The 2019 Sundance Film Festival is underway, and as always we’ll be hearing a lot of buzz about a lot of movies that most of us won’t get to see for a while. But some of them will arrive sooner than later, and others will receive updates about release potential as they’re scooped up by distributors in the coming days. Below is a guide to what movies already have distribution (and maybe a release date) in place and which ones are picked up as the fest continues and beyond. We’ll be adding to the list as we hear the latest from Park City.
Heading to SXSW
David Crosby: Remember My Name (US Documentary Competition) – Music legend David Crosby gets the biographical doc treatment in this film, which next heads to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival before playing SXSW. Then, Sony Pictures Classics will release it in theaters.
Coming Soon to Netflix
February
Velvet Buzzsaw (Premieres) – Dan Gilroy reunites with his Nightcrawler stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo for this horror film, which begins streaming on Netflix near the end of the festival, on February 1st. Read our review.
March
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Premieres) – Chiwetel Ejiofor makes his feature directorial debut with this drama based on the true story previously documented in the film William and the Windmill, and Netflix will begin streaming it in most of the world on March 1st.
Delhi Crime Story (Indie Episodic) – Netflix picked up this seven-part India-set police procedural series, which will start streaming on March 22nd.
TBD
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile (Premieres) – Joe Berlinger’s biopic about serial killer Ted Bundy (Zac Efron) was picked up for $9 million by Netflix, where it will join Berlinger’s new Bundy documentary series. The company plans to first give it a theatrical run for awards consideration this fall.
I Am Mother (Premieres) – This sci-fi thriller about a teenage girl and her maternal robot, which co-stars Hillary Swank and Rose Byrne, has been picked up by Netflix for a North American streaming release.
Coming Soon to Amazon Prime Video
Brittany Runs a Marathon (US Dramatic Competition) – Jillian Bell makes a breakout turn in this comedy about a hard-partying New Yorker who decides to change her life. Amazon paid $14 million for the movie and will send to theaters before it lands on Prime Video.
Honey Boy (US Dramatic Competition) – Alma Har’el’s drama based on the life of Shia LaBeouf and starring LaBeouf as his father, sold to Amazon Studios for $5 million and so will wind up exclusively streaming on Prime Video after its theatrical release.
Late Night (Premieres) – This Mindy Kaling-scripted comedy starring Emma Thompson as a legendary late night talk show host was picked up by Amazon for $13 million and will eventually stream on Prime Video after a theatrical release.
Photograph (Premieres) – This Mumbai-set romantic drama is being put out by Amazon Studios, which means after theatrical release, the movie will be streaming on Prime Video.
The Report (Premieres) – Amazon spent $14 million for Scott Z. Burns’ movie about the investigation of CIA torture starring Adam Driver, and that means at some point the movie will stream on Prime Video.
Troop Zero (Premieres) – Bert & Bertie’s ’70s-set comedy about rival girl scout troops competing for a special honor courtesy of NASA is an Amazon Studios original, meaning it will stream on Prime Video following a theatrical release.
Coming Soon to HBO
March
Leaving Neverland (Special Events) – This widely buzzed about four-hour documentary laying out sexual assault accusations against Michael Jackson is due to broadcast on HBO, premiering over two nights on March 3rd and March 4th.
TBD
The Inventor: Out for Blood in the Silicon Valley (Documentary Premieres) – When this documentary from Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) hits HBO later this year, some fans might confuse it as being connected to their comedy series Silicon Valley.
Native Son (US Dramatic Competition) – Rashid Johnson’s adaptation of Richard Wright’s novel of the same name was expected to hit theaters via A24, but they were forced to unload it and now the movie will broadcast on HBO later this year.
Share (US Dramatic Competition) – Winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance, Pippa Bianco’s teen thriller, an extension of her 2015 short of the same name, was picked up by HBO from A24 for seven figures (at least $1 million) and will air on the cable channel later this year.
Coming Soon to Showtime
May
Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men (Indie Episodic) – This documentary series about the history of the Wu-Tang Clan is set to debut on Showtime on May 10th.
Coming Soon to Hulu
Ask Dr. Ruth (Documentary Premieres) – This film about the iconic sex therapist Dr. Ruth could be this year’s RBG, and like RBG it’s heading to Hulu, probably after a theatrical release via Magnolia Pictures.
Little Monsters (Midnight) – Three adults guard a bunch of kids against zombies in this horror movie which will stream on Hulu following its theatrical run from Neon.
Coming Soon to FX
Quarter Life Poetry (Indie Episodic) – This series based on an Instagram account is heading to television via FX Networks.
Coming Soon to CNN
Apollo 11 (US Documentary Competition) – CNN Films is one of the producers of this moon-landing doc, so we can expect it to air on the cable news network one day. Read our review.
Halston (Documentary Premieres) – While The Orchard just picked up this documentary on the titular fashion designer for a Spring theatrical release, the film is set to premiere on CNN in “the third quarter” of this year.
Coming Soon to DirecTV
The Hole in the Ground (Midnight) – A24 will have this family-centered horror film in theaters in March (see below), but first DirecTV will exclusively premiere it on VOD towards the end of the festival on January 31st.
Coming Soon to Apple
The Elephant Queen (Kids) – Chiwetel Ejiofor narrates this nature film about a mother elephant, which is joining all of Apple’s upcoming original slate on the company’s new streaming service.
Hala (US Dramatic Competition) – Minhal Baig’s extension of her 2016 short of the same name about a Muslim teenager was picked up by Apple, presumably for an exclusive on their new streaming service.
Coming Soon to Discovery Channel
Tigerland (US Documentary Competition) – Oscar-winning director Ross Kauffman (Born Into Brothels) and Oscar-winning producer Fisher Stevens (The Cove) teamed up for this nature film about tigers in the wild, which will air on the Discovery Channel.
Coming Soon to the New York Times
The Dispossessed (Shorts) – Musa Syeed’s short documentary about a faith healer will soon stream online courtesy of the New York Times‘ Op-Docs.
Coming Soon to Theaters
February
Birds of Passage (Spotlight) – Colombia’s entry for the foreign-language Oscar, about an indigenous family involved in the drug trade, didn’t get the nomination but will hit US theaters on February 13th via The Orchard.
March
The Hole in the Ground (Midnight) – Following its exclusive run on DirecTV’s VOD service, A24 will put the horror movie in theaters on March 1st.
Photograph (Premieres) – This Mumbai-set romantic drama is being put out in theaters by Amazon Studios on March 8th.
The Mustang (Premieres) – Focus Features will put out this drama about a convict in a program working with horses on March 15th.
Apollo 11 (US Documentary Competition) – CNN Films is one of the producers of this moon-landing doc, so we can expect it to air on the cable news network one day. Before then, Neon will release it to theaters in March. Read our review.
April
The Biggest Little Farm (Spotlight) – Filmmaker John Chester documents his development of a sustainable farm in this feature, which Neon is putting in theaters on April 5th.
May
The Tomorrow Man (Premieres) – John Lithgow and Blythe Danner star in this romantic drama that Bleecker Street Media is putting in theaters on May 17th.
Spring
The Brink (Documentary Premieres) – Alison Klayman’s Steve Bannon documentary sold to Magnolia Pictures, which plans a theatrical release in Spring 2019.
Halston (Documentary Premieres) – Frederic Tcheng’s new documentary about the titular fashion designer was picked up by The Orchard, who previously released Tcheng’s Dior and I, with plans for a Spring theatrical release.
August
Brittany Runs a Marathon (US Dramatic Competition) – Jillian Bell makes a breakout turn in this comedy about a hard-partying New Yorker who decides to change her life that Amazon paid $14 million for. They plan to release it in August, according to Bell.
Summer
The Farewell (US Dramatic Competition) – Lulu Wang’s comedy about a Chinese family who throws an impromptu wedding in order to see their grandmother before she dies was picked up by A24 for $7 million and plans to release it theatrically this summer.
Late Night (Premieres) – Amazon picked up Mindy Kaling’s late night talk show host comedy for $13 million and will release the movie in theaters in early summer before it begins streaming on Prime Video.
The Nightingale (Spotlight) – Jennifer Kent follows up The Babadook with this revenge drama, which IFC Films is releasing theatrically something this summer.
The Mountain (Spotlight) – Kino Lorber picked up this drama starring Jeff Goldblum and Tye Sheridan ahead of the festival and will release the film theatrically sometime this summer.
Fall
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile (Premieres) – Joe Berlinger’s biopic about serial killer Ted Bundy (Zac Efron) was picked up by Netflix for $9 million, and the company plans to first give it an Oscar-qualifying theatrical release this fall.
The Report (Premieres) – Amazon spent $13 million for Scott Z. Burns’ movie about the investigation of CIA torture starring Adam Driver, and yes that means at some point the movie will stream on Prime Video, but first will head to theaters in the fall. Read our review.
TBD
Ask Dr. Ruth (Documentary Premieres) – This film about the iconic sex therapist Dr. Ruth is set for a theatrical release via Magnolia Pictures.
Blinded by the Light (Premieres) – Gurinder Chadha’s latest follows the coming of age of a Pakistani boy in 1980s England whose life changes when he discovers the music of Bruce Springsteen. New Line/Warner Bros. spent $15 million for the rights to the crowd-pleasing hit.
David Crosby: Remember My Name (US Documentary Competition) – Music legend David Crosby gets the biographical doc treatment in this film, which Sony Pictures Classics will release in theaters.
Hail Satan? (US Documentary Competition) – The latest documentary from Penny Lane (Nuts!), about the religious group The Satanic Temple, is due in theaters and possibly same day on VOD courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Honey Boy (US Dramatic Competition) – Shia LaBeouf’s sorta autobiographical drama, in which he co-stars as his own father, sold to Amazon Studios for $5 million and will get a theatrical release sometime this year.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (US Dramatic Competition) – This gentrification drama co-written by star Jimmie Fails about his own experiences is produced by Brad Pitt’s company and is set to be released by A24, just as Moonlight was a couple years ago.
Little Monsters (Midnight) – This zombie horror movie was jointly picked up by Hulu and Neon, with the latter planning a theatrical release.
The Lodge (Midnight) – A woman and her new stepchildren are stuck in a haunted cabin in this horror movie picked up by Neon for $2 million for theatrical distribution. Read our review.
Luce (US Dramatic Competition) – Julius Onah’s adaptation of J.C. Lee’s play about a high school student adopted 10 years earlier from Eritrea was picked up by Neon for a theatrical release.
Maiden (Spotlight) – Sony Pictures Classics picked up this documentary about an all-female sailing crew in an around-the-world race after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall. The distributor will release it theatrically this year.
Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love (Documentary Premieres) – Nick Broomfield’s documentary on Leonard Cohen and his muse, Marianne Ihlen has been picked up by Roadside Attractions for a theatrical release sometime later this year.
Merata: How Mum Decolonized the Screen (Documentary Premieres) – Ava DuVernay’s distribution company, Array, picked up this doc about pioneering indigenous New Zealand filmmaker Merata Mita, presumably for a theatrical release.
Monos (World Cinema – Dramatic Competiton) – This foreign drama about a bunch of kids watching over an American hostage sold to Neon for its US theatrical release.
Official Secrets (Premieres) – Keira Knightley stars as a real-life whistleblower in Gavin Hood’s biographical drama, which IFC Films spent about $2 million for and will release theatrically sometime in 2019.
Sea of Shadows (World Cinema – Documentary Competition) – This Leonardo DiCaprio-produced environmentalist documentary about saving the vaquita from poachers off the coast of Mexico was picked up for worldwide release by National Geographic, which will put the film in theaters this year.
Share (US Dramatic Competition) – Pippa Bianco has turned her own award-winning 2015 short film into a feature-length thriller, and A24 currently has this on their docket for the coming year.
The Souvenir (World Cinema – Dramatic Competition) – Joanna Hogg’s Grand Jury Prize winner, about a relationship between a young film student and an older man, sold to A24 before the festival and will receive a theatrical release this year. A24 also secured rights to a sequel during the festival.
Troop Zero (Premieres) – Amazon Studios will give this ’70s-set comedy about rival girl scout troops a theatrical release before its eventual arrival on Prime Video.
Where’s My Roy Cohn? (US Documentary Competition) – Sony Pictures Classics acquired this documentary about Donald Trump’s mentor and will put the film in theaters.