Sometimes, when a romance, comedy, or thriller just won't do, we need to go deeper. These movies will make us think, ponder, imagine and dream. You'll need an ice pack to soothe your throbbing brain after a marathon of these.
1. Pan's Labyrinth
You'll be hypnotized and dazzled by the fantasy world a young girl enters to find a barrage of scary creatures in 1944 Spain.
2. American Psycho
Christian Bale perfectly captures the charming, steely gaze of Patrick Bateman, as his mind fills with original ways to torture the soulless people he calls his colleagues.
3. The Fountain
Tommy's wife Izzi is ill, and he needs to find a cure. A gem of the writer and director, Darren Aronofsky.
4. Black Swan
Another classic Aronofsky, this time delving into the wild and dramatic lives of ballerinas, crossing the line between dream and nightmare, fact and fiction.
5. Inception
A dream within and dream within a dream within a dream within a dream...well, you get the picture.
6. The Prestige
Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale duke it out in the battle of the prestidigitators. (We mean, magicians.)
7. The Illusionist
Ed Norton is a magician in love, cue Nikola Tesla's electricity.
8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
A Charlie Kaufman special on love and memory erasure.
9. Synecdoche, New York
A play within a play within a play within a play…
10. The Tree of Life
A meditation on family, life, and interplanetary musical sequences.
11. Memento
It's hard to find your wife's murderer when you have short-term memory loss.
12. A Beautiful Mind
A portrait of brilliance, inspired by the true story of John Forbes Nash, Jr.
13. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Madness loves company.
14. The Talented Mr. Ripley
From underachiever to mass-manipulator, Matt Damon has it all.
15. Fight Club
We can't talk about it.
Brain hurt yet? If not, keep watching. We dare you!