A Glean movie guide
Short & Sharp
Big stories, small runtimes.
Great movies that respect your time, all under 90 minutes.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Run Lola Run
A kinetic, high-stakes race against time that unfolds in a breathless 81 minutes.
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
This intimate, dialogue-driven drama captures a profound afternoon reunion in real-time.
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
What We Do in the Shadows
A hilarious mockumentary that finds the mundane humor in the daily lives of ancient vampires.
Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead.
- 04
Primer
A brilliant, low-budget puzzle of a film that explores the complex consequences of time travel.
A group of fledgling inventors discover a complex method to manipulate reality. At first, they successfully game the stock market with it, but the consequences of the invention start to catch up with them.
- 05
Following
Christopher Nolan’s debut is a lean, gripping noir that proves you don't need much time to build suspense.
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.
- 06
Shiva Baby
An excruciatingly tense and funny comedy set entirely within the confines of a single funeral service.
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.
- 07
Locke
Tom Hardy carries this entire film from the driver's seat of a car, making for a uniquely gripping experience.
Ivan Locke has worked hard to craft a good life for himself. Tonight, that life will collapse around him. On the eve of the biggest challenge of his career, Ivan receives a phone call that sets in motion a series of events that will unravel his family, job, and soul.
- 08
Toy Story
A perfect, timeless adventure that defined modern animation and remains endlessly rewatchable.
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.
- 09
Paths of Glory
Stanley Kubrick’s powerful war drama is a masterclass in efficiency and moral conflict.
A commanding officer defends three scapegoats on trial for a failed offensive that occurred within the French Army in 1916.
- 10
The Nightmare Before Christmas
A visually stunning stop-motion musical that is as charming as it is macabre.
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.