While the Sundance Film Festival is considering a big move for 2027, 2025 is underway. The 41st edition of the event kicked off on January 23 in Utah, and below you can check out all of Deadline's reviews from the festival so far.
Sundance founder Robert Redford promised that audiences “can expect a program in 2025 that showcases diverse and vibrant global filmmaking.” The lineup runs through February 2, and includes more than 85 features and six spin-off projects scheduled to be shown in Park City, Salt Lake City and online.
Below is a collection of our reviews of the festival, which last year awarded the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize to Alessandra La Corazza's film. In the summer. Click on the movie title to read the full movie.
Dev Patel in Brian Chaney's “Rabbit Trap,” an Official Selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival
Andreas Johansson/Courtesy Sundance Institute
to divide: Sundance (Midnight)
Director and screenwriter: Brian Chaney
ejaculate: Dev Patel, Rosie McEwen and Jade Crute
Takeaway Deadline: In the debut feature film from British writer-director Bryn Chaney, he uses Celtic folklore and the intimacy of sound to reveal a darkness that some may find difficult to express in words.
“Brides”
Bankside
to divide: Premieres
exit: Nadia Fall
screenwriter: Suhaila Al-Bushra
ejaculate: Obada Hassan, Safia Ingar, Yusra Warsma, Samri Abu Zia, Aziz Kapkurt
Takeaway Deadline: For those who have already made up their minds about immigrants and Muslims, Fall's film will make no difference. But for those who tend to lean, Brides It is a wonderful attempt to humanize a difficult topic and move towards humanizing the hot topic of online extremism.
“By design”
Patrick Mead Jones
to divide: the next
Director and screenwriter: Amanda Kramer
ejaculate: Juliette Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Melanie Griffiths, Samantha Mathis, Robin Tunney, Udo Kier
Takeaway Deadline: The plot never goes completely out the window, but it's certainly not foremost in the director's mind. It's not commercial fare, but festival audiences are sure to respond to it By designOur open thoughts about consumerism, status and the baggage we accumulate emotionally and physically.
RELATED: In Amanda Kramer's 'By Design' Juliette Lewis Felt Like She Was 'Walking the Yellow Brick Road to Oz' – Sundance Studio
“If I had legs I would kick you”
Sundance Institute
to divide: Premieres
Director and screenwriter: Mary Bornstein
ejaculate: Rose Byrne, A$AP Rocky, Conan O'Brien, Danielle Macdonald, Ivy Walk, Delaney Quinn, Danielle Zollaghadry, Delaney Quinn
Takeaway Deadline: It takes viewers on a tense motherhood journey that never stops. Although it's not the sensitive movie you'd go see on Mother's Day, If I had legs I would kick you It'll make you want to call your mom and check in.
“Jimba”
Sundance Film Festival
to divide: Premieres
exit: Sophie Hyde
Screenwriters: Sophie Hyde, Matthew Cormack
ejaculate: Olivia Colman, John Lithgow, Odd Mason Hyde, Daniel Henshall, Kate Box, Eamonn Farren, Zoe Love-Smith, Romana Freddy, Hans Kesting.
Takeaway Deadline: Above all, Jimba First of all it is about family. The film belongs to Lithgow, who has one of his best works in recent years as a selfish man determined to do things his way, no matter the cost, but with a loving heart.
RELATED: Olivia Colman: 'Jimpa' Writer-Director Sophie Hyde Is 'More Creative and More of an Actor's Director' – Sundance Studio
“Omaha”
Sundance Film Festival
to divide: Dramatic competition
exit: Cole Webley
screenwriter: Robert Machuyan
ejaculate: John Magaro, Molly Bell Wright, Wyatt Solis, Talia Balsam
Takeaway Deadline: In this family portrait of a road trip during the 2008 financial crisis, one disturbing sequence after another is played out on the grim face of John Magaro, who is clearly hiding the truth from them, from us, and from what this trip actually is. .
RELATED: 'Omaha's John Magaro Talks 'Heartbreaking' Family Drama That 'Any Parent Will Connect With Deeply' – Sundance Studio
“Cunning life!” (aka Burden of Black Genius)'
Stephen Paley
to divide: Premieres
exit: Red “Questlove” Thompson
Takeaway Deadline: Cunning life! There are two things going on, the first is celebrating a genius singer, songwriter and producer who never quite made it into the pantheon of greats. The second part of Questlove's thesis: Fame did not come easy on Sly Stone's shoulders.
“No twin”
Greg Cotton/Courtesy Sundance Institute
to divide: American dramatic competition
Director and screenwriter: James Sweeney
ejaculate: Dylan O'Brien, James Sweeney, Lauren Graham, Aisling Franciosi, Tasha Smith, Chris Perfetti
Takeaway Deadline: In James Sweeney's second film, he navigates loneliness, anxiety, depression, and other common millennial pastimes with a story that's both comedic and heartfelt in equal measure…complete with a few “WTF” moments.
