This summer’s 15 most promising under-the-radar films
From indie horror standouts to bonkers tech origin stories to campy theater fun, these anti-blockbusters will be worth seeking out this summer
Film News Films
By this point in the year, we already know what summer blockbusters to expect in 2023. Sure, there are a few superhero flicks, a prestige pic or two, and some fun animated family films. But maybe you’re looking for something a little different, like an intimate character drama, a quirky comedy, or a creepy horror flick. As the Oscars proved this year, A24 has your back in pretty much every category. Their summer offerings this season include You Hurt My Feelings, a rare big-screen outing for Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Talk To Me, a supernatural thriller from Danny and Michael Philippou, and Problemista, the feature film directorial debut of Los Espookys co-creator Julio Torres. Plus, films from IFC, Searchlight, Orion, and more round out our list of smaller movies worth checking out this summer.
Before we dive into it, one quick note: this list isn’t strictly limited to indie films. You’ll see films from major studios and streamers on this list, like Joy Ride (Lionsgate) and They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix). Our reasons for including these titles vary; some of them are feature debuts with smaller budgets that are likely to get overshadowed by larger films releasing on the same day. Some of them are streaming-only releases, which can get overlooked. Ultimately, this list aims to draw attention to films that aren’t likely to debut at the top of the box office. Still, as Everything Everywhere All At Once demonstrated with its massive success, sometimes the underdogs come out on top.
4 Comments
…a touching story about identity and family, the ones we’re born into and the ones we make for ourselves.Does this using this phrase indicate it’s based worn out cliche´s?
You have Past Lives in the header, but it’s not part of the list?
Thank you for the list. For some of us, these films are giving us the juice to continue seeking new stuff from little known sources. I know the Straight-To-Netflix isn’t the ultimate goal but it is a way to get $$ and distributed, since if enough people see and enjoy maybe the next one is easier to make with more funding? Once a month I’ve been sitting aside time to watch various film shorts on YouTube. Many are standard issue and unintentionally funny—I saw a “Lone Man in the Zombie Apocalypse” type short which ended with the guy dueling and dying with a facial close up, yet in the side margin you see a busy freeway in the background—though some are downright clever and well directed on probably zero budget.
War Pony, will spawn many many dumb ( oh ..is it the War Horse Prequel?) jokes, Also Tilda Swinton appears to be cosplaying as Catherine Tate in that photo.I wish I had something intelligent to add , but as always , I do not.