Movies are great, but have you ever noticed how much work goes into a short film? People don’t talk about it often enough, but it’s actually pretty easy to find near perfect short films last 5 years if you know where to look. These projects pack a huge punch in less than 45 minutes, and the directors behind them are often the stars of tomorrow. I love that we can just enjoy these stories without turning everything into a competitive ranking. Let’s take a look at some of the best ones that really caught my eye.
10 “MEATBALL” (2025)
This film is directed by Alexandra Robinson, who also plays the lead role of Cece. It’s an 11-minute dramedy about trying to come out to an Italian-American family. If you’ve ever been to a big, loud family dinner, you’ll totally understand why this feels so real.
Cece struggles to balance her secret with her family’s high energy, and honestly, it’s incredibly funny to watch. The film even won Best Dramedy Short Film at the NYC Comedy Film Festival. It strikes a chord because it feels so honest.
9 “CAFFEINE HIGH” (2025)
Emil Chehab directed this crazy short film. It’s about a guy, “THE EMPLOYEE,” who almost loses his mind while trying to make the perfect cup of coffee for his coworker. She doesn’t even like coffee! It’s just a classic, isn’t it?
The entire cast—Jeremy Cascamisi, Leah Rasmussen, AJ Clauss, and Younis Alzubeiri—is fantastic. It’s a movie about wanting everything to be perfect and what that does to you. It’s pretty much perfect.
8 “DON’T FORGET ABOUT ME” (2025)
You probably remember Bradley Steven Perry from “Good Luck Charlie”. He stars in this movie, and it’s a sweet coming-of-age story. A brother and sister move out of their parents’ house and are pretty sad about it. To cope, they spend time with a somewhat worn-out version of a favorite character from their past named Matty.
The colors in this movie feel so warm and nostalgic. Elle Mills directed it, and you can really tell this project was close to her heart. It feels very personal and special.
7 “WEI BABA” (2026)
Olivia Sui directed this film and starred in it, which is truly impressive. She plays a woman trying to introduce her Jewish boyfriend to her Chinese father. In the process, she has to navigate all sorts of tricky translations to keep both of them happy.
Although the film is only about seven minutes long, it’s incredibly gripping. The performances by Sam Lerner, Jim Lau, Patrick Chou, and Christine Zhou give it a very authentic feel. It’s simply a great example of how to tell a big story in a short amount of time.
6 “PORTRAIT OF GOD” (2022)
If you like horror, this is just the thing for you. Directed by Dylan Clark, it’s about a girl named Mia Reilly who’s preparing a presentation on a creepy painting. Things quickly get creepy.
The creepy moments aren’t just loud jump scares; it’s all in the visual language. The film is so eerie that Universal Studios has picked it up to turn it into something bigger, with big names like Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi helping out. That says everything you need to know.
5 “GIRL DINNER” (2026)
This is a super-fresh LGBTQ+ short film by Emma Fuente and Izzy Perez. They call themselves “turtlewithhat.” It’s about a dinner party where the group dynamics are a little complicated.
The dialogue is the best part because it doesn’t sound scripted at all. It feels like you’re just watching a group of friends hanging out. It’s so authentic and charming.
4 “LAST CHANCES” (2021)
This is another great LGBTQ+ film. It’s only four minutes long, but it says so much about being a teenager and figuring out who you are. Sonny Smiles wrote the screenplay and played the lead role.
It perfectly captures the feeling of graduating from high school. The film was shot on a shoestring budget, which just goes to show how much talent these filmmakers have. It’s a very endearing and down-to-earth story.
3 “NO SUPERS” (2026)
What if you had superpowers but really just wanted to be a boxer? That’s exactly what Danny Motta’s film is about. Jabari, played by Darrell Battle Jr., is an athlete who suddenly discovers his powers and is afraid of hurting someone.
It’s a sad situation because he’s afraid of losing the only thing he loves. The film is a really clever take on the superhero genre. It feels fresh and is a lot of fun.
2 “BOB” (2022)
This film is based on a true story that’s just plain crazy. Hannah invites a guy in a SpongeBob costume, Bob, to a dinner party that her sister organized for a date. The chemistry between the two is incredible.
This comedy is all about the premise and the cast—Emma Pasarow and Dillon J. Stücky. It’s by far one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a long time. Drew Bierut’s direction is spot on.
1 “UNCLE JOHNNY” (2026)
This is probably the best short film of 2026. Angela Giarratana wrote the screenplay based on her own life, and Margaux Susi directed it. It’s about a woman named Rose who spends a day bowling with her uncle Johnny, who is very ill.
Both Angela and Marc Pulver are simply incredible in it. You can tell they poured their hearts and souls into it. The film is only 12 minutes long, but it will definitely move you to tears. It’s a beautiful story.
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