indie film

Meaning

Short for 'independent film.' It refers to a movie produced outside of major film studios, usually with a lower budget and focusing more on character, story, or artistic expression than commercial appeal.

Examples

• That local theater always plays the best indie films from international directors.

  That local theater always plays the best indie films from international directors.

• She started her career acting in low-budget indie films before getting a role in Marvel.

  She started her career acting in low-budget indie films before getting a role in Marvel.

• Many indie films rely on film festivals to find a distributor.

  Many indie films rely on film festivals to find a distributor.

• I prefer a quirky indie film over a noisy Hollywood blockbuster any day.

  I prefer a quirky indie film over a noisy Hollywood blockbuster any day.

• The director raised money on Kickstarter to fund his debut indie film.

  The director raised money on Kickstarter to fund his debut indie film.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He loves watching independent's films.

  ✓ He loves watching indie films.

  'Indie' or 'independent' acts as an adjective here; do not make it plural or possessive.

• ✗ We went to an indie cinema to see a big Marvel movie.

  ✓ We went to an indie cinema to see an indie film.

  An indie film is produced independently, whereas Marvel movies are major studio blockbusters.

Related Expressions

Practice

• They didn't have a big Hollywood budget because it was just a small ___.

  💡 Short for independent film

  Show answer

  indie film

• That actor is famous for starring in quirky ___s rather than action blockbusters.

  💡 Pluralize the term to fit the sentence

  Show answer

  indie film