The Sundance Film Festival has always been a place where studios pluck their favorite films right out of the fertile soil of Park City for distribution. This year, two major streaming giants, Amazon and Netflix, have acquired their lot of Sundance fare and have announced their release dates, most of which are as early as March, but one you'll be able to watch curled up on your couch in late February.
Here is a list of all of the films you can expect to see on both streaming services:
Amazon
Long Strange Trip
This documentary by director Mike Fleiss chronicles the career of legendary 1970s rock band The Grateful Dead, as well as the relationship between bandmates Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia.
Release: May 26th, 2017, on Amazon Prime Video (US)
Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Phil Lesh appear in 'Long Strange Trip' by Amir Bar-Lev, an official selection of the Documentary Premieres program at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Andrew Kent.
The Big Sick
Directed by comedian Michael Showalter, The Big Sick is a rom-com about a couple dealing with their cultural differences, and everyone and their mom wanted to get their hands on it at Sundance. A24, the Weinstein Company, Netflix, Paramount, Fox Searchlight, Universal/Focus Features, and more duked it out in an all out bidding brawl until Amazon eventually came out with the prize. The final bid? A cool $12 million.
Release: Theatrical release TBA
Zoe Kazan and Kumail Nanjiani appear in 'The Big Sick' by Michael Showalter, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Nicole Rivelli.
Landline
Comedian Jenny Slate and director Gillian Robespierre team up again after Obvious Child for this dramedy about a Manhattan-based family coming together after an infidelity. Word on the street is that Amazon picked it up for $3 million.
Release: Theatrical release TBA
Abby Quinn, Edie Falco and Jenny Slate appear in 'Landline' by Gillian Robespierre, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Chris Teague.
Netflix
I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore
People are such assholes; that's the conclusion Ruth, played by Melanie Lynskey, comes to after being pushed around, ignored, and eventually burglarized in Macon Blair's I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore. This film is a strange animal because from the trailer, it appears to be your classic indie comedy, complete with a depressed protagonist and the weird next door neighbor (Elijah Wood) with questionable fashion sense. However, this thing reveals itself as a bonafide crime thriller once exacting vengeance turns deadly.
Release: February 24th, 2017, on Netflix
Burning Sands
This drama directed by Gerard McMurray tells the story of a pledgee who has to decide whether or not to come forward about the intense hazing and violence of his fraternity.
Release: March 10th, 2017, on Netflix
Trevor Jackson and Steve Harris appear in 'Burning Sands' by Gerard McMurray, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Isiah Donté Lee.
Deidra & Laney Rob a Train
Directed by Sydney Freeland, this film tells the story about two sisters who decide to rob a train after their mother is sent to prison.
Release: March 17th, 2017, on Netflix
The Discovery
The Discovery follows the romance between Rooney Mara and Jason Segel in a time when the afterlife as been scientifically proven to exist. It poses the existential question of, "If there's an afterlife, what's the point of living?" a complicated and challenging concept that audiences will have fun chewing on. And if we know anything about director Charlie McDowell's penchant for telling hilariously weird, cerebral stories, as he did in The One I Love, it'll be quite a mental ride.
Release: March 31st, 2017, on Netflix
Berlin Syndrome
This dark thriller, directed by Cate Shortland, tells the story of a photojournalist who vacations in Berlin only to be held captive by her obsessive romantic fling.
Release: Early summer 2017 theatrical release, followed by Netflix availability
Teresa Palmer appears in 'Berlin Syndrome' by Cate Shortland, an official selection of the World Cinema Dramatic at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Sarah Enticknap.
Casting JonBenet
Kitty Green's Casting JonBenét is a documentary within a documentary. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it explores the infamous JonBenét Ramsey murder through the eyes of actors auditioning for a role in a docudrama about the case.
Release: April 2017, on Netflix; limited theatrical release
Danika Toolson, Emma Winslow, Elle Walker, Aeona Cruz, Hannah Cagwin, Liv Bagley, Shylee Sagle and Nicole Hamilton appear in 'Casting JonBenet' by Kitty Green, an official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Michael Latham.
Fun Mom Dinner
For $5 million, Netflix picked up SVOD rights to this Alethea Jones comedy about four moms who decide to get together for a, you guessed it, fun mom dinner, which you bet your ass isn't going to go as planned. It stars Toni Collette, Molly Shannon, Katie Aselton, and the f**cking hilarious Bridget Everett.
Release: Theatrical release TBA, followed by Netflix availability
Bridget Everett, Molly Shannon, Katie Aselton and Toni Collette appear in Fun Mom Dinner by Alethea Jones, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Robb Rosenfeld.
Chasing Coral
This documentary by Jeff Orlowski seeks to find answers as to why the world's coral reefs are vanishing. Shot over a course of three years, Orlowski says that he and his team "spent 650+ hours underwater including footage from over 30 countries with the support of hundreds of people around the world."
Release: Late 2017, on Netflix
A still from 'Chasing Coral: The VR Experience' by Jeff Orlowski, an official selection of the New Frontier VR Experiences program at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
NOBODY SPEAK: Hulk Hogan, Gawker and Trials of a Free Press
Nobody Speak is a documentary that digs into the legal scandal that eventually brought media giant Gawker to its knees after professional wrestler Hulk Hogan filed a lawsuit when Gawker employees released parts of a sex tape he was involved in, citing invasion of privacy among other things. The media company eventually claimed bankruptcy and closed its doors after being ordered to pay a $115 million in compensation.
Release: TBA
Hulk Hogan appears in 'NOBODY SPEAK: Hulk Hogan, Gawker and Trials of a Free Press' by Brian Knappenberger, an official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by John Pendygraft.
The Incredible Jessica James
This comedy directed by Jim Strouse tells the story of a newly single playwright who gets into an unlikely relationship with a character played by Chris O'Dowd.
Release: Later in 2017, as a “Netflix Original” film on Netflix
Jessica Williams appears in The Incredible Jessica James by Jim Strouse, an official selection of the Premieres section at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower
This documentary from director Joe Piscatella centers on a Chinese teenager who rallies thousands of students to skip school and take to the streets in protest of the Chinese Communist Party's failure to deliver autonomy to Hong Kong.
Release: Later in 2017, on Netflix
Joshua Wong appears in 'Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower', an official selection of the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
The Mars Generation
Documentary director Michael Barnett follows the journey of aspiring teenage astronauts as they go away to NASA Space Camp.
Release: Later in 2017, on Netflix
Raj Majthia, Aurora Creamer, Jace Ezzell, Josh Rich and Rachel Ward appear in 'The Mars Generation' by Michael Barnett, an official selection of the Kids program at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Michael Barnett.
Icarus
Icarus is a documentary by Bryan Fogel about the man who, according to The Hollywood Reporter, was "both the facilitator and whistle-blower of Russia's massive sports doping program."
Release: Later in 2017, on Netflix
A still from 'ICARUS' by Bryan Fogel, an official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
To the Bone
Picked up by Netflix for $8 million, To the Bone is a comedy/drama about a young woman, played by Lily Collins, battling anorexia, who meets an unconventional doctor, played by Keanu Reeves, when she decides to go into a group recovery home.
Keanu Reeves and Lily Collins appear in 'To The Bone' by Marti Noxon, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Gilles Mingasson.
Release: Later in 2017, on Netflix
For more, see our complete coverage of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
Featured image: 'I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore'
Source: The Verge
