PARK CITY, Utah (Hollywood Reporter) — The 2025 Sundance Film Festival is captivating audiences and buyers with a mix of veteran directors and fresh talent. Two standout titles — a Jennifer Lopez musical Kiss of the Spider Woman and Dev Patel’s horror thriller Rabbit Trap — are generating significant buzz.
Jennifer Lopez stars alongside Diego Luna in Bill Condon’s adaptation of the Tony-winning musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. The story, set in a South American prison, explores an unlikely friendship between cellmates. The film has quickly emerged as one of the festival’s most anticipated and high-profile offerings.
Dev Patel takes the lead in Rabbit Trap, a supernatural horror about musicians who awaken an ancient force in a remote Welsh house. Positioned in the Midnight section, which has previously birthed hits like Talk to Me, the film is expected to attract strong interest from buyers.
Celebrated directors are also making returns to Sundance. Justin Lin presents Last Days, a drama based on the true story of John Allen Chau’s ill-fated journey to North Sentinel Island. Ira Sachs’ Peter Hujar’s Day follows a deeply personal 1974 conversation between photographer Peter Hujar and author Linda Rosenkrantz.
First-time filmmakers are making their mark with compelling stories. Sophie Brooks’ Oh, Hi offers a witty take on millennial romance, while Rashad Frett’s Ricky tells the emotional journey of a man adjusting to life after prison. Both films showcase the festival’s commitment to diverse storytelling.
Documentaries like Middletown, which uncovers a toxic waste conspiracy through a student film project, and It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, exploring the musician’s life through personal voicemails, highlight Sundance’s dedication to thought-provoking narratives.
Benedict Cumberbatch stars in The Thing with Feathers, a drama about grief and healing, while Alison Brie and Dave Franco team up in Together, a thriller exploring codependency. Meanwhile, Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, a decades-spanning epic, adds a touch of grandeur to the festival lineup.
Sundance 2025 reinforces its reputation as a launchpad for cinematic innovation, blending star-studded projects with fresh voices that are sure to make waves in the film industry.
