Napoleon Dynamite
Before it became the most quoted movie ever, the cult Jon Heder comedy—with its ligers, tots and sweet dance moves—debuted in Park city in 2004.
Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Taratino's directorial debut about a botched diamond heist went to Sundance in '92 and set an early precedent for extrememly polarizing films.
Little Miss Sunshine
After premiering in 2006, the quirky family dramedy (starring Steve Carell) was snatched up in a million dollar deal. One of the festival's biggest to date.
Precious
Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique's heartbreaking movies won the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize for best drama at Sundance in 2009.
Garden State
Zach Braff's directorial debut (co-starring Natalie Portman) first screened at Sundance in 2004 and was in competition for the Grand Jury prize.
Beasts of the Southern Wild
The whimsical, now Oscar-nominated tale of Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis) premiered at the festival in 2012 and won the Grand Jury Prize for drama.
The Blair Witch Project
One of the first big entries in the found footage genre (about three student filmmakers who disappear in the woods) stirred up scares at Sundance in 1999.
Clerks
America's introduction to Jay and Silent Bob (the latter of which was played by director Kevin Smith), Clerks won the "Filmmakers Trophy" in 1994.
Hustle & Flow
- Terrance Howard plays a pimp and aspiring rapper in the drama, which took how the Audience Award and a million dollar distribution deal in 2005.
Thirteen
sex, lies, and videotape
The 1989 erotic saga (by then unknown director Steven Soderbergh) not only revolutionized the indie film movement but won an Audience Award at Sundance.
Saw
Little known fact: Sundance also gave us this played out franchise, as the first film played for three nights straight at the festival in 2004, the positive reaction earning the film a theatrical debut instead of a straight-to-DVD release.