30 Best Indie Movies from the 2010s You Cannot Skip
Independent cinema in the 2010s gave us bold voices, fresh stories, and unforgettable characters. These films proved that big ideas do not need huge budgets, only a clear vision and a lot of heart. They traveled across genres and continents, showing how personal stories can feel universal when they are told with care and craft.
This list brings together thirty standout titles that shaped the decade and still hold up beautifully today. Some are tender, some are thrilling, and a few might haunt your thoughts for a while. All of them are worth your time, whether you are revisiting an old favorite or queuing up something new for a late night watch.
‘Moonlight’ (2016)
A tender triptych about identity and longing, ‘Moonlight’ follows one boy at three stages of his life as he tries to understand who he is and where he belongs. It moves with quiet confidence, letting silence say as much as words, and every frame feels intimate and honest.
What makes ‘Moonlight’ essential is its empathy. The film invites you into a private world and asks you to sit with its characters without judgment. By the end, the final encounter lands with a warmth that feels both delicate and life changing.
‘Lady Bird’ (2017)
‘Lady Bird’ captures the messy push and pull of a teenage girl who wants to be anywhere else and a mother who is trying her best. The writing is sharp and funny, and the performances feel so natural that you might forget you are watching a movie.
The film understands how small moments can become big memories. It treats first love, friendship, and the friction at home with humor and care, leaving you with a glow that sticks around long after the credits.
‘The Florida Project’ (2017)
Set in the shadow of a theme park, ‘The Florida Project’ watches a group of kids make a summer out of very little. The camera stays at their eye level, finding wonder and mischief in motel hallways and parking lots.
Beneath the playfulness is a moving look at adults doing whatever they can to get by. The ending is a jolt of feeling, and the film lingers as a compassionate portrait of childhood and the edges of the American dream.
‘Good Time’ (2017)
‘Good Time’ throws you into a long night with a hustler who will try anything to save his brother. The pace is relentless and the city feels alive with neon, sweat, and bad decisions.
It is a thriller that never stops moving, yet it never loses sight of its bruised heart. By the time the sun rises, the film has delivered a rush and a bruise in equal measure.
‘A Ghost Story’ (2017)
In ‘A Ghost Story’, grief takes on a simple and striking form. A sheeted figure watches time drift and lives move forward, and the film turns that image into a meditation on love, loss, and what remains.
It is small in scale and grand in feeling. The patience of the storytelling and the gentle rhythm invite you to think about your own footprints and the stories that outlast us.
‘The Witch’ (2015)
‘The Witch’ builds dread from the ground up, turning a remote farm into a place of fear and suspicion. The language is archaic, the images are precise, and the mood settles on you like a chill.
What elevates it is the focus on faith, family, and the terror of the unknown. It is horror that trusts its audience, letting anxiety grow until it becomes impossible to shake.
‘Whiplash’ (2014)
‘Whiplash’ pits a young drummer against a teacher who believes greatness requires pain. The music scenes crackle with energy, and every rehearsal feels like a high wire act.
It is a study of ambition and obsession that asks how far is too far. The final performance is electric, and the last cut is one of the great exclamation points of the decade.
‘Boyhood’ (2014)
Filmed over many years with the same actors, ‘Boyhood’ captures life as it unfolds. You watch a kid grow up in front of you, and the effect is simple and profound.
The beauty lies in the everyday moments. School, work, breakups, and road trips stack up until they feel like your own memories, and by the end you feel grateful for the ride.
‘Frances Ha’ (2013)
‘Frances Ha’ follows a spirited dancer who is figuring things out one apartment at a time. Shot in luminous black and white, it floats along with a light step and a sharp ear for awkward, funny conversations.
Under the charm is a true story of friendship and self belief. It celebrates the seasons of your twenties and the joy of finding your own rhythm.
‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ (2013)
‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ spends a week with a folk singer who cannot catch a break. The songs are lovely and melancholy, and the winter streets feel both romantic and unkind.
It is a portrait of talent without a lucky break and pride without a plan. The film finds humor in setbacks and tenderness in small acts of kindness, all wrapped in a gentle haze.
‘Ex Machina’ (2015)
‘Ex Machina’ is a smart chamber piece about a programmer, a reclusive genius, and an artificial being who might be more than she appears. The talk is crisp, the design is sleek, and the tension rises with each test.
It is science fiction that asks curious questions about power, control, and autonomy. The ending lands with a cool chill and leaves you thinking about who was studying whom.
‘Winter’s Bone’ (2010)
In ‘Winter’s Bone’, a determined teenager searches for her missing father through a rural community bound by silence. The world feels lived in, harsh, and full of unspoken rules.
The film is a quiet powerhouse. It shows resilience without fanfare and builds suspense from whispered threats and hard choices, anchored by a fierce lead performance.
‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ (2012)
Told through the eyes of a fearless child, ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ blends myth and reality with openhearted wonder. The setting feels fragile and magical at once, and the music carries a spirit of defiance.
It is a celebration of community and imagination. The story invites you to see strength in small bodies and beauty in places that others overlook.
‘Short Term 12’ (2013)
‘Short Term 12’ takes you inside a group home where young people and their caretakers face hard days together. The film listens more than it lectures, and the performances feel so true that you might forget you are watching fiction.
What stays with you is its compassion. It finds hope in honesty and shows how tiny acts of care can change the course of a life.
‘The Handmaiden’ (2016)
‘The Handmaiden’ is a twisty tale of desire, deceit, and shifting power. Every scene is exquisitely crafted, and the story turns in ways that feel both surprising and inevitable.
It is a lush thriller that rewards attention. The film invites you to look closer at what people want and what they are willing to risk to claim it.
‘Shoplifters’ (2018)
‘Shoplifters’ follows a found family living on the margins who share what little they have. The camera observes with tenderness, revealing quiet rituals and small joys.
It becomes a moving reflection on what makes a family. The final stretch asks tough questions with grace, and the emotion lands with deep sincerity.
‘The Lobster’ (2015)
‘The Lobster’ imagines a near future where single people must pair up or face a strange fate. It is dry, offbeat, and wonderfully awkward, with a deadpan sense of humor that keeps you slightly off balance.
Beneath the odd rules lies a sharp look at love and conformity. It is the rare satire that makes you laugh and then makes you think about why you laughed.
‘Manchester by the Sea’ (2016)
In ‘Manchester by the Sea’, a withdrawn man returns home after a family loss and finds himself caring for his teenage nephew. The film handles grief with clear eyes and a delicate touch, and the small town setting feels real and lived in.
It avoids easy fixes and honors the slow work of healing. The jokes are human and the tears feel earned, which is a hard balance to strike.
‘Room’ (2015)
‘Room’ begins as a story of survival and then blossoms into a story of rebuilding. A mother and son share an unbreakable bond, and the film captures that connection with warmth and clarity.
The second half is just as gripping as the first. It shows how love can help people face a new world and make it feel safe again.
‘Paterson’ (2016)
‘Paterson’ follows a bus driver and poet through a week of routines that feel quietly meaningful. The film finds poetry in small details, from coffee mugs to snippets of conversation.
It is gentle, funny, and kind. By the end, you might notice the little patterns in your own days and find them a bit more beautiful.
‘Only Lovers Left Alive’ (2013)
‘Only Lovers Left Alive’ spends time with two cultured vampires who have seen centuries come and go. The mood is dreamy and nocturnal, and the soundtrack glides like a late night drive.
It is less about plot and more about vibe. The film hums with affection for art, cities, and long companionship, and it casts a relaxed spell.
‘Blue Ruin’ (2013)
‘Blue Ruin’ is a lean revenge story about an outsider who gets in over his head. The violence is clumsy and tense, which makes it feel all the more real.
It shows how plans fall apart when fear takes over. Every choice has weight, and the film builds a remarkable amount of suspense from quiet moments.
‘The Babadook’ (2014)
‘The Babadook’ turns a storybook figure into a symbol of grief that a mother and son must face. The house feels like a character, and the scares come from mood and sound as much as from shocks.
It is a moving portrait of parenthood under strain. The final act is both frightening and cathartic, leaving you with empathy as well as chills.
‘It Follows’ (2014)
‘It Follows’ takes a simple premise and turns it into pure anxiety. A slow and steady presence stalks its target, and the camera glides with a calm that makes your skin crawl.
The result is a modern classic of dread. It proves that a strong idea and confident execution can make horror feel fresh again.
‘The Farewell’ (2019)
‘The Farewell’ centers on a family that keeps a difficult secret from their beloved matriarch. It balances humor and sadness with an easy touch, and the family dynamics feel wonderfully specific and relatable.
It is a story about culture, home, and the ways we show care. The final scenes are tender and thoughtful, and they leave a warm echo.
‘The Rider’ (2017)
‘The Rider’ follows a young cowboy recovering from a devastating injury who must rethink his future. Real people play versions of themselves, and the open plains give the film a soulful calm.
It is about pride, purpose, and the courage to change. The quiet moments carry deep feeling, and the empathy is extraordinary.
‘American Honey’ (2016)
‘American Honey’ rides along with a crew of teens selling magazines on the road. The camera sticks close to their faces and their music, turning long drives into a floating daydream.
It is messy in a way that feels true to youth. Freedom, bad ideas, and unexpected kindness all share the same van, and the film lets you soak in that mix.
‘Swiss Army Man’ (2016)
‘Swiss Army Man’ is a strange and sweet buddy story between a castaway and a very unusual companion. It swings from crude jokes to sincere confession without losing its heart.
Beneath the odd concept lies a gentle message about shame and connection. It invites you to embrace the weird and to be kinder to yourself.
‘The Lighthouse’ (2019)
‘The Lighthouse’ traps two keepers on a rocky island and watches sanity wear thin. The imagery is stark, the sea roars, and the performances crackle with tension.
It is funny, scary, and hypnotic. You feel the salt, the grime, and the madness, and you might laugh while you shiver.
‘Call Me by Your Name’ (2017)
‘Call Me by Your Name’ captures a summer romance that blooms with curiosity and care. The setting feels warm and sunlit, and the chemistry builds in small gestures and quiet glances.
It is a story about first love and the ache that follows. The final moments hold steady on a face full of feeling, and it is perfect.
‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ (2018)
‘Beale Street Could Talk’ adapts a classic love story with grace and music in its veins. The cinematography glows and the voiceover carries a gentle wisdom.
It is about devotion in the face of hardship and the strength of family. Every scene feels lovingly composed, and the emotion flows with ease.
‘First Reformed’ (2017)
‘First Reformed’ follows a troubled pastor whose crisis of faith becomes a battle for meaning. The frame is tight, the tone is hushed, and the questions are piercing.
It is serious and spellbinding. The film stares into despair and still finds beauty, and its ending sparks conversation every time.
‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ (2019)
‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ tells a love story born in secrecy and shared glances. The screen feels like a canvas, and every look carries weight.
It is romantic and precise. The film honors memory and the art that preserves it, and its final shot is a quiet thunderclap.
Share your favorites from this list in the comments and tell us which hidden gems from the decade we should all watch next.
