What are the best mind-blowing movies?

Submitted by Jessica_Frandsen08 t3_11da4ll in movies

  1. "Inception" (2010) - This movie explores the concept of dreams and layers of consciousness in a thrilling, action-packed way.

  2. "The Matrix" (1999) - This sci-fi classic asks philosophical questions about reality and what it means to be human.

  3. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004) - This movie tells a complex, nonlinear love story with a sci-fi twist that will leave you questioning the nature of memory and relationships.

  4. "Interstellar" (2014) - This movie takes the audience on a breathtaking journey through space and time, exploring the limits of human understanding.

  5. "Donnie Darko" (2001) - This movie combines elements of time travel, mental illness, and existential philosophy to create a haunting and thought-provoking experience.

  6. "Arrival" (2016) - This movie explores the implications of alien communication and the nature of language in a deeply emotional and intellectually engaging way.

  7. "The Truman Show" (1998) - This movie questions the nature of reality and the concept of free will in a witty and engaging way.

  8. "Blade Runner" (1982) - This sci-fi classic explores what it means to be human and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in a futuristic dystopia.

  9. "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) - This movie takes the audience on a surreal and visually stunning journey through the history and future of human evolution.

What's your thoughts on this list?

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Comments

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Astro-Pal t1_ja7eo4g wrote

A Scanner Darkly (2006) an underrated surreal masterpiece. The rotoscope has aged beautifully, cast is next to none. Solid list by the way.

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[deleted] t1_ja7wwnu wrote

Yep. Just read the book and rewatched this, I think most people will be surprised by the cast of this generally forgotten flick. It's very faithful to the book as well.

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Jessica_Frandsen08 OP t1_ja9603f wrote

Thanks your reply. I whatced this movie and I was very excited to see it but, in the end, was a bit disappointed. I love the book, and I’m fine with adaptations that take the source material and run with it, but I think that for all the hard work put into the adaptation, it didn’t really work.

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[deleted] t1_ja9a6g3 wrote

What did they do in the movie that wasn't in the book? You lose some of Donna's characterization and we don't spend as much time seeing the New Hope but the book events are pretty much all there even if some Barris stuff is out of order compared to the book.

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st6374 t1_ja7j0l4 wrote

Memento had my mind blown. Sixth Sense too.

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ToxicAdamm t1_ja7qxoq wrote

Memento will always be my top.

It was early internet era, so it was really hard to find information on-line for it. I remember going to the official website and click everything trying to learn all I could. Months after I saw it, I was still learning things about it and enjoying new reactions to it as people had the same experience.

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Seaborn63 t1_ja7mgxg wrote

The Game (1997). I've been chasing the feeling this movie gave me since I saw it when I was 10. Even my Dad still talks about it and wanting to find movies like it.

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Expensive_Leave_6339 t1_ja7xy3y wrote

This movie reminds me of my dad. We watched it together and it blew both our minds. Good times…

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So_be t1_ja9wnfk wrote

Love this movie, first time around was special. A lot of people here don't like it due the the implausibility factor, but I personally don't mind.

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MyBaklavaBigBarry t1_ja7grf2 wrote

Predestination is pretty out there

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tinoynk t1_ja7hzi5 wrote

Rewatched this recently, definitely a pretty wild mindfuck. The twist is set up kind of obviously from the start, but it's just so outlandish you actually have to see it happen to believe it.

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BabyCanYouDigYourSam t1_ja7hk3g wrote

Mother

Pi

Black swan

12 Monkeys

Gattaca

Barton Fink

Primer

Mulholland Drive

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Agent_Tomm t1_ja7r3y6 wrote

When this subject comes up, my answer is always the same: "Dark City"

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tinoynk t1_ja7i3l7 wrote

Cronenberg's eXistenZ really does belong in this canon. Just an all around crazy mindfuck. I feel like it's virtual reality premise kinda got overshadowed by The Matrix.

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vilebutvast t1_jac24y9 wrote

Underrated film for sure! Loved how weird it is.

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Grand-Ad3155 t1_ja8so0a wrote

Blade Runner asked huge existential questions in 1982 that are more relevant than ever in 2023

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Hada_Leigherdowne t1_ja7g318 wrote

Akira if you want to contemplate the power of human potential

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RunRabbit_Run t1_ja7fa3p wrote

Another Nolan film, Tenet

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Peace-D t1_ja7nvgq wrote

Just watched it again on Friday. Still gives me questions.

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BlkGTO t1_ja91y70 wrote

One of the theories I read online is that the blonde woman’s kid that she picks up at school is Robert Pattinson’s character. That obviously doesn’t clear up everything though.

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Peace-D t1_jablks5 wrote

That's a pretty cool theory, but also pretty far fetched as the boy's name is never mentioned. I'd like to think it's possible though as the kid would have to be saved in order for everything to happen as it did.

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dirtyginmartini2222 t1_ja7xs5c wrote

Great list! And I would add The Usual Suspects to that list

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frech77 t1_ja8cr9z wrote

Memento needs to be on your list.

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jokes_on_you_ha t1_ja8m7gx wrote

From your list, The Matrix was easily the most impactful when I first saw it. Especially with the perfect opening, where you're wondering the whole time, 'what the hell am I watching?!'

From my list, The Matrix would still rank high, but it would probably be Mulholland Drive at #1. Other movies are mind-blowing because of plot developments. David Lynch movies are mind-blowing because they play out like fever dreams onscreen. Watching Mulholland Drive for the first time felt like a waking nightmare.

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umphlove27 t1_jaa8ixs wrote

Surprised I haven’t seen Oldboy (2003) yet.

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misterfriend t1_ja7fmx2 wrote

It's a different genre, but The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) has a lot to take in.

One of my favourite movies, and incredibly funny when it wants to be.

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AnxietyTsunami t1_ja7fv99 wrote

I would add Sixth Sense to the list. It was a phenomenon at the time and definitely blew my mind the first time I saw it.

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FranDreshie t1_ja7j71w wrote

Videodrome

Egomania: island without hope

Inland empire

Crumb

Festen

Reality

A skin so soft

Most movies don’t really blow shit!

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Inevitable_Exam_2177 t1_ja7jrag wrote

Not really in the theme of the movies you’ve presented, but hard to go past The Holy Mountain for a very weird exploration of reality. Possibly my favourite final minute of any film.

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[deleted] t1_ja7jvgr wrote

Add fight club to the list

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Looper007 t1_ja7ol0q wrote

Altered States by Ken Russell

The late William Hurt first major role. Total bonkers of a film expect when coming from Ken Russell

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RyzenRaider t1_ja88zpl wrote

Cloud Atlas deserves a mention. It's a bit hit and miss, but I love it for being so audacious, and succeeding a lot of the time.

Everything Everywhere All at Once. The first film that I'd seen since Eternal Sunshine that gave me similar 'this is weird and nonsensical, but completely makes sense' vibes.

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Snarfly99 t1_jaaayy2 wrote

Adaptation

I have never had another movie end that just left me sitting there wondering about everything I just saw

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Different_Beach_4590 t1_jaabgej wrote

Mysterious Skin (2004)

Very disturbing so not suited for everybody.

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saltbae25 t1_ja7gopn wrote

Breaking the Waves.

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Slartibartfast102 t1_ja7qsbh wrote

Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain will blow your hair back a bit

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yshard t1_ja7v9jx wrote

Mirage definitely belongs to the list

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aiborr t1_ja7xrlh wrote

ummmm i think Apocalypse Now is mind-blowing, but more in the sense of it having so many moments where u wonder "how tf did they do this?"

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[deleted] t1_ja7ya01 wrote

Annihilation should be here. I'm tired of aliens being either outright monsters or just functionally weird-looking people and Annihilation dares to convey something truly out there.

"I don't know what it wants, or if it wants..."

Now that's fucking alien

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HogInspector t1_ja97dd7 wrote

I just finished the book series and it was excellent and so atmospheric. I just craved more from the movie and the books were great for getting more juice from that story.

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Mod-h8tr t1_ja88wun wrote

Predestination, time crimes and Prisoners for that ending.

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__ALF__ t1_ja89g8h wrote

Dreamcatcher (2003)

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)

From Dusk Till Dawn

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Fight Club

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Jalmerk t1_ja8s69t wrote

Under the Silver Lake

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FenixdeGoma t1_ja8whcs wrote

First blood

Also known as rambo. The ptsd based storyline is decades ahead of its time. His breakdown at the end is heartwrenching. His treatment by the police is very accurate and is just as relevant today. It's a shame rambo became war porn after the first one.

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-A_A_A_A_A_A- t1_ja9nwsn wrote

Being John Malkovich

Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind.

…(and pretty much any Woody Allen movie)

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AdvancedDay7854 t1_jaaq3gq wrote

Total Recall (1990) -Did I just cheer on a protagonist who got a lobotomy back on Earth?

The Game (1997) - The game is over, or is it?

Dark City (1998) - paranoid dystopian dark noir

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nwoolls t1_jab3bcv wrote

The Prestige

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monkeybeater83 t1_jac2vdg wrote

Fight Club starts off as just an action movie with really deep themes but the plot twist near the end turns it into a psychological fight between a man and his mind and its so good

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Offal t1_ja7kjpm wrote

The Evangelion films (AND series)

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Kennyw88 t1_ja7qwpx wrote

OMG . . .I can't believe Predestination isn't on this list.

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NewMasterpiece6271 t1_ja7tl8u wrote

Toy Story. the fact toys are alive and can talk still creeps me out to this very day.

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Kaninenlove t1_ja9q5sz wrote

2001 is a pretentious offense to the art of film. Otherwise i agree. Inception especially made me feel mind blown the next couple of days.

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UnsaidRnD t1_ja92wcw wrote

I watched Donnie Darko and didn't like it, I hardly understood anything. I guess I lacked some prerequisites, some knowledge before diving into it. That being said, I hate the topic of mental illness, I think it's just a lame excuse to go completely batshit crazy with logic, structure, scenes, colours for the lack of better ideas, and to try and present it as somehow artistic and unusual.

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also im not sure bladerunner dealt with any AI-related issues, but with man-made life form, which had a normal intelligence, albeit different, but not artificial... I hope i'm making sense.

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