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Sundance

This page is home to our coverage of the Sundance Film Festival.

The Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival in the United States, taking place every year in January in Park City, Utah. It was founded in 1978 as the Utah/US Film Festival and re-named the Sundance Film Festival in 1991, after Robert Redford’s character from the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Film School Reject has had the honor of covering Sundance since 2008, two years after our site was founded. Over the years, we’ve discovered a number of amazing films in Park City — from our first review of 2008’s In Bruges to our listing of the 25 Best Sundance Movies of All-Time in 2015 to our 2019 list of the 50 Best Sundance Horror Movie Premieres to our discoveries of Swiss Army Man and Hunt for the Wilderpeople and The Witch at Sundance 2016 — we’ve spent over a decade reviewing hundreds of wonderful independent films.

We have also covered (on numerous occasions) what it’s like to cover Sundance for those who aren’t lucky enough to make the trip. And for those interested in filling their yearly watchlists, we’ve also recapped our favorites with a festival-closing list (in almost every year). Check out our archive of Sundance favorites via the links below:

Explore the entire archives of our annual Sundance Film Festival coverage below:

Honk For Jesus Save Your Soul

‘Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.’ is Two Movies When It Should Be One

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But you can’t be too mad about its structural sin when you have Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall quietly waging war with each other.

Maika Monroe in Watcher

‘Watcher’ Chases Maika Monroe With Uncertainty and Dread

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It seems Maika Monroe is being followed once again. Or is she?

We Need To Talk About Cosby

‘We Need to Talk About Cosby’ Reckons with the Two Bill Cosbys

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This Showtime docuseries from W. Kamau Bell is an invitation to discuss a painful betrayal beyond its headlines and tweets.

Fresh Sundance Sebastian Stan

‘Fresh’ is a Shocking Trojan Horse That Commits to the Bit

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It may not work as social commentary horror, but Mimi Cave’s feature debut is still an over-the-top delight for anyone willing to roll with its surprisingly dark punches.

Call Jane Banks Weaver

With ‘Call Jane,’ Phyllis Nagy Delivers a By-the-Book Abortion Drama

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The lackluster first feature from the ‘Carol’ screenwriter follows the story of an underground abortion clinic in 1960s Chicago.

Speak No Evil

‘Speak No Evil’ Delivers a Brutal Commentary on Blanket Kindness

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Most of you are going to hate this movie.

Dakota Johnson in Cha Cha Real Smooth

‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ Finds Laughs and Pain After College

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Cooper Raiff delivers another winner with his thematic follow-up to 2020’s ‘Shithouse.’

When You Finish Saving The World Sundance

‘When You Finish Saving the World’ Wants You Out of Your Head

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Jesse Eisenberg’s feature directorial debut is an exhausting bout between mother and son, sold by Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard’s captivating anti-chemistry.

After Yang Sundance

‘After Yang’ is Science Fiction Deeply Rooted in the Human Adventure

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Kogonada’s sophomore feature is a relentlessly pristine experience, but one that is ultimately warm and throbbing with life.