A Glean movie guide
Short & Sweet: Hits Under 90 Minutes
Maximum impact, minimum time.
Proof that a masterpiece doesn't need a three-hour runtime to leave a lasting impact.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Toy Story
A groundbreaking animation that packs a massive emotional punch into a tight 81 minutes.
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, kinetic thriller that feels like a breathless sprint from start to finish.
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 and real-time storytelling that captures a lifetime in just 80 minutes.
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 finds endless wit in the mundane lives of modern-day 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.
- 05
Stand by Me
A definitive coming-of-age classic 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.
- 06
Airplane!
A relentless barrage of jokes and sight gags that remains the gold standard for parody comedy.
An ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.
- 07
My Neighbor Totoro
A gentle, magical escape that captures the wonder of childhood with effortless grace.
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.
- 08
Shiva Baby
A claustrophobic and razor-sharp comedy that turns a family gathering into a high-tension event.
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.
- 09
A Quiet Place
A lean, effective horror-thriller that uses silence to build unbearable suspense.
A family is forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound.
- 10
Petite Maman
A brief but deeply moving fairy tale about grief, memory, and the bond 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.