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10 Absurdist Movies You Must Watch for a Mind-Bending Experience

Written by Ali Wang & Likewise Pix | Sep 12, 2024 Explore the chaotic, surreal, and thought-provoking world of absurdist cinema with these 10 must-watch movies. Each film takes you on a journey through chaos, randomness, and the human experience, leaving you both entertained and contemplative.

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

A Clockwork Orange
© Photo: Provided by Likewise.

In a dystopian near-future Britain, young Alexander DeLarge and his gang engage in acts of ultraviolence for kicks. When not wreaking havoc, Alex loses himself in the music of Beethoven. The state, aiming to curb juvenile crime, offers Alex a chance to reduce his sentence through a dehumanizing procedure that strips him of free will. With morality as a traded commodity, can Alex truly reform?

Release Date: December 19, 1971

Average Rating: 4.3

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Donnie Darko (2001)

Donnie Darko
© Photo: Provided by Likewise.

After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, troubled teenager Donnie Darko begins to experience visions of a menacing, large bunny rabbit that urges him to commit a variety of crimes. As Donnie delves deeper into this strange reality, he tackles profound questions about time travel, mental illness, and destiny.

Release Date: January 19, 2001

Average Rating: 4.2

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Don't Hug Me I'm Scared (2011)

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared
© Photo: Provided by Likewise.

This unsettling puppet short explores the concept of creativity with a dark twist. Initially appearing as a harmless children's program, it quickly descends into a surreal and disturbing meditation on the pressures and pitfalls of artistic endeavor.

Release Date: July 25, 2011

Average Rating: 4.2

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The Holy Mountain (1973)

The Holy Mountain
© Photo: Provided by Likewise.

The Alchemist assembles a group of people, each symbolizing a planet in the solar system. His goal is to strip them of their materialistic ways through bizarre mystical rites, preparing them for a journey to Lotus Island. There, they aim to replace the immortal gods covertly ruling the universe.

Release Date: November 29, 1973

Average Rating: 4.2

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Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
© Photo: Provided by Likewise.

King Arthur and his squire embark on a whimsical quest to recruit the Knights of the Round Table. Among them are Sir Bedevere the Wise, Sir Lancelot the Brave, Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot, and Sir Galahad the Pure. Arthur’s journey is filled with tongue-in-cheek battles and bizarre adventures, culminating in the decision to avoid Camelot because “it is a silly place.”

Release Date: March 14, 1975

Average Rating: 4

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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
© Photo: Provided by Likewise.

Raoul Duke and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, embark on a drug-fueled trip to Las Vegas with a red convertible and a suitcase brimming with substances. Their wild consumption leads to paranoia, hallucinations, and catastrophic encounters, as Duke contemplates the fading American Dream amidst the chaos of their journey.

Release Date: May 19, 1998

Average Rating: 4

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The Fall (2006)

The Fall
© Photo: Provided by Likewise.

Set in a hospital on the outskirts of 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman begins narrating a magnificent tale to a young patient. As his own reality begins to fracture, their combined imaginations blur the lines between fiction and reality, creating a fantastical narrative set against their mundane existence.

Release Date: September 9, 2006

Average Rating: 4

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Synecdoche, New York (2008)

Synecdoche, New York
© Photo: Provided by Likewise.

Theater director Caden Cotard struggles to create an ambitious new play, leading him to construct a life-size replica of New York inside a warehouse. As he wrestles with his work and the women in his life, the boundaries between art and reality blur, raising questions about existence, identity, and mortality.

Release Date: October 24, 2008

Average Rating: 4

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The Seventh Seal (1957)

The Seventh Seal
© Photo: Provided by Likewise.

Disillusioned knight Antonius Block returns from the Crusades to a Sweden ravaged by the Black Death. Challenging Death to a chess match for his life, he begins a quest to find meaning in a seemingly indifferent world, meeting various characters who influence his journey towards redemption.

Release Date: February 16, 1957

Average Rating: 4

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Waking Life (2001)

Waking Life
© Photo: Provided by Likewise.

Waking Life chronicles a young man's journey through a persistent, lucid dream-state. Participating in philosophical discussions with various characters, he explores profound questions about reality, free will, and the essence of human relationships. The film's unique rotoscope animation complements its deep, existential themes.

Release Date: October 19, 2001

Average Rating: 4

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Absurdist cinema challenges viewers to reevaluate their perceptions of reality and uncover deeper meanings within life's chaotic tapestry. Each of these films offers a unique perspective, blending humor, philosophy, and surrealism to create unforgettable cinematic experiences. Dive into these mind-bending narratives and prepare to question everything you thought you knew.

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