6 Sundance Films You Don’t Want to Miss!

Sundance has long been a launchpad for the most creative, challenging, and unforgettable cinema, from CODA to Beasts of the Southern Wild. The 2026 Sundance Film Festival may be over, but the buzz from Park City is only just starting! From powerful dramas that grabbed the top prizes to wild doc gems and inventive indie comedies, this year’s lineup gave us films that are already being talked about as potential awards season players and cult favorites alike. Here are 5 you absolutely want to add to your watch list!

1. Josephine
This is the film of Sundance 2026, winning both the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award, a rare feat that means both critics and festivalgoers were genuinely moved. Set in Golden Gate Park, the story follows an 8-year-old girl who witnesses a traumatic act of violence and struggles to reconcile her fear and anger in a world where adults seem helpless to protect her. Directed by Beth de Araújo and starring Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan, and anchored by a stunning breakout performance from Mason Reeves, Josephine isn’t an easy watch, but it’s one that stays with you -- a thoughtful, immersive drama that tackles big emotional territory with sensitivity and visual flair.

2. The Invite
A dinner party comedy-drama that became one of Sundance’s breakout crowd-pleasers, The Invite blends sharp humor with real emotional stakes. Directed by Olivia Wilde and featuring an ensemble of talented actors (including Edward Norton, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Wilde herself), the film centers on a couple whose lives get hilariously and unpredictably tangled when their chaotic neighbors crash an already tenuous gathering. Critics praised its razor-sharp script and deft balance of laugh-out-loud moments with bigger questions about relationships and human connection, the kind of movie that’s both fun and thoughtful in a way you don’t always see at festivals.

3. The Incomer
If you want something uniquely weird yet surprisingly heartfelt, this British comedy from director Louis Paxton is a must-see. Winner of Sundance’s NEXT Innovator Award, The Incomer follows two siblings who’ve lived in isolation on a remote Scottish isle for 30 years. Their quiet, almost mythical existence is upended when a socially awkward official arrives, and the clash between outsider and islanders leads to bizarre, laugh-out-loud moments and a surprisingly touching look at community, identity, and belonging. It’s the kind of offbeat indie gem that sticks with you long after the credits roll.

4. Nuisance Bear
This documentary is the kind that Sundance does best, blending unexpected thrills with striking real-world implications. At first blush, Nuisance Bear looks like a wildlife film about polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba, but it quickly reveals itself as something more cinematic and visceral. Critics have compared the film’s pace and tension to thriller classics, and the immersive camera work turns these bear encounters into something both gripping and oddly poetic. Whether you love documentaries or just great storytelling, this one’s worth your attention for its bold visual style and unexpected narrative punch.

5. One in a Million

Winner of Sundance’s Audience Award in the World Cinema Documentary Competition, One in a Million is the kind of story that hits you right in the heart. Following a young girl’s journey across ten years of war, exile, and heartbreak from Syria to Germany, this documentary isn’t just informative, it’s deeply human. It’s one of those films that reminds you why documentaries matter, offering empathy and perspective in equal measure. If you’re looking for something that will stay with you well after the credits roll, this is it.

6. The Moment

The mockumentary starring Charli XCX premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where she plays a satirical, fictionalized version of herself navigating the chaos of fame and the aftermath of her successful Brat Era. An indie film that blends music-world satire with meta commentary on artistry and identity, Charli has openly talked about drawing on her real experiences from her world tour to shape the movie’s tone, and its premiere generated massive buzz at the festival thanks to her performance and star power.

Even as Sundance looks to a future beyond Park City, the 2026 crop proved once again that the indie spirit is alive and well. Whether it’s a gut-punch drama, an uproarious comedy, or boundary-pushing documentary, these are films you’ll want to know about now.