Farewell to Sundance in Utah: Iconic films that debuted at the festival

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — For over 40 years, the Sundance Film Festival has highlighted independent filmmaking and showcased heartfelt stories and talented directors.

2026 is the final year that Sundance Film Festival will be held in Utah. The festival will run from Jan. 22, 2026, through Feb. 1, 2026, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with the at-home program available online from Jan. 29 through Feb. 1, 2026.

2026 Sundance Film Festival lineup revealed

Single film tickets for in-person and online screenings go on sale Jan. 14 and limited quantities of select passes and packages remain on sale.

However, if you wish to celebrate the festival’s rich history, here are some of the top films to stream for your personal greatest-hits Sundance.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

“Reservoir Dogs”, the first film Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed, premiered at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival. The film was picked up by Miramax for a wide release in Oct. of the same year.

The film, which follows a group of diamond thieves whose heist of a jewelry store goes terribly wrong, established Tarantino’s signature tone and satirical style, and became the standard for what is known as “Tarantino-esque.”

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

27 years ago, “The Blair Witch Project” left a lasting legacy on the horror genre. The mockumentary premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival and left viewers wondering if the found footage they just watched was truly fictional.

The horror film tells the story of three film students who traveled to a small Maryland town to collect documentary footage about the Blair Witch. It also screened at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival and won the ‘Award of the Youth.’

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Following Napoleon, a quirky high schooler with a unique personality and eccentric family, “Napoleon Dynamite” premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and quickly gained a cult following.

The indie film has strong ties to Utah. The production team consisted almost entirely of Brigham Young University students and alumni, and the film was sold to Fox Searchlight Studios for $4.75 million.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

At the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, audiences followed a quirky family on a road trip to California so their young daughter could compete in a beauty pageant. The dramedy was sold to Fox Searchlight Pictures and went on to become a beloved film.

The film was a box office success, earning approximately $100 million. The cast and crew won multiple awards, including two Academy Awards and two BAFTAs.

Whiplash (2014)

A survey of more than 500 filmmakers, critics, and industry professionals named “Whiplash” the top Sundance film of all time. The psychological drama, centered on an ambitious music student, was first released as a short film and later expanded into a feature.

“Whiplash” won the Sundance Short Film Jury Prize and grossed nearly $50 million. It also earned three Oscars in 2015: Best Supporting Actor, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Mixing.

Get Out (2017)

“Get Out” marked Jordan Peele’s debut as a director and premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Universal Pictures picked up the film, releasing it in the same year. It received 154 awards.

The horror thriller follows a young African American man visiting his white girlfriend’s family for an unsettling weekend and grossed approximately $259 million worldwide.

CODA (2022)

“CODA,” a story about a girl caught between following her dreams and fearing to leave her deaf parents, debuted at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, earning the Grand Juror Prize.

This heartfelt film won three Oscars, including Best Motion Picture, along with 66 other awards, and was nominated for 149.

A Real Pain (2024)

Directed by Jesse Eisenberg and featuring Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain” achieved significant success after its premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

The movie has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and follows mismatched cousins who reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their grandmother.

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