13 Good Independent Films Every Indie Fan Should See

Finding good independent films can feel like searching for true originality in a landscape crowded by Hollywood formulas.

For those who value unique perspectives and emotional honesty, we’ve narrowed down the titles worth your attention.

This list highlights 13 remarkable indie films—each one chosen for its boundary-pushing storytelling, diverse voices, and unconventional style—that showcase why independent cinema remains essential for adventurous film fans.

1. Chasing Amy

This is where indie cinema’s power hits hard. “Chasing Amy” is more than a classic; it’s a milestone in challenging audience assumptions about relationships and sexuality. We stand behind this film because it lives up to its reputation for raw, authentic dialogue and fearless storytelling.

Why “Chasing Amy” Still Sets the Bar:

• Tackles LGBTQ+ themes and identity without tiptoeing. It’s honest, sometimes uncomfortable, and the nuance is why real fans remember it.

• Features standout performances from Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason Lee. Their emotional depth drives the story forward.

• No predictable paths—every scene feels earned. The film asks you to rethink what you know about love, belonging, and loyalty.

• Served as a launchpad for indie talent, both behind and in front of the camera.

• Continues to spark debate and inspire emerging filmmakers. You’ll finish it engaged, challenged, and wanting to talk about it more.

Good independent films stay with you because they refuse to offer easy answers.

2. Finding Tony

Your search for a sports drama with heart, fresh perspective, and relevant themes ends with “Finding Tony.” We are proud to distribute this one—it elevates underrepresented voices and delivers a story that uplifts and empowers.

Beyond Sports: Real Growth, Real Stakes

This is more than redemption on the basketball court. “Finding Tony” centers on a former NBA star who must face grief, rebuild his life, and coach others while healing himself. The film’s commitment to real issues—grief, hope, and representation—sets it apart.

What Makes “Finding Tony” Stand Out:

• Puts African-American leads and women in basketball front and center. Indie film is about representation that matters.

• Blends sports action with honest emotional journeys—every win, every setback counts.

• Perfect for anyone seeking more than the typical sports formula. If you crave character-driven, transformative arcs, it delivers.

• Our team leveraged festival runs and strategic partnerships to connect “Finding Tony” with passionate indie fans like you.

• Rooted in authentic, lived experiences. No gloss, just truth.

3. Facing Monsters

Go deep. “Facing Monsters” shows you the price and power of obsession, commitment, and confronting your own limits. We distributed this film because it’s brave, honest, and visually unforgettable.

Beyond Surfing: The Human Cost of Devotion

Follow Kerby Brown as he risks everything in pursuit of waves that most would avoid. You’ll get some of the most breathtaking surf footage ever captured, but the real story dives into addiction, family, and fear.

What You’ll Get with “Facing Monsters”:

• Intimate, high-stakes look at a risk-taker. You witness both his strength and the toll on his loved ones.

• Ocean cinematography that immerses you right into the roar and chaos—every frame feels essential.

• Goes well past adrenaline and spectacle. This is about facing your own monsters, whatever they are.

• Speaks directly to indie fans wanting more than surface-level sports documentaries.

• Festival success and distribution partnerships proved that taking risks leads to lasting impact.

4. Emily the Criminal

If financial anxiety and survival feel all too real, you’re not alone. “Emily the Criminal” taps into the urgency and grit of trying to make it on your own terms, showing just how far desperation can drive you.

A Crime Thriller Grounded in Reality

Aubrey Plaza owns her role here—her performance is sharp, honest, and never drifts into caricature. The tension stays high, never sensationalized, always rooted in character.

• Highlights the pressures of student debt, limited opportunity, and the darker choices that grow from desperation.

• Chosen for its realism and refusal to offer neat resolutions. This is indie storytelling that trusts you to sit with the gray areas.

• Perfect fit for anyone who wants suspense with substance.

• Festival circuit buzz propelled it into the spotlight, proving that real stakes resonate.

5. Roma

“Roma” shows you what happens when a director gets the space to tell a deeply personal story without compromise. Cuarón’s attention to visual detail and character turns everyday life into something unforgettable.

An Epic in Small Moments

This film rewards patience and attention. You follow an Indigenous housekeeper’s resilience during personal and political upheaval. Every frame builds emotional depth and authenticity.

• Captures a world many never see, refusing to flatten characters for simplicity.

• Embodies indie values: creative freedom, visual risk-taking, and honest cultural reflection.

• Wins awards and audience praise for unique storytelling and global influence.

• Proves that independent filmmaking can have worldwide impact, shifting mainstream perceptions.

6. Marriage Story

Looking for a film that captures every shade of real heartbreak? “Marriage Story” is for those who want more than melodrama—it’s raw, relatable, and never loses sight of humanity.

Unfiltered Emotion, Earned Drama

Baumbach’s direction and razor-sharp script keep you close to the characters’ struggles. Every scene, every fight, every silence is connected to the messiness of real relationships.

How It Delivers Emotional Impact:

• Stellar performances that break open what it means to love, lose, and grow.

• Balances honesty with empathy—this is not a film that picks sides.

• Streaming success shows indie films can thrive beyond festivals and theaters.

• Demands you look hard at your own connections and expectations.

7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

You won’t find a film like this anywhere else. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” rewrites the rules for sci-fi romance, and indie fans love it for good reason.

Inventive, Intimate, Unforgettable

The dreamlike sequences, nonlinear structure, and focus on memory make every viewing fresh. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet turn in performances that stick with you. Each choice the characters make matters.

• Award-winning screenplay that uses risk and originality to powerful effect.

• Perfect for those who want more than formula—this film rewards attention and emotional investment.

• Indie success means poetic narratives and bold visuals can influence everything that comes after.

The indie films that stay with you are the ones that dare to go places big studios simply won’t.

8. Only Lovers Left Alive

You crave films that merge art, music, and cinema? “Only Lovers Left Alive” is your fix. This one puts the vampire myth into an indie blender—serving up existential questions with a side of wit, style, and centuries-spanning relationships.

Why Jarmusch’s Cult Hit Connects

You won’t just see vampires. You’ll get a meditation on culture, creativity, and what it means to endure. Jarmusch’s subtle touch and the chemistry between Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston let you see love as both personal and universal.

• Delivers slow-burn storytelling for fans who enjoy depth and texture over action.

• Brims with cultural references and literary layers rarely seen elsewhere.

• It’s the sort of film that rewards repeat viewings—notice more every time.

Indie films like this one prove aesthetic risks create lasting cult followings.

9. Bait

Some indie films don't just tell a story; they experiment from the ground up. “Bait” uses vintage film stock and stark visuals to give you a deeply local, hard-hitting look at gentrification and the struggles of working communities.

Pure Craft, Real Stakes

Each grainy frame makes the conflict real. You experience the tension as fishermen push back against a changing coastal town. It’s not glossy. It’s authentic.

• Brings you regional stories that Hollywood won’t touch.

• Lauded in the UK indie scene for reviving hands-on, analog filmmaking.

• If you chase films with raw visual style and unique voices, this one’s for you.

10. Rocks

Want a powerful coming-of-age story centered on real-world stakes and raw talent? “Rocks” brings London girlhood to life, refusing to fall back on tired clichés or predictable outcomes.

• Features a cast of new faces, many spotlighted through workshops rather than casting calls. The result is unfiltered naturalism.

• The story centers on a Nigerian-British girl pushed into early adulthood—a perspective often overlooked.

• If unvarnished friendship and sibling bonds matter to you, “Rocks” will hit home.

11. Caravaggio

You look for challenging, art-driven indie cinema? “Caravaggio” delivers with daring visuals and bold, non-linear storytelling, introducing Tilda Swinton’s first film role.

Art, History, Identity

Jarman refuses easy biography. Baroque painting, queer identity, and radical style meet in a way that’s both beautiful and fresh.

• Essential for those seeking out LGBTQ+ milestones on screen.

• Pioneered avant-garde narrative techniques that ripple into today’s indie scene.

• Perfect if you appreciate films that make you question the boundaries of art and film.

Seek films that make you uncomfortable—their risks bring new ideas and new talent forward.

12. Tangerine

Ready for something electric? “Tangerine” brings kinetic energy, real humor, and underrepresented stories driving the narrative. Shot on iPhones, it changed how indie filmmakers approach technology.

• Elevates trans women of color, giving authenticity to voices often ignored by the mainstream.

• Laugh-out-loud moments meet hard truths—never exploitative, always real.

• If you want grit and joy in equal measure, this film’s vibe is unmatched.

13. Little Miss Sunshine

You want a road trip that breaks the mold? “Little Miss Sunshine” took Sundance by storm with its unfiltered take on family, perseverance, and loving misfits.

• Balances dark comedy and hope, giving room for every character’s arc.

• Turned indie sensibilities into mainstream success without losing its edge.

• If you believe films can be funny, deep, and heartfelt all at once, put it high on your list.

Navigating the Independent Film Universe: What Makes a Good Independent Film?

Let’s get real. You’re not after surface-level entertainment. You want fearless stories, unique voices, and films that won’t patronize you or edit down complex truths.

What Sets Good Independent Films Apart?

• Stories that trust you to handle nuance. No clichéd Hollywood resolutions.

• Marginalized characters and unexpected themes. Inclusion and boldness are not afterthoughts—they’re the engine.

• Filmmakers use constraints to fuel innovation. See how “Tangerine” used iPhones? Limits become power.

• Strong ties between filmmakers, festivals, and distributors, like what we build at Level 33, help these films break through to wider audiences.

• You’ll find fresh ideas, emotional risks, and cinematic experiments not found elsewhere.

Good independent films thrive when audiences demand authenticity and creative courage.

How You Can Find (and Champion) the Best

• Watch festival lineups and follow passionate distributors.

• Seek films that move you and challenge your views.

• Support emerging voices with your ticket, your review, your attention.

• Get involved—connect with creators, contribute to discussions, and keep pushing for more stories that reflect the full range of human experience.

Conclusion

Every good independent film on this list proves there’s more out there than big-budget standards. Stay hungry. Keep searching, asking, watching, talking. Your passion for bold, fresh storytelling is what keeps indie cinema alive. Let this be your starting point. Go discover the next story that shakes you up.