Summary

• The Sundance Film Festival is known for its role in helping smaller films find wider distribution and for attracting major distributors who bid for distribution rights.
• The prices for securing distribution rights at Sundance can vary greatly depending on the movie, with smaller releases being acquired relatively cheaply and films with awards potential commanding high sums.
• Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have contributed to an increase in spending at Sundance, with some movies being sold for record-breaking amounts.

As one of the world's foremost independent movie festivals, the Sundance's most famous movie releases have been sold for eye-watering amounts.

Depending on the movie, the price for securing distribution rights at Sundance can vary wildly. Smaller releases, such as documentaries and low-budget dramas, can be acquired relatively cheaply – especially if their appeal is considered to be more niche. By contrast, films with awards potential and widespread appeal can command astronomical sums, making the bidding process somewhat unpredictable. It's also the case that, as streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have become more prominent, there has been an increase in the amount spent at the festival. Taking all these factors into , here are the 15 most expensive movies ever sold at Sundance.

15 The Big Sick (2017)

Amazon – $12m

A huge critical and commercial hit, The Big Sick is a prime example of how paying over the odds at Sundance can pay dividends. Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon's touching comedy-drama tells a fictionalized version of the couple's real relationship, a courtship that is turned upside down when Emily (Zoe Kazan) falls seriously ill. The movie debuted at Sundance Film Festival in January 2017, sparking a bidding war between several parties. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, Searchlight Pictures Pictures, Focus Features, and Paramount Pictures were all interested before Amazon won the distribution rights.

On a budget of just $5 million, The Big Sick made an impressive $56.4 million. The movie was met with critical acclaim, scoring 98% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Despite its $12 million price tag, The Big Sick can certainly be considered a worthy acquisition.

14 Me And Earl And The Dying Girl (2015)

Searchlight – $12m

Despite winning critical recognition and being warmly received at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl was perhaps not the wise investment Searchlight Pictures initially hoped. After a furious bidding war, the studio acquired distribution rights for the movie (which centers around a misfit teenage boy who befriends a classmate dying of cancer) for $12m. However, despite winning the festival's much-vaunted Grand Jury Prize, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl made just $9.1 million at the global box office and failed to garner any major awards recognition. Nevertheless, it was still positively received by critics, netting an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

13 Mudbound (2017)

Netflix – $12.5m

Offering a compelling mix of historical insight and powerful drama, Mudbound was one of 2017 Sundance's most celebrated releases. Set in Mississippi in the aftermath of World War II, the film explores the different experiences of two veterans along racial lines. Performances from Mary J. Blige and Carey Mulligan were met with acclaim, with Blige even receiving an Oscar nomination for her role. Accordingly, Mudbound generated significant interest from distributors. Beating out competition from A24, Annapurna Pictures, and Entertainment Studios, Netflix won the rights for $12.5m. Alongside a limited theatrical release, the movie arrived on the platform in November 2017.

12 Late Night (2019)

Amazon – $13m

Despite enjoying a generally positive critical reception, the Mindy Kaling-scripted Late Night was a major financial misstep for Amazon. Starring Kaling and Emma Thompson, the film follows the behind-the-scenes action at a fictional late-night TV show. The studio acquired the rights for the movie for $13 million – a then-record amount for a movie with a U.S.-only distribution. Unfortunately, this proved to be a costly error.

Despite making $22.4 million against a $9.5 million budget and receiving a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, estimates indicate that Late Night actually lost Amazon around $40 million (via Yahoo). Part of the reason for this is that, in addition to the $13 million spent on the rights, Amazon spent a further $33 million on marketing costs. Despite a widespread release, the film failed to generate enough interest to make the expenditure worth it.

11 Brittany Runs A Marathon (2019)

Amazon – $14m

Another major acquisition for Amazon following the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, comedy-drama Brittany Runs A Marathon was purchased for $14 million. Like Late Night, the movie failed to make much of an impact at the box office. However, unlike the Mindy Kaling project, Brittany Runs A Marathon was only ever intended for a limited theatrical release.

The film, which follows a 28-year-old woman inspired to take up marathon running on the advice of her doctor, made just $175,969 from five theaters in its opening weekend. The total global box office ended up at $7.4 million, though it was primarily aimed at a streaming audience. Together with the movie's "shoestring" budget (via Variety), this return meant that Brittany Runs A Marathon was by no means a total disaster.

10 The Report (2019)

Amazon – $14m

The final major Amazon acquisition of 2019, The Report was the most underwhelming of all the studios' releases at the box office. Unlike other releases, the studio did not disclose exact figures for its box office revenue. This led IndieWire to estimate that the movie made just $150,000 in 84 theaters over its opening weekend, contributing to a total gross of $275,000 by the end of a two-week theatrical run. This led the site to conclude that "The response, so far as we can determine, are under the usual...performance" (via IndieWire).

However, despite disappointing financials, The Report was not a complete failure for Amazon. The movie received several prestigious nominations, including a Best ing Actress Golden Globe nod for Annette Benning. In taking an uncompromising look at the CIA's use of torture post-9/11, The Report won critical praise almost across the board, scoring a respectable 81% on Rotten Tomatoes.

9 ing (2021)

Netflix – $15m

Based on the 1929 novel of the same name, ing explores a complicated story of racism through the eyes of two light-skinned Black women. With an impressive cast, including Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga, the movie won critical acclaim for its thoughtful and nuanced approach to the subject, scoring 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and winning a slew of awards from several prominent bodies. It's little surprise, therefore, that it attracted serious interest after its Sundance debut.

Eventually, the studio paid $15 million for the movie, planning for a limited theatrical run ahead of a streaming release. Although the movie hit cinemas in late October, it arrived on Netflix barely two weeks later on November 10. As a result, despite limited earnings at the box office, ing was certainly not a flop in the traditional sense.

8 Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)

Apple – $15m

After receiving a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, Cha Cha Real Smooth proved to be one of the most sought-after properties from the event. Directed by Cooper Raiff, the film follows a 22-year-old professional party starter (played by Raiff himself) who strikes up a relationship with a 32-year-old mother (Dakota Johnson). Like Raiff's previous project Sh*thouse, Cha Cha Real Smooth was met with critical acclaim.

Beating out competition from a host of rival studios, including Netflix, Sony Pictures, and Amazon, Apple TV+ secured distribution rights for $15 million. Although the film received a limited theatrical release, this coincided with its debut on the streaming platform. As a result, Cha Cha Real Smooth's box office is no real measure of the movie's success.

7 Blinded By The Light (2019)

New Line Cinema – $15m

Inspired by the real-life experience of journalist Sarfraz Manzoor, Blinded By The Light is a unique coming-of-age drama combining British sensibilities with the timeless tunes of Bruce Springsteen. This eclectic blend proved to be a winning combination for critics, with the film scoring 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, despite this positivity, the film wasn't an unqualified success.

Purchased by New Line Cinema for $15 million, the film did not have the guaranteed fallback of an established streaming audience. As a result, its total box office of just $18.1 million was a real disappointment. Some critics blamed the movie's performance on its similarities with fellow 2019 release Yesterday, but whatever the reason, Blinded By The Light was an unfortunate flop.

6 It's What's Inside (2024)

Netflix – $17m

Despite featuring a cast of relative unknowns, Greg Jardin's science-fiction horror thriller It's What's Inside was the subject of a huge $17 million bid from Netflix. This makes it the most expensive movie from the 2024 Sundance Film Festival (at the time of writing), with its nearest competitor Jesse Eisenberg's A Real Pain – acquired by Searchlight for $10 million. However, despite the huge sum, there may be solid reasoning behind Netflix's decision.

The movie's low budget and potential mass-market appeal means that a limited theatrical run could help to pay off some of the $17 million. Additionally, horror movies have a history of overperforming on a small budget. For instance, 2022's Talk To Me made a whopping $92 million off just $4.5 million. While Netflix's release plans are currently unknown, It's What's Inside could yet continue this trend.