Sundance 2020: 10 Films Everyone Is Buzzing About
2. Palm Springs
As of the conclusion of the 2020 festival, Palm Springs is the record-holder of the most expensive deal in Sundance history, with the Andy Samberg-led comedy being snapped up by Hulu and Neon for around $22 million.
For such a high figure there just has to be something special here, but the key to Palm Springs' early success might actually be that it's a lot more "mainstream-friendly" than your average Sundance entry, and thus, was worth paying more money for.
Based on the whole package, it's easy to see why it was one of the hottest properties at the festival. A rom-com with a Groundhog Day influence, the movie stars Samberg and Cristin Milioti as a pair of thirty-somethings who meet at a Palm Springs wedding, only to wake up and discover that they are reliving the same 24 hours once again.
While it's true that we've seen roughly one million Groundhog Day clones over the last few decades, Palm Springs is reportedly one of the more refreshing entries in that category, packing plenty of surprising turns into its slight 90-minute runtime. It's been described as "smart" and "insane", a witty and bonkers ride that demands you go in to watch it knowing absolutely nothing.
So, keep an eye out for a release date, stay away from the trailers, and go in blind: the movie should be out later in the year.