Remember when shooting a movie meant lugging around expensive camera equipment and having a massive crew? Well, those days aren’t exactly over, but something fascinating has been happening in the film industry over the last decade. Filmmakers have been turning to a device most of us have in our pockets – the iPhone.
And we’re not talking about home videos here; we’re talking about legitimate, creative, and sometimes mind-blowing feature films that have premiered at major festivals and even hit theaters worldwide.
From indie darlings to psychological thrillers, these directors have proven that sometimes the best camera is the one you already have. Let’s dive into 10 movies that dared to think different and were shot entirely on iPhone, ranked from “maybe they should’ve waited for the next model” to “wait, this was shot on a phone?”
10. To Jennifer (2013) – iPhone 5
Let’s talk about To Jennifer, which might make you think twice about long-distance relationships. Shot on the iPhone 5, this found-footage horror film feels like a cautionary tale about obsession gone wrong. Director James Cullen Bressack gives us Joey, a guy who’s convinced his girlfriend Jennifer is cheating on him and decides to document his cross-country journey to confront her.
Here’s the catch – Joey’s never actually dated Jennifer; he’s just been stalking her. The iPhone format works perfectly for the found-footage style (What else would an obsessed stalker use to document everything?), but the film sometimes feels like it’s struggling to find its footing.
While it managed to spawn three sequels (yeah, you read that right), the original feels more like an interesting experiment than a fully realized film. Still, you’ve got to admire the ambition of making a feature film on what was then a brand-new iPhone 5.
9. Hooked Up (2013) – iPhone 4S
Picture this: you’re partying in Barcelona, you meet some mysterious women, and suddenly you’re trapped in a house with a killer ghost. That’s Hooked Up for you, and guess what? It holds the distinction of being the first-ever feature film shot entirely on an iPhone – the 4S, to be specific. Director Pablo Larcuen definitely deserves props for being a pioneer, even if the final product feels a bit rough around the edges.
The film follows two American guys whose wild night out turns into something straight out of their worst nightmares. While the iPhone’s limitations actually work in favor of the found-footage horror format (those shaky cam moments feel extra authentic), the story itself treads familiar territory.
Think of it as that friend who was the first to try something new – they might not have perfected it, but they paved the way for everyone else. The grainy footage and claustrophobic angles actually add to the creepy atmosphere, even if the plot sometimes feels like it’s running on horror movie autopilot.
8. Ghost (2020) – iPhone 8
Now here’s a film that proves you don’t need fancy equipment to tell a compelling story. Anthony Z. James’s debut feature Ghost follows an ex-con trying to rebuild his relationship with his estranged son during his first day of freedom – talk about emotional pressure!
Shot on the iPhone 8, the film makes brilliant use of London’s gritty urban landscape, turning the city into a character of its own.
What’s really impressive is how the iPhone captures intimate moments between father and son; there’s something about the camera’s unobtrusive nature that lets the actors forget they’re being filmed.
The cinematography received quite a bit of praise, and rightfully so – who knew an iPhone could make London look both beautiful and menacing? While the story might follow a familiar path of redemption, the execution feels fresh and immediate. James proves that sometimes, having a smaller camera can actually help you tell a bigger story, especially when you’re dealing with deeply personal narratives.
7. 9 Rides (2016) – iPhone 6s
Ever wondered what it’s like to be an Uber driver on New Year’s Eve? Matthew A. Cherry’s 9 Rides takes us on that wild journey, and trust me, it’s quite the ride. Shot entirely on an iPhone 6s, this film cleverly uses its confined setting – the interior of a car – to tell nine different stories that unfold over one crazy night.
What’s particularly cool about this approach is how the iPhone actually feels like the perfect tool for the job. Think about it – in a car, a bigger camera would feel intrusive and artificial, but an iPhone? That’s just part of our everyday landscape.
Each passenger brings their own drama, comedy, or slice of life to the screen, creating a mosaic of human experience that feels incredibly authentic. The film’s episodic structure might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it perfectly captures the unpredictable nature of a ride-share driver’s night.
Cherry manages to turn what could have been a gimmicky concept into a genuine exploration of human connection, all through the lens of a device we use to order our own rides.
6. Sleep Has Her House (2017) – iPhone 6
If you’re looking for something completely different, Scott Barley’s Sleep Has Her House is here to blow your mind. This isn’t your typical movie – there’s no dialogue, no human characters, and the longest shot is an 11-minute take of the sun setting. Sounds boring? Think again. Shot on an iPhone 6, this experimental film creates an otherworldly atmosphere that’s both beautiful and unsettling.
Barley takes us through a world where humans seem to have vanished, leaving only animals and a mysterious presence that manifests as wind. The way the iPhone captures natural phenomena is absolutely mesmerizing – from dark forests to misty lakes, every frame feels like a painting come to life.
The film’s slow cinema approach might test your patience, but that’s kind of the point. It’s not about instant gratification; it’s about immersing yourself in a mood, a feeling, an experience. The fact that all this was achieved with an iPhone 6 just goes to show that it’s not about the equipment you use, but how you use it to realize your artistic vision.
5. The Astrid Experience (2023) – iPhone 8 Plus
Coming in at number five is one of the most recent entries in iPhone cinematography, and boy, does it show how far we’ve come! The Astrid Experience takes us on an all-night adventure through Los Angeles with an artist in recovery and a free-spirited actress.
What makes this film particularly impressive is how it captures the city’s nighttime atmosphere – from neon-lit streets to quiet, intimate moments, the iPhone 8 Plus proves itself more than capable of handling challenging lighting conditions.
The film has this wonderful immediacy to it, like we’re right there with these characters as they discover something worth living for in each other’s company.
The way director Cal Barnes uses the phone’s mobility to follow his characters through the city creates this sense of spontaneity that perfectly matches the story’s themes of unexpected connections and second chances. It’s amazing to think that this stunning visualization of LA’s nocturnal beauty was captured on a device that’s not even the latest iPhone model, proving once again that it’s not about having the newest tech, but knowing how to use what you’ve got.
4. I WeirDo (2020) – iPhone XS Max
Here’s a film that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe reach for the hand sanitizer. I WeirDo broke new ground as the first Asian feature film shot entirely on an iPhone, and what a debut it was! Using the iPhone XS Max, director Liao Ming-yi crafted a quirky love story about two people with OCD who find solace in each other’s company.
The film’s visual style is absolutely gorgeous – every frame is meticulously composed, making brilliant use of the phone’s advanced camera capabilities. What’s particularly clever is how the pristine, almost clinical look of iPhone footage perfectly matches the protagonists’ need for cleanliness and order.
The film tackles mental health issues with surprising sensitivity while maintaining a light touch that makes it incredibly engaging. The 32-day shoot demonstrates that you can achieve professional-quality results with an iPhone if you know what you’re doing.
Plus, there’s something wonderfully ironic about using a device we’re all constantly cleaning to tell a story about germaphobes – it’s like the medium becomes part of the message!
3. High Flying Bird (2019) – iPhone 8
Steven Soderbergh strikes again with this razor-sharp sports drama that proves iPhone filmmaking isn’t just for indie productions anymore. Shot on the iPhone 8, High Flying Bird follows a sports agent trying to pull off an ambitious plan during an NBA lockout, and the result is nothing short of revolutionary.
The clean, crisp look of the film challenges everything you might assume about iPhone cinematography – this doesn’t look like a compromise; it looks like a choice.
High Flying Bird – Not only is this film filled with black excellence, actors like Zazie Beetz and Sonja Sohn play a huge role in what drives the plot of the film forward. They aren’t just props in the room while the men are talking – they occupy those rooms. pic.twitter.com/vgT2Dr2bYt
— Netflix Tudum (@NetflixTudum) March 8, 2019
Soderbergh and his team used the phone’s limitations to their advantage, creating an intimate look at the business of basketball that feels both immediate and polished. The film’s success on Netflix showed that audiences don’t really care what you shot your movie on as long as it tells a compelling story.
What’s particularly impressive is how the iPhone’s mobility allowed them to capture the fast-paced world of sports management in a way that feels authentic and dynamic. When you watch this film, you’re not thinking about the technology behind it – you’re too caught up in the story, which is exactly how it should be.
2. Unsane (2018) – iPhone 7 Plus
Just when you thought you knew what an iPhone movie could look like, along comes Unsane to completely flip the script. Soderbergh’s psychological thriller about a woman involuntarily committed to a mental institution is a masterclass in using technological limitations as creative advantages.
The iPhone 7 Plus’s sometimes distorted look and unique depth of field create this perfectly unsettling atmosphere that matches our protagonist’s increasingly paranoid state of mind. Claire Foy delivers a knockout performance, and the intimate nature of iPhone filming allows us to get uncomfortably close to her character’s psychological breakdown.
The film’s commercial success – making over $14 million on a tiny $1.5 million budget – proved that audiences will absolutely show up for iPhone-shot films if they’re compelling enough.
What’s particularly brilliant is how Soderbergh used the phone’s smaller size to get shots that would be impossible with traditional film cameras, especially in the cramped asylum corridors. The result is a film that feels claustrophobic and invasive in all the right ways.
1. Tangerine (2015) – iPhone 5s
Let’s talk about the film that changed everything. Sean Baker‘s Tangerine isn’t just the best iPhone-shot movie – it’s a fantastic film, period. Shot on three iPhone 5s smartphones (yes, you read that right), this vibrant comedy-drama about transgender sex workers in Los Angeles showed the world what was possible with smartphone cinematography.
The film pulses with raw energy and authenticity, capturing the sun-drenched streets of LA with a warmth and immediacy that bigger cameras might have missed. Baker and his team used innovative techniques like anamorphic adapters and the FiLMiC Pro app to create a look that’s both distinctive and cinematic.
Because the hit movie #Tangerine was shot on an #iPhone5S! pic.twitter.com/0DCdktYZRq
— Beebom (@beebomco) December 20, 2017
But what really makes Tangerine special is how the iPhone filming style perfectly matches its storyline – this is a tale about people living on society’s margins, and there’s something powerful about telling their story with a democratic piece of technology.
The film’s critical acclaim and festival success didn’t just open doors for future smartphone-shot features; it proved that meaningful cinema isn’t about the size of your budget or the cost of your equipment – it’s about the power of your story and the creativity of your vision.
The future of iPhone film-making
Beyond their technical achievements, these films represent a fascinating democratization of cinema, proving that meaningful stories can be told with accessible technology.
The journey of iPhone filmmaking spans over a decade, from early pioneering works like Park Chan-wook‘s Night Fishing (2011) – which won the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at the Berlin International Film Festival – to upcoming major studio productions like Danny Boyle‘s 28 Years Later (2025), shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The fact that a highly anticipated sequel in a major horror franchise is being shot on iPhone demonstrates how far smartphone cinematography has come.
As iPhone cameras continue to evolve and gain acceptance in mainstream filmmaking, we can expect to see even more innovative uses of smartphone cinematography, blurring the lines between traditional and mobile filmmaking. It’s not just about the technology anymore – it’s about reimagining what’s possible in storytelling.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
