The Indie Film That Stole Sundance—But Did It Deserve To?
Few things are as reliable as a Sundance breakout, and even fewer as predictable as the post-festival hype that follows. Every year, a handful of films emerge as critical darlings, selling for millions to distributors with Oscar dreams. In 2025, that film is Sorry Baby, written, directed, and starring Eva Victor, a comedian-turned-filmmaker making her feature debut. After winning the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, the film has been picked up by A24 for $8 million—a fraction of what other festival standouts like Train Dreams ($16M, Netflix) and Together ($17M, Neon) fetched. So why the relatively modest price tag? And does Sorry, Baby truly deserve its status as a festival sensation?
A Smart, Subtle #MeToo Story with a Comic Edge
At the heart of Sorry, Baby is Agnes, a sexual assault survivor grappling with the paradox of moving forward while never quite leaving the past behind. As her dream of becoming a university professor materializes, the trauma remains, an ever-present shadow in her life. Victor plays Agnes with an astute blend of vulnerability and sharp humor, avoiding the pitfall of turning her into a victim archetype.
The film, while steeped in the aesthetics of indie cinema—grainy cinematography, wry dialogue, muted color palettes—manages to rise above the clichés of the “Sundance movie.” It's as if Greta Gerwig's wit met the melancholic introspection of Mia Hansen-Løve. Victor's script is keenly self-aware, acknowledging the tropes it flirts with while sidestepping their pitfalls.
Yet, for all its intelligence and emotional depth, the film feels oddly… small. That's not necessarily a criticism—after all, intimacy can be its own strength. But when compared to the sprawling ambition of Train Dreams or the raw immediacy of Together, Sorry, Baby feels more like an elegant short story than a novel. It's poignant, but does it demand the level of reverence some critics are giving it?
Is the Hype Justified?
That's the million-dollar (or rather, $8 million) question. Sorry, Baby currently holds an 88 on Metacritic, and social media has been ablaze with praise, branding it a “masterpiece.” I'm not entirely convinced. It's a strong, promising debut, but not the revelation some are making it out to be.
This isn't a film that reinvents the wheel, nor does it attempt to. What it does, it does well—but is “well” enough for the effusive acclaim? At a time when the indie landscape is shifting, when streaming services and boutique studios are picking their projects with more financial caution, Sorry, Baby feels like a safe, intelligent investment for A24. A movie that will play well on the indie circuit, attract awards attention, and find a devoted audience—but perhaps not the phenomenon that some are projecting.
Release Prospects & Awards Hopes
A24 is no stranger to navigating the awards circuit, and they likely have big plans for Sorry, Baby. Given its subject matter and the prestige of its Sundance win, a fall festival run (Telluride, TIFF, NYFF) seems inevitable, paving the way for a strategic awards push. Victor, both as a writer and performer, could find herself in conversations for Best Original Screenplay or Best Actress in the indie awards scene—though Oscar recognition remains a longer shot.
For now, we wait. A24 has yet to announce a release date, but expect a carefully curated rollout designed to keep Sorry, Baby in the awards conversation come fall.
Final Thoughts
Sorry, Baby is an accomplished, affecting debut—one that signals Eva Victor as a talent to watch. It's funny, painful, and skillfully avoids the preachiness that often accompanies films dealing with trauma. But it's also not the game-changer some have declared it to be. It's very good, maybe even great, but a “masterpiece”? That's a word best reserved for something truly groundbreaking.
For now, let's call it what it is: a very solid film with a bright future. Just maybe not an $8M one.
Do you think Sorry, Baby will hold up to the hype? Or is this just another Sundance sensation that fades with time? Let us know your thoughts!
