15. Enemy (2013)
Enemy was directed by Denis Villeneuve, starring Jake Gyllenhaal amd it doesn’t follow the traditional linear structure of filmmaking; as soon the movie ends, the viewer is left mind-boggled. Wonderfully acted, this film makes viewers feel the plight of the character. Enemy is a mind-bending, tightly-held psychological thriller that takes its audience into an intense journey filled with surrealism.
14. Mr. Nobody (2009)
Mr. Nobody is a fantasy-drama directed by Jaco Van Dormael. Visually stunning, the movie comes with so many stylistic, tonal and narrative changes that it challenges the audience to pay extremely close attention. Mr. Nobody provides a unique, fresh and profound experience. Along with the brilliant acting, astonishing cinematography and amazing soundtrack. Mr. Nobody leaves the audience with a memorable experience that will stay with them long after they have seen the film.
13. Being John Malkovich (1999)
Directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman, the film is original, beautiful and funny. Cameron Diaz is completely unrecognizable and so is John Cusack, and John Malkovich was presented an interesting opportunity to play himself, which he does by creating a wonderful character. Being John Malkovich is the kind of movie that comes once in a long while and leaves you wanting more.
12. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
One of the most controversial films ever made, A Clockwork Orange grabs you and holds you down in your seat from start to finish. It contains extreme emotions, strangeness, perversity, and brutal violence at its worse. This Kubrick masterpiece was ahead of its time and is still impactful toward today’s society. A Clockwork Orange is by no means a pleasant film, but the perfectionism of Kubrick and Malcolm MacDowell’s amazing portrayal of Alex demands its audience to actually think about the world around them.
11. Cloud Atlas (2012)
Cloud Atlas, a science fiction film directed by Tom Tykwer and The Wachowskis, follows six different timelines that change after every scene. The style and structure of the film makes it a complex and mind-bending film. It comes with a great ensemble cast who all give amazing performance, though some criticize the movie for its over-ambition and too many intertwined characters. Cloud Atlas is part science fiction, part historical drama, part comedy, part romance, giving the audience the experience of enjoying different films within one.
10. The Fountain (2006)
Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain wasn’t appreciated by both the critics and audiences in 2006, but in the coming years it has gained cult following. In this film, Aronofsky rejects the conventional style of storytelling. There can be various understandings of the plot; the beauty of the film lies in its nuance and subtlety that allows the viewers to interpret their own personal perspective. The Fountain is a feast for the eyes with one of the best film scores ever. The plotlines are seamless and visually blend in together creating a unique and somewhat confusing movie experience.
9. Shutter Island (2010)
Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese, is a neo-noir psychological thriller where two US Marshals investigate the disappearance of a murder who escaped from a mental institution for the criminally insane. The film is filled with many twist and turns that might leave the cinemagoer feeling dizzy. Faithfully adapted from a book written by Dennis Lehane, this film beautifully attacks the senses of the audience, leaving them with all the pieces of the puzzle. Shutter Island is a dark film that will make you question your own sanity.
8. Memento (2000)
Memento, written by Jonathan and Christopher Nolan and directed by Christopher Nolan, is an intense, suspenseful, and brilliantly unique thriller. Leonard Shelby, played by Guy Pearce, is a man who can’t form new memories after the murder of his wife. An exceptional achievement in modern day filmmaking, Memento forces the audience to participate in the storytelling as they, like the protagonist, have no idea what going on. It became an instant classic with its revolutionary narrative style and groundbreaking dramatic undertones.
7. Inception (2010)
With Inception, Christopher Nolan created something that blew the audience’s mind away for ages. The movie takes you on a thrill ride with exceptional cinematography, Hans Zimmer’s score is beautiful as ever and all the actors are fantastic as well. Inception has a multi-layered plot that thrusts its audience into multiple levels of an action packed storyline, while also taking them on an emotional journey with the protagonist Cobb. Inception can leave you awestruck with its breathtaking visuals, engaging story, and technical brilliance.
6. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” is a quirky drama mixed with science fiction, with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet giving fantastic performances and showing their wide range as actors. The film dazzles us with complexities of human mind and all its glorious possibilities. Written by the brilliant Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry, the weird narrative combines with an emotional impact that manages to touch the audience’s heart everywhere.
5. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
Jacob’s Ladder, a mystery-drama directed by Adrian Lyne, is disturbing, dark and terrifying, pushing the conventions of modern filmmaking. The magic of the film lies in its eeriness present in both psychological and supernatural levels, and that magic produces an eagerness in audiences to solve the mystery, as we begin to sympathize with Jacob’s character, played to perfection by Tim Robbins. It’s one of those movies that rolls through your mind before giving you a bitter conclusion that turns everything upside down.
4. Fight Club (1999)
Fight Club is a 1999 cult classic directed by David Fincher, starring Ed Norton and Brad Pitt, and based on Chuck Palahniuk’s novel of the same name. Finding somewhat mainstream success now, Fight Club intimately couldn’t find its audience, failing at the box office. The film is dark and disturbing, making bold statements about our consumer-driven society, and its structure is extremely playful as it messes around with linear time to an incredible degree. Fight Club is a cinematic masterpiece as it challenges the status quo and offers a wakeup call to people immersed in this materialistic society.
3. Blade Runner (1982)
Blade Runner is compelling science fiction, as it examines the impact of technology in the nature of human society. It is a timeless classic, with its power coming from its dark deception of futuristic cityscapes and its philosophical themes. The climax wonderfully brings all explored themes in the movie together. Despite a rich theme of science fiction and futurism covering this adventure, there are distinct elements of film noir are present primarily in the bluish haze that the film uses to depict a gritty urban atmosphere. Blade Runner is an impeccable film crafted by a true cinematic visionary, Ridley Scott.
2. Mulholland Drive (2001)
Listed as one of the best films of the 21st century, Mulholland Drive is a masterpiece, and it is best to look at this film thematically rather than as a straightforward narrative. David Lynch wants the audience to draw up their own conclusions, giving them freedom to use their own perspectives. Mulholland Drive is constructed in a way so the meaning will always be open to interpretation. No matter how much experience you have with mind-bending films, comprehending Mulholland Drive will leave you scratching your head and more confused than ever.
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey is a film made with incredible special effects, camera work and set design. This Kubrick masterpiece was way ahead of its time, leaving viewers with a lot of thoughts. 2001 is not just science fiction, but the journey about humanity’s evolution. It has the most infamous transition cut in cinema’s history where it cuts through humans first tool to the most complex tool spaceship. Like all great directors, Kubrick gives his audience the freedom to come up with their own interpretation.