Trippy Movies Like Inception
People are drawn to trippy movies like Inception that make them think deeply about the plot, even if it means alienating the mainstream audience. Inception is one of those movies. It’s a complex and mind-bending film that requires multiple viewings to fully understand. But that’s part of its appeal. It’s a movie that you can watch over and over again and still find new things to think about.
There’s something about a mind-bending movie that just keeps you coming back for more. Inception, The Fountain, Trainspotting, and Requiem for a Dream are all examples of movies that make you think deeply about the plot, at the risk of alienating the mainstream audience. But what is it about these movies that keep us coming back for more?
Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” is a 1998 film adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s 1971 novel of the same name. The film was directed by Terry Gilliam and stars Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke, a journalist and Thompson’s alter ego, and Benicio del Toro as Dr. Gonzo, Duke’s lawyer and sidekick.
The plot follows Duke and Gonzo as they travel to Las Vegas for a series of psychedelic adventures. Along the way, they encounter a variety of colorful characters, including a hitchhiking hippie, a drug-addled hotel clerk, and a wealthy entrepreneur.
As they indulge in a series of wild and reckless behaviors, Duke and Gonzo struggle to maintain a semblance of control over their lives. The film is notable for its frenetic pace and stylized visuals, as well as its depiction of the excesses of the counterculture of the 1960s.
In terms of its impact on pop culture, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” has become a cult classic and has influenced a number of other works, including the video game “Fallout: New Vegas” and the TV show “Breaking Bad.” Depp’s portrayal of Duke has also been widely praised and has helped to solidify his reputation as a versatile and unconventional actor.
Memento (2000)
Memento is one of those films that is just as confusing the second time around as it is the first. The plot revolves around a man named Leonard (Guy Pearce) who suffers from anterograde amnesia, meaning he can’t create new memories. He uses Polaroids and tattoos to keep track of people and events in his life, and he’s on a mission to find the man who killed his wife.
The film is told in a non-linear fashion, which only adds to the confusion. But that’s what makes Memento so great. It’s a puzzle that you can’t quite figure out, and it’s one that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it.
The Fountain (2006)
The Fountain is a film that is equal parts beautiful and heartbreaking. It tells the story of a man (Hugh Jackman) who is trying to find a cure for his wife’s (Rachel Weisz) cancer. At the same time, he is also trying to find the legendary Tree of Life, which is said to have the power to grant eternal life. The Fountain is a film that is about love, loss, and hope. It’s a visually stunning film that will stay with you long after seeing it.
The Prestige (2006)
If you haven’t seen The Prestige yet, you’re missing out on one of the best films of the past two decades. The Prestige is a 2006 film directed by Christopher Nolan, and starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, and Michael Caine.
The film is based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Christopher Priest. The Prestige tells the story of two rival magicians in the late 1800s, Robert Angier (Bale) and Alfred Borden (Jackman). The two men are friends as well as rivals, and their rivalry eventually leads to tragedy.
The film is a masterpiece of suspense and intrigue and is one of the most visually stunning films you’ll ever see. The acting is top-notch, and the story is truly captivating. If you’re a fan of Christopher Nolan’s other work, or if you’re just a fan of great films, you owe it to yourself to see The Prestige.
Tenet (2020)
In Christopher Nolan’s new film Tenet, the director offers up a mind-bending thriller that is equal parts cerebral and action-packed. The film follows the Protagonist (John David Washington), a secret agent who is recruited into a world-saving mission that involves time travel.
As the Protagonist works to prevent a future catastrophe, he must grapple with the complex mechanics of time in order to succeed. Tenet is a film that is both cerebral and action-packed. The story follows the Protagonist, a secret agent who is recruited into a world-saving mission that involves time travel. As the Protagonist works to prevent a future catastrophe, he must grapple with the complex mechanics of time in order to succeed.
The film’s time-bending premise is executed with precision by Nolan and his team. The action is thrilling and the stakes are high. But it is the film’s exploration of the nature of time that makes it truly unique. Tenet is a film that will leave audiences thinking long after the credits have rolled. It is a masterful work by a director at the top of his game.
Inception (2010)
“Inception” is a 2010 science fiction film written, co-produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan, and co-produced by Emma Thomas. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a professional thief who steals information by infiltrating the subconscious and is offered a chance to have his criminal history erased as payment for the implantation of another person’s idea into a target’s subconscious.
The film’s conception began after Nolan wrote an 80-page treatment about dream-stealers. Nolan used DiCaprio’s character’s “theft” of information from a target’s subconscious as the film’s central plot device and was inspired by the work of Inception author and researcher Sigmund Freud. Nolan wanted to make a “heist movie set within the architecture of the mind”, and used dream theory to structure the film.
“Inception” was filmed in six countries and employed a cast and crew of over 3,500 people. It was Nolan’s first film to be shot entirely in digital IMAX. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won four: Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Score.
The Cell (2000)
The Cell is a 2000 American science fiction psychological thriller film directed by Tarsem Singh and starring Jennifer Lopez, Vince Vaughn, and Vincent D’Onofrio.
The film follows the FBI’s search for a missing child, who they believe has been abducted and taken to an underground lair. The film was produced by New Line Cinema and released on August 18, 2000. The Cell was generally well-received by critics.
The Cell is a visually arresting psychological thriller that benefits greatly from Jennifer Lopez’s strong performance.” Metacritic gives the film a score of 63 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating “generally favorable reviews”. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.
Pans Labyrinth (2006)
When Pan’s Labyrinth was first released in 2006, it was met with critical acclaim and quickly became a cult classic. The story, set in Spain during the Franco regime, follows a young girl named Ofelia who discovers a magical world beneath a tree in her backyard. Ofelia’s journey into this world, known as the Labyrinth, is a dangerous one, and she must face challenges that test her courage and strength. But with the help of a friendly faun named Pan, Ofelia may just find the key to saving her family and defeating the evil Captain Vidal.
Pan’s Labyrinth is a visually stunning film that is as dark as it is beautiful. Guillermo del Toro’s direction is masterful, and the film’s cast, led by Ivana Baquero, Maribel Verdú, and Sergi López, is superb. If you haven’t seen Pan’s Labyrinth, I highly recommend it. It’s a film that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Big Lebowski is a 1998 American crime comedy film written, produced, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It stars Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, a Los Angeles slacker and amateur bowler who is mistaken for Jeffrey Lebowski, a wealthy businessman, after a case of mistaken identity. The story develops from this premise and revolves around themes of friendship, betrayal, greed, and laziness.
The film is loosely inspired by the work of Raymond Chandler and features several references to Chandler’s novel The Big Sleep. Joel Coen has said that he and Ethan “were trying to do a Chandler kind of story” and that the film’s genre is “a loose adaptation of a Chandler kind of story, a crime story”. The original score was composed by Carter Burwell, and the Coens’ longtime collaborator Roger Deakins served as the cinematographer.
The Big Lebowski was a commercial and critical success and is now regarded as one of the Coen brothers’ best films. It is also considered one of the greatest films of the 1990s. In 2014, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, being deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Requiem for a Dream is a 2000 American psychological drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans. The film is based on the 1978 novel of the same name by Hubert Selby Jr., with whom Aronofsky wrote the screenplay. It tells the story of four characters whose lives are ravaged by drug addiction: Harry Goldfarb (Leto), his girlfriend Marion Silver (Connelly), his mother Sara Goldfarb (Burstyn), and his friend Tyrone C. Love (Wayans).
The film depicts their journeys through addiction and how it destroys their lives. Aronofsky’s direction borrows heavily from the documentary style, and he frequently uses handheld cameras to create a sense of intimacy with his subjects. The film is also notable for its innovative use of split-screen imagery and its extensive use of slow motion.
Requiem for a Dream received mixed reviews from critics, but was a commercial success, grossing $7.3 million against its $4.5 million budget. It was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Actress (Burstyn), Best Supporting Actor (Leto), and Best Editing (Mathilde Bonnefoy).
Trainspotting (1996)
Trainspotting is a 1996 British black comedy-drama film directed by Danny Boyle, based on the novel of the same name by Irvine Welsh. The film follows a group of heroin addicts in the late 1980s in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The film stars Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly Macdonald in her film debut. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 23 February 1996.
Trainspotting is one of the most controversial films of the past few years. It’s a story about heroin addiction in Scotland, told through the eyes of a group of young people. The film has been praised for its realistic portrayal of addiction, and its willingness to show the dark side of drug use. It’s also been criticized for its graphic depictions of drug use and violence.
Trainspotting was a critical and commercial success, grossing $72 million worldwide and receiving numerous accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. In 2004, the film was ranked eighth on the British Film Institute’s list of Top 100 British films of all time. In 2017, a poll of 150 actors, directors, writers, producers, and critics for Time Out ranked it the 10th best British film ever.
Interstellar (2014)
Interstellar is a 2014 science fiction film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Christopher Nolan. It stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, and Michael Caine. The film features a group of astronauts who travel through a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity.
Interstellar was filmed in 70 mm IMAX and 35 mm anamorphic formats. It was Nolan’s first film to use IMAX cameras. Interstellar was released on November 7, 2014, in the United States and Canada. The film grossed over $675 million worldwide, making it the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2014.
Scot Pilgrim vs The World (2014)
Scott Pilgrim vs The World is a 2010 action comedy film directed by Edgar Wright, based on the graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O’Malley. It stars Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim, a slacker and bass guitarist who falls in love with Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) but must defeat her seven evil exes in order to date her.
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $47 million against its $85 million budget. It was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and won the Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Canadian Film. Scott Pilgrim is a 23-year-old Canadian slacker and bass guitarist in the rock band Sex Bob-omb. He lives in Toronto with his roommate Wallace Wells (Kieran Culkin).
One day, Scott meets American delivery girl Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) at a party, and he immediately falls in love with her. Scott learns that in order to date Ramona, he must defeat her seven evil exes: Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha), an energetic vegan who uses supernatural powers;
Scott Pilgrim vs The World is a funny, action-packed, and heartwarming film that is sure to please audiences of all ages. If you’re looking for a film that is equal parts entertaining and touching, look no further than Scott Pilgrim vs The World.
Moon (2009)
When I first saw Duncan Jones’ Moon, I was absolutely blown away. It’s a film that somehow managed to be both a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller and a thought-provoking, emotionally resonant character study, all while telling a completely unique and original story. It’s a true masterpiece, and one of the best films of the 21st century.
The film follows Sam Bell (played by the always excellent Sam Rockwell), an astronaut who is nearing the end of his three-year stint mining helium-3 on the far side of the moon. He’s isolated, homesick, and desperate for human contact, but he’s also the only one who knows that something is very wrong with the lunar base’s artificial intelligence system, GERTY.
As Sam’s mental and physical health deteriorates, he starts to see visions of a doppelganger who looks and sounds exactly like him. Is this a product of GERTY’s increasingly erratic behavior, or is Sam going mad? Or is something even more sinister at work?
Moon is a brilliant and suspenseful film that will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s also a deeply moving and human story, with Sam Rockwell giving one of the best performances of his career. If you haven’t seen Moon yet, do yourself a favor and watch it as soon as you can. You won’t be disappointed.
Truman Show (1998)
The Truman Show is a 1998 film directed by Peter Weir and starring Jim Carrey. The film tells the story of Truman Burbank (Carrey), a man who has been raised since birth inside a giant simulated television set. The entire world he knows is fake, and everything he sees is part of a 24-hour-a-day television show that is broadcast around the world.
Truman’s entire life has been carefully scripted and monitored, but he is unaware of this. His friends, family, and even his wife are all actors, and the only people who are not in on the secret are Truman himself and the show’s creator, Christof (Ed Harris).
As Truman begins to suspect that something is not right, he starts to question the reality of his life. He starts to rebel against the controls that have been placed on him, and he sets out to discover the truth about the world he lives in.
The Truman Show is a clever and thought-provoking film that asks questions about the nature of reality and our own perception of it. Carrey gives a great performance as Truman, and the film is full of twists and turns that keep the viewer guessing until the very end.
Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me (1992)
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me is a 1992 film directed by David Lynch and starring Sheryl Lee, Ray Wise, and Kyle MacLachlan. The film is a prequel to the television series Twin Peaks, and it follows the last seven days in the life of Laura Palmer (Lee), a high school student who is murdered.
The film is a dark and disturbing look at the events leading up to Laura’s death, and it is full of the same weird and enigmatic characters and plotlines that made the TV series so popular. Fire Walk With Me is not an easy film to watch, but it is a fascinating and atmospheric journey into the mind of David Lynch.
Mulholland Drive (2001)
Mulholland Drive is a 2001 film directed by David Lynch and starring Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, and Justin Theroux. The film is a surreal and dreamlike mystery that follows Betty Elms (Watts), a young woman who has just arrived in Hollywood to pursue a career in acting.
Betty’s world is turned upside down when she meets Rita (Harring), a beautiful amnesiac who has no memory of who she is or how she got there. Together, the two women set out to discover the truth about Rita’s identity, and they end up getting sucked into a dark and dangerous world of sex, violence, and Hollywood secrets.
Mulholland Drive is a complex and enigmatic film that is open to interpretation. Lynch’s unique vision creates a feeling of unease and dread, and Watts and Harring give great performances as the two women at the center of the mystery.
Mandy (2018)
Mandy is a 2018 film directed by Panos Cosmatos and starring Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, and Linus Roache. The film is set in the early 1980s and follows Red Miller (Cage), a man who is grieving the loss of his girlfriend Mandy Bloom (Riseborough).
Red’s world is turned upside down when he discovers that Mandy has been abducted by a demonic cult led by the evil Jeremiah Sand (Roache). Red sets out on a bloody quest for revenge, and he will stop at nothing to rescue Mandy from the clutches of the cult.
Mandy is a visually stunning and ultra-violent film that is not for the faint of heart. Cage gives a wild and unhinged performance as Red, and the film is packed with surreal and nightmarish visuals that’ll keep you glued to the screen.
Deliverance (1972)
Deliverance is an American thriller film directed by John Boorman and starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox. The film’s narrative revolves around four middle-aged men from Atlanta who embark on a canoe trip through the backwoods of Georgia, only to encounter danger and terror in the form of two backwoods hillbillies.
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $46 million at the worldwide box office and receiving Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. In recent years, the film has been ranked among the greatest thrillers of all time.
Conclusion
Trippy movies like Inception seem to age well in time. They are able to maintain their popularity and generate new fans with each new generation. This is likely due to the fact that these movies offer something unique and different that other movies don’t. They are able to stand the test of time and remain relevant to audiences for many years to come.
Check out some trippy movies on Netflix that are on this list because there is a handful of them. Their library is so vast that most of the movies on this list can be found especially movies like Inception.
