From rom-coms to horror films
This iconic South Korean neo-noir thriller film tells the story of a man held captive for no apparent reason for years, who is then released with a phone, money, and expensive clothes, as well as the mission to find his captor.
A handful of strangers, a musty motel, and a mysterious killer is only half the piece of James Mangold's puzzle, based on an Agatha Christie tale—the key to which lies in the third act.
David Fincher's fantasy romantic drama follows a man (Brad Pitt) who ages backwards and the relationship he maintains with a woman (Cate Blanchett).
David Lynch's surrealist neo-noir mystery isn't like other films where if you watch closely enough you can explain the mystery. Instead, you have to be willing to see it from farther away to really appreciate it.
Christopher Nolan bends time and explores consciousness in this cerebral spectacle centered on the placement of an idea into a character's subconscious. The big unanswered question at the end is always fun to discuss.
A must-see for fans of 'Parasite,' Bong Joon-Ho's 'Snowpiercer' takes place entirely on a train traveling through Earth's second Ice Age. Of course, the other-worldly train is laden with metaphors of the class struggle.
Denis Villeneuve's psychological thriller is a myriad of confusing plot and surreal twists as a professor discovers his doppelgänger who's intent on taking over his life. It has a twist ending that will keep you busy for a long time.
The Safdie Brothers are extremely skilled in anxiety, and this film is particularly gripping as Robert Pattinson's character catapults himself into a night of violence and mayhem, with twists and turns that are beyond stressful.
Yorgos Lanthimos's thriller about a controlling father who keeps his three grown offspring in a state of perpetual childhood by keeping them prisoner within the family compound is quite the ride.
This South Korean psychological mystery, based on the short story 'Barn Burning' from Haruki Murakami, follows newly reacquainted childhood friends and a peculiar third figure with a very distinct hobby.
This British dystopian romantic tragedy, based on Kazuo Ishiguro's 2005 novel, presents a haunting alternative history starring Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Keira Knightley, which is sure to leave you questioning the idea of fate.
Yorgos Lanthimos's absurdist black comedy is set in a dystopian society wherein single people must find a mate within 45 days or be transformed into an animal of their choice, and somehow it's even more mind-bending than that.
Christopher Nolan's recreation of the World War II evacuation of Dunkirk takes the shape of a psychological thriller with a narrative fractured across three overlapping timelines.
The American remake of this psychological mystery is 2001's 'Vanilla Sky,' but Alejandro Amenábar's original is unmatched in the way its airtight script contains far-flung twists.
Gaspar Noé's psychedelic tour of life after death is seen entirely from the point of view of a young drug dealer who dies, but who remains the point of view as his spirit journeys from past to present to future.
Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi masterpiece has always been polarizing, as it confused some while fascinated others. It's set in the future but examines the very present human nature.
Darren Aronofsky's psychological thriller is a wild ride complete with a haunting performance by Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, as well as a positively befuddling ending that people can't seem to agree upon.
Charlie Kaufman's debut film has been lauded by many as a masterpiece, though always coupled with the acknowledgment that it's not for everyone. It's strange, sad, phantasmagoric, and philosophical.
David Fincher's cult classic is notorious for its twist, which changes how you view the entire plot.
Martin Scorsese's twisted neo-noir psychological thriller with his favorite actor Leonardo DiCaprio avoids becoming an art-house enigma but ends with a stunning plot twist that leaves room for big questions.
Jordan Peele's directorial debut about a Black man who decides to visit his white girlfriend's parents during a weekend getaway gets increasingly freaky and is laden with clever symbolism.
Set in the future, with Jared Leto as the last mortal human on Earth, the tangled narrative of the film turns upon retrospection and alternate realities.
This visually dazzling puzzle of a film follows a secret agent as he embarks on a dangerous, time-bending mission to prevent the start of World War III.
Richard Kelly's dense and dreamy mix of '80s high school drama, wormhole tunnels, and sinister rabbit men make for one of the most unique films ever made. The best part is that the puzzle actually has a satisfying end!
As VR and AR (Virtual and Augmented Reality) become more prevalent, this film about a hacker learning about the true nature of his reality and its controllers becomes ever more fascinating with time.
Though outdoor adventure has become limited amid pandemic, there lies infinite adventure awaiting inside the complex confines of our minds! Various brilliant films have posed huge questions, elicited conflicting interpretations, and have stayed with their audiences for years because of it.
If a fundamental questioning of reality isn’t your cup of tea, then at the very least these films and their twisting plots are the perfect material for connection and conversation with other people. Christopher Nolan is obviously a mainstay in this genre, but his film ‘Tenet’ caused a stir as some viewers argue it might just be too complex to enjoy.
If you love a challenge, click through to see some of the greatest mind-bending movies around.
The most thought-provoking movies ever made
What better way to kill time than questioning the fabric of reality?
MOVIES What to watch
Though outdoor adventure has become limited amid pandemic, there lies infinite adventure awaiting inside the complex confines of our minds! Various brilliant films have posed huge questions, elicited conflicting interpretations, and have stayed with their audiences for years because of it.
If a fundamental questioning of reality isn’t your cup of tea, then at the very least these films and their twisting plots are the perfect material for connection and conversation with other people. Christopher Nolan is obviously a mainstay in this genre, but his film ‘Tenet’ caused a stir as some viewers argue it might just be too complex to enjoy.
If you love a challenge, click through to see some of the greatest mind-bending movies around.