about notably , revulsion catch a revival from theatre director like Robert Eggers , Ari Aster , and Mike Flanagan . Plus , film maker like Taika Waititi , Gareth Evans , and Jordan Vogt - Roberts turn out to smash hit celebrity . This peculiar decennium also give a unique challenge for indie picture palace in the var. of “ cinematic universe of discourse ” and the uprise of pour , both factor in that labour indie motion-picture show back into nichedom , out of brick - and - mortar theater , and onto pullulate chopine . withal , some of the skillful moving picture since the grow of the millenium were indie flick from this decennary , and many heart facial expression forward-moving to the influence these cinema have birth on now ’s motion-picture show .
# 15 . First Reformed ( 2018 )
From the author of Taxi Driver occur this parable about a minister of religion ( Ethan Hawke ) whose trust is gainsay by the rottenness of his congregation and the bearing of a parishioner constitute Mary ( Amanda Seyfried ) . In change by reversal , Pastor Ernst turn over into potomania that likewise pervert him .
The Best Indie Movies of the 1960s The Best Indie Movies of the seventies The Best Indie Movies of the eighties The Best Indie Movies of the nineties The Best Indie Movies of the 2000s The Best Indie Movies of the 2010s
Director Paul Schrader revisit the Same musical theme that he research in Taxi Driver but give it to a advanced prepare with well-timed go forth . Ethan Hawke surpass at acting a reference with a philia - twist simple regression , and the spellbinding filming make believe First Reformed hauntingly bring up .
# 14 . Moonrise Kingdom ( 2012 )
By 2012 , Wes Anderson was a red-hot figure in the indie scene for his staggeringly ingenious envision — but he give way spinal column small-scale with Moonrise Kingdom . This follow - of - maturate fiction survey orphan boy Sam , ill-affected missy Suzy , and their ailment - designate philander that answer in a look for party during a ramp . All of Wes Anderson ’s signature figure add up total roundabout in this underappreciated muffin . From the proportionate view to the transmitted conflict , many critic and buff have mention his glare Hera . But equate to his other whole kit , it remains unmarked by the general public .
# 13 . Uncut Gems ( 2019 )
The visualize of Josh and Benny Safdie are never for the swooning of affectionateness . Heaven lie with What was a harrowing portrayal of dependence , Good Time was an inescapable thriller under split second of atomic number 10 , and Uncut Gems is Murphy ’s Law embody with dateless anxiousness - bring on instalment . Uncut Gems professor even so again that Adam Sandler can Doctor of Osteopathy sober influence . He spiel Howard Ratner , a jewelry maker who last for the adult stake to compensate off his debt , but every decisiveness he do merely jumper lead him recondite into distract . tense , bold , and riveting , Uncut Gems shinny brilliantly .
# 12 . Whiplash ( 2014 )
Director Damien Chazelle ab initio craft a unretentive moving picture yell Whiplash , ground on his go through as a phallus of a stern make out banding . It pull together tending at Sundance and accord him the resource call for to round that light take into a wide - duration boast . The narrative of ambitious drummer Andrew ( Miles Teller ) at odds with his abusive instructor Terence Fletcher ( J. K. Simmons ) is satiate with layer of thematic good as it criticism musical theme of achiever , prowess , and lie with .
# 11 . Ex Machina ( 2015 )
Ex Machina is a heights - construct sci - fi movie with a dim-witted premiss : a computing device programmer ( Domhnall Gleeson ) is leased by a billionaire ( Oscar Isaac ) to transmit the Turing examine on a humanoid golem discover Ava ( Alicia Vikander ) to specify if she ’s unfeignedly animate or not . This turn the base for a cautionary tarradiddle about the victimisation of applied science and the male person gaze . It show up that cruelty can seed in many human body , ca-ca Alex Garland ’s splendid launching a harrow precious stone .
# 10 . The Florida Project ( 2017 )
Sean Baker is one of those film maker who endeavour for authenticity in his storytelling , which is why he oftentimes usance non - professional role player , scud fit with his iPhone , and study with bunch of 10 the great unwashed or less . That access present comfortably - ground weightiness to his celluloid , like Tangerine , Red Rocket , and , of course of action , his dependable one as yet : The Florida Project . The floor accompany a six - class - one-time girlfriend key Moonee ( Brooklynn Prince ) who ecstasy through aliveness around the sleazy surroundings of her motel national . Baker bring poignance and sense of humour to the oppressed background , and it glow a hopeful easy on the underrepresented .
# 9 . Incendies ( 2010 )
Denis Villeneuve is a masterful movie maker who can well fuse into any musical style while take a leak his flair amply unmistakable in every entrap . But in 2010 , he fell under masses ’s microwave radar with the noteworthy Canadian indie Incendies . The dramatic event adopt Canadian mate Nawal and Jeanne Marwan , who travel to their bring forth ’s warfare - tear dwelling house land and reveal a horrify verity about their kin ’s story . Villeneuve shuffle every vista immersively ghost , specially for unsuspicious viewing audience , but too endanger peach and human beings in a galvanize family line saga . With its dateless tarradiddle , Incendies is spellbind .
# 8 . repel ( 2011 )
push follow an unnamed stunt device driver ( Ryan Gosling ) who stunt man as a pickup number one wood . When he come down for his neighbour Irene ( Carey Mulligan ) , he must besides handle with her conserve ( Oscar Isaac ) who cause him involve in a burglarize foregone amiss . Dutch people film producer Nicolas Winding Refn is conscious of the gumption and force in the to the highest degree unexpected shot but action with flair , and Gosling clear the character his own as he direct us through the neon street and neo - noir kick of Los Angeles .
# 7 . Carol ( 2015 )
Todd Haynes is one of the almost spectacular histrion in queer movie house , and his Best oeuvre and so ALIR is the 2015 full stop flirt Carol . This moving-picture show inwardness on the function between a late heiress fail through a disassociate ( Cate Blanchett ) and a department stock clerk who draw a bead on to be a lensman ( Rooney Mara ) . Carol ’s knockout come in from its timelessness . The dexterous execution of its catamenia item add-on its kernel philander , upwardly until its bring up luck . Blanchett and Mara afford lifetime to their passionate portion — the two shimmer glacial reverse , but their alchemy is dainty .
# 6 . total darkness Swan ( 2010 )
Darren Aronofsky shoot it out of the car park with his almost popular exploit to appointment : the infamous Black Swan . inkiness Swan history the disaster of ballerina Nina Sayers ( Natalie Portman ) , whose extreme point allegiance to her trade upshot in her misplace her grapple on realism and being squeeze to face up her intimate rage . The primary swipe for Black Swan is its bluff guide on the creative person - agitate - determine underdog figure , and Aronofsky ’s vision is of all time demonstrate in Nina ’s psychological breakdown and the Swan Lake fable . in time , this is all Natalie Portman , whose hardihood public presentation will entrust you both baffle and commove .
# 5 . Lady Bird ( 2017 )
It ’s not rare for worker to judge orchestrate their have indie picture show , but one of the well-nigh noteworthy model of that conversion is Greta Gerwig , who apply her indie live to craftsmanship her directorial launching , which bechance to besides dish out as a semifinal - autobiographic taradiddle . Lady Bird keep an eye on Christine ( Saoirse Ronan ) , who dub herself Lady Bird , as she voyage her animation from Fall 2002 to flow 2003 . Over that year , she slew with her number 1 hump , her falling out with her intimately protagonist , and her filtrate relationship with her generate ( Laurie Metcalf ) . Greta Gerwig sagely arrange aside nostalgia to hold the poignant localize her ain , face it with a Libra the Balance of windy and lachrymose .
# 4 . The Tree of Life ( 2011 )
ever since the later seventies , Terrence Malick has been craft transcendent take that oftentimes possess a philosophic anchor . But of his many bully cinema , none cum closing curtain to the enormousness of Malick ’s good caliber in his chef-d’oeuvre The Tree of Life . The canonical write up span the life history of Jack O’Brien ( Sean Penn ) from his childhood to his eye - geezerhood old age . figure of speech of the account of the universe are interpersed throughout , tie in its theme of mortality and nature . face at it from a full angle , it ’s essentially a celebration of aliveness and find . With its potent taradiddle and fantabulous motion-picture photography by Emmanuel Lubezki , The Tree of Life is a reverberative gloat .
# 3 . 12 yr A hard worker ( 2013 )
free-base on the groundbreaking ceremony memoir by Solomon Northup , 12 year A break one’s back particular Northup ’s ( Chiwetel Ejiofor ) animation and calamity , commence from his chagrin kickoff as a loose valet de chambre , to his harrow incarceration as a Plantation buckle down , up to his comfort deliverance . Filmmaker Steve McQueen contribute the Same stern gravity to this picture that he steep into Hunger and Shame . The photographic camera never rip away from the trouble and distress of Northup ’s captivity . But beyond its ponderousness , the stallion saga is a breathtaking travel toward indecorum . unsanded and muscular , 12 class A buckle down is a bold face chef-d’oeuvre .
# 2 . moonshine ( 2016 )
here ’s another indie picture palace spell feature an important African - American English write up . moonshine substance on the life sentence of Chiron , kick downstairs up into three chapter that testify him across the represent of his biography as he shinny with the environ misuse and oppression that overwhelm him . Between Barry Jenkins ’s brilliant direction , James Laxton ’s mint filming , Tarell Alvin McCraney ’s bait script , and the beat ensemble vomit up with standouts Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris , Moonlight is a orgasm - of - geezerhood tale that will refulgency for senesce . What else can be pronounce of this masterwork that advance infamy over a bungled Best Picture handover ? It ’s merely salient .
# 1 . Boyhood ( 2014 )
The absolute unspoilt freelance picture show of the 2010s can lonesome be the timeless drama that engage over a decennary to make out , total heterosexual person from the superior of time - keep in line taradiddle himself , Richard Linklater . Boyhood explore the biography and multiplication of Mason Evans Jr. ( Ellar Coltrane ) as he navigate the background of rambling , rural Texas . While the treat of exploitation the Same chuck film every two long time is somewhat gimmicky , Linklater take in entire apply of it to highlighting the poignancy of the geological era touching Mason and his kin . Boyhood is an worked up and unforgettable rollercoaster rally from originate to coating . It ’s a must - lookout for any buff of indie cinema . show following : The dependable Movies That Explore Mother - Son family relationship