Whilst there are plenty of great movies that take their time to tell a deep, meaningful story, there are also those whose narrative requires only a small timeframe to shine on the screen. A recent example of this is Brad Pitt’s Bullet Train, whose success at the box office simply proves this point.
Sometimes, these kinds of tight-knit stories can be just as entertaining and important as the longer ones, as many Reddit users have recently discussed on the site. Some of cinema’s finest accomplishments only need one or two days to fully navigate their story – which often makes for a much more rewarding viewing experience.
Train To Busan (2016)
Train to Busan is a perfect example of how a thrilling story can make a story absolutely fly by, with the film’s two-hour runtime barely feeling like one-hour, thanks to its intense story and fast pacing. The narrative itself takes place entirely throughout one train journey, which immediately sets the scene for a gripping thriller.
Reddit user justduett describes Train To Busan as “excellent,” claiming that the subtitles shouldn’t deter audiences from losing themselves in this one-of-a-kind story. Train to Busan is one of the best Korean movies ever made and represents the strongest aspects of the country’s film industry.
Rope (1948)
A lot of Hitchcock’s early movies take place over a short amount of time, but it’s arguably Rope that pulls off this trick the most effectively. The entire film takes place over one brief party, with Hitchcock’s expert filmmaking working to increase tension at every turn up to the movie’s explosive climax.
Redditor moviemike007 cites “Hitchcock’s Rope” as a perfect example of a thriller that does this perfectly, singling it out among the director’s filmography as one of his most impressive achievements of all. Though it might not be his most famous work, it’s certainly one of his most technically proficient.
After Hours (1985)
Although Scorsese is more widely recognized for his work within the gangster genre, his dark comedy After Hours remains some of his most entertaining and lighthearted work to date. The story follows one man whose night becomes infinitely more complicated than he could’ve expected after his date goes wrong.
Reddit user scarfacesam317 gives After Hours the recognition that it deserves as a “very underrated Scorsese film,” noting their surprise at how few people had mentioned the movie. The tight timeframe of the film is doubly effective in After Hours, as it builds towards one of the best climaxes of Scorsese’s movie career.
Locke (2013)
Not only does Locke take place over a short timeframe, but it also manages to tell its story with only one face on the screen for the entire runtime. The film follows Tom Hardy’s character Ivan as he navigates a series of difficult phone calls whilst stuck on the road during an important journey.
Redditor quantoso believes that “Locke” is one of the finest examples of this very specific subgenre of film, with Hardy’s emotional performance driving most of the narrative forward. Spending so much time with one character makes for an unusual viewing experience, but it leaves the audience much more engaged by the end.
American Graffiti (1973)
George Lucas’ American Graffiti might not always get the recognition it deserves in the director’s filmography, but his first cinematic hit is actually a great example of why Lucas is such a popular filmmaker. With American Graffiti, he manages to create some truly compelling and intriguing characters whilst still confining his narrative to one night.
Redditor oasisraider points out that American Graffiti “spans about 12 hours,” but this doesn’t stop it from being a “great movie” at all. In fact, the tight timeframe of this film actually helps with the messages that Lucas is trying to promote – life moves quickly, and if you don’t keep up, it can quickly pass you by.
1917 (2019)
2019 was such an incredible year for new movies, so it’s a true testament to Sam Mendes’ filmmaking prowess that 1917 was one of the best films of that year. The story follows one soldier as he embarks on a dangerous mission through an active war zone, tracing his journey in real-time with an artificial one-shot.
Redditor timmybash calls 1917 a “masterpiece,” which is a sentiment that was shared by several movie fans upon the film’s release. There are very few films that truly place the audience in the midst of the action quite like 1917, which instantly sets it apart from its competition.
Victoria (2015)
Victoria is famous for its authentic single-take technique, which gives the story the unique impression of being completely unbroken. From the first frame to the last, every second of the film takes place in real-time and allows the audience to track the narrative without editing interruptions.
Redditor pengwinonshroom praises Victoria as an “incredible achievement” in filmmaking, doing what very few films have ever managed to do so effectively. It’s a perfect example of how to do a tight, contained story without ever letting the momentum stall.
Before Sunrise (1995)
Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise (and both of its sequels) belong to a certain genre of film that thrives in its explicit lack of destination. The whole film takes place over one night, consisting solely of brief conversations between two lost souls as they craft a deep, meaningful relationship.
Reddit user capselevatorscene cites “Before Sunrise” as one of the best movies that takes place over a short amount of time, with other Redditors in the comments agreeing that its sequels are just as worthy of this title. Linklater’s entire trilogy is unlike any other cinematic accomplishment, relying completely on human emotions and minimal plot to tell its story.
12 Angry Men (1957)
Even today, 12 Angry Men remains one of the best courtroom dramas ever made, and its tight runtime is a huge reason for this. The film is able to convey so much emotion and thought-provoking philosophy in such a short amount of time, cementing Reginald Rose’s screenplay as one of the most efficient of all time.
Reddit user dayofsloths accurately labels 12 Angry Men as “incredible,” which proves just how well the film has aged throughout its many decades in the cinema hall of fame. So many movies have attempted to capture the unique magic of 12 Angry Men, but none have ever completely managed it.
Groundhog Day (1993)
Although Groundhog Day might feel like a fairly long story because of how repetitive it can be, the real narrative only takes place over one single day, which the film’s protagonist Phil is forced to live over and over again. The genius of Groundhog Day is that each version of that day is completely different, teaching Phil important lessons over the course of the film.
Reddit user splice1138 argues that including Groundhog Day under this criterion is “technically correct” in the best way because the entire point of the film is to feel long and repetitive, despite only having 24 hours to work within. It features some of the most impressive pacing and plotting ever written when one considers just how unconventional the story is.
