While blockbusters dominate the box office, some of the year’s most compelling stories unfolded away from the spotlight. From intimate dramas to genre surprises, these lesser-seen films offered unique perspectives and resonant storytelling.
Endless Cookie
This Canadian documentary defies easy categorization. Animated with a raw, unpolished style, it chronicles the lives of two half-brothers—one white, one Indigenous—across the distance between Toronto and Shamattawa First Nation. The film finds its power not in grand statements, but in the quiet, often overlooked moments of daily life: a mumbled aside, a child’s interruption, the mundane sounds of a household. Within these spaces, it subtly portrays the realities of intergenerational trauma and systemic neglect, yet its true focus is the resilient pulse of community, humour, and shared dreams that persist against a harsh backdrop.
The Unholy Trinity
A pulpy, satisfying western thriller proves there’s life yet in the genre. Featuring seasoned stars Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson in supporting roles, the film follows a young man’s quest for vengeance. It’s a lean, 90-minute ride of cleanly shot action and simmering tension, offering the simple, unpretentious pleasure of a well-told tale, outshining many more expensive productions.
The Wedding Banquet
A witty and emotionally layered remake, this Seattle-set comedy revolves around two queer couples sharing a home. When family pressure forces a marriage of convenience, the ensuing chaos becomes a heartfelt exploration of chosen family, cultural expectation, and the authentic, evolving nature of queer relationships. It balances sharp comedy with genuine, tearful moments, anchored by a chemistry-rich ensemble cast.
Homebound
Produced by Martin Scorsese, this Bollywood drama is both intimate and politically urgent. It follows two childhood friends—one Dalit, one Muslim—as they await their police academy results in a small north Indian town. The film is a powerful indictment of casteism and Islamophobia, yet it is equally a tender portrait of male friendship, joy, and aspiration, made all the more poignant when the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly enters their world.
Grand Theft Hamlet
Born from pandemic isolation, this inventive documentary follows two out-of-work actors who decide to stage “Hamlet” inside the video game Grand Theft Auto Online with avatars they recruit in the virtual world. The result is a bizarre, hilarious, and unexpectedly moving testament to the human need for connection, art, and catharsis, even when soliloquies are interrupted by digital gunfire.
A Little Prayer
A quiet indie drama that deserved a far wider audience, this film offers a nuanced look at family betrayal and unexpected bonds. It focuses on the delicate relationship between a father and his daughter-in-law after he discovers his son’s infidelity. Led by understated, powerful performances, its final scene is a masterclass in restrained, devastating emotion.
By the Wife
A truly singular cinematic experience, this surreal comedy imagines an encounter between a blind musician and a mulleted enthusiast of vegetarian cuisine on a remote island. Dialogue loops into absurdity, activities include dressing as sheep, and the entire project feels like a sustained act of creative conviction. It is an acquired taste, but a genuine one-off.
Griffin in Summer
A refreshing entry in the coming-of-age genre, this film avoids cliché to capture the specific, complex state of a 14-year-old who is not defined by a single “coming out” moment. He is simply himself: a theatre-obsessed teen navigating his first major crush. Told with delicate insight and a remarkable lead performance, it treats queer youth with rare authenticity.
Love, Brooklyn
An airy, lyrical daydream of a film, this romance follows a writer in Brooklyn tangled between his feelings for two different women. It’s a throwback to a kind of relaxed, character-driven storytelling, celebrated for its lush visuals and the simple, refreshing pleasure of watching vibrant characters simply exist, strive, and joke around.
Eephus
Immediately joining the ranks of great baseball movies, this charming comedy is set during the final game at a dilapidated small-town stadium. Focusing on middle-aged amateur players, it’s less about the sport and more about camaraderie, nostalgia, and the spirited, headlight-illuminated defiance of time’s passage. It finds profound humour and heart in the game’s minor, quirky details.
Songs from the Hole
This groundbreaking documentary is a hybrid of visual album and searing nonfiction. Collaborating with director Contessa Gayles, musician James “JJ’88” Jacobs—serving a double life sentence since age 15—translates lyrics and treatments written in solitary confinement into a stunning film. It’s a meditation on crime, forgiveness, and the prison system’s failure, culminating in scenes of breathtaking humanity that challenge viewers with their raw display of compassion and hard-won hope.