The Best Indie Movies To Watch In 2025

Wes Anderson’s latest opus dives into family espionage with all the wit, high jinks, symmetry and emotional depth the director is known for. The story follows Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro), a flamboyant tycoon who, after surviving six dubious plane crashes, names his only daughter, Liesl (Mia Threapleton) – a nun on the verge of taking her vows – as his sole heir. An arresting ensemble – Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston and Benedict Cumberbatch – joins them on the globe-trotting quest to protect the family legacy from scheming tycoons, terrorists and assassins, along with new additions to the Anderson cast, including Michael Cera and Riz Ahmed. This is vintage Anderson – stylish, sharp and bound to win hearts. In movie theaters May 23 (UK); June 6 (USA)

Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, based on the best-selling memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch, is an unflinching true-life tale of trauma and rebirth. Imogen Poots (28 Weeks Later), in the role of Yuknavitch, plays a young girl who escapes her abusive childhood to find salvation in swimming; a life-affirming exploration of how art has the power to transform lives. In movie theaters late 2025

Two Hollywood heartthrobs, Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, give the performance of a lifetime in this highly-anticipated period piece. Set during World War I, it follows Lionel (Mescal) and David (Josh O’Connor) as they travel across the States, recording the lives and voices of everyday people for the war effort. What starts as a documentary project gradually grows into a quiet, forbidden romance between the two men. Subtle, heartbreaking and uplifting. In movie theaters late 2025

With books like Night Bitch, Matrescence and The Mother Load becoming instant bestsellers, the conversation around post-natal mental health finds itself at the forefront of both cinema and literature. This new project, based on Ariana Harwicz’s 2017 novel, is a delicate portrayal of a young mother’s descent into post-partum psychosis. With Jennifer Lawrence in the lead, a screenplay by Alice Birch (Dead Ringers) and Enda Walsh (Hunger), and Lynne Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin) directing, it’s on course to be a crucial and talking-point release. In movie theaters late 2025

The Bear’s breakout star Ayo Edebiri makes her horror debut in former GQ editor Mark Anthony Green’s first feature film, a twisted tale about a faded pop star named Moretti – played by a brilliantly sinister John Malkovich – who returns to the public eye decades after going missing. There is something of a Midsommar feel to it, as Edebiri (a Moretti superfan) is ushered away to a secluded campsite with a gaggle of fans, where a series of strange events unfolds. Available to stream now

Sean Baker is well on his way to becoming one of the great indie directors thanks to his Oscar-winning film, Anora. It’s the anti-Cinderella tale of Ani – played by an outstanding Mikey Madison – a sex worker in New York swept off her feet by the degenerate son of an oligarch. A shotgun wedding and extravagant honeymoon follows before her dream life quickly unravels. Not to be missed. Available to stream now

Josh O’Connor helms this heartbreaking film about Dusty, a Colorado rancher, who loses his entire estate to a devastating wildfire. The story moves beautifully through loss, grief, acceptance and resolve as both Dusty and his wife – played by The White Lotus’ Meghann Fahy – start from scratch, rebuilding their home, emotionally and physically. Writer and director Max Walker-Silverman’s last movie, A Love Song, was one of the best-reviewed at Sundance 2022, so expect great things. Available to stream on Mubi now

This new movie by comedian Tim Key is a tongue-in-cheek homage to musical romance movies like Yesterday and Begin Again. When Charles, a kooky lottery winner, dreams of reuniting his favorite band for a private gig, his fantasy comes true when both the former bandmates accept. With Carey Mulligan playing a Stevie Nicks-inspired lead singer and Tom Basden (After Life) her estranged ex-bandmate, it’s a joyous comedy sure to put a smile on your face. In movie theaters now

This Luca Guadagnino-produced directorial debut from newcomer Hailey Gates took home the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance for good reason. It’s an unsettling satire, following a wannabe actress (Alia Shawkat) who lands a job in a military roleplaying facility. When she falls in love with a soldier playing a rebel (Callum Turner), their unscripted chemistry puts everyone in danger. It’s a mind-bending meta tale, following closely in the footsteps of The Truman Show. In movie theaters from spring

Demi Moore leads this Kubrick-esque satirical horror, along with a cast that includes Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid, about the price we pay for eternal beauty – and the extreme lengths people will go to achieve it. The film had a riotous reception when it showed at Cannes Film Festival, so expect brilliant, albeit twisted, things from this nightmarish project. Available to stream now

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