The 15 Best Mind-Bending Movies on Netflix

The 15 Best Mind-Bending Movies on Netflix

March 10, 2025

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The idea of a mind-bending movie (or a mind-blowing movie, or a mind-fuck; whatever you want to call it) is pretty hard to nail down, but it usually boils down to something that surprises you, does something unexpectedly complex with its plot, or leaves you feeling dazed long after the credits roll. Many films, especially on Netflix, try to replicate this feeling but may only focus on the shock factor. So we’ve put together a list of little-known but high-quality movies on the streaming giant that have surprises up their sleeves or get you to see things in a different way—while still remembering to be great movies as a whole.

11. RRR (2022)

7.6

Genres

Action, Adventure, Drama

Director

S. S. Rajamouli

Actors

Ahmareen Anjum, Ajay Devgan, Ajay Devgn, Alexx O'Nell

Moods

Action-packed, Intense, Mind-blowing

Set in 1920s India, RRR follows two revolutionaries who strike up an unlikely bond and fend off the British regime from their home. In their epic journey to protect their people, they encounter a number of setbacks that prompts them to put their incredible combat skills on full display.

Despite its three-hour run, RRR never drags, thanks in large part to its breathtaking action sequences and eye-popping visuals. It may contain all the familiar beats of a blockbuster, but RRR is notably grounded in its central, political theme of anti-colonialism, the sincerity of which keeps the film’s big heart beating palpably throughout.

12. Inu-oh (2021)

7.4

Genres

Animation, Drama, Fantasy

Director

Masaaki Yuasa

Actors

Avu-chan, Chikara Honda, Gota Ishida, Haruki Nakagawa

Moods

Character-driven, Gripping, Mind-blowing

Inu-oh is a visually stunning and thought-provoking anime that reimagines a Japanese folk tale as it explores themes of artistic freedom, individuality, and the consequences of challenging societal norms. The movie’s striking imagery, original music, and captivating story make it a memorable viewing experience, delving into issues of identity and the prejudices faced by disabled individuals with sensitivity. While the catchy music may not appeal to everyone, the film’s unique blend of ancient and contemporary storytelling creates a creative triumph that anime fans will appreciate, offering social commentary and a reflection on the power of staying true to oneself.

13. The Accidental Twins (2024)

7.0

Genres

Documentary

Director

Alessandro Angulo

Moods

Discussion-sparking, Heart-warming, Mind-blowing

The documentary starts off with a feeler that this is a wild soap opera, a real life science experiment that cannot be enacted in good conscience. If you’d never read the blurb, you’d see the coincidences slowly revealed layer by layer until the story finally clicks. Early on, it feels reliant on telling as opposed to showing, but it could just be a case of working with what you have footage-wise. The openness of our main interviewees does get better with time, but the exploration of the psychological effect and implications of such an event was lacking considering the level of coincidence we’re dealing with. All in all, it’s heartwarming, albeit with the exciting story beats very spaced out.

14. Jawan (2023)

6.9

Genres

Action, Adventure, Crime

Director

Atlee

Actors

Aaliyah Qureishi, Ashlesha Thakur, Atlee, Bharat Raj

Moods

A-list actors, Action-packed, Discussion-sparking

Through this action-packed, absolutely crazy ride of a movie, writer-director Atlee and Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan team up in Jawan to question the country’s corruption in multiple fields, including, but not limited to the agricultural sector, the healthcare industry, and the electoral system. They do so through an amped-up, explosion-filled spectacle led by a high-tech Robin Hood and his merry women inmates, who use terrorism in order to pay out loans for poor farmers and other promises that politicians give to their voters. It’s also intertwined with a romance plot that sees the vigilante and the single-parent counterterrorist chief in an unknowing enemies-to-lovers, mistaken identity marriage. It’s a strange film that tries to tackle as many political messages as possible, but it’s also downright entertaining with every plot twist it takes.

15. Race to the Summit (2023)

6.6

Genres

Action, Adventure, Documentary

Director

Götz Werner, Nicholas de Taranto

Actors

Dani Arnold, Ueli Steck

Moods

Inspiring, Mind-blowing, Thrilling

Pushing an already extreme activity even further beyond its limits, Ueli Steck and Dani Arnold have became the world champions of speed climbing—a variation of the sport that places much greater importance on direct competition over communing with nature. It’s fascinating to hear what drives Steck and Arnold to courting death like this, and to see how their vastly different backgrounds and processes have still made them equals in the field. The documentary eventually runs out of ideas, however, as it clumsily shifts tones leading into its last third, and concludes abruptly without much synthesis of everything that had come before. It’s still a worthwhile adventure whether or not one is into climbing; it’s just disappointing that this story of such a unique rivalry settles into a more generic rhythm by the end.

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