Inception is one of the few mind-bending movies with a twisted, complicated plot that has achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success. Many people doubted whether director Christopher Nolan would succeed in creating a multilayered film set in the dreams and subconscious of its protagonists; however, the film has created a hype from all types of movie viewers.
It is rumored that Christopher Nolan spent almost a decade in planning and creating Inception, and the time and effort have paid off. More and more movie fans are looking for thought provoking, mind bending movies that require an active and constant participation from the viewer in order to, not only follow the plot, but also reach a personal interpretation. These types of movies often require repeated viewings for one to fully grasp the plot, and in many cases, like with Inception, the ending of the film is left open to personal interpretation.
The Best Mind Bending and Thought Provoking Movies Rankings
New fans of mind bending movies do not have to wait for the release of Nolan's new movie, rumored to be the final installment of the Batman series, as they can watch gems such as ground-breaking Memento, The Prestige, and Insomnia. This author's personal list of the best mind bending, thought provoking movies include two Christopher Nolan movies. Ratings by the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) are also presented.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind explores the possibility of erasing painful memories from the mind as well as the power of destiny in everyday life. This film is also an example of how history tends to repeat itself against the will of its participants. Good performances from Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are a plus; but the real hook of this thought provoking movie is that it keeps you guessing for the first half of the movie what is really going on in the protagonists' relationship. IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
The Prestige (Christopher Nolan, 2006)
At a first glance, the story behind The Prestige does not seem complicated: two rival magicians strive to find the perfect magic trick, with their rivalry fueled by memories of a personal tragedy. As the story evolves and both magicians seem to find the awe-inspiring trick that will surprise audiences, we are left to wonder which trick is real and which one isn't. Excellent performances from Michael Caine, Hugh Jackman, and Christian Bale make this mind bending movie a must see for Christopher Nolan fans. IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
Moon (Duncan Jones, 2009)
Moon is exactly the type of movie that will make the viewer think and re-visiting past scenes in order to find clues that will explain the plot. Moon is a ground-breaking, thought provoking film with one actor (Sam Bell) in a single setting: a lunar station. The story is about an astronaut working for a company that mines an energy source from the surface of the moon. Apparently, he is the only human being there and has a two-year shift that is about to end; however, one day he finds out that an accident has occurred in a lunar vehicle, and when he approaches the wreck he discovers that the passenger of the vehicle is none other than himself. IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Fight Club (David Fincher, 1999)
Fight Club is a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film. Based on the Chuck Palahniuk novel, the film is about an ordinary man (Edward Norton) who is tired of his boring and depressing life. He meets a soap salesman (Brad Pitt) who introduces him into a dark but thrilling world of underground fights and crime. This thought-provoking movie explores the theme of multiple personality disorder and has a thrilling climax that is worth watching. IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
Twelve Monkeys (Terry Gilliam, 1995)
Twelve Monkeys is a mind-bending, twisted thriller about a future where survivors of a viral epidemic that has decimated Earth's population have to resort to living underground. Most of the action, however, is set before the epidemic occurred, as a convict (Bruce Willis) is sent through a time machine to the past in order to find out who planned the viral attack. This thought provoking film is full of false leads and leaves viewers wondering about time-travel paradoxes. IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Mullholand Drive (David Lynch, 2001)
Mullholand Drive is a dark, sexy, movie that demands the viewer to think and pay attention to detail in order to put pieces of a puzzle together. The plot of this mind bending movie apparently centers around two women: an aspiring actress (Naomi Watts) and an amnesiac who does not remember who she is. (Laura Harring) The two femmes embark on a journey around LA to find out what happened to the amnesiac. This film is not recommended for people looking for an easy to follow plot; however, an engaged viewing can be very rewarding. IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Memento (Christopher Nolan, 2000)
Many fans consider Memento to be Christopher Nolan's masterpiece, and it is no surprise considering how absorbing and mind bending the movie is. Memento requires engaged viewing and putting pieces of a complex, non-linear plot together, as the film goes in reverse chronological order.
The plot is about a man (Guy Pearce) who has been the victim of a crime and, as a result, has a short-term amnesia that prevents him from remembering things that happened after the accident. The character resorts to tattooing information all over his body to help him remember clues to the crime and his motive. As the film's flashbacks progress and shed the truth behind the crime, a shocking finale awaits viewers of this thought provoking movie. IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly, 2001)
It is difficult to classify a movie that is thrilling, funny, disturbing, touching, and mind-bending at the same time, and this is why Donnie Darko has achieved a cult status. Richard Kelly's debut film about a troubled teenager (Jake Gyllenhaal) who is not sure whether he is crazy or the world is going to end unless he does something about it. This thought provoking film explores themes such as time-travel, parallel universes, loneliness, teenage romance, and sacrifice. Donnie Darko's climatic ending leaves the viewer with no option but to form his/her own interpretation. IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
Reference
- The Internet Movie Database, accessed September 2, 2010.
Andres Hernandez - Andres Hernandez-Rodriguez is a chemical engineer, born in Mexico City in 1979. He worked for a chemical products company as a Research ...
