Many people enjoy watching Horror movies and feeling fear, while others prefer to watch romantic movies and cry. When selecting a “mind-bending” movie, it could be that people are seeking the same enjoyment as solving a puzzle or riddle.
It may be a way to force our minds to Think outside the box and say “wow.” There are hundreds of great movies that fit this purpose.
Mind-Bending Movies That Will Blow Your Mind
The following mind-bending films will challenge your perception of Reality, Space, Time, and everything in between. You’ll be captivated from the start by these insane movies that will make you question your own sanity.
This article will explore the collection of Best mind-bending movies on Hulu, Amazon Prime, And Netflix that are worth checking out.
We’ve handpicked a few of these mind-bending films for you…
14. High-Rise (2015)
- Release date: March 18, 2016 (UK)
- Director: Ben Wheatley
- Box office: 4.1 million USD
- Budget: 6.1 million USD
High-Rise stars Tom Hiddleston in this really weird almost sort of a Stanley Kubrick-type thing now I would not say this is as good as anything Stanley Kubrick’s done but it’s done in a similar vein.
It’s very odd and trippy this does not take place in the same universe that you and I live in it’s this slightly off sort of weird fantasy thing and it can be hard to follow at times it will jump ahead and that’s part of the language of this movie.
It’s not necessarily a mistake but it does eliminate I think a lot of people from enjoying this movie and you like really and I mean really weird twisted stuff high rise might be right up your alley even if it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
13. Bug (2007)
- Release date: May 25, 2007
- Director: William Friedkin
- Box office: 8.2 million USD
- Budget: 4 million USD
Bug stars Michael Shannon and what I think is one of his best performances and Ashley Judd again not for everybody but this is actually directed by William Friedkin most famous for the exorcist and the french connection.
Just a really killer director and this is adapted from a stage play so this takes place in one little motel room.
Michael Shannon plays a character who is hyper-paranoid and believes that there are tiny aphids and tiny bugs sent by the government or something that are infecting the room that he and Ashley Jeter are in that’s the basic setup.
And not much else goes on in this movie so even though it’s another one that’s not for everybody it is very different from High-Rise.
12. The Butterfly Effect (2004)
- Release date: January 23, 2004
- Director: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber
- Box office: 96.8 million USD
- Budget: 13 million USD
In “The Butterfly Effect,” Evan Treborn experiences blackouts during significant moments in his life. He discovers that he can travel back in time and alter these events by reading his journals.
The movie explores the concept of time travel and the idea that small changes can have significant consequences, known as the Butterfly Effect.
The Movie has two endings, one of which is extremely unexpected. I won’t give away the endings, but I will say that both are quite mind-boggling.
“The Butterfly Effect” is an enthralling film that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. It is a hidden gem among movies that challenge the mind and bend reality. Overall, it is a highly enjoyable and underrated film.
11. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
- Release date: April 2, 1968
- Director: Stanley Kubrick
- Box office: 146 million USD
- Budget: 10.5 million USD
Stanley Kubrick was a pioneering film director who was ahead of his time. “2001: A Space Odyssey” is a testament to his talent and vision.
The film centers on the Monoliths, mysterious structures that inspire humanity to reach for the stars. After being discovered in Africa, they guide humanity on a journey to Jupiter, aided by H.A.L. 9000, the most powerful supercomputer in the world.
“2001: A Space Odyssey” is a technical masterpiece, with impressive filmmaking for its time. To fully appreciate the mind-bending concepts of the film, multiple viewings may be necessary. It is a true classic that remains ahead of its time.
10. Pandorum (2009)
- Release date: September 25, 2009
- Director: Christian Alvart
- Box office: 20.6 million USD
- Budget: 33 million USD
Now a sci-fi flick that’s got a lot of Mind-Bending elements, especially at the beginning of the movie is Pandorum.
This starts with ben foster and while I don’t love the movie as a whole I feel like it’s missing something I love a lot of the elements that are in it.
Ben foster is one of my favorite actors he is great here Dennis Quaid has a pretty good little role there are some other character actors that pop up and are great For Their Roles.
It looks like an alien or something and there is something on this ship the cool thing about Pandorum is that the less you know going into it the better meaning that’s the first five minutes of the movie.
Then everything sort of unfolds as it goes forward and it does get pretty wild especially for a little popcorn Horror flick this one really reaches.
I don’t think it quite gets to where it wants to go I think that’s one of the flaws with this movie.
However, it gets major points for reaching and it’s a really rich world along the way just a cool flick with some really scary elements to it.
So if you’re that scaredy cat and you don’t like horror movies this is one to steer away from.
9. She Dies Tomorrow (2020)
- Release date: July 31, 2020
- Director: Amy Seimetz
- Box office: 398,663 USD
- Budget: NA
So I’m going, to be honest with you about this next pick it did make the middle of the list but this is one that I kept wanting to turn off when I watched it and I could not do it it’s called she dies tomorrow.
This one does not follow a basic story structure it’s a little hard to follow for about the first half or so and that’s done on purpose you’re not really supposed to know what’s going on.
But you gradually get the gist of it this movie is based on a fairly basic concept but it’s a wild one and so it does take a while for you to wrap your head around it.
And the movie itself is kind of just a delivery device for the concept meaning the story is pretty thin which is usually a problem.
In this case, the movie’s so rich it looks nice the performances are great and the concept is.
This one’s essentially a Mind-Bending Movie, it’s not going to totally freak you out this is another one that’s not for everybody.
if you like the really weird unusual stuff this is going to be kind of unlike anything you’ve seen before even if it is a little slow.
8. Possessor (2020)
- Release date: November 27, 2020
- Director: Brandon Cronenberg
- Box office: 901,093 USD
- Budget: NA
So one of the newest releases on this list came out during the pandemic I loved it however it is strange, which is why it’s on this list obviously but pay attention to the way I describe this one.
Because for some of you, this movie is going to be too much and for others, it’s going to not be quite enough it’s called possessor.
Now, this is actually directed by Brandon Cronenberg, and if that name sounds familiar he’s the son of David Cronenberg who’s most famous for directing movies like the fly dead ringers existence naked lunch video drum.
I mean the list goes on for David Cronenberg but he’s most famous for those horror movies with weird twisted body horror and that is present in the possessor.
But you can tell that Brandon’s not really ripping off his father however he’s fairly heavily influenced by him.
Now another one that is going to be kind of hard to follow is you’re going to be lost at the beginning of this movie and you’re supposed to be you’re going to discover it as you go.
7. Hereditary (2018)
- Release date: June 8, 2018
- Director: Ari Aster
- Box office: 80.2 million USD
- Budget: 10 million USD
“Hereditary” is a horror movie that has received mixed reactions, with some viewers finding it too disturbing and others praising it as a brilliant example of the genre.
One of the things that makes this movie stand out is its twist ending. It follows the Graham family, who are struggling to cope with the death of their matriarch and begin to uncover a web of secrets.
Throughout the film, there are hints that the grandmother may have been a witch, and it is revealed that she had tried to put people into Annie’s deceased brother.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the Graham family is just a pawn in a coven’s plan to summon one of the eight kings of Hell, Paimon.
The movie ends with Peter becoming possessed by Paimon and the family treehouse being transformed into a site of demonic rituals and decapitated corpses.
Overall, “Hereditary” delivers a shocking and disturbing twist that sets it apart from other Horror movies.
6. Identity (2003)
- Release date: April 25, 2003
- Director: James Mangold
- Box office: 90.3 million USD
- Budget: 28 million USD
if you can’t tell by now there are no real crowd pleasers on this list it’s not that type of list but if you’re having trouble finding something on this list that is for you then identity might be right up your alley.
This is the closest thing to something that was made for a broad audience yet it’s still really twisted additionally it’s got a great cast.
John Cusack rays Liotta Amanda Pete john Hawkes Alfred Molina and a bunch of character actors that you’re going to recognize.
But this movie is about a bunch of strangers that meet up at a remote desert motel weird things start happening people start getting knocked off nobody knows what’s going on neither will you and that is the fun of this movie.
The basic sort of murder mystery the lights went out someone killed the butler what do we do next?
It’s that type of movie yet it can be terrifying at moments it’s intense at moments it’s got twisted elements to it.
It is a fun ride especially if you’ve never seen it if you have a little bit of the magic will be taken away.
Because you know what’s going on but if you don’t this is a really fun movie to watch especially if you’re maybe younger this one came out in 2003.
It was popular when it was released but time is kind of forgotten so if you’ve never seen it I highly recommend it.
5. Boss Level (2020)
- Release date: February 11, 2020
- Director: Joe Carnahan
- Box office: 2 million USD
- Budget: 45 million USD
Now the newest and most action-packed movie on this list is actually a Hulu original because all the movie theaters in the world were closed so it couldn’t come out in theaters.
But that is boss level this is from the same director as smoke and Ace the a-team it is just a fun wild ride the concept for this is essentially groundhog day frank Grillo wakes up every day.
He’s got to fight the same bad guys a bunch of people is trying to kill him to me this one felt a lot like a video game they even put some sound effects and some things in there to sort of elevate.
This Concept fans of movies like Deadpool should definitely check out boss level to me it’s one of the coolest things that they released during the pandemic.
And if you’re thinking well I’ve seen a bunch of movies worse basically groundhog day tom cruise did one that was science fiction, okay this one handles it differently enough to make it interesting and different.
4. Interstellar (2014)
- Release date: October 26, 2014
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Box office: 701.7 million USD
- Budget: 165 million USD
“Interstellar” is a science fiction film that explores the idea of humankind searching for a new home in the far reaches of the galaxy.
The movie was co-written, directed, and produced by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan and was a major success in 2014, earning five Academy Award nominations and winning one.
The film is set in a dystopian future where climate change, resource depletion, and natural disasters have made it difficult for humans to survive on Earth. In this world, NASA is tasked with finding a new home for humanity.
The story follows a group of astronauts who travel through a wormhole near Saturn to survey different planets as potential homes for humanity.
When they return to Earth, they find that time has passed differently for them than for their family and loved ones. “Interstellar” presents a thought-provoking vision of the future and the challenges humanity may face as it searches for a new home.
3. The Ninth Gate (1999)
- Release date: August 25, 1999
- Director: Roman Polanski
- Box office: 58.4 million USD
- Budget: 38 million USD
All right this is a mind-bending list The Ninth Gate comes in at number two this starts with johnny Depp it’s from the mid-90s it’s fairly long but it’s very well done in this movie.
Johnny Depp plays a book dealer who is searching for these demonic texts fairly simple stuff to start off with but he gets sucked down into this very conspiratorial supernatural kind of rabbit hole.
Now I would not call this movie a supernatural movie this is a very sort of grounded type of movie it feels like it takes place in our world but he does get sucked into this cultish weird thing.
And it is a mystery movie weird things happen along the way and the movie will reveal itself along the way like a lot of these on this list.
It’s got heavy heavy mystery tones and I loved it for that other one that was popular when it came out but it’s been over 20 years and time has kind of forgotten.
If it’s been a while since you’ve seen it or you’ve never seen it and you like dark twisted mystery-type stuff this one’s going to be right up your alley.
2. Vanilla Sky (2001)
- Release date: December 10, 2001
- Director: Cameron Crowe
- Box office: 203.4 million USD
- Budget: 68 million USD
My number one pick is very different from everything else on this list but it fits the mold for a mind-bending movie it’s my favorite one out of everything on here and it’s also the longest.
It’s about one minute longer than the ninth gate and that is vanilla sky starring tom cruise Penelope Cruz Cameron Diaz Jason lee and Kurt Russell.
This is directed by Cameron Crowe who also directed almost famous jerry Maguire people go nuts for those movies they’re good movies but personally, I like the vanilla sky.
One of the things I like about it is that it’s got this wild twisted element to it that you’re not gonna find out about for quite a while and that’s okay because everything else that you experience.
Along the way is fairly dry and simple compared to what the movie’s going to reveal to you but it’s still interesting enough that tom cruise does a great job the characters are great.
The story is really compelling when it feels grounded and then when it sort of takes off and leaves our reality it’s just this incredible surprise and its trippy stuff along the way.
1. Inception (2010)
- Release date: September 11, 2010
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Box office: 836.8 million USD
- Budget: 160 million USD
“Inception” is a science fiction action thriller that is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Christopher Nolan’s filmography.
It was a major success with both audiences and critics, earning four Academy Awards and receiving four more nominations, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
The movie is set in a future where corporate espionage involves hacking into people’s dreams to steal valuable information. Cobb and his team are a group of illegal hackers who use advanced military technology to extract this information.
They are recruited to attempt a risky new technique: planting an idea in the mind of a target by creating a multi-layered dream scenario in which each team member has a specific role to play.
As Cobb tries to pull off this feat in a complex dream, the movie ends with an open ending that is open to interpretation. It is not clear if the illusion has ended or not, leaving the audience to decide for themselves.
“Inception” is a thought-provoking and thrilling film that explores the power of the mind and the blurred lines between reality and illusion.
What is the most mind-boggling movie?
- “Inception” – a science fiction action thriller about a team of hackers who enter people’s dreams to steal valuable information.
- “Interstellar” – is a science fiction film about a group of astronauts who travel through a wormhole to find a new home for humanity.
- “The Butterfly Effect” – is a science fiction film about a man who can travel back in time and alter events by reading his journals.
- “Ex Machina” – is a science fiction thriller about a programmer who is invited to administer the Turing test to a highly advanced humanoid robot.
- “Arrival” – a science fiction drama about a linguist who is recruited to communicate with aliens who have arrived on Earth.
What is the movie with the most significant plot twist?
Movies that are known for their plot twists include “Hereditary,” “Interstellar,” “Boss Level,” and “She Dies Tomorrow.” These films all feature unexpected revelations that change the way the story is understood and add new layers of complexity to the plot.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “best mind-bending movies” refers to films that challenge the viewer’s perception of reality, space, time, and other concepts.
These movies can be highly entertaining and engaging, and there are many excellent examples available to watch on Netflix and other platforms.
Whether you’re a seasoned fan of mind-bending movies or new to this type of storytelling, there’s something for everyone in this diverse and exciting genre.
These movies are very intresting I will watch them definatly.