In a world dominated by Netflix, it can seem like we’re subject to the whims of big corporations that use AI-powered recommendations to spoon-feed us the stuff smart technology thinks we like. This may work some of the time, but it can leave us feeling claustrophobic, especially if the suggestions are just…not very good.

Filmin is different. Harking back to an era of excellent independent filmmaking, it focuses on cinematic gems that are not necessarily part of the mainstream. In fact, it champions diverse voices and unique storytelling.

Here’s a guide to the best new movies and series you can check out right now, including a Scandinavian crime thriller and a deep dive into the emotional topic of first love.

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1. Soviet Jeans (series):

Soviet Jeans flips the script on Soviet-era dramas and gives us a surprisingly upbeat and comedic take on life behind the Iron Curtain.

Set in late 1970s Latvia, the series follows a rock-loving youth confined to a psychiatric hospital, who kicks off a secret jeans-making operation.

The show is a bit like a Goodbye Lenin! (Wolfgang Becker, 2003) for its tone and does a great job of showing us the humour and resilience of ordinary people under a restrictive regime. Karlis Arnolds Avots plays the lead role and has earned rave reviews for his portrayal of a rebel-turned-entrepreneur.

Soviet Jeans may be about an already well-covered era of history, but it still seems fresh thanks to its excellent performances and vibrant dialogue.

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2. Jakov (series):

Today’s Sweden is one of the safest countries in the world, where the closest its residents might get to organised crime is probably a fraudster attempting to use their details to log in to their bank or online casino account, rather than face-to-face with a a gangster.

It was much the same in the 1990s, which is what makes Jakov so jarring, particularly for anyone who’s visited or lived in the Scandinavian country. The plot revolves around Radovan “Jakov” Jakovic, a shrewd Yugoslavian hustler, who exploits Sweden’s high tobacco taxes and turns them into a lifeline for the Balkan War’s funding.

Peshang Rad is the standout star here for how he shows Jakov’s complex blend of loyalty, honor, and clever thinking. The series really gives us a sense of the tense atmosphere of the time, where cigarette smuggling became a catalyst for violent gang wars. Katia Winter is great as the determined police officer, Gunn Philak, who spots the seriousness of Jakov’s operations.

Full of strong performances and a fascinating historical backdrop, Jakov teaches us about a lesser known, but still exciting, chapter of Sweden’s past.

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3. Limónov – The Ballad (Kirill Serebrennikov, 2024):

Kirill Serebrennikov’s Limonov is a wild, exhilarating ride through the bizarre life of Eduard Limonov, one of history’s more complex figures. Ben Whishaw delivers an incredible performance, capturing Limonov’s mix of punk rebellion, literary ambition, and political extremism.

The film shows us Limonov’s unique journey from his native Russia to 1970 New York, before re-emerging as a controversial political figure back in his homeland. It excels at portraying Limonov’s rebellious spirit and literary aspirations with an energy similar to what its main character had, however it skirts around some of the darker edges of his political ideologies.

If it’s entertainment you’re looking for, this film has it in spades but prepare to also be slightly disturbed as it treads the fine line between rebellion and extremism.

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4. Dreams (Sex Love) (Dag Johan Haugerud, 2025):

Dreams (Sex Love) is the final film of Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud’s trilogy and explores first love and its ripple effects on our young minds. This coming-of-age tale centers on 17-year-old Johanne, whose infatuation with her teacher leads to a journey of self-discovery for both herself and the women in her family.

Haugerud does a great job in showing the awkwardness and overwhelming emotions of young love but also deals with complex themes along the way.

Though Dreams marks the end of Haugerud’s trilogy, it’s clear that his exploration of love in all its forms will resonate with audiences long after the credits roll.

The film won the Golden Bear (the highest prize) at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival.

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5. Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Johan Grimonprez, 2024):

Soundtrack to a Coup d’état feels like more of a historical excavation than a documentary.

Johan Grimonprez takes us on a journey through jazz and geopolitics and exposes how music became a weapon of propaganda during the Cold War. The film unearths uncomfortable truths about Patrice Lumumba’s assassination and the roles of the US and Belgium in African neocolonialism.

With his incredible research, Grimonprez brings to our attention the voices of silenced figures like Andrée Blouin and gives another side to the historical narrative. Jazz, with its free and rebellious rhythms, becomes the soundtrack (hence the title) and the connection that brings together a disturbing tale of music and political manipulation.

This documentary serves as a reminder that history is never fully written and that music can be a powerful agent of change. Soundtrack to a Coup d’état is essential viewing for understanding our present through looking glass of the past.