Already burnt out on action blockbusters and big-budget comedies this Summer? We have a treat for you: 12 indie movies that are coming to a theater (or laptop) near you over the few couple months. If you were reading this year's Sundance Film Festival [1] coverage just waiting for your chance to see some of the unique films, you'll be happy to know that a handful are on this list! Of all the movies coming out this Summer [2], these are the ones that will really make you think. Take a look!
Swiss Army Man
- The scoop: Yes, this is the movie in which Daniel Radcliffe plays a farting corpse [3]. Paul Dano also stars as a man who is stranded on a deserted island, until he comes across the aforementioned corpse and finds some creative ways back to civilization.
- Release date: June 17
- Watch the trailer [4].
Hunt For the Wilderpeople
- The scoop: If you've seen any of the work by New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows), then you'll love the familiar style of Hunt For the Wilderpeople. The comedy, about a kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the forest, opened to rave reviews [5] at the Sundance Film Festival, meaning this just might be this Summer's indie darling.
- Release date: June 24
- Watch the trailer [6].
The Neon Demon
- The scoop: Sure, Nicolas Winding Refn's artistic drama was booed at Cannes, but plenty of other films have been given the same treatment [7] over the years! Elle Fanning stars as a hopeful model in the film, which also stars Keanu Reeves [8], Christina Hendricks, and Jena Malone.
- Release date: June 24
- Watch the trailer [9].
Wiener-Dog
- The scoop: If you love dogs (specifically dachshunds), you'll get a kick out of this movie about the many lives that one dog manages to touch during he lifetime. Ellen Burstyn, Kieran Culkin, Julie Delpy, Danny DeVito, and Greta Gerwig all star.
- Release date: June 24
- Watch the trailer [10].
The Fundamentals of Caring
- The scoop: Netflix snatched up this Selena Gomez-starring drama when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year. Paul Rudd [11] stars as a caregiver who gets more than he bargained for with his first client.
- Release date: June 24 on Netflix
- Watch the trailer [12].
Equals
- The scoop: Kristen Stewart [13] and Nicholas Hoult made headlines for their very sexy love scene [14] when this premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, but that's not the only reason to see this drama. It takes place in the future when humans are void of feelings, and the trailer alone looks very sensual.
- Release date: July 1
- Watch the trailer [15].
Captain Fantastic
- The scoop: Ever thought about uprooting your life and raising a family away from the pressures of society? That's what Viggo Mortensen [16]'s character does in Captain Fantastic, a quirky indie movie that debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn, and Missi Pyle in supporting parts all but ensure you'll love this movie.
- Release date: July 8
- Watch the trailer [17].
Café Society
- The scoop: Woody Allen [18]'s latest film is a small but star-studded affair. Kristen Stewart [19] and Jesse Eisenberg headline the film about a man who becomes entranced with Hollywood in the 1930s, but the movie also features Steve Carell [20], Blake Lively [21], Corey Stoll, and Anna Camp.
- Release date: July 15
- Watch the trailer [22].
Yoga Hosers
- The scoop: Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith had small roles in 2014's Tusk, but they're back in their own very Canadian spinoff, also directed by Kevin Smith. Justin Long [23], Austin Butler, Adam Brody [24], Haley Joel Osment, Tyler Posey, and Lily-Rose's parents, Johnny Depp [25] and Vanessa Paradis, are all appearing!
- Release date: July 29
- Watch the trailer [26].
The Hollars
- The scoop: Not only is John Krasinski [27] the star of this indie film, but he directed it [28]! Anna Kendrick [29], Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Charlie Day all costar in the movie, about a man who returns to his hometown after finding out that his mother (Margot Martindale) has a brain tumor. It's not as heavy as it sounds; it's a comedy, and hopefully we'll get a trailer soon!
- Release date: Aug. 12
Joshy
- The scoop: A ton of your favorite comedians (think Adam Pally, Thomas Middleditch, Nick Kroll, and Jenny Slate) star in this dark comedy about a wild weekend. How dark? Well, it begins with a suicide. We'll get a better feel for the tone once a trailer is released!
- Release date: Aug. 12
Southside With You
- The scoop: Just in time for President Barack Obama's final months in office, Southside With You chronicles his first date with Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, the woman who would become his wife and the first lady. Stay tuned for a trailer!
- Release date: Aug. 19
- Watch the trailer [30].