When you hear the word mumblecore, you may have no idea what it means, even though you have probably seen a film that fits in the genre. Mumblecore is a subgenre of independent film, defined by its low-budget and naturalistic dialogue. It was largely started by indie film king Joe Swanberg, Mark Duplass, and Andrew Bujalski. The emphasis of these stories is on the dialogue and the characters themselves; the plot tends to take a backseat.
You may have heard of mumblecore being described as "slice-of-life" films, or "films where nothing really happens." While both of these statements are technically true, the latter seems to get its point across in a very aggressive way. It is not a bad thing that plot has a backseat role in these films; that may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it does allow for a unique perspective of the characters. If relaxed, character-driven films are something you enjoy, then the ones listed below are perfect for your next movie night.
5 Drinking Buddies
2013's Drinking Buddies was a little late to the mumblecore "party" but it fits the subgenre perfectly nonetheless. The Joe Swanberg film surrounds two coworkers and each of their significant others. The group interacts socially and romantically in both expected and unexpected ways, all while drinking a lot of beer.
As with other films in this genre, there isn't a lot of action to the film, and it may not exactly follow the normal film plot structure. However, the film is able to build characters with realistic relationships and problems. While you as the viewer may not agree with the actions of the main characters (a common mumblecore theme), you can understand them. That relatability is due to the use of the mumblecore focus on dialogue and character growth, which ultimately helps viewers comprehend and have empathy for (especially younger) people who might be drifting or lost in life.
4 Medicine for Melancholy
Medicine for Melancholy is a 2008 mumblecore film by the now famed director of Moonlight, Barry Jenkins. The film follows two 20-somethings over a 24-hour period in which they sleep together and then spend the subsequent day hanging out. Not only does the story occur over a very short period of time, but it is also able to explore these characters' lives (along with themes of gentrification and racism) fully. The story exists within a very small part of these characters' lives, but says a lot about them as people and what they want for their future. The film captures the feeling of being in your mid-20s and questioning what comes next in your life, all in one day. Daily Show star Wyatt Cenac expertly transitions from being a funny comedian to a dramatic actor here.
3 Joshy
Similar to Drinking Buddies, Joshy was also a bit late to the mumblecore party. Some may say it came after the mumblecore wave had ended, but based on the criteria of the mumblecore genre, Joshy is a perfect fit. The film is probably the darkest topic-wise on this list, with many mumblecore movies being rather breezy and light, and has a bit more story than others. Joshy's more structured plot finds Thomas Middleditch's titular character coming home to find his fiancée (played by Alison Brie) dead by suicide, and then going on a healing camping trip with his supportive friends.
Its plot ultimately comes second to the way the characters are shown, though. The characters and their motivations are the primary focus of the film, and things are revealed through their growth and development. Joshy is by no means the poster child for the mumblecore subgenre, but it still has a place in the space, and is a great, accessible entry point for viewers looking to explore mumblecore, largely thanks to the expert performances from familiar faces like Nick Kroll, Adam Pally, Jenny Slate, Brett Gelman, Lauren Graham, and the aforementioned Middleditch and Brie.
2 Hannah Takes the Stairs
Hannah Takes the Stairs features one of mumblecore's biggest stars, writer/director/actor, Greta Gerwig. Gerwig acted in this film in particular but wrote, directed, and acted in other mumblecore films, as have other now-famous artists like Mark Duplass (who also stars here), Kate Lyn Sheil, and Lena Dunham. As is common in the genre, the plot of Hannah Takes the Stairs can be summed up in a few words. The story follows Hannah in her newly post-grad life as she navigates her career and her newly blossoming love life.
The plot may not seem particularly interesting based on that blurb, but the main draw of the film is (what a surprise) the characters. The films on this list all have well-developed and interesting characters with a documentary-like approach of following them around and organically observing their environment, and Hannah Takes the Stairs is no different. In particular, the character of Hannah feels very personal to those navigating a post-grad life in a world they've never really lived in. Gerwig is probably the onscreen poster child of the mumblecore genre, and Hannah Takes the Stairs exemplifies that.
1 Frances Ha
Frances Ha may have come out in 2013, but it may be the quintessential mumblecore film, and is certainly the one with the widest influence and mainstream success. The $3 million budget is certainly a far cry from the $10,000 films that started the mumblecore genre, but it's used wonderfully and was able to enter the public consciousness as a result. This film is Gerwig's first writing credit with her ideal partner and now-husband, Noah Baumbach. Gerwig and Baumbach have gone on to write multiple films together, and Frances Ha is the most mumblecore of all. The movie is about a woman named Frances as she navigates her life in her mid-20s. Her friends are getting "big girl jobs" and getting married, but Frances just wants to go back to how life was in college.
Frances Ha may be another film with an essentially absent plot, but Frances may be the most relatable character on this list. Her life and goals are ones that seem like a pipe dream to some, but to others, it's exactly how they envision their lives too. Top it off with the fact that the entire film is shot in beautiful black-and-white, with fantastic performances from many mumblecore greats and a gorgeous score, and Frances Ha is practically the mumblecore genre personified (or at least a bigger-budgeted version of it).