15 Films That Were Shot Entirely on Phones

Modern smartphones serve purposes beyond mere callings and snapshots. Intriguingly, they’re being employed by filmmakers as instruments in the creation of full-length motion pictures, underscoring the fact that compelling narratives can be crafted without high-end cameras.

Using compact devices, these films demonstrate an impressive range of creativity, from intense dramas to avant-garde shorts. Here, I delve into fifteen remarkable movies exclusively filmed using smartphones, each one stretching the limits of what can be achieved with limited equipment.

9 Rides

In this powerful movie, we follow an Uber driver who receives shocking news on a chaotic New Year’s Eve. The director, Matthew A. Cherry, shoots the dramatic events using an iPhone 6s, capturing the driver’s emotional ride-sharing journey throughout one eventful night.

Filmed in stunning 4K quality, this film skillfully utilizes the phone’s sharp imagery to build a gripping, engaging thriller. The movie’s unique portrayal within the cramped environment of a car gives the narrative an intense, realistic feel.

Détour

Michel Gondry’s delightful short movie follows the quirky adventure of a tricycle as it wanders through beautiful French landscapes to find its young rider again. Filmed using an iPhone 7, the 11-minute comedy is packed with Gondry’s distinctive whimsical flair.

The movie employs time-lapse sequences and stop-motion techniques to vividly portray the thrilling journey of the tricycle. This serves as an outstanding demonstration of the limitless potential creativity can achieve when utilizing a smartphone’s unique capabilities.

Snow Steam Iron

Zack Snyder’s four-minute action piece is a hard-hitting narrative about a woman pursuing vengeance against dishonest police officers. Shot over a single weekend in New York City using an iPhone, it condenses Snyder’s powerful visual aesthetics into a concise storyline.

The mobile phone’s convenience enabled swift, energetic footage that mirrors the story’s pace and tension. It’s an impressively speedy demonstration of smartphone videography.

Night Fishing

In simpler terms, the South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook creates a chilling 30-minute blend of fantasy and horror, centered around a fisherman’s encounter with a spiritual shaman. This captivating piece was filmed using an iPhone 4 and was awarded the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The film’s chilling ambiance is amplified through the phone’s unfiltered, close-up perspectives. This production demonstrates that even older smartphones are capable of producing striking cinematic effects.

I Play With the Phrase Each Other

In a unique narrative style, Jay Alvarez’s experimental drama plays out solely via phone calls. Filmed using an iPhone, this monochrome production chronicles the journey of a poet in a bustling metropolis as he searches for his missing companion.

The film’s innovative technique of portraying phone conversations through a phone adds an unusual, engaging atmosphere. This originality won it a Special Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival, recognizing its daring perspective.

Olive

In simpler terms, this movie, titled “The Girl with Magic Powers,” directed by Hooman Khalili, follows an enigmatic girl endowed with magical abilities who significantly impacts the lives of three solitary individuals. What sets it apart is that it was filmed using a Nokia N8, making it unique as the initial full-length feature captured solely on a smartphone.

The director manually tuned the phone’s focus settings, leading to an unexpectedly professional appearance on screen. The movie’s triumph opened doors for similar smartphone-centric ventures in the future.

Searching for Sugar Man

In simple terms, this award-winning documentary tells the story of two South African fans who are on a quest to find their musical idol, Sixto Rodriguez. During times when money was scarce, the director, Malik Bendjelloul, employed an iPhone and the 8mm Vintage Camera app to capture some crucial scenes instead of using conventional cameras.

The video captured by the phone fits effortlessly into the narrative, giving it a genuine, personal atmosphere. This demonstrates that even with high-quality results, a project can be salvaged using just a smartphone.

Romance in NYC

Tristan Pope’s lively movie vividly portrays both the dynamic spirit of New York City and authentic love stories. Filmed with an iPhone 6, it employs slow motion and creative camera positions to emphasize their impressive athletic abilities amidst bustling city landscapes.

Due to its small, unobtrusive design, Pope was able to capture footage stealthily among bustling urban areas. This led to an energetic, visually captivating homage that showcases the essence of motion and urban existence.

Chalga

In Bulgaria, this drama film, skillfully directed by Marian Valev, was a massive box office success, earning more than many big Hollywood productions in its native land. Remarkably, every scene was captured using nothing but a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, demonstrating the phone’s impressive capability to deliver cinema-grade visuals.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself captivated by the remarkable cinematography of Dimitar Gochev in this latest production. The filmmaker skillfully utilized the adaptability of a smartphone to weave an engaging narrative, marking a significant milestone for smartphone cinema on the big screen. This groundbreaking achievement is sure to pique the interest of cinephiles everywhere.

High Fantasy

Nestled amidst South Africa’s beautiful countryside, this hilarious body-swapping comedy delves into societal issues through a close-knit group of friends who find themselves inhabiting each other’s bodies. Filmed using a smartphone, the movie capitalizes on its straightforward production to emphasize character development and engaging narratives.

The phone’s rough, yet appealing design amplifies the emotional intensity of the story. It serves as a touching demonstration that even simple resources can address complex concepts.

Uneasy Lies the Mind

Ricky Fosheim’s psychological thriller narrates the tale of a Hollywood actor experiencing a mental breakdown while staying at a secluded manor. Captured using an iPhone 5 and a TurtleJacket lens accessory, the film generates a gritty, eerie ambiance.

The blurry images on the phone accentuate the narrative’s exploration of psychological turmoil, marking an audacious beginning in mobile movie-making that carries a cinematic flair.

Tangerine

Sean Baker’s dynamic film tells the story of a transgender prostitute in search of her unfaithful pimp across the cityscape of Los Angeles. This movie was filmed using three iPhone 5S devices equipped with an anamorphic lens, leaving viewers amazed at the Sundance Film Festival.

The mobile phone’s ability to be carried easily managed to capture the raw vitality of the city in a vibrant, lively fashion. Its positive reception demonstrated that smartphones can compete with conventional cameras in terms of quality.

High Flying Bird

The sports movie by Steven Soderbergh focuses on a sports agent dealing with an NBA strike. Filmed using an iPhone 8, it boasts a high-end, contemporary aesthetic and showcases a talented ensemble of actors like André Holland and Zazie Beetz.

Soderbergh’s inventive camera angles demonstrate the phone’s adaptability, as evidenced by the film that showcases the ability of proficient users to produce high-quality, professional outcomes with a smartphone.

Unsane

This psychological horror masterpiece, directed by Soderbergh, centers around a character portrayed by Claire Foy, who finds herself confined within a mental hospital. Filmed using an iPhone 7 Plus over a span of only 10 days, the film skillfully employs the phone’s close-up features to intensify suspense.

The movie’s rough, film-on-phone style contributes to its eerie atmosphere. It showcases an impressive use of a smartphone’s constraints to strengthen the narrative.

28 Years Later

Danny Boyle’s upcoming zombie movie, slated for a June release, delves back into the universe of ’28 Days Later’. This film is captured using the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max devices, and boasts an impressive cast including Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes.

In this new production, mobile phones equipped for action sequences are used to depict a turbulent, post-apocalyptic backdrop. This movie, costing a whopping $75 million, is unprecedented as it’s the first of its kind to depend entirely on smartphones for filming.

2025-07-29 02:17