In the age where we get more superhero movies than films featuring genuine, original acting performances, any movie that leans toward the latter is welcome. The best judgment of a film and actors’ quality comes from those where they aren’t protected by the dialogue.
In this list, we’ve compiled those films where dialogue is minimal; there are indeed some moments where characters speak, but these are rare occurrences. The films here are from a number of genres, from horror to comedy and even romance. What’s guaranteed if you watch these films is that you’re going to find yourself laughing and crying based on the material.
The Artist (2011)
As an ode to the yesteryear silent film classics, The Artist took the same route, and was devoid of any dialogue until the very last seconds. The movie, which looked into the rise and fall of a silent movie film star, also featured many comedic elements.
Much of the quality came from the expressions from the actors, as these were used to convey the emotions they were supposed to be feeling. On occasion, there was a cue card onscreen to inform the viewer of the context, but The Artist stuck to its silent theme until the closing moments. The Artist was a critically acclaimed film that won best picture at the Oscars.
The Boat (2018)
A film that has slipped under the radar, it’s a shame The Boat hasn’t received much attention as it’s a harrowing horror story with a unique presence. The main character comes across an abandoned boat in the middle of the sea, which he finds himself trapped in it.
The boat is revealed to be haunted, and the bulk of the film features the protagonist’s frantic attempts to gain his freedom. Near the end, you have to feel for the poor guy when he realizes all hope might be lost as the boat attempts to render him insane.
A Quiet Place (2018)
Who knew a film whose theme was about silence could manage to be so scary? And yet, A Quiet Place was a runaway success. Staying true to its theme, the movie featured a predominantly quiet setting as we followed a family on the run from mysterious monsters.
The smallest of sounds was enough for these monsters to attack, and we saw the film play out with the family remaining silent, even refusing to talk to each other. Only a few scenes had some dialogue, which were a masterful contrast to the quiet sequences.
Hush (2016)
There’s only about a few minutes’ worth of dialogue in this horror movie, that too contained mainly within a single scene. Hush is about a deaf woman who is stalked in the middle of the night by a deranged killer.
Due to her deafness, the audience is placed in the protagonist’s shoes as we see her try and outsmart the killer while making do with her condition. It’s a pretty scary affair as we witness the main character be severely disadvantaged against a man out to kill her for fun.
Under The Skin (2013)
It’s become normal for alien films to be about action or horror, with most of these movies featuring long discussions between characters over their predicament. In Under the Skin, though, we follow the alien character instead.
There’s no real plot here at all, and the story follows the alien as she seeks to understand humans and their lifestyle. It’s much more profound than it sounds, and it can be considered a scary venture, what with the alien’s destructive tendencies.
Wall-E (2008)
We’ve talked about the number of wise quotes that Pixar films have brought us, but the studio also ventured into giving fans a quality outing in a generally silent movie. The bulk of Wall-E had the robot circling its vicinity to make sense of things, with only a word or two uttered.
On some occasions we saw human characters speak, although these were few and far between. Still, it didn’t take away from the tear-jerking moments as Wall-E’s adventure and search for love brought genuine sentiment from viewers. But make no mistake, Wall-E also has an abundance of comedy in the form of the main character’s hilarious attempts to understand the feelings it has.
The Bear (1988)
People get a kick out of watching films about people with animalistic traits, but how about one where we have a literal animal? The Bear, following an actual bear’s travels, has no dialogue in place as the bear itself is the focus character.
However, it’s a deeply thoughtful film as we follow this animal around his journey in the wild where he encounters trials and tribulations you never considered a bear could have. By the end, the viewer is bound to get so attached to the titular animal that saying goodbye is far from easy.
Fantasia (1940)
Considered a landmark release in cinematic history, Fantasia is still unparalleled in its execution for being a film without dialogue and yet a feast for the ears. There’s no storyline here, as the intention behind this film is to appreciate all things sound.
The soundtrack is an absolute pleasure to follow, and the numerous colors that are splashed across the screen during these pieces of orchestra are meant to leave the viewer with their own interpretations. Fantasia is both a silent film and the loudest one you’ll find.
In The City Of Sylvia (2007)
Romantic movies and TV shoes always have the characters yap and yap over their numerous break-ups and reconciliations, so a romance film where there’s hardly any dialogue is bound to be interesting. In the City of Sylvia took viewers into one such setting.
The story has the main character out in search of the woman he loves, and it is this search that brings him an introspective view of his life. If you want to know the meaning behind unconditional love, then look no further than this emotional ride that has you feeling rather than listening.
All Is Lost (2013)
Robert Redford gave us indisputable proof as to why he was such a legend in acting with All is Lost, a film that has no characters other than just the one. The only few pieces of dialogue are the protagonist’s attempts to call for help, but it soon becomes a silent survival movie.
The result was a reflection of the human will to live, as we follow the protagonist trying numerous ways to escape being stranded on his boat. Of course, there’s no way you won’t feel yourself welling up near the end as we witness the man accept he will probably perish.
