While big blockbuster franchise movies and remakes dominate the box office and certainly have merit as entertainment, many moviegoers look for films that sit outside these parameters. These are either the independent movies that fly under the radar or the award-winning indie movie that has earned accolades around the world.
Fortunately, there is an entire catalog of phenomenal indie movies that are freely available via streaming to explore this coming summer. From lighthearted romps through greyscale cities to cautionary tales about first love, these 10 indie movies should scratch that cinephile itch.
Grandma – Available On DirecTV & Showtime
Starring the eternal Lily Tomlin and rising star Julia Garner, this movie is a sweet, wry adventure through Los Angeles. The eponymous grandma, a misanthropic poet named Elle, tries to scrounge enough money to help her granddaughter, Sage, get an abortion – a lofty feat, after she cut up all her credit cards.
It’s a fun movie that manages to walk the line between comedy and seriousness quite well, with moments that feel very earnest, as well as moments that are laugh-out-loud absurd. Tomlin is exceptional, as always, and Garner does a great job playing a strong-willed, unapologetic teen girl.
The Descendants – Available To Rent Or Buy On YouTube, Apple TV & More
This story about family, legacy, and grief is a must-watch for anyone who either has family in Hawaii, is a sister, or just wants to see George Clooney run at Mach speed in flip flops. When his wife enters a coma after a boating accident, Matt (Clooney) discovers that she’s been cheating on him – thus sparking a journey across Hawaii to not only find the other man, but reconcile his grief with his two daughters.
It’s a soulful movie with engaging characters that handles its subject matter with incredible realism. Plus, the sisters have a delightful rapport that feels true to life, and it’s refreshing to see a movie about Hawaii that tackles some of its real issues concerning settlement and land protection.
Captain Fantastic – Available On Netflix
Somehow, it seems fitting that Viggo Mortensen would star in this movie as a radical father of six living off the grid. After his wife and mother of his children, takes her own life, he is forced to reintroduce his children to the world at large as they travel to her funeral.
At times, it can be a frustrating movie to watch, because it’s clear these children aren’t prepared for the many situations they end up having to confront – especially his oldest son, Bodivan (wonderfully played by George MacKay), who wants to date girls and go to college. But ultimately, it’s a movie with a lot of heart, and it’s hard not to fall in love with this fantastic little family.
Minari – Available To Rent Or Buy On Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube & More
As one of the most recent breakout films on this list, Minari is truly a gorgeous film. It’s a story about immigration, family ties, new communities, and chasing dreams, yet none of it feels too ham-fisted or didactic. It is one of the most earnest and moving films of late and only elevated higher by its phenomenal cast.
Many may recognize lead Steven Yeun from his work on The Walking Dead, but the other lead, Han Ye-Ri, is just as compelling and worthy of acclaim. After an impressive track record of Korean indie films (including K-drama Hello My Twenties!), it’s wonderful for fans to finally see her get a spot in the limelight.
The Mustang – Available On Tubi
In rural Nevada, a convict named Roman (played by Matthias Schoenaerts) refuses to make steps towards his freedom, believing himself unworthy. As a result, he is placed in a mustang rehabilitation program, where he is partnered with an unruly stallion named Marquis and attempts to break and befriend him.
These programs exist in real-life, as a way of improving the prison system while mitigating the harm done to wild horse populations. It can be a hard movie to watch, since Roman struggles with himself, his past, and his anger, which he sometimes takes out on Marquis. But ultimately, the bond he forges with the horse, and the good that comes of it, proves just how valuable these programs are.
I Believe In Unicorns – Available On Hoopla, Tubi & More & Diary Of A Teenage Girl – Available On Starz & DirecTV
This entry is a bit of a cheat, but these movies are pretty similar both in setting, scope, and message, so it might be fun to watch them both in a day. The first movie is a harrowing story about first love, in which a 16-year-old girl (played by a fledgling Natalia Dyer) enters a relationship with a man in his 20s (the always talented Peter Vack). The second movie is about a girl of the same age (Bel Powley) who is going through her sexual awakening in a world that doesn’t know how to treat her yet.
Both films should be mandatory viewing for anyone who has either been a teenage girl or is currently raising one. They’re frank in both the pains and joys of being that age and how it’s both liberating and terrifying when your grasp of innocence starts to fade.
Frances Ha – Available On Showtime & FuboTV
This is a story about a woman in her mid-20s (Greta Gerwig) who is really trying hard and it is one of the realest movies about trying to make it as an artist and stick to your guns in a world that tries to make it as difficult as possible.
And while her white, middle-class experience might not resonate with everyone, Frances herself is as relatable as it gets. She navigates adult friendships, both losing them and trying to make them, and ultimately learns to be comfortable being alone. As awkward as she can be, the story is so utterly charming that viewers can’t help but root for her.
The Last Black Man In San Francisco – Available On Amazon Prime
If New York doesn’t strike your fancy, maybe San Francisco will. Anyone who’s lived in this city for a longer period of time knows that it’s changed dramatically over the years. Prices have skyrocketed, forcing many people to become displaced in search of more affordable housing.
This film focuses on one such man, Jimmie Fails, who is enamored with a house with personal value to him. When the house goes up for sale, he begins to touch it up, in a final bid of affection towards a home he will always love, even if it continues down the path it is on. It’s a symphony of a movie, not just because of the fantastic score by Emile Mosseri, but because it evokes emotions and memories that are very raw. In the world we live in, Jimmie’s story is most likely very relatable to viewers, for better or worse.
What We Do In The Shadows – Available On Hoopla & Kanopy
Before the TV series and before Taika Waititi was a household name, this movie held a much-beloved space in the hearts of many. It’s considered a cult classic for a reason: few films can make audiences cry-laugh with every viewing, let alone be cute and clever on the side.
What We Do In The Shadows came about during the height of vampire hype, and it flipped the genre on its head without being condescending or pretentious. It’s a silly little film wonderfully acted by Waititi, his partner in crime, Jemaine Clement, and the hilariously ragged Jonathan Brugh.
Adventureland – Available On HBOMax
This list wouldn’t be complete without the quintessential summer indie movie. Adventureland is a story about a recent college grad (Jesse Eisenberg) whose parents’ financial situation tanks, which means he can’t backpack through Europe as planned. Instead, he has to get a job as an amusement park staff member.
While it sounds like the premise of yet another wacky summer comedy, it’s actually a heartfelt tale about humility and making meaningful connections in the process. His budding romance with outcast Em (Kristen Stewart) is charming and real, and with a classic indie rock soundtrack, the overall story feels like something pulled out of a long-lost memory.
