A Glean movie guide
Short & Sweet: Great Movies Under 90 Minutes
All killer, no filler.
Proof that a masterpiece doesn't need a three-hour runtime.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Run Lola Run
A high-octane, stylistic sprint through Berlin that never lets up for a single second.
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
Toy Story
The groundbreaking adventure that proved animation could have immense heart and wit.
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.
- 03
Before Sunset
A masterclass in dialogue and chemistry, capturing a fleeting romantic encounter 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.
- 04
What We Do in the Shadows
A hilariously dry mockumentary about the mundane lives of ancient vampires living in modern New Zealand.
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
Airplane!
A relentless barrage of sight gags and puns that remains the gold standard for cinematic parody.
An ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.
- 06
Stand by Me
A poignant and timeless journey that perfectly captures the bittersweet end of childhood.
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.
- 07
Primer
A dense, low-budget sci-fi puzzle that demands—and rewards—multiple viewings to solve.
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.
- 08
Host
A terrifyingly efficient supernatural thriller shot entirely through a Zoom call during lockdown.
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.
- 09
Petite Maman
A gentle, magical-realist exploration of grief and the connection between mothers and daughters.
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
Rashomon
A revolutionary classic that explores the subjective nature of truth through four conflicting stories.
Four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.
- 11
The Iron Giant
A beautifully animated tale of friendship and the power of choosing who you want to be.
In the small town of Rockwell, Maine in October 1957, a giant metal machine befriends a nine-year-old boy and ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving people from their own fears and prejudices.
- 12
Shiva Baby
An expertly crafted, anxiety-inducing comedy that turns a family gathering into a claustrophobic 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.