Although there are countless plays written for two actors, surprisingly, very few films feature only two characters. But there are some, and a few of those are simply outstanding. If you like minimalistic and experimental cinema, you will want to check out these two-character movies.

The Sunset Limited

Television movies are rarely as noteworthy as cinema releases, but The Sunset Limited is every bit as good. Written by author extraordinaire Cormac McCarthy, based on his 2006 play of the same title, The Sunset Limited stars Tommy Lee Jones as White and Samuel L Jackson as the character Black. The former character is desperate to end his life, while the latter is determined to stop him. What follows is an absorbing philosophical debate about the meaning of life. The 2011 film may not have been as compelling as it is if it were not for the stellar performances of Jones and Jackson.

After Armageddon

This gem of a film should be more well known. After Armageddon stars Berynn Schwerdt of Wyrmwood fame, and New Zealand-born actor, writer, and producer James Morcan, who also wrote the screenplay. Shot entirely on location in rural New South Wales, Australia, the movie follows two men who are complete polar-opposites, as they come to terms with being the last two humans on a post-apocalyptic earth. The 2016 film is worth seeing for the beautiful cinematography of the Aussie outback alone, but the way After Armageddon was filmed also elevates it to another level. The movie was shot in a spontaneous fashion, in which about 90% of the dialogue was improvised to create an intense realism. The free-flowing approach of the film’s two actors was inspired by Marlon Brando’s improvisational style that he used in classic films like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now.

Gerry

This 2002 film is not too dissimilar to After Armageddon, in that it follows two men across a sprawling landscape with spellbinding cinematography. But it is not set in an apocalyptic world, so its people can still enjoy sports, watch TV, and play slot games at Casumo, an online casino. Gerry follows two hikers, both of whom share the name Gerry, as they become completely lost in an American desert without food or water. Inspired by a real-life incident, Gerry is not a typical lost-in-the-wilderness movie. For a non-narrative film that features little dialogue and action, Gerry is surprisingly very engrossing and emotional. It starred and was co-written by Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. And it is director Gus Van Sant’s first film in his Death Trilogy.

My Dinner with Andre

Minimalistic cinema does not get much better than this. The 1981 comedy-drama My Dinner with Andre was written by and starred Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory. The actors play fictionalized versions of themselves having a conversation at a café in Manhattan. Their dialogue covers themes such as experimental theater, the nature of theater, the nature of life, and the meaning of life, as Shawn’s character’s modern humanism contrasts Andre’s spiritual experiences. But perhaps the real subject of this enchanting classic is the tone and energy that is brought to a conversation between two friends. My Dinner with Andre is simply a masterpiece. If you have not yet seen it, you had better set a dinner date.

Gravity

In recent years there have been a number of films set in the void of space, but Gravity is undoubtedly one of the best. The 2013 sci-fi movie stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as two astronauts who are stranded in space after the destruction of their space shuttle. The story follows their attempts to get back to earth. The loneliness and fear of being lost in a never-ending expanse in which it is impossible to survive without a spacesuit are expertly depicted in Gravity. And it is also visually stunning. Directed by one of Hollywood’s most interesting directors, Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. It won numerous accolades and was nominated for ten Academy Awards. The movie was also awarded six BAFTA Awards, including Best Director and Outstanding British Film.