21 Insane Movies Like Inception That Will Blow Your Mind!!

Ten years ago, Christopher Nolan, along with a whole host of talented actors, gave us an experience of a lifetime with the movie Inception. Arguably one of the best movies made in the last decade, Inception remains a fan favorite. If you want to watch more movies like Inception, don’t worry. I got you.

I have curated a list filled with mind-bending movies that trip your brain. Some of the movies will be from Christopher Nolan himself since he is the master of making amazing movies. Some of these movies, like Inception, have given rise to new visual storytelling concepts and explained complex concepts in simpler terms. 

After all, not everyone watching a sci-fi movie will have a science background. And if one has to spend half the time understanding the physics behind a movie, that defeats the point of a movie being a source of entertainment. 

6 Insane Movies Like Inception | Movies You Need To Stream If You Loved Inception!

Inception does a great job at explaining a weird concept too. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the role of Don Cobb, an international thief who has developed a mind-reading technology. Through his tech, he invades the minds of the rich and elite, thus achieving a form of inception. While doing so, he extracts trade secrets and other important information that he later exchanges for money. 

This mind-bending manipulation does affect Cobb’s mental state as well. And also lands him at the top of many enemies list. Cobb and his associates are given a shot at a clean slate and are given one last shot to redeem themselves. This time instead of stealing thoughts, they must implant thought in a highly sought-after target. 

The mission is almost impossible and makes for great acting by the cast and insane cinematography. We see buildings bending and the world quite literally turning upside down. So while the stakes are high, many movies have tried to do what Inception did. Let’s check them out!

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1# Shutter Island (2010)

The first in the list of movies like Inception has to be another DiCaprio starred movie, Shutter Island. Based on a book of the same name and directed by Martin Scorcese, the movie is a wild ride from start to finish. The insane twists of this psychological thriller will leave you questioning all you know.

US Marshall Teddy Daniels is sent to investigate a missing patient from a mental health care facility for the criminally insane. The facility is on an island and impossible to escape, so the patient’s disappearance is puzzling. As Teddy’s investigation progresses, a series of sinister revelations occur. The biggest of which makes Teddy doubt himself, his sanity, and the reality around him.

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2# The Departed (2006)

Martin Scorcese and Leo DiCaprio are probably a match made in Hollywood heaven, and we continue to explore that. The Departed isn’t exactly what you would think of in a list of movies like Inception, but the superior storyline and the class acting are what put it on this list. There might not be mind-bending sci-fi, but there is mind-bending manipulation going on for sure.

Two men are at crossroads with each other. One is a police officer working undercover in an Irish-American gang, while the other is a mole of the same gang who works for the police. Both of them are deeply consumed by the alternate lives they have chosen to live. But as their identity stands compromised, how do they save themselves from being exposed? The Departed will have your heart racing like a horse with the tension and twists, making it a must-watch!

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3# Tenet (2020)

If you are looking for exact replicas of movies like Inception, then Tenet is the one for you. Again, written and directed by Christopher Nolan, the movie has all the signature vibes of a Nolan masterpiece. It’s fast-paced, has crazy action sequences, and has been made on a multi-million dollar budget. It has the same premise as Inception, as the hero tries to fiddle with time.

The movie follows a CIA agent referred to as the “The Protagonist”. Futuristic objects that can be manipulated into weapons have fallen into the hands of the wrong people, and the world needs saving. Though it’s not official, Tenet feels like watching a sequel to Inception. With dudes in suits in every scene, the movie is entertaining and mind-boggling, both simultaneously!

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4# Memento (2000)

The movie that proved to be the breakout hit of Chris Nolan, Memento, is an early 2000s classic. It boasts similar storytelling patterns we see in movies like Inception and Tenet. Memento starts in reverse as we see our hero firing a gun in reverse. The craziness just goes on from there.

Memento is about Leonard (played by Guy Pearce), who develops a form of short-term memory loss after experiencing the trauma of losing his wife. He uses notes and polaroid photos to remember the small little details as he goes on a hunt to avenge the murder of his wife. Oh, and the signature dudes in suits? Well, Memento has got that too.

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5# The Matrix (1999)

Perhaps the movie that paved the way for other sci-fi movies in its genre, The Matrix, has etched itself in history. Questions the very realities that we live and the world surrounding us, the sci-fi action movie is still enjoyable almost two decades after its release. The Matrix follows the life of Thomas Anderson, office guy by day and hacker by night.

His mundane life changes as he discovers the duality of real and artificial life. He is made to question whether he is living in a simulation or is everyone? Neo, as he goes by his new name, is made to fight a war that he did not want to be a part of but is pivotal to his existence. The Matrix is fun, confusing, and entertaining all simultaneously. If you watched it already, now is the best time!

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6# Interstellar (2014)

Music by Hans Zimmer and directed by Chris Nolan (again!), we have Interstellar. Just like in Inception, the concept of manipulation of time is done. We see Interstellar try to bend space and time together. The movie follows a group of scientists as they travel across space and through black holes, bending time and reality.

The spaceship, Endurance, is on a mission to find inhabitable places like earth for humans to thrive on. And to cross a distance of lightyears, lots of science needs to be bent to will. Interstellar is a top movie like Inception that uses real-world science, pushes it to the limits, and makes you question the truth. While watching, you’re going to wonder, “what if?”.

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7# Fight Club (1999)

Brad Pitt and his messy looks have always been heartbreakers. Am I right, or Am I right? Brad Pitt’s love for thrilling action dramas is not unknown, and he has proved it so many times. But if we are being honest, we know that no movie can beat his mind-bending action thriller Fight Club. Teaming up with Jared Leto and the sharp-minded David Fincher, Fight Club became one of the biggest hits of the late 90s and close competition to the psychological thriller Inception. 

This time Brad Pitt is seen in the role of a depressed office worker (Tyler Durden) who is fed up with his 9 to 5 job and needs a distraction in his life. While crossing paths with a stranger one day, Tyler finds a way to change his life, but you can find out whether it is good or bad after watching the movie. You tell me how good the idea of opening an underground fight club can be? 

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8# The Machinist (2004)

Christian Bale is a legend in Hollywood, and his insane body transformations make him one of the greatest living legends doing what he does the best. ACTING! In the last decade, Christian Bale has acted in many different movies and has undergone several body transformations. But turning into Trevor Reznik was hands down one of the craziest transformations of his career. Trevor Reznik? The Machinist? Don’t the names ring a bell in your head? 

Christian Bale’s psychological thriller The Machinist wasn’t a big hit at the box office, but it didn’t fail to leave a mark on the audience. Proving itself to be worthy enough for the list of movies like Inception, The Machinist revolves around Trevor Reznik, suffering from insomnia. With each passing day, Trevor’s insomnia also grows until things turn for the worst, and he causes an on-the-job accident. So, what’s the solution to Trevor’s insomnia? Watch the movie and find out! 

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9# The Prestige (2006)

The next title on our list of movies like Inception comes from the man himself, Christopher Nolan. The brilliant mind is known for creating movies that are best at two things – mind f*ckery and box-office hits. Over the years, Nolan has experimented with plenty of different genres, but some of his best works have always emerged from mind-bending period dramas and psychological thrillers. Following a similar period, the drama genre is the next title on our list, The Prestige. 

Set in Edwardian London are two magicians, each other’s greatest rivals are two magicians, Alfred Borden and Robert Angier. But they weren’t always after each other’s heads. Before coming for each other’s blood, they were partners until a tragic accident changed everything between the two. Years later, when one of them pulls off the ultimate magical trickery – teleportation; the other takes upon a destructive path to unravel its secrets. 

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10# Source Code (2011)

No list of mind-bending movies like Inception can ever be complete without mentioning Source Code. Inspired closely by Christopher Nolan’s Inception, Source Code is another mind-bending marvel that one can never miss. Especially when it comes to movies that act like good brain teasers, you can’t miss out on watching Source Code. So, have you seen the movie before? Do you know what makes Source Code such a good movie with a huge fan following? 

If you haven’t seen the movie before, here is a quick introduction. Source Code revolves around an army personnel Colter Stevens, who is tasked to prevent a bomb attack in Chicago. Colter’s subconsciousness is sent into another man’s last 8 minutes of life. It’s not just any other man but one who knows the bomber’s identity. So, will 8 minutes be enough for Colter to save the day?  

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11# Doctor Strange (2016)

When it comes to action, adventure, suspense, and mind-f*ckery in a single title, a Marvel movie is the first thing that always comes to our minds. There is no doubt that Marvel makes good movies but are they on the same level as Inception? Not all of them, but a few like Doctor Strange most certainly are. What else can be a good brain teaser other than a movie full of sorcerers, wizards, and magic spells? 

Marvel’s 2016 box-office hit Doctor Strange brings us the story of Dr. Stephen Strange, whose life changes after a tragic car accident takes away the life from his hands. When medicines and the power of science fail to bring him back, he moves to spiritual healing searching for hope. However, once he enters the magical cave, he realizes things greater than spiritual healing are happening. 

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12# Paprika (2006)

If you are looking for a movie title that is a replica of Inception, leave every other option on this list and head straight for Paprika. Even if nothing else, the one thing that would come out of your mouth after streaming Paprika will be praised for its visual charm. Paprika is as good as any other movie on this list as per the storyline, but it’s also visually stunning to watch. 

Paprika is based on the theft of a device used by therapists to enter their patient’s dreams. But when it is stolen, everything becomes a blurred reality, and people become controlled by the dream world. Now, only one young and brave heart, Chiba, can save the day with her friends and pull everyone out of a terrifying dreamy sleep. 

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Final Words

Okay, there seems to be a theme here for movies like Inception. Most of them are made by Christopher Nolan, but that was not on purpose. It is just that Nolan has set such a distinct style and high standards it is pretty impossible for anyone besides him to reach them. What are your thoughts about the movies on this list? Let us know in the comments below!