Are you looking for mind-bending movies like Inception that will force you to concentrate and understand what’s happening on the screen? Well, Christopher Nolan has provided us with some of the best movies like Interstellar, The Prestige, Memento, and more. One of his most celebrated movies is Inception, a science fiction action film that deals with dreams and will leave you thinking about the nature of reality. It leaves a lasting impact on people’s minds, making them crave more movies that will melt their minds. Therefore, we have created this long list including movies like Inception to fulfill your thirst for similar great films. So, without any further ado, let’s begin.
35 Best Movies Like Inception in 2022
The following list consists of movies similar to Inception in various genres such as horror, science fiction, thriller, psychological drama, and more. It connects to the theme of Inception in one way or another, like having a mind-bending plot, an open ending, or a similar visual and art style. You can use the table below to quickly read about the movie that appeals to you the most.
Science Fiction Movies Like Inception
1. Tenet (2024)
- IMDb: 7.3
- Rotten Tomatoes: 69%/76%
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Writer: Christopher Nolan
- Cast: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth, Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine
- Runtime: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Tenet is a sci-fi spy film that deals with an out-of-the-box time travel concept. Similar to other Christopher Nolan movies like Inception, Tenet uses time manipulation to build a mind-bending plot. The story revolves around the Protagonist (Washington), a CIA operative who saves the world by changing the flow of time selectively with the help of a few agents.
In Tenet, there are many open-ended plot points left for people to make sense of the story. It was one of the most talked-about movies by Nolan and proved to be a huge success commercially and critically. It also won the Best Visual Effects award at the 93rd Academy Awards.
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2. Interstellar (2014)
- IMDb: 8.6
- Rotten Tomatoes: 72%/86%
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Writer: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan
- Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Caine
- Runtime: 2 hours, 49 minutes
When it comes to science fiction movies, Interstellar is my absolute favorite. It is one of the greatest works by Nolan, showcasing his talent in an epic space travel movie. The story takes place in a dystopian future where crops on Earth are dying, and the air is contaminated with dust particles. The plot follows Joseph Cooper (McConaughey) as he leads a team of astronauts through a wormhole to find inhabitable planets for humans.
The movie has stunning visual effects and the most accurate rendering of a black hole. Interstellar won the 87th Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects for literally portraying out-of-the-world visual elements. You can check our dedicated list showing movies like Interstellar to find more such gems to watch in 2022.
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3. The Matrix (1999)
- IMDb: 8.7
- Rotten Tomatoes: 88%/85%
- Director: The Wachowskis
- Writer: The Wachowskis
- Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving
- Runtime: 2 hours, 16 minutes
If you prefer philosophical ideas in a science fiction action flick, then watch The Matrix. The movie takes place in a dystopian future where machines have created a simulated reality to distract humans and use them as a power source. We follow Thomas Anderson (Reeves), aka Neo, a hacker who uncovers the truth and joins a rebellion against the machines with the help of other people freed from the Matrix.
The Matrix blurs the line between reality and simulation, similar to Inception, where people can get confused between reality and a dream. The movie won numerous awards and is preserved by the National Film Registry. It is considered one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time. Its outstanding success led to two more installments in the franchise titled The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions in 2003. A fourth movie titled The Matrix Resurrections continuing the story released in 2021.
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