15 movies only pseudo intellectuals will talk about 

With the prevalence of social media, your cinematic(movie) choices can directly be correlated to your intellect. If you want to impress your friends and gain a reputation for your philosophical and highly intelligent mindset, you might want to indulge in watching some of these intellectual films. Sometimes they have a knack for going above your head because of their in-depth exploration of philosophical and scientific issues. Here is the list of 15 movies only pseudo-intellectuals will talk about.

15) The Memory Keeper’s Daughter (2008)

The 2008 film – The Memory Keepers Daughter is set in the year 1964. It is about a young girl with Down syndrome who was abandoned by her father at birth and raised by a nurse. This deep movie delves into the themes of secrets and their devastating consequences. It poses questions on moral dilemmas and the reality of unconditional love. This movie also has a take on family dynamics and the existence of prejudice towards people with disabilities.

14) Roman Holiday (1953)

The 1953 movie, Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck is considered a classic. This movie is about a princess, who is on a tour in Europe, where she meets an American journalist and thus begins her transformative journey. Despite being considered a classic masterpiece, watching this movie is not an easy task. It has some subtle themes of important topics like freedom, duty, identity, escapism, and also ethics in journalism.

13) Primer (2004)

Primer is an indie sci-fi film about time travel. Two friends by mistake, discover a time machine and thus begin their journey of traveling into different timelines giving rise to various paradoxes. This movie quite vividly explains the complexity of time travel. It touches upon the technical and philosophical aspects associated with time and how overlapping timelines can lead to devastating outcomes. It also poses a question of science versus morality.

12) Transcendence (2014)

Starring Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman, and Rebecca Hall, Transcendence is a movie about Artificial Intelligence. This movie was an early take on how the future of artificial intelligence will look like. Based on a scientist whose consciousness is transferred into a quantum computer, this movie explores the ethics of artificial intelligence. It shows how technological evolution is opposed by a lot of people because of its potential to disrupt the natural order of life and also because of the fear of the unknown.

11) The Ten Commandments (1956)

This 1956 movie called – The 10 Commandments is based on the bible. It is the story of Moses and his adoption by the pharaoh's daughter in Egypt. It follows his life from his childhood to when he received the 10 Commandments from God. This is a deeply spiritual movie with themes of faith, divinity, and morality. This masterpiece of religious cinema is considered a classic but can be a bit tough to be understood by the present generation.

10) The Butterfly Effect (2004)

The Butterfly Effect is another movie based on the paradoxes posed by time travel. It is a psychological thriller that focuses on the ripple effects of small changes in the past. It is about a young man who discovers that he has the ability to travel back in time and as he uses this ability to change events in his past, he discovers the danger, his past choices can pose to his future life. This movie is a deep take on fate versus free will in how time is fragile and delicate, and can disrupt your reality.

9) Tenet (2020)

Directed by Christopher Nolan, who is known for making intellectually stimulating films, Tenet is a great sci-fi thriller directed by him. This movie is about a CIA agent who is working in an organization called the Tenet which has developed a technology where they can travel forward and backward in time for a short while. Understanding this movie requires a great affinity for scientific concepts. This movie has very interesting themes like entropy, fate, global catastrophe, trust, and even deception.

8) The Tree of Life (2011)

Starring Brad Pitt, The Tree of Life is a philosophical movie that was released in 2011. This movie is about the human experience of life. It is a philosophical reflection on how a human life unravels through the story of Jack who is reflecting on his past life. It is a deep take on existence and the presence of a higher power. It poses some great questions about the fragility of life and the inevitability of death and the connection between them.

7) The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Adapted from a novel of the same name by Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code is about a detective, Robert Langdon, who is a symbolist and his involvement in a Catholic conspiracy. This movie is filled with cryptic clues, puzzles, and ancient texts all leading to the discovery of a great treasure. Understanding this movie requires a great knowledge of history, art, and science. The movie focuses on the difference between faith and reason and draws upon some great historical mysteries. It also poses questions on the role of women in religious scenarios and how simple things can hold multiple meanings.

6) Donnie Darko (2001)

Featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, Donnie Darko is a psychological sci-fi thriller. This movie is about a teenager who has visions about escaping a jet engine crash. This movie draws upon the Multiverse Theory and the Alternate Realities notions to create an intellectually stimulating plot. Moreover, it combines mental health with these scientific issues and also presents themes of existentialism. When this movie was released, it wasn't a commercial hit, but with time it has developed a massive following and has become a classic, that only pseudo-intellectuals can talk about.

5) Black Swan (2010)

Actress, Natalie Portman won an Oscar for her role in the psychological thriller – Black Swan. Through the world of professional ballet, this movie is a take on the classic Swan Lake story. It is about the duality of human nature and how the obsession with perfectionism can lead to an identity transformation. It focuses on psychological deterioration and how exposing oneself to constant competition can lead to emotionally demanding situations that can drain you.

4) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The 1968 film – 2001: A Space Odyssey is about humanity's evolution with technology. Back in 1968, this movie was considered an intellectual masterpiece because of its portrayal of potential future technology and the challenges it can bring in the form of overreliance on artificial intelligence. This movie is about the curious nature of a human which leads to discoveries that can both be beneficial and risky. It is another movie that focuses on existentialism and the unknown.

3) Dr. Zhivago (1965)

Dr. Zhivago is a historical movie that focuses on the Russian Revolution and Civil War. It's a tale of survival and betrayal and how politics can destroy people's lives. This harsh portrayal of society’s reality is considered a great movie that portrays the impact - war and revolution, can cause. It also focuses on art as a means of personal expression of individuality and also sheds light on the moral complexity of the political landscape. This movie has won about five Academy Awards and is considered a masterpiece with special appreciation for its cinematography.

2) The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix has become one of the most talked about films in the genre of intellectual movies. But only a selected few can truly understand its meaning. Starring Keanu Reeves. this movie is about a simulated environment created by intelligent machines and a race to escape the said simulation. This movie explores reality and illusion and how liberation is a recurring theme in such situations. Highly influential in the pop culture sector this movie leaves one with a lot of philosophical thought-provoking questions.

1) Inception (2010)

Another Christopher Nolan masterpiece, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the movie Inception is one of the greatest sci-fi thrillers. This movie is especially appreciated for its concept which is about corporate espionage, but from the subconscious dreams of people. This unique idea was wonderfully portrayed in the movie and explores themes of reality, perception, the subconscious mind, and a lot more. It has won about four Oscars and is considered not only a commercial but also a critical success.