A Glean movie guide
Short & Sharp: The Best Under 90 Minutes
Maximum impact, minimum runtime.
Masterpieces that prove you don't need three hours to tell a great story.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Before Sunset
A masterclass in dialogue and chemistry that unfolds in near 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.
- 02
Run Lola Run
A high-octane, stylistic sprint that reinvents the thriller format three times over.
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
Toy Story
The groundbreaking animation that launched an era, told with perfect narrative economy.
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, comedic 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
An expertly crafted 'cringe comedy' that builds unbearable tension in a single location.
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
Primer
A dense, rewarding time-travel puzzle that respects the viewer's intelligence.
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.
- 07
Petite Maman
A gentle, profound exploration of childhood and memory that feels like a modern fairy tale.
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.
- 08
Perfect Blue
A haunting psychological descent into fame that blurs the line between reality and dream.
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
Airplane!
A relentless barrage of sight gags and puns that defined the spoof genre.
An ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.
- 10
Rashomon
A revolutionary look at truth and perspective that changed cinema history forever.
Four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.
- 11
Attack the Block
A vibrant, fast-paced creature feature with sharp social commentary and breakout performances.
A teen gang in a South London housing estate must team up with the other residents to protect their neighbourhood from a terrifying alien invasion.
- 12
Paths of Glory
Kubrick’s searing anti-war drama remains one of the most powerful films ever made.
A commanding officer defends three scapegoats on trial for a failed offensive that occurred within the French Army in 1916.