero splatter film, there’s something new for you in theaters or on streaming services this summer — and they’re all directed by filmmakers with ties to Sundance Institute. So while you’re racking up your list of new movies to watch in the coming months, why not get familiar with the filmmakers’ earlier work? For every new title below, we’ve offered a Sundance Institute–supported film from the same director for your cinematic research and enjoyment.
BEFORE YOU SEE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH…
Director Guy Ritchie returns with another action-adventure film with Fountain of Youth, starring John Krasinski and Natalie Portman as a brother-sister duo in search of a legendary fountain whose water grants the drinker immortality. The search takes the pair and their team on a global heist that tests their wits and their knowledge of history, with the possibility of danger at every turn — after all, they may not be the only ones searching. Streaming on Apple TV+ May 23.
… WATCH LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS
Small-time criminals Eddie (Nick Moran), Tom (Jason Flemyng), Soap (Dexter Fletcher), and Bacon (Jason Statham) pool together their money so that Eddie can win big at a card game organized by “Hatchet” Harry Lonsdale (P. H. Moriarty). But the game is rigged, and Eddie walks away owing £500,000 instead. And payment is due to Harry in a week. When Eddie discovers that his neighbors have a heist in the works, he and his friends plan to rob them of their spoils. But for every part of the plan that goes right, something else goes wrong, and every new party involved is another chance at comically bad luck. Ritchie’s darkly funny neo-noir feature debut had its U.S. premiere at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE BRING HER BACK…
Reeling from the loss of her own daughter, Laura (Sally Hawkins) excitedly welcomes foster children Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong) into her secluded home. Initially, the quirky Laura comes across as enthusiastic, but Andy and Piper soon discover that their new foster mother’s grief has manifested in a horrific ritual she has been hiding on her property. Bring Her Back is the second film from directing duo Danny and Michael Philippou. Coming to theaters May 30.
… WATCH TALK TO ME
On the anniversary of her mother’s death, 17-year-old Mia (Sophie Wilde) convinces her friend that they should attend a gathering where their peers plan to play an eerie party game that allows them to communicate with spirits of the dead by holding a mysterious embalmed hand and saying, “Talk to me.” Mia participates, but her connection to the other side lasts longer than the 90-second time limit that is deemed safe. When Mia opens the channel of communication again on her own, no one could predict the malevolent forces that come through the door to stay. Talk to Me was the Philippou brothers’ feature directorial debut and had its U.S. premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE TORNADO…
Set in 18th-century Britain, John Maclean’s sophomore feature stars Kōki as the titular Tornado, the daughter of samurai Fujin (Takehiro Hira). When her father’s traveling puppet show is ambushed by a vicious gang (with members portrayed by Tim Roth and Jack Lowden), Tornado vows revenge. Coming to select theaters May 30.
… WATCH SLOW WEST
At the end of the 19th century, lovesick teenage aristocrat Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee) travels from Scotland to the American West in search of Rose (Caren Pistorius), who fled there with her father after an incident left them with a bounty on their heads. Unprepared for the rough-and-tumble environment he’s walked into, Jay employs the mysterious Silas (Michael Fassbender) to protect him on his journey, which grows increasingly perilous as it becomes clear that multiple parties are looking to cash in on Rose’s bounty. Maclean’s stylish feature directorial debut premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, where it was awarded the Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema Dramatic. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE MATERIALISTS…
In writer-director Celine Song’s sophomore feature, Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is building her reputation as a successful matchmaker in New York City, but her own experiences with dating are less than ideal. Things start looking up when she begins seeing the charming, wealthy Harry (Pedro Pascal). But the reappearance of her messy — yet devoted — ex, John (Chris Evans), has her questioning what she really knows about love. Coming to theaters June 13.
… WATCH PAST LIVES
In Song’s debut feature, Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) are childhood classmates in Seoul whose budding romance is interrupted when Nora’s family moves to Canada. The two reconnect online 12 years later, but it takes another dozen years before Hae Sung can visit Nora, now married to Arthur (John Magaro) and living in New York. Seeing each other in person brings to the surface questions of what could have been. Past Lives premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival before going on to collect numerous accolades, including Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE ECHO VALLEY…
In Michael Pearce’s latest thriller, Kate (Julianne Moore) is horse trainer and farm owner whose life is upended when her daughter, Claire (Sydney Sweeney), shows up unexpectedly, distraught and stained with someone else’s blood. When Claire reveals that her boyfriend is dead following an argument, Kate goes to extreme lengths to smooth over the event and protect her daughter. Streaming on Apple TV+ June 13.
… WATCH BEAST
On the British isle of Jersey, Moll (Jessie Buckley) is feeling trapped. She’s still living at home with a controlling mother and a father battling dementia, and her community treats her with kid gloves because of an incident in her past. When a gruff poacher named Pascal (Johnny Flynn) saves her from a man’s unwanted advances, Moll welcomes his presence and the two form a relationship that intensifies even as suspicion falls on Pascal regarding a string of brutal crimes in the area. Beast screened in the Spotlight section at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE 28 YEARS LATER…
Director Danny Boyle returns with screenwriter Alex Garland more than 20 years after the release of 28 Days Later to direct the third installment of the post-apocalyptic series: 28 Years Later. Nearly three decades after the rage virus overtook society, a small community has found a way to survive on an island connected to the mainland by a protected causeway. When Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his 12-year-old son (Alfie Williams) venture to the mainland on a mission, they encounter secrets and horror about the virus and humans alike. Coming to theaters June 20.
… WATCH 28 DAYS LATER
Bicycle courier Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up from a coma to find the hospital and streets of London deserted. Twenty-eight days earlier, animal rights activists had unknowingly unleashed an apocalyptic rage virus on Great Britain when they released infected chimps from a research lab. Jim searches for fellow uninfected individuals, but, in the wake of societal collapse, survivors must be prepared to fight each other as well as the virus. Boyle’s iconic contribution to the zombie film genre screened at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE THE OLD GUARD 2…
Victoria Mahoney directs the follow-up to 2020’s The Old Guard (directed by another Sundance Institute alum, Gina Prince Prince-Bythewood) in which Andy (Charlize Theron) and her fellow group of immortal warriors reunite to fight a new threat to the world — the oldest of their kind. But this time, Andy goes in knowing she can’t regenerate as she has always done. This action-packed sequel stars Uma Thurman, KiKi Layne, Vân Veronica Ngô, Henry Golding, and more. Streaming on Netflix July 2.
… WATCH YELLING TO THE SKY
Seventeen-year-old Sweetness O’Hara (Zoë Kravitz) is dealing with a lot: She’s the target of bullying at school, her sister is pregnant, their mother is in and out, and their father is prone to violence. Determined to do whatever it takes to make it out of her neighborhood, Sweetness starts selling drugs with the help of her friend Roland (musician Black Thought). But this decision comes with risks, and Sweetness is forced to look inward to determine how best to approach the future. Mahoney’s feature directorial debut was supported by Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program before being released in 2011. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE EDDINGTON…
In writer-director Ari Aster’s contemporary western, the fictional New Mexico town of Eddington becomes a powder keg in the summer of 2020 as the population divides on issues of mask mandates, Black Lives Matter protests, and more. Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and Mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) stand on opposing sides as conspiracy theories proliferate the community and tensions escalate to dangerous levels. Coming to theaters July 18.
… WATCH HEREDITARY
When miniature artist Annie’s (Toni Collette) secretive mother dies, she is surprised to see her funeral so well attended. Annie attempts to navigate her grief and hold her family together, but a series of horrifying and inexplicable events soon befall the household and affect all of its members, including Annie’s children, Peter (Alex Wolff) and Charlie (Milly Shapiro), the latter of whom was favored by her late grandmother. Aster’s terrifying feature debut premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE UNICORNS…
Directed by James Krishna Floyd and Sally El Hosaini, Unicorns follows mechanic and single dad Luke (Ben Hardy) on an emotional journey as he becomes unexpectedly drawn to Aysha (Jason Patel), a beautiful drag queen he meets at a nightclub. When Aysha proposes to hire him as a driver, Luke’s eyes are opened to Aysha’s community, and he is led to examine his sexuality as the two grow closer. Coming to select theaters July 18.
… WATCH MY BROTHER THE DEVIL
In East London, teenage Rashid (James Krishna Floyd) deals drugs for a gang so that he can make enough money to provide for his family. His younger brother, Mo (Fady Elsayed), looks up to the charismatic Rash and attempts to live up to his brother’s reputation by joining the gang as well. But just as Mo seeks to prove himself worthy, Rash starts spending more time with a new acquaintance and less time with the gang. An inevitable confrontation reveals what both brothers have been hiding and what they value most. El Hosaini’s debut feature won the World Cinema Cinematography Award: Dramatic at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE FREAKIER FRIDAY…
It’s been 22 years since Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan humorously portrayed Tess and Anna Coleman, a mother and daughter who switched bodies in Disney’s third iteration of the Freaky Friday story, and now the duo is back on the big screen for another wacky adventure in a sequel directed by Nisha Ganatra. But this time, a fateful encounter with a fortune teller (Vanessa Bayer) doesn’t just transform Tess and Anna — Anna’s daughter and soon-to-be stepdaughter get roped in, too. Coming to theaters August 8.
… WATCH LATE NIGHT
Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson) is a groundbreaking comedian and longtime host of a late-night talk show, but her ratings are tanking and the network is threatening to replace her for being out of touch. Enter the newly hired Molly (Mindy Kaling). She’s got little relevant experience, but she’s the only woman in Katherine’s writers room, so she’s got that going for her. Molly is determined to find her place as a comedy writer and help change Katherine’s show for the better — Katherine just needs to step off her high horse first. Written by Kaling, Ganatra’s comedy premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE NOBODY 2…
In Timo Tjahjanto’s sequel to 2021’s Nobody, Bob Odenkirk returns as former assassin–turned– family man Hutch Mansell. In an effort to bring their family closer together, Hutch and his wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen), take their kids and Hutch’s father (Christopher Lloyd) on vacation to a tourist town from Hutch’s childhood, hoping for some fun at a water park. When Hutch stumbles upon a shady theme park operator, he inadvertently makes himself the target of a much bigger crime boss (Sharon Stone). So much for vacation. Coming to theaters August 15.
… WATCH KILLERS
Nomura (Kazuki Kitamura) is a sleek executive living in Tokyo whose charming façade hides his hobby of torturing women to death in his basement and uploading footage of his crimes to the internet. Bayu (Oka Antara) is a struggling journalist in Jakarta who becomes inspired to dole out some deadly vigilante justice in his own community when he sees Nomura’s videos online. When Nomura learns of Bayu’s activities, a perilous game of cat and mouse begins. Directed by the Mo Brothers (Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel), Killers premiered in the Park City at Midnight section of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE HONEY DON’T!…
Co-written with Tricia Cooke, Ethan Coen’s new dark comedy stars Margaret Qualley as Honey O’Donahue, a private investigator looking into a murder linked to a mysterious, cult-like church led by a corrupt man named Drew (Chris Evans). After 2024’s Drive-Away Dolls, Honey Don’t! is the second film in a planned trilogy of queer “B movies” written by Coen and Cooke and features an ensemble cast that includes Charlie Day, Aubrey Plaza, Billy Eichner, and more. Coming to theaters August 22.
… WATCH THE BIG LEBOWSKI
After Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) is assaulted in his home in what ends up being a case of mistaken identity, the self-proclaimed slacker is tasked by the other Jeffrey Lebowski (David Huddleston) — the millionaire philanthropist — to deliver a ransom when his wife is supposedly kidnapped. What ensues is a wild, absurdist series of events involving deceit, embezzlement, nihilists, and lots of bowling. The Coen Brothers’ extremely quotable cult classic — whose ensemble cast stars John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, John Turturro, and more — premiered as a surprise screening at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE EDEN…
Based on the true story of a group of Europeans who decided to relocate to Floreana Island in the Galápagos Archipelago in 1932, Ron Howard’s Eden is a survival thriller in which couple Heinz (Daniel Brühl) and Margret (Sydney Sweeney) Wittmer travel to the remote Floreana Island, where Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) and his wife, Dora Strauch (Vanessa Kirby), had previously emigrated for a life of solitude away from what they considered a bourgeois society. Amid an already harsh environment, tensions rise when a self-proclaimed baroness (Ana de Armas) arrives with a couple acolytes in tow and plans to build a luxury hotel. Coming to theaters August 22.
… WATCH REBUILDING PARADISE
On November 18, 2018, the town of Paradise was almost entirely destroyed by the deadliest wildfire in California’s history. Howard’s poignant film bears witness to both the trauma and resilience of the town’s residents as they attempt to rebuild their community. Featuring a score composed by Lorne Balfe and Hans Zimmer, the documentary premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE RELAY…
Full of twists and turns, David Mackenzie’s thriller follows Ash (Riz Ahmed), a middleman who works to produce settlements between corporations and potential whistleblowers, using a telephone relay service to maintain anonymity. His latest case is between Sarah Grant (Lily James) — who stole some incriminating documents — and a biotech company. What should be a simple case for Ash rapidly gets more complicated as he grows closer to Sarah, who is being pursued by merciless henchmen. Coming to select theaters August 22.
… WATCH PERFECT SENSE
Epidemiologist Susan (Eva Green) and local chef Michael (Ewan McGregor) fall in love in Glasgow just as a mysterious disease that causes people to lose their sense of smell begins to take hold in Scotland. As case numbers skyrocket around the world, patients start losing their other senses, too, prompting Susan and Michael to consider what is most important in life. Mackenzie’s romantic sci-fi thriller premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE CAUGHT STEALING…
Adapted for the screen by Charlie Huston based on his book of the same name, Darren Aronofsky–directed Caught Stealing stars Austin Butler as Hank Thompson, a former baseball player who now works as a bartender in 1990s New York City. When his neighbor, Russ (a leather-clad Matt Smith), asks Hank to watch his cat while he’s away, Hank doesn’t expect any trouble to come from it. But trouble indeed comes knocking, and Hank soon finds himself running across the city trying to shake loose all the parties involved in his neighbor’s criminal activities. Coming to theaters August 29.
… WATCH PI
Shot on high-contrast black-and-white film, Pi stars Sean Gullette as Max, an eccentric mathematician living in Manhattan’s Chinatown. With the help of his computer named Euclid, Max seeks a sense of order, believing that number theory can explain the world around him. When Euclid produces a mysterious 216-digit number after being programmed to make stock market predictions, it sets off a string of events that send Max down an obsessive path in his search for understanding. Aronofsky’s feature debut screened at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Directing Award: Dramatic. Check viewing options here.
BEFORE YOU SEE THE TOXIC AVENGER…
Helmed by director Macon Blair, The Toxic Avenger is a reboot of the 1984 black comedy splatter film about a vigilante superhero named Toxie. Peter Dinklage stars as Winston Gooze, a janitor who gains superpowers after an accident turns him into a mutant. Armed with a toxic mop, Toxie — very violently — takes on crime and corruption, all while trying to salvage his relationship with his son (Jacob Tremblay). Coming to theaters August 29.
… WATCH I DON’T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE
Nursing assistant Ruth (Melanie Lynskey) is already feeling pretty beaten down by life when she comes home one day to find her house burgled and her laptop and grandmother’s silver gone. After receiving no help from the police, Ruth teams up with her neighbor Tony (Elijah Wood) — who is similarly fed up with the state of the world — and the two go looking for the stolen goods themselves. The pair end up uncovering a bizarre web of crime they are wholly unprepared to navigate, but Ruth is done with inaction — she just wants people to stop being assholes. Blair’s feature debut premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, where it was awarded the Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Dramatic. Check viewing options here.
