10 Best Indie Movies You Can Watch For Free On Tubi Now

The beauty of independent cinema is how incredibly individual each film is allowed to be. Without the looming presence of large studio heads, directors have the power to make the films they want to make. This often results in unique movies that offer viewers more than the average blockbuster.

The “Indie Films” section of Tubi’s library is a great place to go to find these intriguing films. The streaming service has a great collection of lesser-known and crowd-favorite indie films that everyone should watch at least once.

Madeline’s Madeline (2018)

Madeline’s Madeline is a dramatic coming-of-age film that follows the titular character as she uses an actor workshop to escape her overbearing mother. As she grows closer to her director, Madeline’s relationship with her mother worsens, and the line between life and art starts to blur.

The semi-experimental film was nominated for two Film Independent Spirit Awards for Best Actress and Best Cinematography and served as a solid debut for its young star Helena Howard.

Celeste And Jesse Forever (2012)

Written by its star Rashida Jones, alongside Will McCormack, Celeste And Jesse Forever follows two high school sweethearts as they decide to divorce. The film explores the question of whether or not exes can still be friends after a breakup.

The film sways between drama and comedy in a way that ultimately breaks the viewer’s heart. Jones and Andy Samberg’s chemistry is so believable that when they joke around the viewer can feel the history of their relationship, making the breakup that much more devastating.

Fish Tank (2009)

Fish Tank is a tough film to watch, and that’s what makes it powerful. It doesn’t sugar-coat anything and provides viewers with a different look at what it’s like to be a teenager. The film’s protagonist, Mia, is a rebellious and troubled teen with an unwelcoming homelife and an escape through the art of dance.

The film features a great performance by Katie Jarvis as Mia, as well as a rather chilling performance from future Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender as Mia’s mother’s boyfriend.

Life After Beth (2014)

Life After Beth is a comedy that follows a young man whose girlfriend comes back from the dead as a zombie. Aubrey Plaza holds nothing back in her performance as the dead woman who comes back to life. Although there are many typical gross zombie scenes in the film, at the heart of it is a love story between a man and the love of his life, who just so happens to now be a zombie.

The film also includes a strong supporting cast of comedians, including John C. Reilly and Molly Shannon as Beth’s parents.

Memento (2000)

Christopher Nolan’s sophomore film follows Leonard, a man with short-term memory loss, as he tries to solve the murder of his wife. It’s a challenging film, strengthened by its captivating story and the leading performance by Guy Pearce.

Memento is memorable for the way it plays with the viewer’s mind. It’s one of those films that requires multiple watches to understand. Nolan makes the viewer think and constantly question both themselves and the film.

It Follows (2014)

In this horror film by director David Robert Mitchell, teenager Jay learns after a sexual encounter that she will be followed by a demon that can take the form of any person. The only way to get rid of the demon is to pass it on to someone else.

While the idea of an “STD demon” may seem a bit hokey and crass, the film is anything but. With a mixture of slow-building suspense and jump scares, It Follows perfects the horror movie formula in a way that provides something fresh and scary for viewers without resorting to blood and gore.

Events Transpiring Before, During, And After A High School Basketball Game (2020)

Events Transpiring Before, During, And After A High School Basketball Game is a Canadian slice-of-life comedy that takes place, not surprisingly, at a high school before, during, and after a basketball game. The film does an awesome job at capturing the awkwardness of high school and finding humor in the more mundane parts of life.

The film rotates between the referees, the coaches, the team, and a group of drama students, giving the audience multiple perspectives and hilarious situations that all relate to this very specific place and time.

Hunt For The Wilderpeople (2016)

Hunt For The Wilderpeople is the third feature film by New Zealand director Taika Waititi. The film follows a troubled boy named Ricky Baker who is sent by social services to live with an older couple on their farm. When his foster mom dies and social services return to collect Ricky, he and his foster dad run away, leading to an epic and hilarious manhunt.

The film explores the themes of family and belonging in ways that are both funny and emotional. Although the film is a comedy, it has many tender moments.

Ingrid Goes West (2017)

In this social satire, Ingrid is a social-media-obsessed woman who becomes transfixed by Taylor Sloane, an influencer who posts daily photos of her seemingly picturesque life. Wanting desperately to be like Taylor, Ingrid hatches a plan to become her best friend.

Ingrid Goes West critiques the world of social media in a way that makes the viewer contemplate the front-stage-back-stage components of life, and how it reflects their habits. Aubrey Plaza is outstanding as the eccentric Ingrid and is paired with the excellent performance of Elizabeth Olsen as Taylor.

Swiss Army Man (2016)

Swiss Army Man is one of the most peculiar and heartwarming films that graced the silver screen in the 2010s. The film stars Paul Dano as Hank, a man who befriends a corpse named Manny, played by Daniel Radcliffe, after he is washed up on a beach.

Dano and Radcliffe have great chemistry, which translates onscreen into possibly one of the greatest and strangest platonic love stories of all time. There’s also a scene where Hank rides Manny like a jet ski, and it’s hilarious.

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