Sundance Institute
It’s easy to forget about some great films while they are in theaters, especially during the summer movie season.
Some smaller-budget films go under the radar when up against blockbusters like “Infinity War” or “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.”
That’s why Business Insider has gathered all of the potentially overlooked films currently playing in theaters that you can choose from for the weekend.
Some may be harder to find than others, but these films are the perfect watch if you are looking for plans, especially if you have MoviePass, which lets you see any movie you want in theaters for about $10 a month. It’s a nice way to get you in the theater for films you may not have considered otherwise.
We’ll add films to this list every week to keep you up-to-date on what you may be missing out on at the theater.
Below are all of the hidden gem films currently in theaters you should see with MoviePass:
“Blindspotting”
Release date: July 20
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 93%
With an impressive, up-and-coming cast, “Blindspotting” is a critical favorite that is currently rolling out to more theaters after a limited release.
Description: “Collin (Daveed Diggs) must make it through his final three days of probation for a chance at a new beginning. He and his troublemaking childhood best friend, Miles (Rafael Casal), work as movers, and when Collin witnesses a police shooting, the two men’s friendship is tested as they grapple with identity and their changed realities in the rapidly-gentrifying neighborhood they grew up in.”
“Eighth Grade”
Release date: July 13 (limited)
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 98%
Bo Burnham is one of the most creative, thought-provoking, and funniest comedians working today. And he’s behind the camera for this coming-of-age tale that is getting widespread acclaim.
Description: “Thirteen-year-old Kayla endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of middle school—the end of her thus far disastrous eighth grade year—before she begins high school.”
“Sorry to Bother You”
Release date: July 6 (limited)
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 94%
“Sorry to Bother You” is being praised as an ambitious, funny, and trippy commentary on race and capitalism that stars “Atlanta’s” Lakeith Stanfield and the always-great Tessa Thompson.
Description: “In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success, propelling him into a macabre universe.”
“Three Identical Strangers”
Release date: June 29 (limited)
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 95%
In a year when documentaries like “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and “RBG” have captured audience interest, “Three Identical Strangers” comes at the perfect time. Part heartwarming documentary, part family drama, the movie has garnered critical praise.
Description: “Three strangers are reunited by astonishing coincidence after being born identical triplets, separated at birth, and adopted by three different families. Their jaw-dropping, feel-good story instantly becomes a global sensation complete with fame and celebrity, however, the fairy-tale reunion sets in motion a series of events that unearth an unimaginable secret — a secret with radical repercussions for us all.”
“Leave No Trace”
Release date: June 29 (limited release)
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 100%
With a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, “Leave No Trace” is one of the best-reviewed films of the year. It comes from Debra Granik, the director of the Oscar-nominated thriller “Winter’s Bone” that helped launch Jennifer Lawrence into the mainstream. This time, she teams with actor Ben Foster, who critics say gives an extraordinary performance.
Description:“Will (Ben Foster) and his teenage daughter, Tom (Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie), have lived off the grid for years in the forests of Portland, Oregon. When their idyllic life is shattered, both are put into social services. After clashing with their new surroundings, Will and Tom set off on a harrowing journey back to their wild homeland.”
“SuperFly”
Release date: June 13
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 51%
Director X, known for music videos like Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and Nelly’s “Hot in Herre,” brings his stylish flair to this reimagining of the 1972 original Blaxploitation film.
Description: “Superfly – the film that helped define a genre in its characters, look, sound, and feel – is reimagined with Director X, director of legendary music videos (Drake, Rihanna), introducing it to a new generation. The screenplay is by Alex Tse.”
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
Release date: June 8, 2018
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 99%
At a time of so much tension and turmoil, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” is being hailed as a reminder that good people exist. The documentary from Morgan Neville, the director of the Oscar-winning doc “20 Feet From Stardom,” transports audiences back in time for a major dose of nostalgia, and helps people of all ages remember the legacy of childhood icon Fred Rogers.
Description: “In Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (Twenty Feet from Stardom) looks back on the legacy of Fred Rogers, focusing on his radically kind ideas. While the nation changed around him, Fred Rogers stood firm in his beliefs about the importance of protecting childhood. Neville pays tribute to this legacy with the latest in his series of highly engaging, moving documentary portraits of essential American artists.”
“Hearts Beat Loud”
Release date: June 8, 2018
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 91%
“Hearts Beat Loud” is a feel-good movie starring “Parks and Rec’s” Nick Offerman and rising star Kiersey Clemons. The two play a father-daughter duo who join forces to start a band before Clemons’ character leaves for college. If you’re looking for a heartwarming and funny family film, this may be for you.
Description: “In the hip Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook, single dad and record store owner Frank (Nick Offerman) is preparing to send his hard-working daughter Sam (Kiersey Clemons) off to college, while being forced to close his vintage shop. Hoping to stay connected through their shared musical passions, Frank urges Sam to turn their weekly “jam sesh” into a father-daughter live act. After their first song becomes an Internet breakout, the two embark on a journey of love, growing up and musical discovery.”
“Hereditary”
Release date: June 8
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 89%
There’s a good chance you’ve heard of this chilling and brutal new horror film, but if you haven’t seen it, you should join the hype. Easily one of the most haunting films in recent years, “Hereditary” is an instant classic in the genre, and is already garnering Oscar talk for Toni Collette’s intense performance.
Description: “When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited. Making his feature debut, writer-director Ari Aster unleashes a nightmare vision of a domestic breakdown that exhibits the craft and precision of a nascent auteur, transforming a familial tragedy into something ominous and deeply disquieting, and pushing the horror movie into chilling new terrain with its shattering portrait of heritage gone to hell.”
