A Glean movie guide
Big Impact, Small Runtimes
Short, sweet, and cinematic.
Masterful feature films that tell a complete story in under 90 minutes.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Toy Story
A groundbreaking adventure that proves great storytelling doesn't need a long runtime.
Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.
- 02
Run Lola Run
A high-octane thriller that uses every second of its 81 minutes to maintain breathless momentum.
Lola receives a phone call from her boyfriend Manni. He lost 100,000 DM in a subway train that belongs to a very bad guy. She has 20 minutes to raise this amount and meet Manni. Otherwise, he will rob a store to get the money. Three different alternatives may happen depending on some minor event along Lola's run.
- 03
Before Sunset
A masterclass in dialogue-driven drama that unfolds in near real-time across a Parisian afternoon.
Nine years later, Jesse travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote about the night he spent in Vienna with Celine. After his reading in Paris, Celine finds him, and they spend part of the day together before Jesse has to again leave for a flight. They are both in relationships now, and Jesse has a son, but as their strong feelings for each other start to return, both confess a longing for more.
- 04
What We Do in the Shadows
A hilarious mockumentary that packs more laughs into 86 minutes than most comedies twice its length.
Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead.
- 05
Stand by Me
A poignant coming-of-age journey that captures the weight of childhood in a lean, effective package.
After learning that a boy their age has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four boys decide to go see the body. Gordie, Vern, Chris, and Teddy encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, but they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys' adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.
- 06
The Nightmare Before Christmas
A visually stunning stop-motion musical that creates an entire world in just over an hour.
Tired of scaring humans every October 31 with the same old bag of tricks, Jack Skellington, the spindly king of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa Claus and plans to deliver shrunken heads and other ghoulish gifts to children on Christmas morning. But as Christmas approaches, Jack's rag-doll girlfriend, Sally, tries to foil his misguided plans.
- 07
Frances Ha
A charming, black-and-white look at modern adulthood that feels both breezy and deeply personal.
An aspiring dancer moves to New York City and becomes caught up in a whirlwind of flighty fair-weather friends, diminishing fortunes and career setbacks.
- 08
My Neighbor Totoro
A gentle, magical escape that remains one of the most beloved animated films of all time.
Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her.
- 09
Following
Christopher Nolan’s lean debut is a twisty noir thriller that showcases his signature non-linear style.
Bill, an idle, unemployed aspiring writer, walks the crowded streets of London following randomly chosen strangers, a seemingly innocent entertainment that becomes dangerous when he crosses paths with a mysterious character.
- 10
Host
A terrifyingly efficient horror film shot entirely over Zoom that wastes no time getting to the scares.
Six friends hire a medium to hold a séance via Zoom during lockdown — but they get far more than they bargained for as things quickly go wrong. When an evil spirit starts invading their homes, they begin to realise they might not survive the night.
- 11
Office Space
The definitive workplace comedy that remains sharp, relatable, and perfectly paced.
A depressed white-collar worker tries hypnotherapy, only to find himself in a perpetual state of devil-may-care bliss that prompts him to start living by his own rules, and hatch a hapless attempt to embezzle money from his soul-killing employers.
- 12
Petite Maman
A brief but deeply moving French fable about childhood, grief, and connection.
After the death of her beloved grandmother, eight-year-old Nelly meets a strangely familiar girl her own age in the woods. Instantly forming a connection with this mysterious new friend, Nelly embarks on a fantastical journey of discovery which helps her come to terms with this newfound loss.