25 Must-Watch Short Films On YouTube

The Art of Miniature Storytelling — Free on YouTube

Think cinema can only move you after a three-hour runtime and a bucket of popcorn? Think again. These YouTube short films waste no time pulling you in—one minute you’re laughing, the next you’re quietly rethinking life.

Sing (2016)

A new girl joins her school’s famous choir, only to discover it hides a troubling secret. Kristof Deák’s Sing tells the inspiring story of Zsofi, a new student who joins her school’s award-winning choir, only to uncover its darker side. This Hungarian short delivers a powerful message about courage and no wonder it walked away with the Oscar for Best Live Action Short.

Six Shooter (2004)

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, Six Shooter is an Academy Award winner featuring dark Irish comedy that blends grief with absurd humor. It follows an older man traveling by train after his wife’s death, only to encounter a bizarre, foul-mouthed young passenger. The result is a twisted conversation that spirals into chaos.

Un Chien Andalou (1929)

Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí’s 1929 surrealist short still stuns nearly a century later. Un Chien Andalou throws storytelling rules out the window. It didn’t win awards and it inspired generations of filmmakers to break every rule in the book.

I Am John Wayne (2012)

Christina Choe brings a modern twist to the cowboy myth in I Am John Wayne. The short follows “Taco,” a young Black cowboy in Brooklyn coping with the loss of his best friend. It's no surprise for such a plot to bag a Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative.

About a Girl (2001)

This BAFTA-winning gem from Brian Percival follows a chatty young girl narrating her life’s story with honesty, humor, and heartbreak. As she moves through her world with youthful energy, her words reveal deeper truths about growing up in difficult circumstances.

I Feel Stupid (2012)

Teen awkwardness has never felt so real. Directed by Milena Pastreich and written by Ana Lily Amirpour, I Feel Stupid delves into the painfully relatable awkwardness of teenage sexuality. Through subtle tension, it explores how young people manage desire, curiosity, and confusion; securing the UCLA Spotlight Award for Milena Pastreich in 2012.

Paperman (2012)

Disney’s Paperman proves that love stories don’t need color to shine. With the Best Animated Short Film, this modern classic from Disney is a touching black-and-white animated short directed by Jon Kahrs and written by Clio Chiang and Kendelle Hoyer. Paperman tells the story of an office worker who falls for a woman he meets on his morning commute. When fate separates them, he uses paper airplanes to bridge the distance.

Small Deaths (1996)

Lynne Ramsay’s Small Deaths is raw and poetic, and shows three moments from a young girl’s life that quietly shape who she becomes. It’s about the tiny heartbreaks that define us and Ramsay captures them with an honesty that’s almost documentary-like.

The Silent Child (2017)

The Silent Child tells the deeply emotional story of Libby, a deaf girl growing up unheard. Written by Rachel Shenton and directed by Chris Overton, this Oscar-winning short is both heartbreaking and hopeful, a powerful call for inclusion and understanding.

The Elevator (2010)

Ever felt awkward in a crowded lift? The Elevator takes that everyday discomfort and gives it the best comedic appeal. Greg Glienna’s witty short captures the weirdness of human interaction in tight spaces and picked up a Grand Jury Award while doing it.

The Life of Death (2003)

Mark Dubiniec’s The Life of Death gives the Grim Reaper a surprisingly human heart. Written and directed by Dubiniec, the short explores what happens when Death itself begins to feel emotions; loneliness, longing, and even fear of its own end. The story raises the hard questions about existence, empathy, and the boundaries of identity.

The Long Goodbye (2020)

Directed by Aneil Karia and starring Riz Ahmed, The Long Goodbye is a powerful, gut-wrenching short that captures the devastating consequences of racism and political unrest. Set in Britain, it begins with a South Asian family joyfully preparing for a wedding before their celebration is shattered by a violent right-wing attack.

The Last Real Cowboys (2000)

Two aging cowboys sit by a fire and reminisces about the past in Jeff Lester’s The Last Real Cowboys. It’s surprising how such a short focused on campfire chat can turn out to be a reflection on time, change, and survival. There couldn't have been a better one to bag the CineVegas International Film Festival award.

The Most Beautiful Thing (2020)

Cameron Covell’s the LACHSA Moon Dance winning film is a sweet, heartfelt story about a shy boy finding connection for the first time. It's something we can all relate to; young love and unexpected connections where we see a shy boy struggling to find his place until he meets a girl who helps him see the world differently.

Thunder Road (2016)

Jim Cummings delivers a one-take tour de force in Thunder Road. The Grand Jury Prize winning film follows police officer Jimmy Arnaud as he gives an offbeat, heartbreaking eulogy for his mother. Even though it begins as awkward comedy, it slowly unfolds into the raw vulnerability of flesh-and-blood humans.

Trevor (1994)

Blending humor, heartbreak, and hope, Trevor portrays the confusion of adolescence with honesty and compassion. It won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short and later inspired The Trevor Project, a national LGBTQ+ crisis intervention organization.

Validation (2021)

Kurt Kuenne’s Validation asks a simple question, what if kindness was contagious? Following a parking attendant who gives out compliments instead of tickets, it’s a feel-good short with real heart and a well-deserved Best Live Action win.

The Neighbors’ Window (2019)

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, The Neighbors’ Window by Marshall Curry is a touching reflection on envy, perspective, and the hidden realities of life. Inspired by Diane Weipert’s true story, it follows a middle-aged woman in New York who becomes fascinated by the seemingly perfect young couple living across the street.

A Trip to the Moon (1902)

With a “Film Hall of Fame” award from the Online Film & Television Association (OFTA) in 2017, A Trip to the Moon is a pioneering sci-fi short film celebrated for its groundbreaking visuals and imaginative storytelling. While it predates the formal film-award era, it has received post-humous recognition.

The Gunfighter (2014)

Directed by Eric Kissack and written by Kevin Tenglin, The Gunfighter is a hilariously meta take on the Western genre. When a mysterious narrator begins describing a classic saloon standoff, everyone in the bar, from the gunslinger to the bartender, can hear him. It's no surprise that the short has already bagged a Best Narrative award!

The Jigsaw (2014)

The 2014 Winner Audience Award winning film tells the story of a man who buys a mysterious puzzle from a strange vendor, only to face terrifying consequences when he starts assembling it. With its eerie tone and slow-burn suspense, the short feels like a modern Twilight Zone episode.

The Birch (2016)

Written and directed by Ben Franklin and Anthony Melton, the 2017 Webby Award winner short is a dark fairy tale rooted in revenge and ancient magic. When a bullied boy invokes an old spell, he awakens a forest spirit to protect him but the outcome is far from what he imagined.

Tuck Me In (2014)

At just one minute long, Tuck Me In packs a terrifying punch. A father tucks his son into bed and then hears something that will freeze your blood. Ignacio F. Rodó proves that true horror doesn’t need time to build.

Gregory Go Boom (2013)

Michael Cera stars in Janicza Bravo’s Gregory Go Boom, playing a paraplegic man trying to live independently for the first time. Weird, darkly funny, and quietly tragic, this Jury Award winning US fiction short keeps you guessing until the very end.

A Concerto Is a Conversation (2020)

After bagging a Jenni Berebitsky Legacy Award and the Special Jury Award, A Concerto Is a Conversation is a soul-stirring documentary short tracing composer and jazz pianist Kris Bowers’ family legacy. Through intimate conversations with his 91-year-old grandfather, the film spans generations.