Top Mind Bending Movies

From Sidney Lumet, starring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler
Rated Approved

12 Angry Men is a 1957 American courtroom drama film directed by Sidney Lumet. The film follows a jury of 12 men as they deliberate the guilt of an 18-year-old defendant accused of murdering his father. Initially 11 of the jurors vote guilty, but the 12th, Juror 8 (Henry Fonda) thinks otherwise and is able to convince the others to consider the evidence more carefully. As the deliberations progress, the jurors are forced to reconsider their opinions and biases, and their intense discussions eventually lead them to an unanimous decision of not guilty. The film was a critical and commercial success, and is now regarded as a classic of American cinema.

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

Inception is a thriller/sci-fi film directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, a professional thief hired to perform the impossible task of infiltrating a victim's subconscious and planting an idea. Cobb and his team of dream thieves use a combination of dream-sharing technology, manipulation, and deception to achieve their goals. Along the way, they face dangerous enemies and must confront their own inner demons, leading to a climactic ending that will leave viewers guessing. Inception is a masterful exploration of the power of dreams and the limits of reality, as well as a thrilling action-adventure.

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 based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. It stars Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. The film follows an unnamed Narrator (Norton) as he struggles with an existential crisis and forms a "fight club" with soap maker Tyler Durden (Pitt). The club's members engage in bare-knuckle fighting as a form of therapy, and as the Narrator's relationship with Durden intensifies, he is drawn into a cult-like organization known as Project Mayhem. Through the course of the film, the Narrator struggles to find a way out of the downward spiral of his life, and ultimately finds his own redemption.

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

The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction action film directed by the Wachowskis. The film follows Thomas A. Anderson, a computer programmer, who is living a double life as a hacker named "Neo". Neo discovers that the world he knows is actually a simulated reality created by sentient machines in order to control the human population, while their bodies' heat and electrical activity are used as an energy source. Neo is contacted by Morpheus, a legendary computer hacker, who explains the truth about the Matrix and offers Neo the chance to join him in the fight against the machines. Neo embarks on a journey to free humanity from the Matrix. Along the way, he learns the truth about the Matrix and discovers his destiny as the "One". With the help of Morpheus, Neo must battle powerful agents and face the ultimate challenge to save humanity from the Matrix.

From Christopher Nolan, starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Mackenzie Foy
Rated PG-13

Interstellar is a 2014 science-fiction adventure film directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine. The story follows a group of explorers who travel through a newly-discovered wormhole in order to find a new home for humanity. As they journey through the wormhole, they explore various alien worlds and make discoveries about the nature of time and space. The group eventually finds a way to save humanity and return home, but not without sacrificing much along the way. With stunning visuals, a gripping story, and an unforgettable cast, Interstellar is an epic and truly unforgettable experience.

From Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine
Rated PG-13

The Prestige is a 2006 psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan. It follows two rival magicians in the late 19th century, Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman), as they attempt to outdo each other in their quest for the perfect magical trick. After a tragic accident causes the death of Angier's wife, the two become obsessed with each other, doing whatever it takes to outdo the other. Their rivalry leads them both down a path of deception, betrayal, and obsession as they each seek out the perfect trick and attempt to outwit each other. The film also follows the mysterious Nikola Tesla (David Bowie), who helps Borden and Angier in their ambitions. In the end, the two men are forced to confront the secrets and consequences of their rivalry.

From Christopher Nolan, starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior
Rated R

Memento is a psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan. The film follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man who suffers from anterograde amnesia and is unable to form new memories. After his wife is brutally murdered, Leonard sets out to find her killer, using a system of tattoos and notes to remind himself of his mission. As he tries to track down the murderer, he runs into a number of people, including a mysterious man (Joe Pantoliano) who offers to help him, and a woman (Carrie-Anne Moss) with whom he begins a tentative relationship. In the end, he discovers that the murderer is actually himself and that he had killed his wife in a moment of confusion. Memento is a complex and thrilling tale that examines the power of memory and identity.

From Michel Gondry, starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Gerry Robert Byrne
Rated R

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 romantic science fiction drama written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry. The film follows an estranged couple, Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet), who have both undergone a procedure to erase all memories of each other from their minds. As Joel undergoes the procedure, however, he realizes he wants to keep his memories and fights to keep them. Through a series of flashbacks, the film explores the couple's complicated relationship, from how they met to how it ended. Ultimately, Joel and Clementine come to the conclusion that their love for each other is stronger than their pain and decide to try again.

From Guillermo del Toro, starring Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú
Rated R

Pan's Labyrinth is a dark fantasy film set in Spain in 1944, shortly after the Spanish Civil War. A young girl named Ofelia, who has a vivid imagination, travels with her pregnant mother to a rural home to live with her new stepfather, Captain Vidal, a strict authoritarian who is tasked with hunting down and eliminating rebels in the area. Ofelia discovers a mythical labyrinth near the home, where she meets a mysterious faun who tells her she is a long-lost princess and must complete three dangerous tasks in order to reclaim her rightful place in the underworld kingdom of the fauns. As she attempts to complete her tasks, Ofelia's stepfather's cruel and violent nature puts her mother in danger and Ofelia is forced to choose between her family and her destiny. In the end, she makes a heroic sacrifice that allows her to reunite with the faun and reclaim her place in the underworld.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley
Rated R

Shutter Island is a psychological thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio as U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels. He and his partner, Chuck Aule, are sent to a hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island to investigate the case of an escaped patient. As they investigate, Teddy comes to believe that the hospital is not all it appears to be, and that there are dark secrets hidden beneath the surface. As he delves deeper, Teddy is haunted by the memories of his past and is forced to confront the truth about his own identity and reality. The film follows his journey as he unravels the mystery of Shutter Island and discovers the secrets that it holds.

From James McTeigue, starring Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Rupert Graves, Stephen Rea
Rated R

V for Vendetta is a dystopian political thriller set in a near-future London, under the rule of a fascist government. The story follows V (Hugo Weaving), a masked freedom fighter who attempts to ignite a revolution through elaborate terrorist acts, as he fights against the oppressive regime and its leader, Adam Sutler (John Hurt). As V's actions become increasingly bold, he is joined by Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman), a young woman whose life he saves. Together, they battle against the government, its oppressive surveillance and censorship, and the secret police. Along the way, they uncover a shocking conspiracy and discover the truth about V's past. As their revolution gains momentum, the two become powerful symbols of hope and freedom for the people of London.

From Richard Kelly, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne
Rated R

Donnie Darko is a psychological thriller set in 1988 starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Donnie is a troubled high school student who is dealing with hallucinations and sleepwalking. One night, he is visited by a giant, doomsday-predicting, demonic-looking rabbit by the name of Frank. Frank tells Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. As Donnie's mental illness unravels, he embarks on a journey to prevent the end of the world. Along the way, he discovers time-travel, mysterious forces, and the power of his own destiny. In the end, Donnie must find the courage to accept his fate and make the ultimate sacrifice.

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder
Rated R

Black Swan is a psychological thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassel. It follows the story of Nina Sayers (Portman), a driven ballerina desperate to win the lead in her company's upcoming production of Swan Lake. In order to do so, she must perfect her technique and become both the White Swan and the Black Swan. However, as she strives to reach perfection, her life starts to unravel in a tragic spiral of obsession, paranoia, and violence. Ultimately, Nina must decide whether she will be able to accept her identity and embrace the duality of being both the White and Black Swan.

From Spike Jonze, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara
Rated R

Her is a 2013 science fiction romantic drama film written and directed by Spike Jonze and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde and Scarlett Johansson. Set in the near future, the film follows Theodore Twombly (Phoenix), a man who develops a relationship with Samantha (Johansson), an artificially intelligent operating system which is customized to meet his every need. As the relationship between the two grows, Theodore finds himself struggling to reconcile his connection with a machine with the human relationships that he is used to. The film explores themes of technology, love, relationships, and loneliness.

From David Lynch, starring Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux, Jeanne Bates
Rated R

Mulholland Drive is a neo-noir mystery/thriller film directed by David Lynch and starring Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, and Justin Theroux. The film follows an aspiring Hollywood actress, Betty Elms (Watts), and a amnesiac woman (Harring), who is trying to discover her true identity. After Betty and the amnesiac woman meet, they become intertwined in a surreal mystery that takes them on a journey through the dark underbelly of Hollywood and its dream factory. Along the way, they discover clues and secrets that will ultimately reveal the amnesiac's true identity. The film has been widely praised for its dreamlike atmosphere, surrealistic visuals, and complex narrative structure.

From Doug Liman, starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson
Rated PG-13

Edge of Tomorrow is an action-packed sci-fi drama directed by Doug Liman. The story follows Major William Cage (Tom Cruise), an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself thrown into a time loop-forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again...and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). As Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.

From Jaco Van Dormael, starring Jared Leto, Sarah Polley, Diane Kruger, Linh-Dan Pham
Rated R

Mr. Nobody is a 2009 science fiction drama film directed by Jaco Van Dormael. It stars Jared Leto as the 118-year-old Nemo Nobody, a man who is the last mortal on Earth after the human race has achieved quasi-immortality. Nemo is on the brink of death and reflects on his life and how the different choices he has made have shaped his life. Through flashbacks, Nemo’s memories reveal multiple possible lives he might have led. As his memories grow increasingly vivid, Nemo realizes that he must choose between the past and the present, between life and death. The film offers no easy answers, instead presenting a complex meditation on the power of choice and the beauty of life.

From Giuseppe Tornatore, starring Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Sylvia Hoeks, Donald Sutherland
Rated R

The Best Offer is a 2013 romantic mystery film directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. It follows the life of Virgil Oldman (Geoffrey Rush), a renowned art expert and auctioneer who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Oldman is hired by a mysterious and reclusive heiress named Claire Ibbetson (Sylvia Hoeks) to inventory her large collection of valuable antiques. As he works to appraise the items and discovers more about Claire, they develop an unexpected and passionate connection. Oldman soon uncovers a dark and twisted plot involving Claire as well as his trusted assistant, Robert (Jim Sturgess), and a former lover, Billy (Donald Sutherland). With his career, sanity and even his life on the line, Oldman must find the truth behind the secret in order to save himself.

From Duncan Jones, starring Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligott, Rosie Shaw
Rated R

Moon is a science-fiction drama set in the near future, where astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) has been alone on a moon-based manufacturing facility for three years. His mission is to harvest a valuable energy resource that will bring clean energy to Earth. When his health begins to deteriorate, Sam begins to have visions of a strange girl. When he investigates further, he discovers a cloning facility and the shocking truth about the energy resource he's been harvesting. As he struggles to come to terms with his identity, Sam must make a difficult decision about his future and the fate of the Earth.

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

Waking Life is a 2001 American adult animated docufiction film written and directed by Richard Linklater. The film follows a young man who dreams of lucid dreaming and attempts to stay in his conscious state as he wanders through a variety of dreamscapes populated by dreamers of all backgrounds and ages. The film features philosophical discussions about the nature of reality, the meanings of life, free will, and existentialism. Through these conversations, the protagonist gradually comes to the realization that his life is not his own, but instead a dream-like state over which he has no control. He is unsure of which realities are real, and which are just dreams. The film's non-linear narrative structure and lack of a clear resolution leaves viewers to form their own interpretations of the film's themes.

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

Ex Machina is a science fiction thriller written and directed by Alex Garland, focusing on the development of artificial intelligence. The film follows Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), a programmer working for a powerful tech company, who is sent to the remote home of his boss, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac), to participate in a strange experiment. Caleb is tasked with evaluating the artificial intelligence of Nathan's latest invention, a female android named Ava (Alicia Vikander). As Caleb attempts to converse with Ava, he finds himself increasingly drawn to her and begins to question the limits of human morality in regards to the treatment of artificial intelligence. Ultimately, Caleb must determine whether Ava is capable of true sentience, and if so, help her find her freedom.

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 and released in 2004. The film follows Trevor Reznik, a pale and emaciated insomniac played by Christian Bale, who works in a factory as a machinist. Reznik has not slept in a year, and his mental and physical health is suffering rapidly. In an effort to make sense of his life, Reznik begins to unravel a web of lies and deceit that he was previously unaware of. With the help of a mysterious stranger named Ivan, Reznik discovers the truth about his condition and the people around him. As Reznik's world spirals out of control, he must confront his own fears and inner demons to find redemption.

From Alejandro Amenábar, starring Nicole Kidman, Christopher Eccleston, Fionnula Flanagan, Alakina Mann
Rated PG-13

The Others is a psychological horror-thriller film directed by Alejandro Amenábar. Set in England during World War II, the film follows Grace (Nicole Kidman), a devoutly religious widow caring for her two young children, Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley), who live in an old country house on the Isle of Jersey. After Grace hires three servants to help her around the house, strange events begin to occur and the house appears to be haunted by unseen forces. It is soon revealed that the house is inhabited by a family of ghosts who share the same name as Grace’s children, and the family is determined to have their home back. As the events worsen and secrets are revealed, Grace must do whatever it takes to protect her family and uncover the truth about the mysterious house.

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

Dark City is a 1998 science fiction film directed by Alex Proyas and starring Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, and William Hurt. The film follows a man, John Murdoch (Sewell), who wakes up in a strange city with no memory of his past. He soon learns that he is wanted by the police for a series of murders and that the entire city is controlled by dark forces known as The Strangers. In order to save himself and the city, Murdoch must discover the secret of Dark City and discover the true identity of The Strangers. With the help of a mysterious doctor (Hurt) and a psychic (Connelly), Murdoch unravels a mind-bending conspiracy and ultimately confronts the powerful forces that rule the city.

From Gregg Araki, starring Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elisabeth Shue, Chase Ellison
Rated Unrated

Mysterious Skin is a 2004 independent drama film directed by Gregg Araki and based on Scott Heim's 1995 novel of the same name. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet as two pre-adolescent boys who are affected in different ways by a past sexual encounter with their Little League coach. Gordon-Levitt stars as Neil, a teenage hustler who is trying to cope with the results of his traumatic childhood experiences, while Corbet plays Brian, a withdrawn and obsessive young man who is searching for the truth behind a series of vague memories. As the two boys attempt to piece together their shared past, they confront their traumas and come to terms with the difficult events of their childhood.