Movies can be captivating and awe-inspiring, loved for their ability to transport viewers to far-off lands; often, movies can even elicit a sense of escapism from the negative parts of everyday life. Modern technology and CGI have made it easier than ever for film creators to bend reality and bring elements of fantasy andscience fictionto life. However, some movies, instead, play with our expectations, warping and twisting reality as we know it to bring us new stories, characters, and ways of living that would otherwise be impossible… or so we think.
Whether it be virtual reality or an elaborate government conspiracy, some movies can be so convincing with their story that reality itself is brought into question. Today, we’re looking at some of the best examples ofmovies that make us question realitywhile amazing, and at times, scaring us into deep, introspective thought.Spoilers ahead!
Updated September 1st, 2024: This collection of reality-defying films has been updated with additional information, including where to stream each movie featured.
15Mother! (2017)
Starring the talented Jennifer Lawrence,Mother!is an intense psychological thriller. Here, we follow a man named “Him” (Javier Bardem) and his wife named “Mother.” One night, the couple hears a knock on their door and, upon opening it, welcome a man and his wife into their home. This ultimately causes a series of chaotic events to unfold.
Hard to Follow At First
The story itself is, at times, confusing and thought-provoking; the characters don’t even have real names and instead, go by words like “Man” and “Woman.” Viewers are on the edge of their seats, watching in dismay as the world around Mother falls apart and reshapes itself into unimaginable horrors. By the end, when everything seems to reset back to the beginning, you’re left to piece together the true meaning of this dream-like film.StreamMother!on Pluto TV.
14Pleasantville (1998)
Pleasantvillefollows two teen siblings, David (Tobey Maguire) and Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon), as they are thrust into the on-screen world of the classic TV show called Pleasantville. David, who is a longtime fan of the show, is able to navigate the world with respect to its original script, maintaining the innocent, happy lifestyle that was meant to be. However, his sister Jennifer begins introducing the town to the realities of life, including sex, art, and unhappy emotions like anger.
What Makes Reality Real?
Though Pleasantville is a fictional town, the two teens ultimately bring the fantasy land to life andspread color throughout the once-black-and-white town. In the end, viewers are left to reflect on the significance of fictional characters as they watch a fake world come to life. It begs the question: What makes reality real? The film would mark the final on-screen performances of both Don Knotts and J. T. Walsh, with the film being dedicated to the latter’s memory.Buy or RentPleasantvilleon Prime Video.
13Shutter Island (2010)
Shutter Islandis one of the ultimate psychological thrillers. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Teddy Daniels,Shutter Islandfollows two detectives as they attempt to solve a cold case originating from the Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane. While Teddy inches closer and closer to the truth, his mind starts to fall apart, leading to hallucinations and revelations that will change his life forever. Mark Ruffalo and Ben Kingsley co-star as Chuck Aule and Dr. Cawley, respectively.
Was It All a Dream?
Viewers eventually come to learnin the film’s endingthat Teddy might actually be the infamous Andrew Laeddis, an arsonist who took his wife’s life. However, the anticipation that builds into this discovery is nothing short of palpable. Each scene leaves viewers questioning what is real and what is simply delusion. The film is filled with contradictions that help warp the audience’s perceptions of the main character, building to an ambiguous ending that’ll leave you scrambling for the truth.StreamShutter Islandon Fubo TV.
12Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
Jacob’s Laddertells the story of a US army veteran named Jacob (Tim Robbins) as he returns from his time in combat. From the moment he re-enters society, he is plagued by intense hallucinations, many of which involve seeing demons and nearly being run over by oncoming traffic. The distinct visual style, the metaphysical narrative, and the reliance on dreamlike storytelling would go on to influence dozens of other productions in the coming years, namely the prolificSilent Hillfranchise.
An Incredibly Influential Mystery
Viewers learn that Jacob is utterly tormented by the death of his son and is experiencing some form of dissociation after being given a new type of drug. At least, that’s what we’re supposed to believe, right? You’ll watch in horror as Jacob is tortured by his own psyche and falls deeper into delusion, precariously balancing genuine intrigue andterrifying practical effectsin equal measure. It’s all carried by a terrific performance from Tim Robbins, who would later win an Academy Award for his role inMystic River.StreamJacob’s Ladderon Paramount+.
11The Sixth Sense (1999)
Best known for its incredible twist ending,The Sixth Sensecreatively explores the afterlife and suggests that our spirits often linger, without knowing that we have died. Here, we follow a young boy, Cole (Haley Joel Osment), as he works with a renowned child psychologist named Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) to understand his unique ability to communicate with the dead. Toni Collette co-stars as Lynn, Cole’s Mother, in one of her earliest breakout performances.
Cole’s ability to see dead people suggests that the living and the deceased are not as separated as many tend to think; in fact, the dead are shown walking about, acting as if they are completely normal and unfazed by their circumstances. Of course, it’s eventually revealed in the iconic twist that Crowe was a spirit himself, with the film fundamentally changing upon a rewatch. For better or worse, the film would come to define director M. Night Shyamalan’s career, as many of his subsequent movies would attempt to recapture the magic found in this incredible breakout feature.StreamThe Sixth Senseon Max.
10Inception (2010)
Inceptionexplores the complex nature of dreaming. Here, we follow protagonistDom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio)as he attempts to infiltrate the mind of a business competitor and subconsciously convince him to give up his company. However, the task seems nearly impossible and extremely dangerous. One wrong move could send the dream infiltrators into an endless limbo, a state between reality and the subconscious.
Layers Upon Layers of Dreams
The hazy, dream-like nature of the entire film adds both a sense of wonder and intensity. Watching the characters move through their target’s psyche is perplexing, and suggests that anyone’s mind can be infiltrated with the correct technology. The subject of its ending, and whether Cobb successfully escaped the dream world or not, is purposefully left ambiguous as well. It’s arguably one of the most iconic sci-fi films of the early 2010s, later going on to be parodied and referenced in countless works since.Buy or RentInceptionon Apple TV.
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9The Truman Show (1998)
The Truman Showis a haunting tale about supervision and the invasion of privacy. Here, we follow the titular Truman (Jim Carrey) as he comes to realize that his reality is completely made up. In fact, Truman’s entire life has been broadcast to viewers around the world, all without his knowledge or consent. Truman is kept in a small bubble that is designed to look like the real world, but is closely monitored by TV executives and actors posing as his friends and family. Upon discovering this, Trumanundergoes an existential crisis.
Good Afternoon, Good Evening, and Good Night
Though it was released in 1998, the central messages of the film still ring true today. Like Truman, people in the age of technology are concerned about their privacy, especially with the rise of the internet and social media. Truman’s life is manufactured by those around him, fit to be toyed with by those who want to see him succeed or fail. It is more important now than ever before to protect yourself from exploitation, something that Truman must come to terms with throughout the film as well.StreamThe Truman Showon Paramount+.
8Vanilla Sky (2001)
Vanilla Skyintertwines romance and science fiction. Here, we followDavid (Tom Cruise), a business executive who falls in love with a woman named Sofia (Penélope Cruz). When his current love interest, Julie (Cameron Diaz), finds out about his indiscretions, she purposely commits suicide via a deadly car crash, disfiguring David in the process. After the tragic event, David begins to heal with the help of a prosthetic mask, but he soon starts to question his current reality.
Plays With Your Perception
Being a remake ofOpen Your Eyes, a 1997 movie by Alejandro Amenábar, you may expect a polarizing yet unsettling twist. What viewers later realize is that David had been willingly put into a dreamlike state for years, awaiting the discovery of a medical cure that would reconstruct his face. His entire reality, including the life he created with the woman he loved, was a hallucination. In the end, David must make the choice between leaving the elaborate dreamscape or returning to reality. It’s a terrifying decision to make, leaving you to wonder if reality is nothing more than just a perceptive fabrication.StreamVanilla Skyon Paramount+.
7Black Swan (2010)
Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis shine as professional ballerinas in the 2010 filmBlack Swan. The story follows Nina (Portman), a dancer and perfectionist, as she prepares for the lead role in the famous ballet called Swan Lake. The lead ballerina must master the styles of both the white and black swan to excel in this role, but Nina ultimately struggles tochannel her inner dark side. Nina is eventually overcome with anxiety, cracking under the intense pressure of the lead role as another ballerina, Lily (Kunis), aims to take her place.
Stress Affecting Reality
Viewers watch as her psyche begins to deteriorate, with each scene getting stranger and scarier. The film is dark and twisted, leaving many viewers scratching their heads wondering what parts are real or just a figment of Nina’s warped imagination. It’s just as interesting as a character study as well as a psychological horror film, with Nina’s intense stress and paranoia slowly warping her perception of what’s really going on. Natalie Portman would later go on to win Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her performance.StreamBlack Swanon Max.
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6Persona (1966)
Personamay be the oldest entry on this list, but it’s also one of the most jarring. In this 1966 flickby acclaimed filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, a woman named Elisabet (Liv Ullmann) appears to have a mental breakdown, opting to go completely mute and motionless. She is sent to recover in peace at a cottage by the water, accompanied only by a nurse named Alma (Bibi Andersson).
An Oldie But a Goodie
As the two grow closer, the lines between the two begin to blur. Alma feels connected to Elisabet, so much so that the two are suggested to be the same person. Likewise, you could also draw the conclusion that either character isn’t really tangibly there. While there’s no clear conclusion to be drawn, the film was nothing short of engaging, drawing universal praise and a plethora of varied interpretations. It’s shocking, experimental, and sure to have viewers on the edge of their seats throughout its entire run.StreamPersonaon Max.
