When it comes to complex, confusing movies, most people talk about Inception, Shutter Island, Interstellar, Prestige, etc. While these movies are worth a watch, there are a bunch of other confounding films that will most likely give you a headache. 

So, grab your coke and serve your popcorn as here are 10 movies that will surely make you think over and over again. 

2001: A Space Odyssey

Directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on Arthur C. Clarke’s novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey is reviewed as a classic piece of movie production. It is a 1968 epic science fiction film that focuses on a revolutionary supercomputer that seeks a mysterious monolith. 

But its long, dialogue-deficit scenes, glacially-slow pace, and trippy visuals can feel impenetrable to some. And what’s more baffling is the movie’s ending, where the astronaut scoots through the psychedelic color kaleidoscope and is then transformed into a giant baby. 

Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko is the story of a weird teenager Donnie, and Frank, a figure in a bunny costume only Donnie can see. Frank informs Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. And the movie portrays the events that happen until the declared date of destruction. 

The movie demonstrates a twisty, time travel plot that is rather easier to follow, but the film will still give you a run for your money. If you’re looking for a movie that plays around with your brain, check out this cult classic. 

Memento

Memento takes you into the life of Leonard Shelby, an insurance investigator who suffers from anterograde amnesia (loss of ability to create new memories). The only thing he remembers is his wife’s murder, and he uses tattoos and notes to hunt for the man he thinks raped and killed his wife. 

Directed by Christopher Nolan (a name that needs no introduction), the movie has a great plot, but it does not lend itself to a clear narrative. Besides, the story is told in a chronological order, which makes things worse. 

Eraserhead

Eraserhead is a 1977 body horror film written, produced, and directed by David Lynch. It is the story of Henry, a middle-aged man who reduced alone in an apartment amidst industrial gloom. He marries Mary X, an expected mother of someone else’s child, and makes her move in with him. 

Things take a strange turn when the baby comes out. It turns out to be a bizarre lizard-like creature that keeps on wailing. Other odd characters in the movie include a disfigured lady who inhabits the building and adds to Henry’s troubles. 

Being one of the first-ever weird and strange feature-length films ever made, Eraserhead consists of disturbing scenes and a stubbornly unclear plot. 

End of Evangelion

Do you like anime? 

Regarded as one of the meat animated films of all time, End of Evangelion is a 1997 Japanese animated psychological science fiction. It is the story Shinji Ikari, a teen who pilots Evangelion Unit 01, a giant cyborg designed to fight Angels (hostile supernatural entities). 

This film serves as the parallel ending to the TV show Neon Genesis Evangelion that aired on Japanese TV during 1995-96. While the critics praised the movie for its unique visual style and compelling story, it ain’t a typical kids cartoon film.

In the final scenes of the movie, Shinji goes insane, and all of humanity is dissolved into a primal soup. Then, Shinji, along with a co-pilot, show up in the sea of human goo and try to confirm their individuality. 

Primer

Primer is a 2004 science fiction film directed by Shane Carruth. If you’re aroused by the thought of time travel, this movie should be on your watchlist. 

Primer takes you in the life of Aaron and Abe, two engineers who sell error-checking technology but accidentally invent the time machine. The two friends get obsessed with their creation and build a version capable of transporting humans into time. However, soon the two friends discover the dark consequences of their actions. 

 The movie is complicated and packed with so many details that you’ll most likely require multiple viewings. And maybe still you’ll need to do some heavy reading to unravel its meaning. 

Pi

Written and directed by Darren Aronofsky, Pi is a psychological thriller film that portrays the story of Max Cohen. Max is suffering from paranoia and debilitating headaches. He lives in an old and messy Chinatown apartment where he plays around with equations in a super-advanced computer. One day, he discovers a mysterious number. But after reporting it to his mentor and friend, he finds himself the target of Wall Street agents looking to use the number for profit. 

Pi is complicated, and will surely give you a run for your time and money. The ending of the film is even more startling. It involves home surgery with a power drill, 

The Matrix Revolutions

You’re probably a teenager if you are a fan of Keanu Reeves after his John Wick series. But if you’re millennial, you have most likely watched The Matrix series, which is regarded as Keanu Reeves’ one of the best works to date. 

The movie begins in a dystopia run by robots, where Neo (Keanu) is mankind’s greatest hope. It qualifies as the most confusing film of the Matrix series. The ending of the movie is puzzling. It is not clear if Neo dies in the battle with Agent Smith, or he becomes one of them. Did the machines take over humans? Too many questions to answer, so it’s better if you set your timers and watch this movie with your cognitive abilities enhanced. 

Predestination

Predestination is a 2014 Australian science-fiction thriller movie directed by Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig. The film portrays the story of Agent Doe, a temporal agent who is on his last assignment to travel back in time and prevent a bomb attack in New York in 1975. However, the hunt turns out to be beyond the bounds of possibility. 

The agent tries to disarm the bomb, but it explodes on his face. He is transported to the hospital in the future, where he recovers from facial reconstruction. After recovery, he again received his last assignment and started working as a bartender.

He soon receives a customer named Jane. She was born a female and grew up in an orphanage. She excelled in her studies but had troubled fitting in. She soon discovers that she is intersex, with partially developed male and female organs. She undergoes and gender reassignment and begins living like a man. 

The ending is baffling and kind of tormenting. The movie explains the principle of predestination paradox. Most viewers struggled to comprehend the conclusion in the first attempt, and maybe you’ll require a switchover, too. 

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is a 2011 experimental epic drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick and starring Brad Pitt. In the movie, a boy named Jack tries to mend his troubled relationship with his father. He tries to find the true meaning of life. 

The movie starts out as fairly straightforward and easy to understand, but soon, things get confusing. The family’s story is infused with random scenes depicting the creation of the universe, the origin of life, and the destruction of the world. 

The conclusion of the film is even more baffling. It presents a vision of death and resurrection is slow-mo dreams. Maybe there is a coherent movie somewhere in here. But you’ll need to watch it to find out. 

Conclusion

The world of cinema has given some great movies, some of which are entertaining, some intense, and some bewildering. If you want to challenge the reasoning abilities of your brain, make sure to watch these movies.