Psychedelics can open you up to other dimensions, inspiring you to contemplate the nature of space, time, and reality. But sometimes, all you need to accomplish the same thing is a fun, philosophical movie.
Relax with one of these films when you’re ready for a trip around the universe — one you can easily come back from after two hours.
Soul
A man’s soul accidentally ends up in the body of a cat, and he has to find a way to get the right souls back into the right bodies. In the process, he discovers a place beyond the Earth where souls prepare to be born. This movie’s creative rendering of the afterlife and before-life will inspire speculations about what exists beyond this realm.
Melancholia
A planet is about to collide with the Earth and destroy it while two sisters attempt to live their lives before the inevitable occurs. But the trippiest part of the movie is the artistic dream sequence at the beginning.
Good Night Oppy
This documentary follows the Mars Rover vehicle as it explores the red planet in a way that actually makes you identify with the machine. Meanwhile, you get some new facts to help you decide whether there’s life (or spiders) on Mars.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
A woman realizes she’s living in but one of many parallel universes. To defeat dark forces threatening to destroy the multiverse, she must call upon alternate versions of herself from other realities. Perfect for viewers who like to speculate about the implications of quantum physics.
The Truman Show
Ever wonder if your whole life is just an elaborate TV show? Jim Carrey brings this question to life when he realizes that this is exactly his situation. Contemplate the nature of reality while having a good laugh.
A Glitch in the Matrix
A documentary exploring the same theme. Filmmaker Rodney Ascher interviews proponents of the belief that we’re all living in a simulation. It turns dark as he speaks to a man who committed murder under the belief that the people around him were part of the Matrix.
Waking Life
In this abstract and non-linear film, cartoon characters debate where the line between dreams and reality is, as well as how to experience a lucid dream, where you’re aware you’re dreaming, and use these dreams to your advantage. It’s deep but also charmingly lighthearted.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Is it possible to erase memories from your brain? And if you manage to forget about a certain person, will they be out of your life for good? This movie explores these questions with artistic visuals and an endearing love story.
A. I. Artificial Intelligence
The possibility of machine consciousness that this film explores is even more relevant today, as AI becomes increasingly advanced. The story — about a robot boy with real feelings — is touching, and the scenery is captivating.
