As much as we all love the rush of flocking to our sold-out theaters to watch the latest viral blockbuster megahit, there is something truly special about agood indie film. Independent films sometimes fall under the radar next to huge franchises or high-budget films. However, there is a certain charm and intrigue surrounding the uniqueness of indie films that has been masterfully articulated in the last few years.
Indie films do not have preexisting fanbases, and sometimes the budget, to make a movie to reach the masses. Unlike big franchises or even remakes of classics, indie films rely solely on their ability to tell a new and unique story, usually accompanied by some undeniably stunning cinematography, a gorgeous score, and someotherworldly acting performances. In the2010s, we were lucky enough to have many indie films to keep us occupied. Just for the purpose of narrowing down the best of the best, here are the best indie films of every year in the decade!
2010: Submarine
Although 2010 is also the year that the independent drama filmWinter’s Bonestarring Jennifer Lawrence, we have to hand it to the romantic comedy filmSubmarine. In this film, we follow 15-year-old Oliver, who has two things to think about. Along with trying to keep his family from imploding, he really wants to ensure he loses his virginity by the time he turns 16. Craig Roberts stars alongside Sally Hawkins, Noah Taylor, and Paddy Considine in this charming coming-of-age-esque romantic comedy.
2011: Drive
For 2011, who could forget the action dramaDrive, starring theirresistible Ryan Gosling? The film was directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and follows Driver, a stuntman who has the overall skillset of being a great getaway driver. On his journey, Driver develops a soft spot for a woman named Irene and her son Benicio. However, when Irene’s husband gets out of jail and gets Driver involved in a heist, the danger of his job begins to threaten the safety of the people Driver cares about.
2012: Moonrise Kingdom
The buzz aroundWes Anderson’s latest workinAsteroid Cityis not based on blind expectations. In 2012, he came out with the independent rom-comMoonrise Kingdom. This film follows the lives of the residents of New Penzance, a city that has seemingly lived out of touch with the rest of the world in 1965. In an intense tale of young love, two kids, Sam and Suzy, decide to run away together, only to become the subjects of a city-wide search for the young lovers before a huge storm hits. Despite how great this film is, we have to give an honorable mention to the brilliant coming-of-age filmPerks of Being a Wallflowerfor 2012 indie films.
2013: Short Term 12
2013 is a close race to first place. Even with A24’sThe Spectacular Nowand the romance dramaBefore Midnight,the best indie film in 2013 has to beShort Term 12. This indie drama stars some of today’s most notable names in film including Brie Larson, LaKeith Stanfield, and Rami Malek.Short Term 12follows a young counselor named Grace (Larsen) who is left to face the harsh realities of her current work situation. Grace is a counselor in a home for at-risk teens and her exposure to the endless amount of trauma begins to take its toll on her.
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2014: Whiplash
2014 was a monstrous year for independent filmmaking. When such a marvelous display of art comes through all in one year, the task of picking the best one is almost impossible. The 2014 independent film game broughtNightcrawler, Birdman, Ex Machina, andThe Imitation Game. However, the best indie film of 2014 is the psychological music dramaWhiplash.
Whiplash follows the story of a young and passionate drummer who struggles with meeting the harsh and abusive expectations of his tyrant of a music teacher. With jaw-dropping performances by Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons,Whiplashis one ofthe most intenseindependent films in the last few years.
2015: Brooklyn
2015 brings us back to the good old-fashioned romance drama withBrooklyn, starring the incomparable Saoirse Ronan. This independent film follows Eilis Lace, a young Irish immigrant looking to find her way in Brooklyn. The film takes place in the 1950s, and as Eilis settles into life in America, an emerging whirlwind romance brings her to a crossroads of choosing between her past and the life she has built for herself.
2016: Moonlight
Not much can compare to the 2016 dramaMoonlight. This independent film,based on an unpublished play, follows the life-defining moments of Chiron Harris, a young Black man navigating life in Miami. This soulful coming-of-age film will clutch at your heart and have you invested in the story from the beginning to the film’s last minutes. Moonlight portrays adolescence and all its brutal realities as they unfold for Chiron. This 2016 indie film is not one to miss or let fly under the radar.
2017: The Florida Project
Director Sean Baker’sThe Florida Projectfollows the incredibly eventful summer of a young six-year-old Moonee. The young girl’s life is veiled underneath the shadow of the happiest place on Earth as she and her group of friends use their own imaginations to conjure up adventures beyond their wildest dreams. Along with that, Moonee is also under the care of her struggling mother. This film is a mostly underrated film that can be sometimes overshadowed by some of the other big-name-films in this year including Greta Gerwig’sLady Bird andI, Tonyastarring Barbie herself, Margot Robbie.
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2018: The Tale
If you recall, 2018 gave movie lovers one of the best horror films in history with A24’sHereditaryas well as one of the most exciting thrillers inSearching. However, the indie movie highlight has to be the drama filmThe Tale,starring Laura Dern. Dern stuns in this film as Jennifer Fox, an accomplished journalist and professor. When the dark secrets of her past begin to uncover, she is forced to return to where everything went down in order ot piece together the truth of her experience.
2019: The Peanut Butter Falcon
The Peanut Butter Falconis a 2019 drama adventure that follows the fateful partnership between a man with Down syndrome with the dreams of becoming a pro wrestler and a man who will take on the job of becoming a mentor, coach, and companion. This film does exactly what a great indie film should do and pulls at the heartstrings. The film stars Shia LaBeouf, Zack Bottsagen, Dakota Johnson, and Jon Bernthal.
