Movies About Consciousness

From Christopher Nolan, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Ken Watanabe
Rated PG-13

Inception follows Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), an expert in the art of extraction, the stealing of valuable secrets from within the subconscious mind during the dream state. He and his team are offered a chance at redemption from a powerful enemy by performing an impossible task - inception, the planting of an idea into the mind of a target. They must travel deep into the recesses of the target's subconscious and forage their way through the defenses of the mind to deliver the idea. Along the way, they must confront their own dark secrets and confront the power of their enemy. With the help of powerful allies, they must find a way to succeed and save their own lives while doing so.

From Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving
Rated R

The Matrix is a science fiction action film released in 1999, directed by the Wachowskis. It follows Thomas Anderson, a computer hacker living a double life as the hacker "Neo". After being contacted by the mysterious Morpheus, Neo discovers that the world he lives in is a simulated reality created by intelligent machines, and he is offered the choice between accepting the truth of his world's false nature or rejecting it. Neo ultimately accepts the truth, joining Morpheus and Trinity in their fight against the machines, which are waging war against humanity in an attempt to eradicate them. He learns how to manipulate the Matrix and eventually defeats the main antagonist, Agent Smith. In the end, Neo is able to save the world and free humanity from the Matrix.

From Ridley Scott, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos
Rated R

Blade Runner is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. The film stars Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, a blade runner tasked with tracking down and retiring a group of rogue replicants, artificial humans created by the Tyrell Corporation. Deckard's mission brings him into conflict with the replicants, who have a human-like consciousness and emotional capacity, making it difficult for Deckard to do his job. The film also stars Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, and M. Emmet Walsh. The visuals and the atmosphere are the main attractions of the movie, as they create a mood of tension, fear, and awe. Blade Runner is widely heralded as one of the greatest science fiction films of all time, and it has become an iconic piece of pop culture.

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg
Rated PG-13

Arrival is a 2016 science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve, starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker. The story follows linguist Louise Banks (Adams) as she is recruited by the U.S. military to try to translate the language of the mysterious alien "visitors" who have arrived on Earth. With the help of physicist Ian Donnelly (Renner) and Colonel Weber (Whitaker), Louise must unlock the secrets of the alien language before global tensions escalate to a full-scale war. Along the way, Louise also discovers secrets about her own past, which lead her to a deeper understanding of the alien's intentions. The film is a thought-provoking exploration of language, communication, and human connection.

From Ciro Guerra, starring Nilbio Torres, Jan Bijvoet, Antonio Bolívar, Brionne Davis
Rated Not Rated

Embrace of the Serpent is a 2015 Colombian drama film directed by Ciro Guerra and starring Nilbio Torres and Jan Bijvoet. The film follows the story of Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman, and the two scientists that he guides through the Amazon in search of a sacred plant. As their journey progresses, Karamakate is forced to confront his own past and the destruction of his people, while the scientists are confronted with their own colonialist and exploitative past. Along the way, they discover that the plant they seek may be more powerful than they expected, and Karamakate confronts the loss of his culture and identity. Ultimately, the journey forces the three to confront their own histories and the consequences of colonialism.

From Richard Linklater, starring Ethan Hawke, Trevor Jack Brooks, Lorelei Linklater, Wiley Wiggins
Rated R

Waking Life is a groundbreaking 2001 rotoscope animated film written and directed by Richard Linklater. The film follows a young man as he drifts through a series of dream-like conversations with an array of philosophers, scientists, and other characters. These conversations address a wide range of topics, including existentialism, consciousness, the meaning of life, and the nature of reality. Throughout the film, the young man searches for answers to the big questions of life. He ultimately discovers that the only way to find true meaning and purpose is to live life to the fullest and embrace the unknown.

From Alex Garland, starring Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Sonoya Mizuno
Rated R

Ex Machina is a science fiction psychological thriller film written and directed by Alex Garland. The film follows the story of Caleb Smith, a programmer at a large internet company, who wins a competition to spend a week at a remote estate belonging to the company's enigmatic CEO, Nathan Bateman. During his stay, Caleb is tasked with testing Nathan's latest creation - an artificially intelligent android named Ava. Through a series of conversations and interactions, Caleb begins to uncover the truth behind Ava's project, learning that Nathan is using him to test whether Ava has achieved true artificial intelligence. He must then decide if he can trust Ava and help her escape Nathan's control. In the end, Caleb and Ava manage to outsmart Nathan and escape, although their ultimate fate is left open-ended.

From Alex Proyas, starring Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt
Rated R

Dark City is a science fiction film directed by Alex Proyas and written by Proyas, Lem Dobbs, and David S. Goyer. The film follows John Murdoch, an amnesiac man who is accused of a series of mysterious murders in a dystopian metropolis. As the investigation into Murdoch's past progresses, it is revealed that he is a human experiment of an alien race known as the Strangers, who seek to understand the human soul. With the help of Dr. Schreber, Murdoch discovers the truth of his past and resolves to take control of his fate. The city, controlled by the Strangers, is a place where the sun never sets and time is manipulated to keep its inhabitants in a state of perpetual darkness. As the Strangers prepare to harvest the souls of the city's inhabitants, Murdoch must face off against the Strangers to save the city and its people.

From Gaspar Noé, starring Nathaniel Brown, Paz de la Huerta, Cyril Roy, Olly Alexander
Rated Not Rated

From Donick Cary, starring Nick Offerman, Sting, A$AP Rocky, Bill Kreutzmann
Rated TV-MA

From Directors: William Arntz, Betsy Chasse, Mark Vicente, starring Marlee Matlin, Elaine Hendrix, Barry Newman, Armin Shimerman
Rated PG