The 15 best indie hits of Sundance to look forward to in 2018

The 2018 Sundance Film Festival delivered a sharp batch of indie titles that still hold up years later. From intimate family dramas to bold genre experiments, the slate captured a moment when smaller studios and first-time voices were breaking through with stories that refused to play it safe. Several of those films went on to shape conversations around horror, documentary, and character-driven drama, and many remain easy to revisit today.

Tully

You can always count on Charlize Theron (Atomic Blonde) to deliver a fearless performance, and in Tully, the powerhouse actress certainly doesn't disappoint. Theron's second collaboration with filmmaking duo Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody, described as a "modern-day take on Mary Poppins", follows a pregnant forty-year-old mother who carries the pressure of the world on her shoulders . . . in addition to the baby weight. Theatrically released May 2018 by Focus Features, the film earned positive reviews centered on Theron's portrayal of motherhood.

Assassination Nation

Marking the biggest deal to have come out of this year's Sundance, with a cool $10 million from the collaboration between Neon and AGBO, Assassination Nation has received a loud buzz for more reasons than one. Written and directed by Sam Levinson, the pic has been hailed as "the most aggressive high-school film in history", a "deranged teen movie for the #MeToo era", and an "anti-sexist revenge fantasy". In other words, female empowerment at its most badass. The title secured distribution following strong Sundance buzz.

Hereditary

Do you like horror? What about jump scares? How about pooping your pants in a movie theater? Then you're going to love Hereditary, the (supposedly) scariest movie of the year. Directed by Ari Aster, the film sees Toni Collette suffer a fate worse than death at the hands of the most frightening spirits of all: the ghosts from within. We'd recommend having your pillow at the ready for this one, folks. The film grossed roughly $82.8 million worldwide on a $10 million budget and became A24's highest-grossing title at the time, with particular praise for Toni Collette's performance.

Madeline’s Madeline

Original, yet perplexing, Madeline’s Madeline focuses on a sixteen-year-old New York performer played by newcomer Helena Howard. The praise is already pouring in, with reviews suggesting that Josephine Decker has crafted "one of the freshest and most exciting films of the 21st century". High praise indeed – best keep your eyes peeled for this one. Released August 2018 by Oscilloscope Laboratories, Helena Howard's performance continued to draw notice long after the premiere.

Studio 54

Were you too young to have experienced the iconic disco nightclub that was Studio 54 (or maybe you just weren't fashionable enough to be adorned with an invite)? Well, don't fret, because this year you'll be able to experience the velvet-roped debauchery from the comfort of your very own home with this upcoming documentary from Matt Tyrnauer. Time to dust those dancing shoes off and get your boogie on!

Damsel

This town isn't big enough for the two of us . . . what, Park City? Well, it's unquestionably big enough to house the release of a plethora of slamming new indie films, one of which will be the Zellner brothers’ new dramedy Damsel. If you like Western films, offbeat comedies, and Robert Pattinson’s face, then this is right up your street.

Colette

One of the biggest deals at Sundance, Colette was scooped up by Bleecker Street & 30West in a deal rumored to be in the seven-figure range. The period drama, directed by Wash Westmoreland and starring Keira Knightley, tells the real-life story of the French novelist who overcame an abusive marriage to emerge as one of the most preeminent writers in her country – before becoming a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Inspiring stuff, to say the very least.

Blaze

Blaze is Ethan Hawke's soulful ode to the frustrated & forgotten blues and country musician Blaze Foley (Ben Dickey) – an unsung hero who could unmistakably sing. From small-town singer to silver-screen legend, Foley's spirit lives on.

The Happy Prince

The Happy Prince isn't the first tale based on the life of Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, and it surely won't be the last. But this time, it's the somber end of the writer's life that takes center stage. Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding) directs and stars as the flamboyant literary giant who observes his failures with ironic distance and regards his life with the wit that made him famous.

The Tale

Jennifer Fox's latest feature film The Tale has been called "the mother of all #MeToo movies”, and for a damn good reason. Laura Dern (Wild) stars in the lead, portraying a woman coming to terms with sexual abuse, in this film that is both as harrowing as it is touching. In Variety's words, this one "could hardly have arrived at a better time."

Blindspotting

Carlos López Estrada’s cinematic take on race relations in Oakland, California, Blindspotting stars Daveed Diggs (Wonder) as a man who is trying to make it through the last days of probation for an arrest he's eager to put behind him. There's a lot of excitement surrounding its release, so it's probably best to jump aboard the hype train and settle down for a ride with the "buddy comedy in a world that won't let it be one."

RGB

Put your hands up for the notorious RBG! Yes, while we don't mean to get you excited, the release of the documentary on Ruth Bader Ginsburg is on the slate for 2018. Tracing Ginsburg's rise from a super-smart Brooklynite to the highest court in the land, this is one for all of us who want to be made to feel crappy about our own lives.

Three Identical Strangers

Picture this: Three complete strangers who met at the same community college, would later come to realize that they were identical triplets separated at birth. Although it seems hard to believe, this one-in-a-million chance true story is the basis for Tim Wardle's documentary feature Three Identical Strangers. You don't want to miss this one – it's like Parent Trap on crack! Sometimes, folks, the truth is stranger than fiction whether we like it or not. The film achieved wide recognition for its stranger-than-fiction story of separated triplets.

Lizzie

The classiest lesbian axe-murderer movie to have ever . . . okay, so maybe it's a small comparative pool, but it's still worth a note in the diary. Starring Chloe Sevigny (Boys Don't Cry) and Kristen Stewart (Personal Shopper), Craig William Macneill’s psychological thriller tells the true story surrounding Lizzie Borden’s (alleged) crime of murdering her parents with an axe. “She gave her mother forty whacks!”

We the Animals

Documentary filmmaker Jeremiah Zagar (In a Dream) moves into narrative features with this stunning adaptation of Justin Torres's autobiographical novel of the same name. Following a mixed-race family with three young sons in upstate New York, We the Animals is being called this year's Moonlight – in other words, watch this space.

Long-Term Impact of the 2018 Class

The 2018 slate left a measurable footprint. Hereditary became one of A24's top earners at the time, while several titles secured wide releases and awards attention. The group helped keep indie horror, docs, and intimate dramas in the cultural conversation long after the Park City premieres wrapped.

Sundance's Final Year in Park City

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival runs January 22–February 1 in Park City and Salt Lake City as its final edition there. The festival plans to relocate to Boulder, Colorado afterward, closing a long chapter for the event that launched many of the titles on this list.

Where to Watch the 2018 Sundance Hits Today

Many titles from the 2018 slate are available on major streaming platforms or for digital purchase/rental. Hereditary and others maintain strong cult followings, making it straightforward for new viewers to catch up on the films that first broke out in Utah.

Ari Aster's Career Trajectory Since Hereditary

Aster's debut Hereditary launched a notable career in elevated horror. As of 2026, Aster has discussed a completed prequel script for Hereditary, showing how one Sundance premiere can open doors that keep expanding years later.

Best indie hits from that edition proved that strong writing and committed performances could still cut through festival noise. Whether the story centered on family secrets, identity, or pure genre thrills, the films rewarded audiences willing to take a chance on something outside the studio system. The 2018 class gave viewers plenty to revisit, and the fact that many titles remain accessible keeps that spirit alive.