Movies About Sleep

From David Fincher, starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Meat Loaf, Zach Grenier
Rated R

Fight Club is a 1999 film directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. It is based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. The movie is about an insomniac office worker (Norton), who joins a secret Fight Club with Tyler Durden (Pitt). Together, they form an underground organization of young men, who engage in dangerous and violent activities to reclaim their manhood and freedom from mainstream society. The club grows in popularity and ignites a revolution, leading to a climactic showdown between its members and the authorities. The movie explores themes of masculinity, nihilism, materialism, and the power of human connection.

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

Inception is a 2010 science fiction action film written, co-produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan, and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a professional thief who steals information by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets. Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb is wanted for his alleged role in his wife's murder and his only chance at redemption is to perform the impossible: inception, planting an idea rather than stealing one. He is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious. With his team of specialists assembled, Cobb begins the dangerous mission of inception, planting an idea in the mind of his target, Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy). If successful, Fischer's corporate empire will be forced to disintegrate, allowing Cobb and his team a chance at a better future. However, their dangerous mission soon unravels, and Cobb is forced to confront his own dark past. In the end, Cobb must decide what's most important to him: his own redemption

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Albert Brooks
Rated R

Taxi Driver is an American psychological drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. The film stars Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a lonely and disturbed taxi driver, who is driven to violence by his alienation from society. He befriends a young prostitute, Iris, played by Jodie Foster, and attempts to save her from her pimps and the seedy environment of the city. His attempts to rescue her ultimately lead him on a violent and destructive path. The film also stars Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, and Albert Brooks, with a score by Bernard Herrmann. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and received wide critical acclaim upon its release. Taxi Driver is now hailed as one of the greatest movies of all time.

From Don Siegel, starring Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, King Donovan
Rated Approved

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) is a science fiction classic directed by Don Siegel. Set in a small California town, the film follows a health inspector, Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy), as he discovers a shocking alien invasion. Bennell discovers that the townspeople are being replaced by emotionless clones grown from plant-like pods. With the help of his ex-girlfriend Becky (Dana Wynter) and a skeptical psychologist, Dr. Dan Kaufman (Larry Gates), Bennell races to prevent the aliens from taking over the entire town. As the body snatchers' numbers grow, Bennell and his allies must fight against an enemy they cannot even see. In the end, Bennell is the only one left who knows what's really going on. In a chilling finale, he warns the world of the alien threat that is coming.

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

Waking Life is a surrealistic, animated exploration of the nature of reality, dream states, and the meaning of life. The main character, a young man, drifts through a series of conversations with an assortment of characters, who discuss topics such as the purpose of dreams, free will, and existentialism. The film follows the main character as he attempts to discern the difference between the dream world and the "real" world. Through a series of dream-like images and conversations, he ultimately arrives at a heightened understanding of life and his place in it.

From Sofia Coppola, starring Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris
Rated R

Lost in Translation is a 2003 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Sofia Coppola. The film stars Bill Murray as an aging actor and Scarlett Johansson as a recent college graduate who develop an unlikely connection while in Tokyo. The film follows Bob Harris, a washed-up American movie star who is in Tokyo to shoot a commercial. He meets Charlotte, a young woman who is at a similar crossroads in her life. As Bob and Charlotte spend time together, they unexpectedly form a deep connection and explore the city together. Lost in Translation examines the loneliness of being in a foreign country, the awkward difficulties of communication, and the cultural differences between Japan and America. It is a touching and reflective look at two people who find solace in each other while trying to make sense of their lives.

From Brad Anderson, starring Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian
Rated R

The Machinist is a psychological thriller directed by Brad Anderson. The film follows Trevor Reznik, a machinist who has not slept in a year due to his insomnia. His sleep deprivation has caused him to become mentally and physically exhausted, leading to strange hallucinations and delusional behavior. When a co-worker turns up dead, Trevor believes himself to be the murderer and sets out to discover the truth. As his investigation leads him deeper into the mystery, he is forced to confront his own demons and confront the truth about his past. Along the way, the line between reality and fantasy begins to blur and Trevor finds himself on a journey of self-discovery.

From Directors: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, starring Ron Perlman, Daniel Emilfork, Judith Vittet, Dominique Pinon
Rated R

The City of Lost Children is a French science fantasy drama film from 1995, directed by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The story follows the journey of a strong-willed orphan named One (Ron Perlman) as he embarks on a quest to save his little brother, Denree, from a nefarious scientist named Krank (Daniel Emilfork). Krank is a madman who has developed a way to steal the dreams of children and keep them captive in his laboratory. With the help of a carnival strongman named Miette (Judith Vittet) and a group of misfits, One must face Krank and his robotic minions in order to save his brother. Along the way, One discovers the truth behind Krank's sinister plans and uncovers the mystery of the city of lost children. The film is a dark, surreal fantasy full of extraordinary visuals and a unique blend of traditional storytelling and French New Wave filmmaking.

From Wes Craven, starring Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp, Robert Englund, John Saxon
Rated R

From Directors: Les Clark, Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske, starring Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton
Rated G

From Christopher Nolan, starring Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank, Martin Donovan
Rated R

From Michel Gondry, starring Gael García Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Miou-Miou, Alain Chabat
Rated R

From Jaume Balagueró, starring Luis Tosar, Marta Etura, Alberto San Juan, Petra Martínez
Rated Not Rated

From Sean Ellis, starring Sean Biggerstaff, Emilia Fox, Michelle Ryan, Erica Ellis
Rated R

From Steven Soderbergh, starring Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Rated R

From Gus Van Sant, starring River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo, William Richert
Rated R

From Morten Tyldum, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne
Rated PG-13

From Ken Russell, starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid
Rated R

From Nora Ephron, starring Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Ross Malinger, Rita Wilson
Rated PG

From Apichatpong Weerasethakul, starring Jenjira Pongpas, Banlop Lomnoi, Jarinpattra Rueangram, Petcharat Chaiburi
Rated Unrated

From Directors: Mike Birbiglia, Seth Barrish, starring Mike Birbiglia, Lauren Ambrose, James Rebhorn, Carol Kane
Rated PG-13

From Chuck Russell, starring Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, Craig Wasson, Patricia Arquette
Rated R

From Ramón Salazar, starring Mónica Cervera, Pablo Puyol, Miguel O'Dogherty, Concha Galán
Rated Unrated

From Joby Harold, starring Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, Terrence Howard, Lena Olin
Rated R

From Wes Craven, starring Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, Jf Davis, Miko Hughes
Rated R