Movies take us into fantastical worlds where we can face mysteries that lie beyond our ordinary reach, and sometimes even force us to challenge our outlooks and beliefs. They transport us through mind-twisting time travel or game-changing realities into realms that are visually stunning and yet thought-provoking as well.
The 20 movies curated here will make you question time and reality. Let's take a look at some films that have shaken our perception of time, space, awareness, and ultimately the nature of existence.
This article contains the opinions of the writer. Reader discretion is advised.
20) Inland Empire (2006):
Released in 2006, Inland Empire was the last feature film directed by David Lynch, which marked a comeback into his signature psychological thriller style with a unique twist of experimentation. Lynch fashioned a haunting tale of an actress who gradually becomes the character she portrays, turning her life into a nightmarish experience of surrealism. Inland Empire leaves room for people to grasp its unconventionality in the right sense. The film remains in one's thoughts long after the credits have finished rolling, sending the audience back to view the movie repeatedly with different new perceptions.
19) Being John Malkovich (1999):
This offbeat comedy-drama dives into themes of identity and reality, following Craig, a puppeteer who stumbles upon a portal hidden in a cabinet that transports him straight into the mind of actor John Malkovich. Craig and his friends become obsessed with exploiting this wild discovery, leading them into a tangled web of manipulation. With its inventive storyline and witty dialogue, this film is a must-see for anyone who loves a quirky, original script.
18) Mulholland Drive (2001):
Mulholland Drive is a film noir mystery movie by David Lynch, with a perfect blend of mystery and noir. A young woman suffering from amnesia enters Hollywood and meets an aspiring actress with whom she embarks upon an adventure through the dark, mysterious world of film production in Hollywood. The movie finally opens into surrealist, disturbing themes. Suspense, intrigue, and a unique blend of abstract symbols and vivid imagination through Lynch's vision make up an immersive world that the audience never wishes to leave.
17) The Game (1997):
The Game is a psychological thriller that starts with the life of Nicholas Van Orton, a 48-year-old investment banker. One evening, he gets invited to play an obscure high-stakes "game," and his world becomes topsy-turvy instantly. As paranoia and feelings of impending danger control him, the theme takes a turn to complex ideas like identity and control, blending the lines between reality and illusion in increasingly disturbing ways.
16) A Scanner Darkly (2006):
A Scanner Darkly directed by Richard Linklater based on the Philip K. Dick novel, is a 2006 sci-fi movie that vividly draws out what society would be in the not-so-distant future if a deadly drug was rampant among the people. Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., and Woody Harrelson lead the movie about Fred who, working undercover, gets roped in by the very thing he's supposed to take down. As Fred's view of reality starts to tear apart, he has to cast his critical examination upon himself, his desires, and his selfhood.
15) The Truman Show (1998):
The Truman Show is a highly satirical film, which later explores the offensive limits of reality television. Truman Burbank is just any ordinary man born into a 24/7 reality television show, played by Jim Carrey. As he unwittingly navigates his carefully constructed world, Truman starts to feel that something is not quite right, and this sends him on a relentless search for the truth that upsets his seemingly perfect existence. It provokes interesting thoughts on the issues of privacy, surveillance, and entertainment ethics.
14) Donnie Darko (2001):
Donnie Darko is a sci-fi cult classic psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly. The storyline of this film is mainly based on Donnie, a teenager from a suburban city, who after a weird accident when a jet engine falls in his bedroom at night experiences an eerie and strange vision which continues with him throughout. Frank, an enormous rabbit tells Donnie the end of the world is due in 28 days. Through Frank, Donnie sets on this surrealist journey concerning time loops, alternate realities, and dark philosophical questions revolving around fate, free will, and even mental illness.
13) 12 Monkeys (1995)
In the 1995 science fiction movie 12 Monkeys, thanks to some deadly virus, released by the group known as the "Army of 12 Monkeys," the human race almost goes extinct in 1996. James Cole (Bruce Willis), a prisoner in 2035 is selected to be sent back to 1996 to prevent the virus in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. The perfect twist of this thrilling thriller is to unfold its mission in a chaotic reality of complex and inexplicable time travel, thereby leaving it up to viewers to piece together the effects on humanity.
12) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is a landmark sci-fi epic that seeks to trace the place of humanity in the universe. The movie begins with a mysterious black monolith appearing on Earth during prehistoric times that sets off the ball of humanity's evolution. Cut to the future: another monolith lands on the Moon, which sends a signal toward Jupiter. A spaceship is launched into orbit, carrying Dr. Dave Bowman and the super-intelligent AI HAL 9000. However, in the case of this book, the computer turns out to be paranoid, forces the crew into a desperate life-or-death struggle against the computer, and makes the journey end with an apocalyptic, surreal expedition through space and time.
11) Mr. Nobody (2009)
It's the year 2092 when humans have discovered the elixir of life; they live forever. Now, Nemo Nobody is 118 years old and the last mortal on Earth. Psychiatrist Dr. Feldheim watches as Nemo is hypnotized to dig into his memories. In this process, a journalist interviews him, unveiling recollections from three critical ages: 9, 15, and 34. Nemo's accounts are full of contradictions because he describes his life as having unfolded in different ways at times. He posits that before birth, children possess complete knowledge of their futures, but once conception takes place, the so-called Angels of Oblivion erase this understanding.
10) Arrival (2016)
Arrival, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is a sci-fi drama movie on communication and the nature of time. When twelve alien spacecraft mysteriously appear at different locations around the world, the U.S. government recruits linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) to decipher their language. The time and reality that awaited her were unknown. International tensions start to spread since countries begin responding to what may be a threat. It brings the themes of love, loss, and human experience into a very powerful emotional journey that transforms Louise's perception of her past and future.
9) The Prestige (2006)
The Prestige is an exciting thriller of rivalry, obsession, and sacrifice set in the world of 19th-century stage magic under the helm of Christopher Nolan. Two ambitious magicians, Robert Angier, played by Hugh Jackman, and Alfred Borden, played by Christian Bale, were once friends and competitors but their friendly competition turned bitter after a tragic accident. Deception, betrayal, and dark consequences permeate all the twists and mysteries that unfold throughout the movie.
8) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 sci-fi romantic dramedy written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry. The story centers on a couple, Joel and Clementine, who have erased each other from their memories following a painful breakup. When Clementine decides to undergo a procedure to erase all memories of Joel, he is devastated and decides to do the same. The film explores themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human connection through a surreal and emotional journey.
7) The Matrix (1999):
The Matrix, of course, is the classic sci-fi about hacker, Neo, who discovers that this reality is nothing but a projection created by advanced machines only to control the minds of humans. He encounters a group of rebels, who tell him the truth and allow him to remain ignorant or partake in the fight to break free from the hands of machines inside the Matrix. Guided by the rebels, he masters the code of the Matrix, gaining extraordinary powers to challenge his artificial reality.
6) Predestination (2014)
Predestination is a 2014 Australian sci-fi thriller film directed by Michael and Peter Spierig, and starring Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, and Noah Taylor. The film is an adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 short story All You Zombies. In the movie, a Temporal Agent must prevent a serious crime by time traveling. In his last mission, he confronts the enigmatic criminal that he had been tracking in time; with whom he clashes regarding a catastrophic attack that will kill thousands. The plot weaves intricate narratives of identity, destiny, and sacrifice.
5) Memento (2000)
Memento is a psychological thriller with complete twists and turns wherein the story is narrated non-linearly. It is narrated from the point of view of Leonard Shelby, who can't remember what happened before his wife's gruesome murder because he has anterograde amnesia. To identify her murderer, Leonard gets himself tattooed, uses photographs, and writes some notes to move ahead. With its complex structure and layered narrative, it will prove a difficult yet rewarding experience for audiences to delve into the fractured reality of Leonard.
4) Inception (2010):
The interesting realm of dream-sharing and layered dreams in Inception, Christopher Nolan's film, revolves around a team of skilled thieves who get access to people's subconscious minds to get secrets out of them; however, now the biggest challenge would be to plant an idea, not steal one. The deeper layers of complex dreams risk losing them in the subconscious. It unfolds a cinematic experience memorably, testing one's perception of reality against fantasy with complex narrative, beautiful visuals, and strong themes.
3) Fight Club (1999):
Fight Club is a dark satirical drama, as it touches on the aspects of consumerism, masculinity, and a quest for meaning. It is centered on an unnamed narrator who has become bored with his life and then befriends an eccentric soap maker named Tyler Durden, who possesses some extreme views on life. He starts an underground fight club that becomes extremely popular and draws the narrator into this world of mayhem and destruction. In sum, the provocative tone with a sharp critique of modern society makes it a highly dramatic and unforgettable experience that is bound to leave the moviegoer stunned by an incredible twist.
2) Shutter Island (2010):
Martin Scorsese's psychological thriller Shutter Island is a follow-up on the elusive disappearance of a patient from Ashecliffe Hospital, an isolated mental institution, by U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels. Since Teddy starts digging into the case, he comes across discomforting secrets about the hospital, and eventually, his troubled past begins to surface, pulling him away from his sanity, and leaving him lost in the woods about what is real and what is not. This movie is full of tension and twisted climaxes, discussing themes such as guilt, identity, and perception in life.
1) Intersteller (2014):
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Interstellar is a science fiction epic by Christopher Nolan. The movie is set in a future where Earth would become uninhabitable because of the water crisis which would cause crops to collapse. A former pilot is recruited by the space travel program to traverse through a mysterious wormhole in search of a new home for humanity. So, he leaves his children behind and journeys through the gorgeous yet dangerous worlds, with the limits of human survival and comprehension. With time and gravity at distorted angles, Cooper undergoes some heart-wrenching decisions that challenge everything about love, sacrifice, and survival.
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