‘Opus,’ ‘Jimpa,’ ‘Ricky,’ ‘Atropia’ and ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’Courtesy of SundanceWhile theSundanceFilm Festival mullsa big move for 2027, the 2025 program, its 41st edition, kicked off January 23 in Utah, and you can look below for all of Deadline’s reviews from the fest.Sundance founder Robert Redford promised that audiences “can expecta 2025 programthat showcases varied and vibrant filmmaking globally.” Running through February 2, the lineup includes more than 85 features and six episodic projects set to screen in Park City, Salt Lake City and online.Related StoriesFestivals‘Atropia’ Takes U.S. Grand Jury Prize Dramatic At Sundance Film Festival: Full Winners ListFestivalsDeadline Studio At Sundance Film Festival Photo Gallery: Dylan O’Brien, Ayo Edebiri, Jennifer Lopez, Lily Gladstone, Benedict Cumberbatch & MoreBelow is a compilation of our reviews from the fest. Click on the movie’s title to read our full take.Watch on DeadlineAtropia‘Atropia’Courtesy of Sundance InstituteSection:U.S. Dramatic CompetitionDirector-screenwriter:Hailey GatesCast:Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner, Chloë Sevigny, Tim Heidecker, Jane LevyDeadline’s takeaway:Ripe with aughts nostalgia around the OG iPod, frosted lip gloss and Guy Fieri’s favorite flame-printed shirts,Atropiais ultimately a clever meditation on the atmosphere of war and division that has become increasingly commonplace in the U.S. since 9/11.RELATED:‘Atropia’: How Callum Turner & Alia Shawkat Found A Soul Connection In Hailey Gates’ War Satire – Sundance StudioThe Ballad of Wallis Island‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’Alistair Heap/Focus FeaturesSection:PremieresDirector:James GriffithsCast:Tom Basden, Tim Key, Sian Clifford, Akemnji Ndifornyen, Carey MulliganDeadline’s takeaway:The snap, crackle and pop of vinyl marks the start ofThe Ballad of Wallis Island, a music-themed rom-com that’s half-whimsical com and half-unrequited rom. In the absence of a new film by John Carney, who has the template nailed down by now, audiences at Sundance lapped it up.RELATED:‘The Ballad Of Wallis Island’: How Carey Mulligan Tuned Up To Sing Again On The Big Screen – Sundance StudioBubble & Squeak‘Bubble & Squeak’SundanceSection:U.S. Dramatic CompetitionDirector-screenwriter:Evan TwohyCast:Himesh Patel, Sarah Goldberg, Steven Yeun, Dave Franco, Matt BerryDeadline’s takeaway:It’s a very Sundance kind of funny that goes all in on a very bizarre premise. If you go with it, it will take you all the way, but for those with a low tolerance for cheerfully madcap bonkersness, its lean 97 minutes may well seem like an eternity.RELATED:‘Bubble & Squeak’s Himesh Patel: The Film Is “Exploring Something That’s So Recognizable, So Personal” – Sundance StudioBunnylovr‘Bunnylovr’Courtesy Sundance InstituteSection:U.S. Dramatic CompetitionDirector-screenwriter:Katarina ZhuCast:Katarina Zhu, Rachel Sennott, Austin Amelio, Perry Yung, Jack KilmerDeadline’s takeaway:Inspired by Zhu’s own relationship with her absent father and the other men in her life,Bunnylovrtakes audiences on a cathartic journey through the ephemeral experience of floating about online while seeking intimacy in the digital ageRELATED:‘Bunnylovr’: Rachel Sennott Built On “Baseline Of Love And Friendship” With Writer-Director-Star Katarina Zhu – Sundance StudioBy Design‘By Design’Patrick Meade JonesSection:NextDirector-screenwriter:Amanda KramerCast:Juliette Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Melanie Griffith,Samantha Mathis, Robin Tunney, Udo KierDeadline’s takeaway:The plot never entirely goes out of the window, but it certainly is not uppermost in the director’s mind. It’s not commercial fare, but festival audiences surely will respond toBy Deisgn’s open-ended ideas about consumerism, status and the baggage we accumulate both emotional and physical.RELATED:In Amanda Kramer’s ‘By Design’ Juliette Lewis Felt Like She Was “Walking The Yellow Brick Road To Oz” – Sundance StudioJimpa‘Jimpa’Sundance Film FestivalSection:PremieresDirector:Sophie HydeScreenwriters:Sophie Hyde, Matthew CormackCast:Olivia Colman, John Lithgow, Aud Mason-Hyde, Daniel Henshall, Kate Box, Eamon Farren, Zoe Love Smith, Romana Vrede, Hans KestingDeadline’s takeaway:Above all else,Jimpafirst and foremost is aboutfamily. The film belongs to Lithgow, who gets one of his best outings in recent years as a self-centered man determined to do things his way, no matter the cost, but still with a loving heart.RELATED:Olivia Colman: ‘Jimpa’ Writer-Director Sophie Hyde Is “More Creative And More Of An Actor’s Director” – Sundance StudioKiss of the Spider Woman‘Kiss of the Spider Woman‘SundanceSection:PremieresDirector-screenwriter:Bill CondonCast:Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, Tonatiuh, Bruno Bichir, Josefina Scaglione, Aline MayagoitiaDeadline’s takeaway:After a year filled with intriguing musicals fromWickedtoEmilia Pérez,Condon carries on the tradition of a genre he has mastered before on a larger scale,now demonstrating it is still fresh and alive and relevant even on the budget of independent filmmaking.RELATED:‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’: Jennifer Lopez Waited “Whole Life” For Movie Musical, Tonatiuh “Was Politely Told No” Before Landing Lead Role – Sundance StudioLast Days‘Last Days’Sundance InstituteSection:PremieresDirector:Justin LinScreenplay:Ben RipleyCast:Sky Yang, Radhika Apte, Ken Leung, Toby Wallace, Marny Kennedy, Clair Price, Ciara Bravo, Naveen AndrewDeadline’s takeaway:For Lin, the film about ill-fated missionary John Chau is an interesting hybrid of everything his career at different points has been to this moment, a chance to pull off a true-life character study and blend it with elements of the kind of big-screen adventure.RELATED:Justin Lin Talks Returning To Indie Roots After More Than 20 Years With ‘Last Days,’ The Fight To Break Out Of The “Algorithm Loop” – Sundance StudioThe Legend of Ochi‘The Legend of Ochi’A24Section:Family MatineesDirector-screenwriter:Isaiah SaxonCast:Helena Zengel, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Finn WolfhardDeadline’s takeaway:The Legend of Ochiis a throwback, one of those films clearly inspired by more adventurous PG entertainments of the past and never talking down to its intended audience. As a result, it is breath of fresh air and a stunning visual treat that will appeal well beyond the youngest members in the household.RELATED:‘The Legend Of Ochi’s Isaiah Saxon On How A Sundance Rejection Set Him On His Path As A Filmmaker & Realizing His A24 Fantasy Epic On A $10 Million Budget – Sundance StudioLove, Brooklyn‘Love, Brooklyn’Section:U.S. Dramatic CompetitionDirector:Rachael HolderScreenwriter:Paul ZimmermanCast:André Holland, Nicole Beharie, DeWanda Wise, Roy Wood Jr., Cassandra Freeman, Cadence ReeseDeadline’s takeaway:The lead character in this tender love letter to the borough about letting go is faced with multiple paths at a trying time in his life. Zimmerman’s script unpacks contemporary dynamics of sex, relationships and family.RELATED:André Holland On Bringing EP Steven Soderbergh To Rachael Abigail Holder’s ‘Love, Brooklyn’: “He’s A Wonderful Ally” – Sundance StudioOBEX‘OBEX’Pete Ohs/Sundance InstituteSection:NextDirector:Albert BirneyCast:Albert Birney, Callie Hernandez, Frank MosleyDeadline’s takeaway:OBEXplays out like a whimsicalVideodrome, with major nods to the mysterious, industrial shadows of David Lynch’sBlue Velvet, though Birney doesn’t really go all-out into horror, sci-fi or even fantasy, for that matter. Like a lot of the genre filmsdebuting at Sundancethis year, its is a peculiar mash-up of influences.Oh, Hi!‘Oh, Hi!’Sundance InstituteSection:PremieresDirector:Sophie BrooksCast:Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, John ReynoldsDeadline’s takeaway:Although Brooks’ follow-up to the charming 2017 featureThe Boy Downstairshas the recipe for an enjoyable romantic comedy,Oh, Hi!ultimately struggles to find its footing.Omaha‘Omaha’Sundance Film FestivalSection:U.S. Dramatic CompetitionDirector:Cole WebleyScreenwriter:Robert MachoianCast:John Magaro, Molly Belle Wright, Wyatt Solis, Talia BalsamDeadline’s takeaway:In this family road-trip pic set during the 2008 financial crisis, one disturbing sequence after another is played out on the morose face of John Magaro, who is clearly keeping the truth from them — and us — of what this journey is actually all about.RELATED:‘Omaha’s John Magaro Talks “Heartbreaking” Family Drama That “Anyone Who’s A Parent Will Connect Profoundly With” – Sundance StudioOpus‘Opus’A24/Courtesy Sundance InstituteSection:MidnightDirector-screenwriter:Mark Anthony GreenCast:Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber MidthunderDeadline’s takeaway:Opusis a poignant, self-aware critique of how new generations consume media and worship at the toxic stan culture when “anyone could be a god at any moment.” It’s ultimately hard not to find the film relatable after a week of placating to some of our time’s most talented actors and filmmakers at Sundance.RELATED:‘Opus’ Star Ayo Edebiri Unpacks How Fame “Affects All Of Us” In Mark Anthony Green’s A24 Horror Debut — Sundance StudioPlainclothes‘Plainclothes’Sundance InstituteSection:U.S. Dramatic CompetitionDirector-screenwriter:Carmen EmmiCast:Tom Blyth, Russell Tovey, Maria Dizzia, Christian Cooke, Gabe Fazio, Amy ForsythDeadline’s takeaway:The smoldering chemistry between the younger and older man is especially good as a young man wrestling with his identity. But this is not strictly a coming-out movie, it’s a relatable story about infatuation and heartbreak, most of it communicated with painfully raw emotion by these star-crossed lovers’ eyes.RELATED:Carmen Emmi Talks Learning Feature Screenwriting On ‘Plainclothes’ & Takeaways From Queer Romantic Thriller – Sundance StudioRabbit Trap”Rabbit Trap’Andreas Johannessen/Courtesy Sundance InstituteSection:MidnightDirector-screenwriter:Bryn ChaneyCast:Dev Patel, Rosy McEwen, Jade CrootDeadline’s takeaway:Bryn Chaney uses Celtic folklore and the intimacy of sound to unpack a darkness that some might struggle to put in words.RELATED:‘Rabbit Trap’ Writer-Director Bryn Chainey Unpacks “Healing Journey” Of His Fairytale Horror About A “Needy” Inner Child – Sundance StudioRebuilding‘Rebuilding’CAASection:PremieresDirector-screenwriter:Max Walker-SilvermanCast:Josh O’Connor, Meghann Fahy, Lily La Torre, Kali Reis, Amy Madigan, Jefferson MaysDeadline’s takeaway:In the end,Rebuildinggives us faith and hope for the human race and its ability to overcome in the face of the worst life can throw at us. It’s inspiring stuff.RELATED:Filmmaker Max Walker-Silverman & Josh O’Connor On Premiering Wildfire Drama ‘Rebuilding’ Amid “Heartbreaking” SoCal Disaster – Sundance StudioRicky‘Ricky’Sundance Institute.Section:U.S. Dramatic CompetitionDirector-screenwriter:Rashad FrettCast:Stephan James, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Titus Welliver, Maliq Johnson, Imani Lewis, Simbi KaliDeadline’s takeaway:Stephan James is the centerpiece of this more-than-promising debut, giving a generous, humble performance that ensures the real message of the movie gets through. As one streetwise character says, “When we get locked up, our families get locked up too.”RELATED:Rashad Frett & Stephan James Shed Sympathetic Light On Ex-Offenders’ Journey Of Reintegrating Into Society With ‘Ricky’ – Sundance StudioSly Lives! (AKA The Burden of Black Genius)‘Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)‘Stephen PaleySection:PremieresDirector:Ahmir “Questlove” ThompsonDeadline’s takeaway:Sly Lives!has two things going on, the first being a celebration of a genius singer-songwriter-producer who never really made it into the pantheon of greats. The second part of Questlove’s thesis: fame did not sit easily on Sly Stone’s shoulders.RELATED:‘Sly Lives!’ Director Questlove On The Genius Of Sly Stone And How He Influenced Generations Of Artists — Sundance StudioSorry, Baby‘Sorry, Baby’Sundance Institute | photo by Mia Cioffy HenrySection:U.S. Dramatic CompetitionDirector-screenwriter:Eva VictorCast:Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, Louis Cancelmi, Kelly McCormack, Lucas Hedges, John Carroll Lynch, ER Fightmaster, Marc Carver, Liz Bishop, Natalie Rotter-Laitman, Alison Wachtler, David T. Curtis, Jordan Mendoza, Conor SweeneyDeadline’s takeaway:IfSorry, Babydoesn’t find a major distributor who nurtures it with the care it deserves, I am going to quit because this movie has to be out there in the world for many reasons. Certainly chief among those is the emergence of a filmmaker to savor.RELATED:‘Sorry, Baby’: Naomi Ackie & Lucas Hedges On The Power Of Supportive Friendship In Eva Victor’s Directorial Debut – Sundance StudioThe Thing With Feathers‘The Thing with Feathers’Anthony DickensonSection:PremieresDirector-screenwriter:Dylan SouthernCast:Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Boxall, Henry Boxall, Eric Lampaert, Vinette Robinson, Sam SpruellDeadline’s takeaway:As a work of art,The Thing with Feathersis something special, a fantastic calling card for an auteur in waiting. As a movie, however, it won’t (and maybe can’t) be for everyone; an essay on mortality that beguiles with its beauty and stings with the truth.RELATED:‘The Thing With Feathers’ Star Benedict Cumberbatch Says Cathartic Experiences With Dark Material Are No Substitute For “Real Therapy” – Sundance StudioTogether‘Together’Sundance InstituteSection:MidnightDirector-screenwriter:Michael ShanksCast:Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Damon HerrimanDeadline’s takeaway:A worthy follow-up to Franco’s 2020 feature directorial debutThe Rental, which stars Brie in a chilling horror about a vacation gone wrong, the pair is at their best when drawing from their own chemistry and history to bring Shanks’ dark romance to life.RELATED:How Married Stars Alison Brie & Dave Franco Avoided An ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ Outcome With Horror Pic ‘Together’ – Sundance StudioTwinless‘Twinless‘Greg Cotten/Courtesy Sundance InstituteSection:U.S. Dramatic CompetitionDirector-screenwriter:James SweeneyCast:Dylan O’Brien, James Sweeney, Lauren Graham, Aisling Franciosi, Tasha Smith, Chris PerfettiDeadline’s takeaway:In James Sweeney‘s sophomore feature, he navigates loneliness, anxiety, depression and other common millennial pastimes through an equally comedic and heartfelt arc … complete with a few “WTF” moments.RELATED:Dylan O’Brien & Actor-Filmmaker James Sweeney On The Many Rejections They Transcended To Mount Their Buzzy Comedy ‘Twinless’ – Sundance StudioThe Wedding Banquet‘The Wedding Banquet’Luka Cyprian/Bleecker StreetSection:PremieresDirector:Andrew AhnCast:Kelly Marie Tran, Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, Youn Yuh-jungDeadline’s takeaway:The Wedding Banquet‘s unapologetic approach to all the which-ways of human attraction might be a bit full-on for mainstream audiences, but don’t be surprised to see Ahn’s film pop up in the awards conversation this time next year.RELATED:‘The Wedding Banquet’ Writer-Director Andrew Ahn Explains How Original Film “Gave Me The Strength” To Be A Gay Filmmaker — Sundance StudioMust Read StoriesHide ArticlesSebastian Stan & Jeremy Strong On Why ‘The Apprentice’ Is “More Of A Horror Movie”Lopez’s ‘Spider Woman’ Ready To Tempt Buyers; Shipka & Grace Lead ‘Nowhere Game’SAG-AFTRA Weighs In After Chappell Roan’s Grammy Speech Calling Out LabelsCostume Designers Guild Awards: ‘Nosferatu’ & ‘Conclave’ Win – Updating LiveRead More About:Kiss of the Spider WomanSly Lives! 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