SXSW sensations: 16 must-see movies at the 2018 fest

The 2018 SXSW Film Festival lineup mixed familiar faces with sharp newcomers, and the slate delivered on the promise of world premieres, Sundance carryovers, and fresh stories. The event ran March 9-18 in Austin, Texas, and several titles from that year went on to wider releases and awards attention.

Director of film Janet Pierson noted that the 25th edition stayed centered on new voices while still welcoming returning alumni. The festival spotlighted a range of comedies, dramas, thrillers, and one documentary, giving audiences early looks at projects that later found audiences beyond the fest.

SXSW 2018 Festival Context and Outcomes

The 25th edition opened with a major studio title and closed with a strong mix of independent features. World premieres and Sundance transfers drove much of the conversation, and several projects secured distribution deals during the week. The programming balanced crowd-pleasers with smaller, riskier films that later found homes on streaming and limited theatrical runs.

TV Premieres at SXSW 2018

Two series made their world premieres at the festival. Jordan Peele’s comedy The Last O.G. and Bill Hader’s dark dramedy Barry both screened to enthusiastic crowds. The Last O.G. went on to air three seasons on TBS. Barry ran four seasons on HBO and earned multiple Emmys for Hader in front of and behind the camera.

The Last O.G.

Jordan Peele’s highly-anticipated new comedy series will be enjoying its world premiere at the festival. Starring Tracy Morgan (Cop Out), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), and Cedric the Entertainer (Barbershop), the show follows ex-con Tray (Morgan) as he struggles to reintegrate into society following a 15-year stretch in prison. This story of “humanity, second chances, and redemption” is not to be missed and is bound to drum up a fair amount of buzz. The series aired three seasons on TBS after its SXSW debut.

Barry

Written and directed by Bill Hader, Barry is another show set to make its debut at this year’s festival – that might prove to be a must-watch. Hader (The Skeleton Twins) stars in the lead as a lonely and dissatisfied hitman who unexpectedly finds acceptance in the L.A. theater scene. Let’s hope that the series utilizes Hader’s prolific talent for infusing humor with pathos. The show ran four seasons on HBO and collected multiple Emmys for Hader.

Don’t Leave Home

The latest feature from eclectic filmmaker Michael Tully, Don’t Leave Home sounds like a spiritual follow-up to his brooding 2011 comedy-drama Septien. The story charts an American artist’s obsession with a disturbing urban legend, which ultimately leads her to the crumbling estate of a reclusive painter in Ireland. This pic sounds full of the mystery and darkness that Tully’s often lauded for – expect a real treat.

Blaze

This biopic delves into the true story of unsung country music legend Blaze Foley, said to have given up paradise for the sake of a single song. Directed by Ethan Hawke, this pic received rave reviews at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is sure to draw in the audience. Boasting an all-star cast that includes Benjamin Dickey, Alia Shawkat (The Final Girls), Sam Rockwell (Mute), and musician Kris Kristofferson, expect the entire feature to be stacked full of excellent performances. The Sundance reception carried straight through to its SXSW screenings.

Eighth Grade

Another film that garnered a lot of attention at Sundance, Bo Burnham’s critically-acclaimed Eighth Grade tells the story of thirteen-year-old Kayla as she makes her way through the last week of middle school. The film has been described as “remarkable”, while Elsie Fisher’s performance in the lead role should not be missed. Josh Hamilton (Frances Ha), Emily Robinson (Transparent) & Jake Ryan (Moonrise Kingdom) make up the cast. The directorial debut earned strong reviews and awards buzz after its festival run.

Support the Girls

Filmmaker Andrew Bujalski is known for making low-key masterpieces that tap into the mundane frustrations of everyday life and the director’s latest feature, Support the Girls, looks set to be a welcome addition to his oeuvre. The story follows a general manager at a highway “breastaurant” who has her incurable optimism and faith tested over the course of a long, strange day. Starring Regina Hall (Scary Movie), Brooklyn Decker (Just Go with It) & Lea DeLaria (Orange Is the New Black), this sounds like a must-see to us. The film drew praise for its ensemble and steady tone.

Pass Over

Academy Award nominee and honorary Oscar winner Spike Lee’s latest joint, written by newcomer Antoinette Nwandu, has been described as a “provocative riff on Waiting for Godot”. The plot follows two black men talking trash, passing time, and dreaming of the promised land. Birth Movies Death called it “more than just a filmed play“, having concluded that it is “an entirely new kind of experience from one of our finest filmmakers“. The stage-to-screen adaptation screened at the festival after its Sundance premiere.

Family

Written and directed by Laura Steinel, the world premiere of this quirky comedy should most certainly be on your list. The film follows an emotionally stunted 30-year-old woman whose life is turned upside down when her awkward and bullied 12-year-old niece runs away from home to become a Juggalo – all under her supervision. Be sure not to miss Family, which sounds like it’s packed with enough comedic prowess to satisfy an entire posse of clowns.

Summer 03

A coming-of-age drama following a young woman who receives two life-changing pieces of information from her grandmother on her deathbed: one involves a baptism, the other a blowjob. Written and directed by Becca Gleason, a production assistant on Community and Rules of Engagement, the plot sounds unquestionably hilarious. Stars Joey King (The Conjuring), Andrea Savage (Veep), Paul Scheer (The Disaster Artist), and Erin Darke (Love & Mercy).

Breakout Genre Hits

Two titles from the lineup reached wide audiences after their festival screenings. A Quiet Place opened the festival and went on to gross more than $340 million worldwide. Blockers landed solid box office numbers as a broad comedy that found an audience beyond the fest circuit.

A Quiet Place

This one might be an obvious choice, considering it’s the headliner for this year’s festival. But John Krasinski’s supernatural horror, following a family who lives an isolated existence in utter silence, looks tense and mysterious – legitimately terrifying even. It’s an essential festival pick. Krasinski (Jack Ryan) stars in the lead alongside his real-life wife, Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada). The film became the festival’s commercial standout, crossing $340 million worldwide.

Paradox

The feature directorial debut from Daryl Hannah, Paradox is a bit of a mystery, with the plot vaguely promising that it’ll be a “whimsical western tale of music and love”. But that makes it arguably more exciting to us, especially when one considers that Neil Young and Willie Nelson are among the cast. Yeah, we don’t need to know much else – already sold us.

Final Portrait

There’s no doubt about it: this is one of those films that has awards season favorite stamped all over it. Telling the true story of the offbeat friendship between world-renowned artist Alberto Giacometti and American writer and art-lover James Lord, Final Portrait boasts a phenomenal cast which includes Geoffrey Rush (Shakespeare in Love), Armie Hammer (Call Me by Your Name), and Clémence Poésy (In Bruges). Directed by Stanley Tucci and based on Lord’s memoir A Giacometti Portrait.

6 Balloons

The world premiere of Marja-Lewis Ryan’s drama is also on the schedule for this year’s South by Southwest festival. The pic, charting the journey of a woman who drives across country with her heroin addict brother in search of a detox center, stars Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) and Dave Franco (Neighbors) in the lead. It sounds like one heck of a compelling watch to us.

Fast Color

Starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lorraine Toussaint, Fast Color tells the story of a woman who is forced to uproot her life and go on the run after her extraordinary abilities are exposed. The SXSW Film Festival is known for showcasing some of the brightest and boldest genre films of the year, and this pic, described as a “genre-bending supernatural drama“, appears to continue the tradition. Directed by Julia Hart (Miss Stevens) and written by Jordan Horowitz (La La Land) and Hart. The film later received a modest theatrical and VOD release.

Blockers

Does this movie look dumb-as-hell? Absolutely! But does it also appear to be utterly hilarious? Correct. John Cena (Daddy’s Home 2) showcases his comedic chops alongside Leslie Mann (Knocked Up) and Ike Barinholtz (Suicide Squad) in Blockers, following a gang of parents who desperately try to stop their kids from losing their virginity at prom. The comedy performed well at the box office and highlighted Cena’s timing in a lead role.

Documentary Spotlight

The lone documentary in the original preview list offered a different angle on festival programming. The Bill Murray Stories focused on urban legends and rare footage of the actor’s off-screen exploits, giving fans a lighthearted look at one of Murray’s favorite festival cities.

The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned From A Mythical Man

Directed by Tommy Avallone, this documentary maps one man’s somewhat relatable journey to finding meaning in the many unexpected adventures of Bill Murray. The doc combines rare and never-before-seen footage of the comedic giant participating in stories previously deemed to be an urban legend. It should make for a thrilling watch at one of Murray’s most beloved festivals.

Independent Dramas and Their Paths

Several of the smaller titles found limited theatrical or VOD distribution after the festival. Fast Color, 6 Balloons, and Pass Over each moved into narrower release windows, while the festival itself continued to serve as a useful launchpad for mid-budget and indie projects looking for their first audiences.

Looking back, the 2018 SXSW slate captured a moment when streaming platforms and traditional distributors were both hungry for distinctive voices. Many of the titles that screened that year found different paths forward, and the festival once again proved its role as an early indicator of what audiences would embrace months later.