iPhones are one of the most popular smartphones worldwide, and for good reasons. Their cameras are one of, if not the best, in the market, per Expert Photography. In fact, video recording-feature website Video Maker featured two iPhones, the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone SE as one of the best smartphones for video recording at the time.
iPhones also have a history of excellence when it comes to their cameras. This became very much apparent when these smartphones were used to film movies, of which there is a handful.
Here are some of the movies that were shot and recorded using an iPhone.
'Unsane'
"Unsane" is a movie that features the story of a young woman who is involuntarily committed to a mental institution where she is confronted by her greatest fear due to her experiences with men — a stalker, per IMDb and the movie's official website. However, is the stalker real or a part of a delusion?
Golden Trailer named "Unsane" the best thriller in 2018 and was nominated for other accolades such as Best Thriller TV Spot and Outstanding Achievement in Casting for Low Budget Features in Comedy or Drama.
However, people wouldn't expect the filmmakers to shoot the film using an iPhone 7 Plus and that the movie wrapped up in 10 days, per PC Mag.
Movie Director Steven Soderbergh said that he wanted to "liberate [himself] from all ideas about [himself]" when asked why he used an iPhone. Richard Brody from the New Yorker mentioned that "he tries out a technique and finds that it gives rise to a new, spontaneous style that reinvigorates and revitalizes his art, that marks a sharp contrast with his own prior work and with Hollywood's conventional action dramas."
'Romance in NYC'
"Romance in NYC" is a little 2014 romance-comedy that shows a day in the life of a couple enjoying their lives in New York City, capturing the tiny nuances that are romance, per IMDb.
The movie was entirely shot using an iPhone 6, which presented limitations that were creatively overcome by the movie's director, Tristan Pope, per BoingBoing.net.
The movie started as a Kickstarter project that accumulated 88 backers and a $7,598 pledge. According to Pope, the reason why he chose to use an iPhone 6 for the movie is due to its ability to get close and personal, which makes the audience feel as though they're actually part of the movie.
"The best camera is the one you have with you," Pope added.
The movie can also be watched for free on YouTube.
The film won the award for best Mobile at the New Media Film Festival and was nominated for Best Film at Jury Prize.
'Tangerine'
"Tangerine" is a movie about the story of a transgender sex worker who is trying to look for the pimp who broke their heart to teach him and his new lover a lesson, per The Los Angeles Film School.
The entire movie was shot on three iPhone 5s models, which earned itself the title of "the first movie at the Sundance Film Festival to be shot almost entirely on an Apple device," per History of Information. People wouldn't notice it either as it was shot in a widescreen 2:35:1 aspect ratio and the camera zooms in the movie does so with a fluidity that isn't expected from a handheld device.
"Tangerine" won Outstanding Independent Feature at Black Reel, Best Cinematography, Best Performance by an Ensemble Cast, Best Use of Music in a Film at the Chlotrudis Wards, and Unsung Film of the Year at the Dorian Awards, among others, per IMBd.
'Snow Steam Iron'
Last, but not least, is Zack Snyder's short movie, "Snow Steam Iron," which was shot with an iPhone 7 Plus and Filmic Pro in a similar style akin to "300" and "Sucker Punch" — movies he also previously directed.
The four-minute movie features the story of a model who decided to fight back against corrupt cops and mobsters due to her latest assignment bringing her to the edge, per TV Tropes.
Although the movie didn't win an award, Snyder was still able to produce what seems to be a great short movie based on its reviews on IMDb and Letterboxd.
According to Deadline, Snyder craved the opportunity to see what he could accomplish using only an iPhone and a few days with a small group of friends and family.
