I remember when I got my first iPhone. At the time, it felt like a novelty — like a cool, new gadget that I definitely wouldn't have considered cinematic. Now, filmmakers are using these things to capture shots in hard-to-reach places, pull off creative angles, and even shoot entire Hollywood feature films.

Today, I wanted to go over ten of these movies that were shot on iPhones and look at how they were used to tell the story.

Let's dive in.

28 Years Later (upcoming film, shot on iPhone 15)

Danny Boyle returns to the post-apocalyptic world ravaged by the Rage Virus three decades after the initial outbreak. The film explores how survivors navigate a quarantined UK, facing not only mutated infected but also new threats from within humanity. The film was shot using iPhone 15 Pros and iPhone 15 Pro Maxes, often utilizing elaborate rigs with multiple devices to achieve dynamic and visceral shots.

  • Director: Danny Boyle
  • Writer: Alex Garland
  • Cast: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Jack O'Connell

Unsane (shot on iPhone 7 Plus)

A psychological thriller that immerses you in the terrifying experience of a woman involuntarily committed to a mental institution. Was it all a delusion, or is there a sinister plot at play? The iPhone makes it all feel real and creepy.

  • Director: Steven Soderbergh
  • Writers: Jonathan Bernstein, James Greer
  • Cast: Claire Foy, Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharoah, Juno Temple, Aimee Mullins, Amy Irving

Tangerine (shot on three iPhone 5S devices)

Shot on three iPhone 5S devices, this vibrant and energetic comedy-drama follows a transgender sex worker in Hollywood as she searches for the pimp who broke her heart. Sean Baker uses the phones to give a sense of a grittier side of Los Angeles.

  • Director: Sean Baker
  • Writers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch
  • Cast: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, James Ransone

Detour (shot on iPhone)

A neo-noir thriller where a law student, after a car accident, finds himself entangled with a dangerous criminal and his girlfriend, offering him a tempting but perilous way out of his troubles.

  • Director: Christopher Smith
  • Writer: Christopher Smith
  • Cast: Tye Sheridan, Stephen Moyer, Emory Cohen, Bel Powley

High Flying Bird (shot on iPhone 8)

It feels like Soderbergh loves using iPhones. Set during an NBA lockout, this drama follows a sports agent who proposes a controversial plan to revolutionize the basketball industry. Soderbergh once again showcases the capabilities of iPhone filmmaking.

  • Director: Steven Soderbergh
  • Writer: Tarell Alvin McCraney
  • Cast: André Holland, Zazie Beetz, Melvin Gregg, Sonja Sohn, Zachary Quinto, Kyle MacLachlan, Bill Duke

Searching for Sugar Man (partially shot on iPhone with the 8mm Vintage Camera app)

I'm trying to get to ten, so I am being a little fast and loose with the shot on an iPhone thing. This acclaimed documentary chronicles the efforts of two South African fans to discover the fate of their musical hero, Sixto Rodriguez, a forgotten American folk rock musician. While primarily shot with traditional cameras, some crucial, intimate shots were captured with an iPhone to maintain spontaneity.

  • Director: Malik Bendjelloul
  • Writers: Malik Bendjelloul, Stephen "Sugar" Segerman, Craig Bartholomew Strydom
  • Cast: Rodriguez, Stephen "Sugar" Segerman, Dennis Coffey

Night Fishing (shot on iPhone 4)

A short fantasy horror film from acclaimed director Park Chan-wook that follows a fisherman's eerie encounter with a female ghost. The iPhone perspective gives us a sense that we are watching something we shouldn't.

  • Director: Park Chan-wook, Park Chan-kyong
  • Writers: Park Chan-wook, Park Chan-kyong
  • Cast: Gwang-Rok Oh, Lee Jung-hyun

Uneasy Lies The Mind (shot on iPhone 5s)

A psychological thriller that delves into the fractured psyche of a man attending a destination wedding, with the iPhone's unique aesthetic enhancing the unsettling mood.

  • Director: Ricky Fosheim
  • Writers: Jonas Fisch, J'aime Spezzano, Dillon Tucker
  • Cast: Jonas Fisch, J'aime Spezzano, Dillon Tucker, Renata Martins

Romance in NYC (shot on iPhone 6)

This romantic drama explores a long-distance relationship across different cities, with the intimate iPhone cinematography adding to its personal feel. There's a lot of intimacy here.

  • Director: Tristan Pope
  • Writer: Tristan Pope
  • Cast: Tristan Pope, Rachael Winegar

9 Rides (shot on iPhone 6s)

An Uber driver gets a life-changing call on New Year's Eve, depicted entirely through his interactions with passengers. This film was the first feature film shot on an iPhone 6s in 4K.

  • Director: Matthew A. Cherry
  • Writer: Matthew A. Cherry
  • Cast: Dorian Missick, Omar Dorsey, Robinne Lee, Xosha Roquemore

Summing It All Up 

You don't have to have a big, expensive camera to entertain audiences. You just need to get creative and tell a good story. These movies are great examples of what you can do with the camera in your pocket.

Did I miss any to add to this list?

Let me know what you think in the comments.

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