Storytelling is a vast and complex area of expertise; it comes alive in various shapes and forms and paints the silver screen with colors you can’t see anywhere else. But while some movies rely on heavy and elaborate plots anchored by an ensemble of characters to pull the viewers in, the most precious movies are often those that extract the same impact and insight out of seemingly simple stories.
In this list, we celebrate 20 movies that do remarkable things despite having a story that looks thin on paper. While the list is in no way exhaustive, we have tried to include action flicks, indie dramas, romantic comedies, and inspiring tales, all sharing one thing in common – crafting cinematic masterpieces with minimal foundations. Whether it is a nuanced characterization or masterful execution, these movies uncover stories in ways far greater than their simple synopses would suggest.
20 Stand By Me (1986)
Adapted from Stephen King's 1982 novella The Body, Stand By Me is a tender coming-of-age story about friendship and the bittersweet passage of life as we grow up and shed our innocence and wonder. The movie follows four friends Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern who have just heard that a local teen’s body was found in the woods. After being missing for days, it turned out that the kid was hit by a train. So the boys embark on a summer adventure into the Oregan woods and what started as a simple idea from curious minds turns into the most poignant journey.
The boys share stories, secrets, and traumas, and discover themselves along the way. Directed by Rob Reiner, the movie is a timeless classic that showcases the fleeting magic of childhood.
19 Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
The Hoover family is something. And by something, we do not just mean dysfunctional. With each member carrying their own temper and idiosyncrasies, being packed in an old yellow VW bus and going on a road trip sounds like a total nightmare. But it is a nightmare worth living.
Little Miss Sunshine follows the Hoover family getting together to travel across the country after their youngest, seven-year-old Olive, is mistakenly invited to compete in a beauty pageant. Smart and festive and overall heartwarming, this tragicomedy is a beloved treasure for fans. While actors like Paul Dano, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, and Alan Arkin deliver their best, directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton wring out every last drop of humor and emotion to make this even more beautiful.
18 John Wick (2014)
In hindsight, most action flicks don’t have a fancy story to tell. Instead, they take a simple premise, such as a bank robbery gone wrong or an agent preventing a terrorist attack, and elevate it with practical stunts, fast pacing, and edge-of-your-seat thrills. John Wick does all that and even kick-starts a franchise that goes on to become legendary in the genre. In this lean and mean action movie, revenge is best served with a side dish of punches and kicks.
It follows our titular character, a retired hitman, forming a beef with a bunch of Russian monsters after who steal his car and slay his dog. Returning from his short-lived retreat, Keanu Reeves’ character uses his skill, wit and poetry of motion to stun fans. Moreover, Wick is also a complex man with a tragic backstory and that angle adds more humanity to the movie.
17 Whiplash (2014)
Andrew Neiman is a prodigy. But he probably doesn’t realize that when he enrolls into a prestigious music conservatory to become a drummer. What he does know, however, is how his blood pulsates to the drum beats. Under the tutelage of Terence Fletcher, a man known for being brutal and aggressive while teaching his group, Andrew finds his own obsession and drive to achieve.
Together, their game of push and pull results in a movie that raises your hair and leaves your mouth agape. Whiplashis told with a visceral energy by Damien Chazelle and the ferocious back and forth between JK Simmons as the conductor and Miles Teller as the drummer is what compels the viewers. While the plot is elementary, the execution is tense and masterful.
16 Kodachrome (2014)
Matt Ryder is a struggling executive trying to score a deal that would make or break his career. However, his life turns upside down when an unexpected visit from Zooey, his estranged father’s nurse, tells him the man has less than three months to live. And that Ben’s dying wish is to go on a road trip and get the last few rolls of Kodachrome film that he shot ages ago developed. Even though the idea doesn’t interest Matt, he decides to pay homage to their past and embarks on a journey through landscapes and memories.
You know from the very beginning that, even though Ben’s bad boy image is rigid and Matt’s trauma from being neglected is intense, the father and son will reconnect. But it is warm and subtle nostalgic moments between the two characters that we ache and relate to the story.
15 Taken (2008)
The high-stakes thriller that cemented Liam Neeson as the dude of action, Taken showcases the actor's singular set of skills as an ex-Secret Service agent and his urge to protect as a father. When Bryan Mills learns that his daughter has gone missing during a trip abroad, the retired CIA agent utilizes a very particular and precise set of talents to locate her and extract her by any means necessary.
Apparently, Mills has four days before the human trafficking ring auctions her daughter off, and he must fly to Paris without wasting a second. Deft pacing, economical storytelling, and Neeson’s relentless charm in the role make the movie both cathartic and exciting. Technically, the plot has nothing major going on, but it is what director Pierre Morel does with it that makes Taken so explosive.
14 The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
In David Frankel’s glossy and vibrant workplace comedy, we follow Andrea Sachs, a recent college graduate wanting to achieve great things in her field. When she lands a job as the Devil’s right hand – meaning, the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the ruthless and intolerant magazine editor in New York – she must realize that life isn’t what we envision it to be.
Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway's opposing personalities clash and pulsate in every scene. And even though the story seems like it is about zingers and fashion, the audience soon notices the subtext on power, femininity, and the changes brought by big dreams. Moreover, with Meryl Streep’s Oscar-worthy performance, The Devil Wears Prada is a classic that needs to be revisited over and over again.
13 One Day (2011)
Spanning two decades and a dozen boxes of tissues, the subtle romance between Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess ignites the screen in this adaptation of David Nicholls' 2009 novel of the same name. Under the wistful direction of Lone Scherfig, this doomed story begins with Emma and Dexter saying their goodbyes on the day of college graduation, but making a promise to meet each year on the 15th of July to see where they stand in each other's lives.
Through vignettes, the film chronicles their relationship. The concept is deceptively minimalist, but the way it constructs itself, quietly unpacking life's unexpected highs and lows with honesty, is what is so disarming. Moreover, One Day also traces joy and heartbreak over 20 years in mere flashes, which isn't just profound in feeling but also exquisite in detail.
12 Frances Ha (2012)
In a nutshell, Frances Ha is a hypnotic love letter to a person’s messy becoming. If that’s not something that piques your interest, what will? Noah Baumbach channels his muse in this little comedy-drama, shoots it in black-and-white, and showcases just how much can be achieved when you go simple.
At the center of the story is Greta Gerwig’s Frances, a 27-year-old dancer drifting through Brooklyn in search of a new apartment after her best friend and roommate, Sophie, moved in with her boyfriend. But the thing is, Frances isn’t really a dancer. She’s between jobs and vying for a spot at her company. The absence of plot really allows Gerwig to shine and us to lose ourselves in the accurately wrinkling tropes of the narrative. Subtle yet thought-provoking and relatable, the movie finds true meanings in insignificant moments.
11 Good Will Hunting (1997)
There are movies that leave you with a profound sense of understanding of the world and your person and then there are movies that completely crush you from within. Good Will Hunting falls in the latter category.
Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film follows Will Hunting, a young man with exceptional intelligence and a flair for mathematics working as a janitor at MIT. The university’s Professor Gerald Lambeau discovers his hidden talents and agrees to guide him but Will has a dark past and inner demons eating at him and getting him into all sorts of trouble. Lambeau suggests he seek help from a psychiatrist, Dr Sean Maguireto. Under Maguireto’s mentorship, this scrappy Boston lad finds peace and closure. From Robin Williams’ empathetic presence to Matt Damon’s relatable depth, the movie creates something extraordinary out of nothing.
10 Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Wes Anderson is known for his whimsical and simple stories. This one chronicles young love and the many quirks it lets surface during 1965 in New England. Sam is a 12-year-old orphan who realizes that his affection for his best friend Suzy may be coming from more than friendship. Declaring his love and having received the same, Sam and Suzy start an adorable rebellion by running away to a faraway island and leaving the adults worried and looking for them.
Anchored by phenomenal performances from Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward – who made their screen debuts with the film – it creates a strange yet sweet escape from the big, big world. What’s so special about Moonrise Kingdom is traversing that line between childhood friendship and romance and what happens when the line blurs.
9 The Intern (2015)
A senior citizen wanting to get back in the grind doesn’t scream an intricately planned story but what it manages to achieve is truly beautiful. The Intern revolves around Ben Whittaker, a 70-year-old member of the society living his lonely and depressing life after the passing away of his wife. But Ben isn’t one for moping and sulking so he decides to apply for a job as an intern at an online fashion site. Although skeptical at first, Jules Ostin warms up to Ben’s overall dignified retiree vibe.
Of course, the entire fish-out-of-water setting and the protagonist navigating hip company halls is entertaining, but the real glow comes from Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. When Jules faces personal crises, Ben lends his wisdom and light, letting the movie move far past its simple surface.
8 About Time (2013)
Blending elements of science fiction, fantasy, time travel, and romance is this outstanding film directed by the very beloved Richard Curtis. Tim Lake takes after all the men in his family and discovers that his talent to travel through time doesn’t really have any consequences in the present. He can, of course, create a dent in the past and change something from fractions of his own timeline – as long as it is harmless. His dashing suitor decides to clash against the cruel designs of fate and pursue his romantic interest, Mary.
Starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams, About Time crafts a story of two eternally star-crossed lovers stuck in time. Sounding like a basic romance at first, when you look at the arresting visuals and the universal truths and the wasted moments and wholesome humor, it is impossible not to reach out for that box of Kleenex.
7 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Who would imagine a story about a lone drifter trying to overthrow a tyrant would find its place amid modern mythology? Well, cinema has the power for creating history with barely speaking a word. Directed by George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road is a post-apocalyptic action film set in the dystopian world of Citadel, a fortress made by Immorten Joe to enslave the remaining survivors and control their food and water supply. Enraged by the system, Max, a drifter, joins Imperator Furiosa in a rebellion against the man, and soon finds himself being dragged into a highly offensive war.
Miller definitely had a pacey vision for the film which is evident in the artful action and themes of feminism. In the two-hour chase, the audience gets to experience his glorious cinematic storytelling served with unforgettable characters and great stunt work.
6 Die Hard (1988)
It is interesting how Die Hard is celebrated as one of the best and highly rewatchable Christmas movies despite it being an action flick. It follows NYC cop John McClane flying to Los Angeles to spend the holiday with his estranged wife Holly and the kids. But when he finds that they have been taken hostage in the city’s high rise, the detective engages in an outstanding one-man warfare against the terrifying and savvy bad guys, led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). Bruce Willis cemented himself as an action icon with the movie and he doesn't fire even a single shot while taking down the enemy.
Witty, glorious, innovative, and intensely suspenseful, Die Hard is proof that a simple story can be executed in the strongest of ways and the result can be a film that continues to thrill the audience some thirty years after.
5 Lady Bird (2017)
Saoirise Ronan excels as the titular headstrong protagonist of this wonderful coming-of-age dramedy. Directed by Greta Gerwig in her feature debut, Lady Bird circles the life of Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, a high school senior fed up with the small life in Sacramento. She’s applied for college to a prestigious school and yearns for nothing more than to get out of town and live a life of quiet sophistication. Beyond her dreams, Lady Bird also desperately seeks the approval of her mother, an opinionated yet loving woman whose protectiveness for her daughter is often masked by high expectations and higher disappointments.
Sharp and humorous, the movie focuses not only on first love and family tensions, but also the protagonist’s drive to be independent above the ordinary teenage rites of passage.
4 The Worst Person in the World (2021)
On the surface, The Worst Person in the World may seem like a romantic drama, but as you solve this puzzle piece of a movie, you realize that it is more about how a person’s micro decisions define their life and alter its course – for better or worse. Julie is a thirty-something Oslo resident stumbling through life while being driven by her recklessness and indecisiveness.
The movie chronicles four years of her life, the twists and turns of finding passion, dating men, the uneasy compromises made in the process, and the weight of being professionally stable. Director Joachim Trier uses an intimate portrait of Julie for the audience to process all this. Winning the Cannes’ Best Actress Award for her phenomenal performance, in the great words of Gen Z: Renate Reinsve ate and left no crumbs.
3 Beautiful Boy (2018)
Two greats of their respective generations come together is this beautiful movie that deals with parenting and addiction. Adapted from the best selling parallel memoirs of father and son, Beautiful Boy centers around Nic, an ace academic, decent enough athlete and editor of the school newspaper, spiraling into meth abuse and losing himself in the process. Meanwhile, his father David Sheff does everything he can to save his son from destroying himself. Their bond transforms into an achingly beautiful one despite their shaken resilience and wavering grasp on reality.
While the film is sincere to the subject, what makes it so precious and heart rendering is director Felix Van Groeningen’s decision to stay close to the source material and tell things as they are – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
2 Before Sunrise (1995)
Celebrated in the industry as one of the greatest and most realistic portrayals of love, Before Sunrise actually has a very simple boy-meets-girl story if you think about it. While journeying on a train in Europe, two road tripping strangers – an American Jesse and a French Celine – meet and upon relentless persuasion from Jesse, Celine agrees to spend an entire day with him traversing through 1990s Vienna before going their separate ways when the sun rises.
Minimal in its visuals yet expressive in its dialogue, the film follows the two leads opening up, sparking discussion, and awakening the other’s desires in a singular evening. Richard Linklater’s perfect romance unfolds with carefree naturalism, proving simplicity is most powerful when it taps into the deepest nuances of the human self.
1 A Quiet Place (2018)
Who would’ve pictured Jim Halpert from The Office directing a sci-fi horror and making the film a globally acclaimed one? Well, John Krasinski has many talents that he has unleashed in parts since his long-running presence on television. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where a bunch of mysterious creatures who are blind but hunt using their auditory senses which are extraordinarily sharp. The Abbott clan, led by Krasinski and Emily Blunt, faces the fear of extinction while staying at the farm even if nothing more than a pin drops.
Despite being atomic in its story, the movie creates a blistering sense of fright because of its visual storytelling and expression through sign language. And when the horror does strike, it sure makes you jump out of your seats. Overall, A Quiet Place stands as a testament to cinema’s of delivering maximum impact with minimal elements.