A Glean movie guide
Brisk Brilliance: Top Films Under 90 Minutes
All killer, no filler.
High-impact stories that respect your time without sacrificing an ounce of quality.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Run Lola Run
A high-octane race against time that redefined the pace of the modern thriller.
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.
- 02
Before Sunset
A masterclass in dialogue that captures a lifetime of longing in a single 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.
- 03
Toy Story
The groundbreaking adventure that proved digital animation could have a massive heart.
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.
- 04
What We Do in the Shadows
A riotously funny mockumentary that breathes fresh, hilarious life into vampire lore.
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
Shiva Baby
A razor-sharp comedy of manners that feels as tense and claustrophobic as a thriller.
College student Danielle must cover her tracks when she unexpectedly runs into her sugar daddy at a shiva - with her parents, ex-girlfriend and family friends also in attendance.
- 06
Following
Christopher Nolan’s lean debut is a twisty neo-noir that makes every one of its 70 minutes count.
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.
- 07
Airplane!
A relentless barrage of sight gags and puns that remains the gold standard for movie spoof.
An ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.
- 08
Perfect Blue
A haunting psychological thriller that blurs the line between reality and idol worship.
Rising pop star Mima quits singing to pursue a career as an actress. After she takes up a role on a popular detective show, her handlers and collaborators begin turning up murdered. Harboring feelings of guilt and haunted by visions of her former self, Mima's reality and fantasy meld into a frenzied paranoia.
- 09
Petite Maman
A gentle, magical-realist drama that explores grief and childhood with profound simplicity.
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.
- 10
Phone Booth
A high-concept suspense film that keeps the tension at a breaking point within a single location.
A slick New York publicist who picks up a ringing receiver in a phone booth is told that if he hangs up, he'll be killed... and the little red light from a laser rifle sight is proof that the caller isn't kidding.
- 11
[Rec]
One of the most effective found-footage films ever made, delivering pure, unadulterated terror.
A television reporter and cameraman follow emergency workers into a dark apartment building and are quickly locked inside with something terrifying.
- 12
The Nightmare Before Christmas
A visually iconic holiday mashup that delivers pure imagination 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.