Sundance 2019 Scorecard

Critics Consensus: Honey Boy serves as an act of cinematic therapy for its screenwriter and subject -- one whose unique perspective should strike a chord in audiences from all backgrounds.

Synopsis: When 12-year-old Otis begins to find success as a television star, his abusive, alcoholic father returns and takes over as his guardian, and their contentious... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges, Noah Jupe, Byron Bowers

Directed By: Alma Har'el

Critics Consensus: The Farewell deftly captures complicated family dynamics with a poignant, well-acted drama that marries cultural specificity with universally relatable themes.

Synopsis: Billi's family returns to China under the guise of a fake wedding to stealthily say goodbye to their beloved matriarch -- the only person that... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Gil Perez-Abraham

Directed By: Lulu Wang

Critics Consensus: Led by typically outstanding work from Lupita Nyong'o, Little Monsters is a horror/rom-com hybrid that proves the zombie genre still has fresh brains to savor.

Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Josh Gad, Stephen Peacocke, Kat Stewart

Directed By: Abe Forsythe

Critics Consensus: Edifying and inspiring in equal measure, Apollo 11 uses artfully repurposed archival footage to send audiences soaring back to a pivotal time in American history.

Synopsis: Never-before-seen footage and audio recordings take you straight into the heart of NASA's most celebrated mission as astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Anders, David Reed

Directed By: Todd Douglas Miller

Critics Consensus: Midnight Traveler puts a harrowing personal face on the modern refugee crisis, driving home the heartbreakingly relatable odysseys of the displaced.

Synopsis: Afghan director Hassan Fazili is forced to flee the country when the Taliban puts a bounty on his head.

Starring: Hassan Fazili, Nargis Fazili, Zahra Fazili, Fatima Hossaini

Directed By: Hassan Fazili

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In a Brazil where the Evangelical church has been integrated into all aspects of daily life, DIVINE LOVE accompanies the journey of a 42 year... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dira Paes, Julio Machado, Teca Pereira, Emílio de Mello

Directed By: Gabriel Mascaro

Critics Consensus: Enthralling viewing even for audiences with little to no knowledge of or interest in sailing, Maiden pays powerful tribute to a true pioneer.

Synopsis: In 1989 Tracy Edwards leads the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race, a grueling yachting competition that covers 33,000 miles and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tracy Edwards, Nancy Harris, John Chittenden, Bruno De Bois

Directed By: Alex Holmes

Critics Consensus: Uplifting, educational, and entertaining, The Biggest Little Farm is an environmental advocacy documentary with a satisfying side dish of hope for the future.

Synopsis: A couple are followed through their successes and failures as they work to develop a sustainable farm on 200 acres outside of Los Angeles.

Starring: John Chester, Molly Chester, Matthew Pilachowski, Lydia Marie Hicks

Directed By: John Chester

Critics Consensus: Premature transcends its familiar trappings with sharp dialogue and a strong sense of setting that further establish Rashaad Ernesto Green as a gifted filmmaker.

Synopsis: On a summer night in Harlem during her last months at home before starting college, 17-year-old poet Ayanna begins a summer romance with Isaiah, a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Zora Howard, Joshua Boone, Michelle Wilson, Alexis Marie Wint

Directed By: Rashaad Ernesto Green

Critics Consensus: Led by an exceptional performance from Trine Dyrholm, Queen of Hearts is a bold and uncompromising look at the darkness that can lie within family, directed with formidable skill by May El-Toukhy.

Synopsis: The arrival of her troubled stepson into her family home turns a successful lawyer's life upside down when their close bond leads to a secret... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Trine Dyrholm, Magnus Krepper, Gustav Lindh, Silja Esmår Dannemann

Directed By: May El-Toukhy

Critics Consensus: As narratively urgent as it is technically well-crafted, Midnight Family offers an enthralling and disquieting glimpse of healthcare in modern Mexico.

Synopsis: In Mexico City's wealthiest neighborhoods, the Ochoa family runs a private ambulance. As they try to make a living in this cutthroat industry, they struggle... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Juan Alexis Ochoa, Fernando Ochoa, Josué Ochoa, Manuel Hernandez

Directed By: Luke Lorentzen

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A once-iconic fashion model's plan to escape the media is disrupted by her son's efforts to make a final film about her, sparking an unexpected... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Carlotta Antonelli, Beniamino Barrese, Benedetta Barzini, Michela De Rossi

Directed By: Beniamino Barrese

Critics Consensus: Using raw materials left behind by its subject, Love, Antosha takes a thoughtful -- and powerful -- look at a life and career cut short.

Synopsis: Through Anton Yelchin's journals and other writings and interviews with his family, friends, and colleagues, filmmaker Garret Price looks not just at his career, but... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Pine, John Cho, Simon Pegg

Directed By: Garret Price

Critics Consensus: Carried by Kiersey Clemons' performance, Sweetheart balances smart subtext and social commentary against effective genre thrills.

Synopsis: A shipwreck survivor on an uninhabited island must fend off a malevolent force that surfaces each night.

Starring: Emory Cohen, Kiersey Clemons, Hanna Mangan Lawrence

Directed By: J.D. Dillard

Critics Consensus: A galvanizing glimpse behind the scenes of a pivotal election, Knock Down the House should prove engrossing for viewers of all political persuasions.

Synopsis: A young bartender in the Bronx, a coal miner's daughter in West Virginia, a grieving mother in Nevada, and a registered nurse in Missouri build... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Directed By: Rachel Lears

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A journey into the world of mental illness.

Starring: Kenneth Paul Rosenberg, Patrisse Cullors, Dalilah Marie Hudson

Directed By: Kenneth Paul Rosenberg

Critics Consensus: Clemency mines serious social issues for gripping drama, brought to life by an outstanding cast led by Alfre Woodard.

Synopsis: Years of carrying out death row executions are taking a toll on Warden Bernadine Williams. As she prepares for another one, Williams must confront the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Richard Schiff, Wendell Pierce

Directed By: Chinonye Chukwu

Critics Consensus: Refreshingly candid and disarmingly reflective, David Crosby: Remember My Name offers an absorbing look at its subject's life and career.

Synopsis: With unflinching honesty, self-examination, regret, fear, exuberance and an unshakable belief in family and the transformative nature of music, singer-songwriter David Crosby shares his often... View Full Synopsis

Starring: David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Cameron Crowe, Henry Diltz

Directed By: A.J. Eaton

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: An examination of the life and work of indigenous filmmaker and activist Merata Mita.

Starring: Awatea Mita, Hepi Mita, Alanis Obomsawin, N. Bird Runningwater

Directed By: Hepi Mita

Critics Consensus: As solidly compelling as its subject's best reporting, Mike Wallace Is Here is a worthy tribute and an engrossing look at the changing landscape of modern news.

Synopsis: For over half a century, "60 Minutes" fearsome newsman Mike Wallace went head-to-head with the world's most influential figures. Relying exclusively on archival footage, the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Barney Frank

Directed By: Avi Belkin

Critics Consensus: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am honors its acclaimed subject with a comprehensive, illuminating, and fittingly profound overview of her life and work.

Synopsis: Author Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, history, America and the human condition.

Starring: Toni Morrison, Oprah Winfrey, Russell Banks, Walter Mosley

Directed By: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Critics Consensus: Familiar in form but winsome in its execution, Top End Wedding takes audiences on a romantic road trip with an appealing view.

Synopsis: Lauren and Ned have 10 days to find Lauren's mother, who has gone AWOL in the remote far north of Australia, so they can reunite... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gwilym Lee, Kerry Fox, Miranda Tapsell, Rob Collins

Directed By: Wayne Blair

Critics Consensus: The Mustang finds fresh perspectives in a familiar redemption tale brought brilliantly to life by powerful performances from Bruce Dern and Matthias Schoenaerts.

Synopsis: A violent convict is given the chance to participate in a rehabilitation therapy program centered around the training of wild mustangs.

Starring: Matthias Schoenaerts, Gideon Adlon, Bruce Dern, Connie Britton

Directed By: Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre

Critics Consensus: As an investigation into a real-life tragedy, Cold Case Hammarskjöld might struggle with discipline -- but it remains an intriguing, entertaining jumble of ideas.

Synopsis: Danish director Mads Brügger and Swedish private investigator Göran Bjorkdahl are trying to solve the mysterious death of Dag Hammarskjöld. As their investigation closes in,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mads Brügger

Directed By: Mads Brügger

Critics Consensus: As powerfully acted as it is sensitively told, Dirty God offers a timely story delivered with empathy and deeply affecting grace.

Synopsis: A young mother tries to reclaim her life after an acid attack leaves her severely scarred.

Starring: Vicky Knight, Katherine Kelly, Eliza Brady-Girard, Rebecca Stone

Directed By: Sacha Polak

Critics Consensus: A finely layered drama with rich visal allure, Ms. Purple sifts sensitively through the emotional wreckage of a broken family.

Synopsis: A karaoke hostess reconnects with her estranged brother, forcing them to enter a period of intense self-reflection as their single father who raised them nears... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jake Choi, Mark Krenik, Alfredo Tavares, Crystal Lee

Directed By: Justin Chon

Critics Consensus: As sharp, funny, and scathingly irreverent as its subject, Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins pays entertaining tribute to a brilliant writer.

Synopsis: The life and work of Molly Ivins, a political journalist from Texas, best-selling author, and Bill of Rights warrior.

Starring: Rachel Maddow, Dan Rather, Anne Lamott, Cecile Richards

Directed By: Janice Engel

Critics Consensus: An environmental advocacy documentary with the suspense of a thriller, Sea of Shadows exposes lawlessness on the high seas -- and promotes efforts to thwart it.

Synopsis: The world's smallest whales near extinction as Mexican cartels and the Chinese mafia destroy their habitat.

Starring: Andrea Crosta, Carlos Loret, Cynthia Smith

Directed By: Richard Ladkani, Sean Bogle, Matthew Podolsky

Critics Consensus: The Report draws on a dark chapter in American history to offer a sober, gripping account of one public servant's crusade for accountability.

Synopsis: FBI agent Daniel Jones performs an exhaustive investigation into the CIA's use of torture on suspected terrorists.

Starring: Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Ted Levine

Directed By: Scott Z. Burns

Critics Consensus: Made by a filmmaker in command of her craft and a star perfectly matched with the material, The Souvenir is a uniquely impactful coming of age drama.

Synopsis: A shy film student begins finding her voice as an artist while navigating a turbulent courtship with a charismatic but untrustworthy man. She defies her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Honor Swinton Byrne, Tom Burke, Tilda Swinton, Richard Ayoade

Directed By: Joanna Hogg

Critics Consensus: Suspenseful, well-acted, and intelligent, I Am Mother is an ambitious sci-fi story that largely achieves its impressive aims.

Synopsis: Alone in a bunker, a droid called Mother raises a human girl from an embryo. To ensure the girl fulfills her potential, there's nothing Mother... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hilary Swank, Clara Rugaard, Rose Byrne, Tahlia Sturzaker

Directed By: Grant Sputore

Synopsis: Two men describe the alleged abuse they suffered at the hands of Michael Jackson; a series of interviews craft a portrait of deception, sustained exploitation... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jimmy Safechuck, Wade Robson, Michael Jackson

Critics Consensus: An affecting story powerfully told, The Last Black Man in San Francisco immediately establishes director Joe Talbot as a filmmaker to watch.

Synopsis: Jimmie and his best friend Mont try to reclaim the house built by Jimmie's grandfather, launching them on a poignant odyssey that connects them to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jimmie Fails, Jonathan Majors, Rob Morgan, Tichina Arnold

Directed By: Joe Talbot

Critics Consensus: Like a life-affirming rock anthem, Blinded by the Light hits familiar chords with confidence and flair, building to a conclusion that leaves audiences cheering for an encore.

Synopsis: Javed is a Pakistani teenager who experiences racial and economic turmoil while living in Luton, England, in 1987. He writes poetry as a way to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Viveik Kalra, Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon, Kulvinder Ghir

Directed By: Gurinder Chadha

Critics Consensus: It may not peer as closely or inquisitively as it could have, but Shooting the Mafia pays affectionate tribute to an important -- and fascinating -- subject.

Synopsis: Photographer Letizia Battaglia spent her career documenting things involving the Mafia.

Starring: Letizia Battaglia

Directed By: Kim Longinotto

Critics Consensus: The Amazing Johnathan Documentary sets out to survey a magician's final tour -- and ends up pulling off some wildly ambitious tricks of its own.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Benjamin Berman has a difficult time separating truth from fiction as he documents the final tour of a dying magician.

Starring: The Amazing Johnathan, Anastasia Synn, Benjamin Berman, Penn Jillette

Directed By: Benjamin Berman

Critics Consensus: Luce brings a stellar ensemble to bear on a satisfyingly complex story that addresses its timely themes in thought-provoking fashion.

Synopsis: A liberal-minded couple are forced to reconsider their image of their adopted son after he writes a disturbing essay for a class assignment.

Starring: Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tim Roth

Directed By: Julius Onah

Critics Consensus: Hail Satan? challenges preconceived notions of its subject with a smart, witty, and overall entertaining dispatch from the front lines of the fight for social justice.

Synopsis: Lucien Greaves co-founds the Satanic Temple, a religious movement that calls for a revolution to save the nation's soul.

Starring: Lucien Greaves, Jex Blackmore, Chalice Blythe, Nicholas Crowe

Directed By: Penny Lane

Critics Consensus: Anthropocene: The Human Epoch offers a sobering -- and visually ravishing - look at the horrific ecological damage wrought by modern human civilization.

Synopsis: Filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier and Edward Burtynsky travel the globe to document the impact humans have made on the planet.

Starring: Alicia Vikander

Directed By: Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier, Edward Burtynsky

Critics Consensus: Funny, heartfelt, and brought to life by a smartly assembled ensemble, Big Time Adolescence finds fresh pleasures in the crowded coming-of-age genre.

Synopsis: A drug-dealing college dropout becomes a mentor to his best friend -- a straight-laced teen who idolizes him.

Starring: Pete Davidson, Griffin Gluck, Jon Cryer, Oona Laurence

Directed By: Jason Orley

Critics Consensus: Its reach may occasionally exceed its grasp, but To the Stars uses its period setting as an effective backdrop for an insightful look at female friendship.

Synopsis: Under small-town scrutiny, a withdrawn farmer's daughter forges an intimate friendship with a worldly but reckless new girl in 1960s Oklahoma.

Starring: Kara Hayward, Liana Liberato, Shea Whigham, Jordana Spiro

Directed By: Martha Stephens

Critics Consensus: As visually splendid as it is thought-provoking, Monos takes an unsettling look at human nature whose grim insights leave a lingering impact.

Synopsis: A terrorized American engineer is held captive by teenaged guerilla bandits in a South American jungle.

Starring: Julianne Nicholson, Moises Arias, Sofia Buenaventura, Julián Giraldo

Directed By: Alejandro Landes

Critics Consensus: Memory - The Origins of Alien offers an entertaining inside look at the making of a classic -- and compellingly analyzes its creation in the context of its era.

Synopsis: An in depth voyage into the sci-fi film "Alien" with the visionary filmmakers who created it. See how one of the most terrifying movies of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Veronica Cartwright, Roger Christian, Roger Corman, Diane O'Bannon

Directed By: Alexandre O. Philippe

Critics Consensus: Alex Gibey's The Inventor declines to outright condemn the actions by Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, but instead provides a comprehensive overview of the scandal that allows viewers to mull over its implications towards the broader Silicon Valley.

Synopsis: With a new invention that promised to revolutionize blood testing, Elizabeth Holmes became the world's youngest self-made billionaire, heralded as the next Steve Jobs. Then,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Elizabeth Holmes, Errol Morris, Dan Ariely, Tyler Shultz

Directed By: Alex Gibney

Critics Consensus: The Hole in the Ground artfully exploits parental fears with a well-made horror outing that makes up in sheer effectiveness what it lacks in originality.

Synopsis: One night, Sarah's young son disappears into the woods behind their rural home. When he returns, he looks the same, but his behavior grows increasingly... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Seána Kerslake, James Quinn Markey, James Cosmo, Kati Outinen

Directed By: Lee Cronin

Critics Consensus: Before You Know It wrings an entertaining dramedy out of one family's fraught dynamic thanks to wise, witty writing and sharp work from a talented ensemble.

Synopsis: In 1993 New York City, dysfunctional co-dependent sisters discover that the mother they thought had died when they were young is alive and starring on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jen Tullock, Hannah Pearl Utt, Linda Arroz, Alec Baldwin

Directed By: Hannah Pearl Utt

Critics Consensus: Distinctive in terms of content, perspective, and insight, The Last Tree vividly depicts the turmoil of adolescence with remarkable grace.

Synopsis: After growing up in quiet, rural Lincolnshire, teenager Femi struggles with unfamiliar surroundings and cultural differences when he moves in with his mother in London.

Starring: Nicholas Pinnock, Jamal Ibrahim, Jayden Jean-Paul-Denis, Yazzmin Newell

Directed By: Shola Amoo

Critics Consensus: Naomi Watts gives it her all in The Wolf Hour, but it isn't enough to compensate for a film that spends too much of its runtime in search of a compelling story.

Synopsis: An unseen tormentor harasses a reclusive author as a citywide blackout triggers fires, looting and escalating violence during the Summer of Sam in New York... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Naomi Watts, Jennifer Ehle, Emory Cohen, Kelvin Harrison Jr.

Directed By: Alistair Banks Griffin

Critics Consensus: Brittany Runs a Marathon is an earnest and hilarious dramedy that finally gives Jillian Bell a role worthy of her gifts.

Synopsis: A hard-partying woman receives a startling wake-up call when a visit to the doctor reveals how unhealthy she is. Motivated to lose weight, she soon... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jillian Bell, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Michaela Watkins, Lil Rel Howery

Directed By: Paul Downs Colaizzo

Critics Consensus: Led by an impressive Riley Keough performance, The Lodge should prove a suitably unsettling destination for fans of darkly atmospheric horror.

Synopsis: During a family retreat to a remote winter cabin over the holidays, the father is forced to abruptly depart for work, leaving his two children... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh, Richard Armitage

Directed By: Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala

Critics Consensus: Much like its well-meaning but clueless protagonist, Adam occasionally seems to be in over its head -- but its good intentions make those fumbles easier to forgive.

Synopsis: Awkward teen Adam spends his last high school summer in New York City with his sister, Casey, who throws herself into the city's lesbian and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nicholas Alexander, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Margaret Qualley, Leo Sheng

Directed By: Rhys Ernst

Critics Consensus: Give Me Liberty expertly juggles resonant themes and a madcap series of events to produce a chaotic comedy with heart.

Synopsis: When a riot breaks out in Milwaukee, medical transport driver Vic is torn between his promise to get his relatives, a group of elderly Russians,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Galust, Lauren "Lolo" Spencer, Daria Ekamasova, Maksim Stoyanov

Directed By: Kirill Mikhanovsky

Critics Consensus: The Nightingale definitely isn't for all tastes, but writer-director Jennifer Kent taps into a rich vein of palpable rage to tell a war story that leaves a bruising impact.

Synopsis: Clare, a young Irish convict, chases a British officer through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness and is bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin, Baykali Ganambarr, Damon Herriman

Directed By: Jennifer Kent

Critics Consensus: Smart, timely, and brought to life by a terrific cast, Late Night is a workplace comedy with a lot of heart -- and just as many laughs.

Synopsis: A late-night talk show host's world is turned upside down when she hires her first and only female staff writer. Originally intended to smooth over... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, John Lithgow, Hugh Dancy

Directed By: Nisha Ganatra

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Relatives of lynching victims, the perpetrators and others across the United States confront what happened in their communities.

Starring: Danny Glover, Bryan Stevenson

Directed By: Jacqueline Olive

Critics Consensus: Elevated by the chemistry and bold performances of its leads, Animals takes a refreshingly frank and impressively ambitious look at female relationships.

Synopsis: Longtime friends and party lovers Laura and Tyler navigate life and love in Dublin, Ireland but find themselves drifting apart when Laura becomes engaged.

Starring: Holliday Grainger, Alia Shawkat, Dermot Murphy, Amy Molloy

Directed By: Sophie Hyde

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The life and work of author Stieg Larsson.

Starring: Emil Almén, Magnus Höqqvist, Mattias Königsson, Jan Simonsson

Directed By: Henrik Georgsson

Critics Consensus: American Factory takes a thoughtful -- and troubling -- look at the dynamic between workers and employers in the 21st-century globalized economy.

Synopsis: In post-industrial Ohio, a Chinese billionaire opens a new factory in the husk of an abandoned General Motors plant. Early days of hope and optimism... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sherrod Brown

Directed By: Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A woman's life begins to fall apart after she develops a relationship with a young immigrant.

Starring: Krystyna Janda, Kasia Smutniak, Antonio Catania, Lorenzo De Moor

Directed By: Jacek Borcuch

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: An obsessive-compulsive suburban mom retreats to her sister's home, where she cat-sits, compulsively cleans and spies on a neighboring family.

Starring: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kate Alberts, Kate Blumberg, Max Burkholder

Directed By: Debra Eisenstadt

Critics Consensus: Judy & Punch revisits classic characters from a fresh perspective, marking debuting writer-director Mirrah Foulkes as a filmmaking talent to watch.

Synopsis: A 16th-century puppeteer seeks revenge against her drunken and abusive husband after an unforgivable act of violence.

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Damon Herriman, Benedict Hardie, Tom Budge

Directed By: Mirrah Foulkes

Critics Consensus: Grim yet compelling, Share avoids rote didacticism thanks to sensitive direction and committed central performances.

Synopsis: A disturbing video of an unconscious 16-year-old Mandy emerges from a night she can't remember. With incredible courage, Mandy maneuvers pain, isolation and loss in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rhianne Barreto, Charlie Plummer, Poorna Jagannathan, J.C. MacKenzie

Directed By: Pippa Bianco

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Starring: Romina Bentancur, Federico Morosini, Fabián Arenillas, Valeria Lois

Directed By: Lucía Garibaldi

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Directed By: Tonislav Hristov

Critics Consensus: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind earns its predictably uplifting arc through strong performances and impressive work from debuting director Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Synopsis: A 13-year-old boy is thrown out of the school he loves when his family can no longer afford the fees. He sneaks into the library... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aïssa Maïga, Joseph Marcell, Noma Dumezweni

Directed By: Chiwetel Ejiofor

Critics Consensus: The Death of Dick Long mixes dark humor with provocative ideas to produce a sharp blend that's admittedly uneven but uniquely satisfying.

Synopsis: In small-town Alabama, Zeke and Earl scramble to cover up the unlikely and illegal events that led to their friend's death while trying to dodge... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Abbott Jr., Virginia Newcomb, Andre Hyland, Sarah Baker

Directed By: Daniel Scheinert

Critics Consensus: Supported by a powerful central performance by Geraldine Viswanathan, Hala offers an insightful look at a young woman's journey of self-discovery.

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Pakistani American teenager Hala struggles to balance desire with her family, cultural and religious obligations. As she comes into her own, she grapples with... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Geraldine Viswanathan, Jack Kilmer, Gabriel Luna, Purbi Joshi

Directed By: Minhal Baig

Critics Consensus: While subsequent documentaries on the subject might be more comprehensive, Untouchable offers a gut-wrenching look at horrific abuses of power.

Synopsis: Former colleagues and victims discuss the rise and fall of Harvey Weinstein.

Starring: Erika Rosenbaum, Ken Auletta, Ronan Farrow, Jack Lechner

Directed By: Ursula Macfarlane

Critics Consensus: Photograph enriches the familiar arc of its love story by refreshingly refracting its characters' budding bond through a sociocultural prism.

Synopsis: Pressured by his grandmother to get married, a struggling street photographer convinces a shy stranger to pose as his fiancée. They soon develop an unexpected... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Ramesh Deo

Directed By: Ritesh Batra

Critics Consensus: A paranormally tinged drama with a deceptively gentle touch, Light from Light sinks its hooks into the audience gradually but isn't quick to let go.

Synopsis: A single mom working as a part-time paranormal investigator is hired to investigate a widower's farmhouse in Tennessee.

Starring: Marin Ireland, Jim Gaffigan, Josh Wiggins, Atheena Frizzell

Directed By: Paul Harrill

Critics Consensus: Wounds isn't without its creepy-crawly charms, but they -- and the efforts of a talented cast -- get squished by a story that never quite gets completely under the skin.

Synopsis: Disturbing and mysterious things begin to happen to a bartender in New Orleans after he brings home a cellphone that was left at his bar.

Starring: Armie Hammer, Dakota Johnson, Zazie Beetz, Karl Glusman

Directed By: Babak Anvari

Critics Consensus: Native Son's struggles with its problematic source material are uneven but overall compelling, thanks largely to Ashton Sanders' poised work in the central role.

Synopsis: A young African-American living in Chicago enters into a seductive new world of money and power after becoming a chauffeur for an affluent businessman.

Starring: Ashton Sanders, Margaret Qualley, Nick Robinson, Sanaa Lathan

Directed By: Rashid Johnson

Critics Consensus: After the Wedding benefits from solid casting and strong source material, yet proves stubbornly resistant to spark to emotional life.

Synopsis: Seeking funds for her orphanage in India, Isabel travels to New York to meet Theresa, a wealthy benefactor. An invitation to attend a wedding ignites... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, Billy Crudup, Abby Quinn

Directed By: Bart Freundlich

Critics Consensus: The Mountain finds its provocative director further honing his craft -- but formal flair and an engrossing Jeff Goldblum performance may not be enough to sway the unconverted.

Synopsis: Since his mother's confinement to an institution, a man has lived in the shadow of his stoic father. A family acquaintance employs the introverted young... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tye Sheridan, Jeff Goldblum, Denis Lavant, Udo Kier

Directed By: Rick Alverson

Critics Consensus: Its ambitious reach occasionally exceeds its grasp, but Paradise Hills offers fans of thoughtful sci-fi a visually distinctive treat with timely themes.

Synopsis: Young women must band together to escape from a seemingly idyllic island that holds a sinister secret.

Starring: Emma Roberts, Danielle Macdonald, Awkwafina, Jeremy Irvine

Directed By: Alice Waddington

Critics Consensus: John Lithgow and Blythe Danner are almost enough to save The Tomorrow Man, but their efforts are overwhelmed by a problematic story.

Synopsis: Ed Hemsler spends his life preparing for a disaster that may never come, and Ronnie Meisner spends her life shopping for things she may never... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Lithgow, Blythe Danner, Derek Cecil, Katie Aselton

Directed By: Noble Jones

Critics Consensus: The Sound of Silence occasionally struggles to control its tone and convey its message, but it benefits from compelling performances and intriguing ideas.

Synopsis: There are a symphony of almost undetectable sounds that make up a moment of silence, and Peter Lucian (Peter Sarsgaard) is determined to catalogue them... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Peter Sarsgaard, Rashida Jones, Tony Revolori, Austin Pendleton

Directed By: Michael Tyburski

Critics Consensus: If you only watch one art-world satire with horror overtones this year -- or most others -- it should probably be Velvet Buzzsaw.

Synopsis: After paintings by an unknown artist are discovered, a supernatural force enacts revenge on those who have allowed their greed to get in the way... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Toni Collette, John Malkovich

Directed By: Dan Gilroy

Critics Consensus: We Are Little Zombies mixes the playful and the profane with a stylish and visually inventive look at death, abandonment, and the grieving process.

Synopsis: Four Japanese orphans form a rock band.

Starring: Keita Ninomiya, Mondo Okumura, Satoshi Mizuno, Sena Nakajima

Directed By: Makoto Nagahisa

Critics Consensus: Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile often transcends its narrative limitations through sheer force of Zac Efron's compulsively watchable performance.

Synopsis: A chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy from the perspective of his longtime girlfriend, who refused to believe the truth about him for years.

Starring: Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Haley Joel Osment, Kaya Scodelario

Directed By: Joe Berlinger

Critics Consensus: While admirably intelligent and well-cast, Don't Let Go suffers from a formulaic approach compounded by its uneven writing and an awkward tonal balance.

Synopsis: Detective Jack Radcliff gets a shocking phone call from his recently murdered niece Ashley. Working together across time, they race to solve the crime before... View Full Synopsis

Starring: David Oyelowo, Mykelti Williamson, Brian Tyree Henry, Storm Reid

Directed By: Jacob Aaron Estes

Critics Consensus: Official Secrets has a familiar structure and an obvious if worthy message, but rises on the strength of Keira Knightley's powerful performance.

Synopsis: One day in 2003, in the lead up to the Iraq War, British intelligence specialist Katharine Gun receives a memo from the NSA with a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Keira Knightley, Matt Smith, Matthew Goode, Rhys Ifans

Directed By: Gavin Hood

Critics Consensus: Them That Follow never quite captures the spiritual fervor of its setting, but the cast's committed performances make for an intermittently satisfying character study.

Synopsis: Inside a snake-handling church deep in Appalachia, a forbidden relationship forces a pastor's daughter to confront her community's deadly tradition.

Starring: Olivia Colman, Kaitlyn Dever, Alice Englert, Jim Gaffigan

Directed By: Britt Poulton, Daniel Savage

Critics Consensus: Jenny Slate remains as charming as ever, but her winsome performance isn't enough to overcome The Sunlit Night's grating tone and meandering plot.

Synopsis: An aspiring painter meets eccentric locals and a fellow New Yorker while working on a barn in Norway.

Starring: Jenny Slate, Zach Galifianakis, Alex Sharp, Gillian Anderson

Directed By: David Wnendt