Where to find this year’s buzziest titles from Sundance Film Festival

Austin, Texas native and Top Gun actor, Glen Powell with Richard Linklater in the background, before the world premiere of Hit Man. A movie that the duo developed together. Photo: TownLift.

PARK CITY, Utah — With the 2024 Sundance Film Festival well behind us, it’s time that popular films are making their way into the mainstream. Whether you couldn’t catch everything that you wanted during the festival or you caught nothing at all, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular films from this year’s festival featuring recognizable names and where you can stream or watch.

“A Real Pain” starring Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, Zombieland) and Kieran Culkin (Succession), was directed by Jesse Eisenberg and honored with the Waldo Salt Award for the Best Screenplay of the US Dramatic Competition. The film was purchased by Searchlight Pictures for $10 million. According to Variety, Searchlight intends to have a theatrical release of the film later this year.

Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize “Love Me” stars Kristen Stewart (Twilight, Spencer) and Steven Yeun (Minari, The Walking Dead). Filmmaking couple Sam and Andy Zuchero were presented the juried film prize from the Sundance Institute and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s joint Science-In-Film initiative, including a $25,000 cash award from the foundation. A purchase of this film by a distributor has not been reported as of the publishing of this article.

“Between the Temples” Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore, Asteroid City), Carol Kane (Hester Street, The Princess Bride, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Robert Smigel (Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O’Brien) was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for an undisclosed amount. According to The Wrap, the film “will have its international debut at the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival in the Panorama section.”

“Freaky Tales” features Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, The Mandelorian), Jay Ellis (Insecure), and Normani (singer, Fifth Harmony), Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline, Animal Kingdom) and Angus Cloud (Euphoria). The horror-comedy-thriller based in Oakland, CA, is still looking for distribution despite a very warm welcome and standing ovation at its premiere.

“I Saw the TV Glow” with Justice Smith (Dungeons & Dragons, Pokémon Detective Pikachu), Brigette Lundy-Paine (Atypical) premiered within Sundance’s Midnight program. It came to the festival through A24 and have plans to hold a theatrical release on May 3 this year. Watch the trailer here.

“In the Summers” starring René Pérez Joglar (known as Residente, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, and filmmaker with 8.5 million Instagram followers) and Sasha Calle (The Young & The Restless, The Flash). The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was awarded to its Colombian-American filmmaker Alessandra Lacorazza. The film as of this publication is seeking distribution.

“Krazy House,” the gory Midnight film features Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead), Alicia Silverstone (Clueless, The Crush), and Kevin Connolly (Entourage, Gotti, The Notebook). WTFilms acquired thee Dutch directors Steffan Haars and Flip Van Der Kuil film with North American distribution by XYZ. According to Deadline, the film has already made its European premiere. There is no reporting on American premieres or distribution as of this publication.

“Little Death” with David Schwimmer (Friends), Gabby Hoffman (C’Mon C’Mon, Uncle Buck, Wild), and Jena Malone (The Hunger Games, Donnie Darko) premiered at Sundance with mixed reviews. The title was heard often in my pre-movie waits, but critics are torn on the crime-comedy-drama film. It is awaiting distribution.

“My Old Ass” was definitely a buzz-title throughout the festival. Starring Aubrey Plaza (Parks & Recreation, The White Lotus, Emily the Criminal) the film was acquired by Amazon MGM in the ballpark of $15 million. With no set timeline in the ether, Amazon MGM plans to have a theatrical opening of the film, followed by streaming on Prime Video.

“Presence,” the psychological thriller starred Lucy Lui (Charlie’s Angels, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Kill Bill: Volume 1) and directed by Oscar-winner Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s series, Sex, Lies, & Videotape, Contagion). Neon purchased “Presence” for an undisclosed amount. There is no reporting on a theatrical premiere or streaming availability as of this publication.

“Rob Peace” Mary J. Blige (Grammy-winning singer, songwriter), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind), and Camila Cabello (singer, songwriter)

“Skywalkers: A Love Story” by Jeff Zimbalist, the multi-winning Emmy and Peabody filmmaker, was purchased by Netflix. This documentary follows “a daredevil couple journey across the globe to climb the world’s last super skyscraper and perform a bold acrobatic stunt on the spire.” Netflix has not announced a release or streaming date for the film.

“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” sold for a stunning ~$15 million to Warner Brothers Discovery at this year’s festival. The documentary explores two life-changing timelines for Reeve: being cast as Superman in 1978 and his 1995 accident leaving him to be quadriplegic for the reset of his days. According to Variety, “WBD’s DC Studios. Warner Bros. Motion Pictures, HBO, CNN Films and Max will collaborate on the film’s global release across theatrical and home viewing release windows.”

“Thelma” has a star-studded cast featuring 93-year-old June Squibb (Nebraska, About Schmidt, Palmer), Richard Roundtree (Shaft), Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus), Parker Posey (Party Girl, Dazed and Confused, Best in Show), Clark Gregg (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, If…). The film was purchased by Magnolia with no word on an theatrical release date. This comedy-action-riff follows Thelma after a phone scammer wrangles $10,000 claiming to be her grandson in trouble. Thelma takes her independence and justice into her own hands.

“Will & Harper” documents Will Ferrell’s road trip and reintroduction to long-time friend and comedy writer Harper Steele. Steele, a trans woman, faces the world as new self, with Ferrell by her side. Netflix acquired the film but has not spoken to a screening or release date. This film is a must-watch in my humble townie opinion.

Films that arrived to the Festival with distribution

“A Different Man” starring Sebastian Stan (Captain America) and Adam Pearson (Under the Skin) premiered with A24. A24 has not set a theatrical release date for the sci-fi thriller.

“The American Society of Magical Negroes” David Alan Grier (In Living Color, Streamers) and Justice Smith (Dungeons & Dragons, Pokémon Detective Pikachu) was presented at the Sundance Film Festival by Focus Features. It’s North American theatrical debut is slated for March 15.

“Hit Man” features Glen Powell alongside Adria Arjona (Father of the Bride), Austin Amelio (The Walking Dead), and Retta (Parks & Recreation) and premiered with Netflix at this year’s festival. Based on the Texas Monthly reporting of Gary Johnson, the film is an easy to watch comedy. “Hit Man” is rumored to be available for streaming on Netflix starting on June 7.

“Love Lies Bleeding” was the second film featuring Kristen Stewart (Twilight, Spencer)and Jena Malone (The Hunger Games, Donnie Darko) in this year’s festival; the film also stars Dave Franco and Katy O’Brian. It was premiered by A24 and will have a theatrical release in select theaters on March 8.

“Sasquatch Sunset” was brought to the film festival by filmmaker brothers David and Nathan Zellner and Bleecker Street. Starring Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, Zombieland) and Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & The Six) is said to have a 2024 theatrical release.

“Stress Positions” stars John Early (Search Party, Would It Kill You to Laugh?) and was brought to Sundance by Neon. Curiously, the comedy-drama is not listed on its website, nor is there rumor of a theatrical or streaming release.

“Suncoast” stars Laura Linney (Ozark, The Truman Show, The Squid and the Whale), Woody Harrelson (Cheers, The Hunger Games, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), and Nico Parker (The Last of Us). Distributed by Searchlight Pictures, it is now streaming on Hulu.

“The Greatest Night in Pop” premiered at Sundance with Netflix. The documentary covers the famous 1985 recording of the song ‘We Are the World,’ for African famine relief. It’s streaming premiere was on January 29.

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