Sundance 2026 - Best of Fest

The last Sundance Film Festival to be held in Utah for the foreseeable future is now over. I hope this goodbye isn't forever, but it will unfortunately last at least ten years, until the contract with Boulder expires. I was lucky to see 25 films this year, and while I didn't do the best job recapping them throughout the festival (forgive me, I have a very needy toddler I'm taking care of when not seeing movies), I've collected my list of ten favorites for you to catch when they're released to a wider audience.

JOSEPHINE

Josephine was the talk of the festival even before it managed to snag both the jury award AND the audience award. Historically, the last two Sundance movies to accomplish that feat (CODA and Minari) went on to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, with CODA even winning. So expectations for Josephine's post-festival prospects are sky high.

As for me, I joined in on the chorus of admiration once I saw the film in person, and I liked it so much I even caught a second viewing via the streaming platform (despite how heavy the material is). That's not to say Josephine is an easy watch, on the contrary! It is a very challenging, hard-to-watch film, but an important one. Josephine follows the titular young girl, who is forced to reckon with learning about the evils of the world way before she's ready, and her parents, who feel helpless to know how to meet the moment. Josephine is a harrowing film with career-best performances from Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan, but it's newcomer Mason Reeves who is tasked with the most heavy lifting as she carries the film on her tiny shoulders. In her expressions, we see confusion, pain, worry, fear--all the emotions we try to shield our children from. It's an unforgettable performance in a fantastic film.

RATING: 9/10

THE WEIGHT

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with The Weight. Would this be a quiet, meditative drama like Train Dreams, or would this be more action-packed? While I loved the former, I was delighted to find that The Weight was indeed a tension-filled, thrilling drama. I was completely engrossed from start to finish, which was a relief since it was the last movie of the festival, and I easily could have been distracted by how sad I am that it was all coming to an end.

After an unfortunate misunderstanding, Ethan Hawke’s Samuel is sent to prison, and his daughter, with no one to look after her, is sent to a home. After proving himself to be a hard-working, well-mannered, and obedient convict, his warden, Clancy (Russell Crowe), offers him a deal that he promises will result in his freedom. The catch? Samuel, along with a couple of other men, must transport some gold across the border into Canada. But of course, the task is much more difficult and dangerous than promised. 

Hawke is dependable here as always, while the supporting cast around him is solid. I would have loved more screentime for Russell Crowe here, but he was great with the time he had. I’m really excited for more people to see this one in particular because so many of the sequences in this are just so incredibly well done and so much fun. I was catching my breath and gasping constantly!

RATING: 8.5/10

UNDERTONE

I always need at least one horror film to stand out from the midnight lineup every year. While I did enjoy Leviticus, Undertone was easily my favorite from the bunch and one of my favorites from the whole festival. 

Undertone is a pretty straightforward horror film that follows two podcasters Evy and Justin as they record an episode of their supernatural podcast. Ten mysterious files were sent to them, and the two record their reactions and skepticism to the files, as well as their opinions on their authenticity. Evy is skeptical that they may be a hoax, but the more they listen, the more creepy things start to happen around them. 

Undertone is simple, but effective horror. Writer-director Ian Tuason knows the power of terror in sound, and the sound design in this film is the stuff of nightmares. The shot compositions here are also excellent— you truly feel on edge the whole time with all the negative space in so many of these shots, where you feel that anything could be lurking in the shadows. This could have been a pretty standard horror film, but in sticking the landing the way Tuason does, it elevates it to another level and stays with you. I’m excited to see what he does next!

RATING: 8.5/10

FING!

Fing! was so much fun for me to experience with my young daughter. We had the pleasure of seeing a few films from the family matinee section during the last few years, but this was easily the best of the films we saw together. Fing! is an instant children’s classic in the style of Roald Dahl. The film tells the story of Myrtle Meek, a Veruca Salt-type girl who has never once been told no. Consequently, she is spoiled rotten to the core. One birthday, she demands that her parents provide her with a rare creature called a Fing, by any means necessary.  Little does she know, an equally spoiled viscount has the same desire for a Fing to complete his wildlife park and isn’t afraid to steal to get what he wants. 

Fing! is an absolute delight from start to finish.  The cast is great all around with a well-rounded and ultimately charming lead performance from Ioana Bell, just the right amount of Taika Waititi, and great comedic turns from Mia Wasikowska, Penelope Wilton, and Blake Harrison. This is another movie I’m really excited for people to see and that I really recommend to families. Though yes, I will say I could do without all the farting hippos, and one particular joke about fing’s appearance. 

RATING: 8.5/10

THE INCOMER

The Incomer was the first movie I saw at this festival and still remained one of the best through all the movies I saw. It’s a quirky, Scottish, fantastical tale that was sweet and funny all at once. The scenery is gorgeous, the cast’s camaraderie was infectious, and the humor was laugh-out-loud funny. This one won’t be for everyone, but if you can get on its level, it is a good time at the movies. For more on what I thought of The Incomer click HERE

RATING: 8/10

TUNER

Like The Incomer, Tuner was also one of the first films I saw at Sundance, and it remained a highlight throughout the festival as well. Leo Woodall shows his star potential here, as he easily carries this film with his vulnerable performance. Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, Lior Raz, and Tovah Feldshuh are all great in their supporting roles, too. Tuner has a bit of everything: tension, romance, comedy, and drama--which sounds like a lot of different tones to juggle, yet director Daniel Roher finds the balance between them all effortlessly. For more thoughts on Tuner click HERE

RATING: 8/10

THE INVITE

Olivia Wilde has had a 50 percent batting average with the reception of her two directed features thus far. Booksmart was a well-loved critical darling upon opening, while Don’t Worry Darling was largely panned. After a nearly four-year break from directing, Wilde is back, debuting her third film, The Invite, at Sundance. Aside from the opening scene and a slew of establishing shots after it, The Invite takes place almost entirely inside an apartment during one particular evening. Desperate to impress her neighbor couple Hawk and Pina (Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz, respectively), Angela (Olivia Wilde) hosts an impromptu dinner party against her husband’s (Seth Rogen) wishes. Originally a play, this talky dramedy, adapted by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, brings Wilde’s record back on the right track. I had a ball with this movie and thought its humor was both relatable and absurd the deeper the conversations got. It was one of the big sellers at Sundance, and I’m eager to see how it is received by a wider audience.

RATING: 8/10

THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK

With its jazzy score, dependable actors, and gorgeous cinematography, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York feels like a film that’s a throwback to another time. This drama thriller feels like the kind of movie no one makes anymore, but everyone really wants to see. The always reliable John Turturro plays a career pickpocket named Harry, whose life is turned upside down when he steals from the wrong kid. Using video surveillance, this rich crypto kid from a wealthy family sets out for revenge while Harry does his best to find a way to stay one step ahead. While there is a thrilling element to the film, it also feels presented as a day in the life of a pickpocket, with some of the more regular challenges he faces, just dialed up a bit. My audience had a really good time with it, with many vocal reactions throughout, (the ending in particular got a huge reaction). The film features an excellent cast with great performances from Steve Buscemi, Will Price, and Giancarlo Esposito--but my favorite scene had to be John Turtorro's scene with his estranged daughter, played by Tatiana Maslany. It really brought some weight to the film and resonated with me. These characters felt lived in, with real histories and regrets. I enjoyed spending time with them.

RATING: 8/10

UNION COUNTY

Union County was one of the more modest and understated films both at the festival as a whole and also on this list. It’s quiet and slow…and perhaps easy to overlook against a slate of some showier films. But I really admired this story of the strength and resilience it takes to overcome addiction. Will Poulter gives a fantastic performance of a hopeless opioid addict who knows he has to change his ways, but doesn’t know if he has the strength to do so. With his performance set against the backdrop of real-life people and their true stories, the film is even more powerful. I appreciated learning in the Q&A that one vital role was played by someone who already lived the exact experience shown in the movie, and how much more powerful it made that moment knowing that context. Overall, Union County’s deliberate pace requires patience from the viewer, but if they're willing to have it, they are rewarded with a richly beautiful film.

RATING: 7.5/10

THE LAKE

One of the most chilling things I saw at Sundance wasn't in the horror category at all, but The Lake, a documentary on the decline of The Great Salt Lake and the people who are desperately trying to save it. As a lifelong Salt Lake County resident and great admirer of the lake, I found this to be a very important documentary that I hope will raise awareness of the issues that the lake faces, and as a consequence, the people who live near it. I found the film both frustrating and hopeful. Frustrating that sometimes politics can get in the way of doing what's right, but grateful that there are some truly dedicated and courageous people looking to turn this fight around.

RATING: 7.5/10

And that's a wrap. I'm so sad to see this chapter of my life covering the Sundance Film Festival come to an end. I have spent the last 14 years seeing films at the festival and blogging about them. It was a big part of my life, and I loved looking forward to it every January. In the next few days, I hope to write a retrospective sharing some of my favorite memories from my time with Sundance so keep an eye out! But until then, goodbye dear readers, and thank you for taking this journey with me through cinema.