Best movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Joel Barish, heartbroken that his girlfriend underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realises that he still loves her, and may be too late to correct his mistake.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 11000000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: psychological, surreal, melancholic, romantic, mind bending, sentimental, philosophical, cerebral, psychedelic, clever
Best tv shows and movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004):
Similar in 81%
Before Midnight (2013)
Plot Summary:
We meet Jesse and Celine nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 169000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA, Greece
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: philosophical, meditative, sentimental, romantic, atmospheric, intense, breathtaking, sweet, emotional, existential
Similar in 89%
Another Earth (2011)
Plot Summary:
On the night of the discovery of a duplicate Earth in the Solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 99000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: surreal, artsy, psychological, philosophical, independent film, clever, touching, contemplative, intellectual, mindfuck
Similar in 90%
Comet (2014)
Plot Summary:
When a chance encounter brings together the cynical Dell and the quick-witted Kimberly, the stage is set for a tempestuous love affair that unfolds like a puzzle. As the film zigzags back and forth in time-from a meteor shower in LA, to an encounter in a Paris hotel room, to a fateful phone call-an unforgettable portrait of a relationship emerges.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: touching, sentimental, humorous, surreal, semi serious, romantic, psychological, mind bending, thought provoking, poignant
Similar in 82%
Perfect Sense (2011)
Plot Summary:
Susan is a scientist searching for answers to important questions. So important that she has given up on other things, like love - until she meets Micheal. Susan and Michael find themselves embarking on a sensual adventure while the world around them seems to be falling apart. A life-affirming look at what it means to love and be loved in turbulent times.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 63000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: UK, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, artsy, philosophical, romantic, sensual, sexy, cerebral, psychological, enigmatic, melancholic
Similar in 75%
Closer (2004)
Plot Summary:
A witty, romantic, and very dangerous love story about chance meetings, instant attractions, and casual betrayals. Two couples disintegrate when they begin destructive adulterous affairs with each other.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 233000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: sexy, erotic, romantic, psychological, melancholic, intellectual, sensual, dark, heartbreaking, romantic drama
Similar in 76%
Before Sunrise (1995)
Plot Summary:
On his way to Vienna, American Jesse meets Céline, a student returning to Paris. After long conversations forge a surprising connection between them, Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train with him in Vienna. Since his flight to the U.S. departs the next morning and he has no money for lodging, they wander the city together, taking in the experiences of Vienna and each other.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 332000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA, Austria
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: philosophical, emotional, melancholic, sentimental, feel good, touching, realistic, independent film, inspirational, romantic comedy
Similar in 88%
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Plot Summary:
A small suburban town receives a visit from a castaway unfinished science experiment named Edward.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 516000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: gothic, fairy tale, surreal, touching, sentimental, atmospheric, dark fantasy, sad, visually stunning, visual
Similar in 86%
Her (2013)
Plot Summary:
In the not so distant future, Theodore, a lonely writer purchases a newly developed operating system designed to meet the user's every needs. To Theodore's surprise, a romantic relationship develops between him and his operating system. This unconventional love story blends science fiction and romance in a sweet tale that explores the nature of love and the ways that technology isolates and connects us all.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 655000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: melancholic, philosophical, futuristic, touching, clever, crying, romantic, intellectual, emotional, sweet
Similar in 78%
The Discovery (2017)
Plot Summary:
In the near future, due to a breakthrough scientific discovery by Dr. Thomas Harbor, there is now definitive proof of an afterlife. While countless people have chosen suicide to reset their existence, others try to decide what it all means. Among them is Dr. Harbor's son Will, who has arrived at his father's isolated compound with a mysterious young woman named Isla. There, they discover the strange acolytes who help Dr. Harbor with his experiments.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 37000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: enigmatic, psychological, philosophical, non-linear, intellectual, dark, melancholic, stylized, depressing, bleak
Similar in 82%
One Day (2011)
Plot Summary:
A romantic comedy centered on Dexter and Emma, who first meet during their graduation in 1988 and proceed to keep in touch regularly. The film follows what they do on July 15 annually, usually doing something together.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 161000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: sentimental, romantic, emotional, sad, touching, realistic, heartbreaking, romantic drama, tear jerker, serious
Similar in 86%
Melancholia (2011)
Plot Summary:
Two sisters find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide with Earth.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 193000
Genere: Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: psychological, bleak, atmospheric, surreal, art house, philosophical, apocalyptic, psychedelic, depressing, art film
Similar in 82%
I Origins (2014)
Plot Summary:
I Origins follows a molecular biologist studying the evolution of the human eye. He finds his work permeating his life after a brief encounter with an exotic young woman who slips away from him. As his research continues years later with his lab partner, they make a stunning scientific discovery that has far reaching implications and complicates both his scientific and and spiritual beliefs. Traveling half way around the world, he risks everything he has ever known to validate his theory.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 132000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, spiritual, mind bending, enigmatic, philosophical, cerebral, atmospheric, psychological, romantic, mindfuck
Similar in 78%
The Science of Sleep (2006)
Plot Summary:
A man entranced by his dreams and imagination is lovestruck with a French woman and feels he can show her his world.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 71000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: France, Italy
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: surreal, psychedelic, psychological, philosophical, mind bending, intellectual, meditative, visually appealing, cerebral, mindfuck
Similar in 83%
Ruby Sparks (2012)
Plot Summary:
Calvin is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing – as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby, in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 105000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: feel good, psychological, romantic, independent film, surreal, philosophical, absurd, witty, thought provoking, touching
Similar in 87%
Being John Malkovich (1999)
Plot Summary:
Spike Jonze’s debut feature film is a love story mix of comedy and fantasy. The story is about an unsuccessful puppeteer named Craig, who one day at work finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters it’s mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 349000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: surreal, psychological, cerebral, mind bending, offbeat, mindfuck, philosophical, dark comedy, disturbing, black comedy
Similar in 88%
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Plot Summary:
Everybody knows that your life is a story. But what if a story was your life? Harold Crick is your average IRS agent: monotonous, boring, and repetitive. But one day this all changes when Harold begins to hear an author inside his head narrating his life. But when the narration reveals he is going to die, Harold must find the author and convince them to change the ending.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 235000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: philosophical, surreal, offbeat, humorous, witty, talky, funny, feel good, clever, depressing
Similar in 85%
Lost in Translation (2003)
Plot Summary:
Two lost souls visiting Tokyo -- the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial -- find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other's company, away from their lives in America.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 480000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: melancholic, atmospheric, offbeat, psychological, artsy, emotional, art house, visual, contemplative, heartbreaking
Similar in 76%
500 Days of Summer (2009)
Plot Summary:
Tom, greeting-card writer and hopeless romantic, is caught completely off-guard when his girlfriend, Summer, suddenly dumps him. He reflects on their 500 days together to try to figure out where their love affair went sour, and in doing so, Tom rediscovers his true passions in life.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 546000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sweet, romantic, touching, independent film, sentimental, emotional, feel good, sad, offbeat, realistic
Similar in 78%
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Plot Summary:
After spending eight months in a mental institution, a former teacher moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 734000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: romantic, touching, offbeat, emotional, depressing, realistic, sentimental, feel good, sweet, talky
Similar in 80%
Mr. Nobody (2009)
Plot Summary:
Nemo Nobody leads an ordinary existence with his wife and 3 children; one day, he wakes up as a mortal centenarian in the year 2092.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 243000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: Belgium, Germany, Canada, France, UK, Luxembourg, USA
Duration: 141 min
Plot tags: psychological, surreal, philosophical, mind bending, thought provoking, confusing, cerebral, mind blowing, reflective, offbeat
Similar in 82%
Synecdoche, New York (2008)
Plot Summary:
A theater director struggles with his work, and the women in his life, as he attempts to create a life-size replica of New York inside a warehouse as part of his new play.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 97000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: philosophical, psychological, depressing, surreal, mindfuck, confusing, art house, absurd, mind bending, cult classic
Similar in 82%
Cloud Atlas (2012)
Plot Summary:
A set of six nested stories spanning time between the 19th century and a distant post-apocalyptic future. Cloud Atlas explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery and romance weave through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future. Based on the award winning novel by David Mitchell. Directed by Tom Tykwer and the Wachowskis.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 371000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, UK, Spain
Duration: 172 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, psychological, futuristic, mind bending, surreal, spiritual, enigmatic, non-linear, atmospheric, reflective
Similar in 83%
About Time (2013)
Plot Summary:
The night after another unsatisfactory New Year party, Tim's father tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can't change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life – so he decides to make his world a better place... by getting a girlfriend. Sadly, that turns out not to be as easy as he thinks.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 377000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, sincere, sentimental, reflective, melancholic, emotional, romantic, cute, humorous
Similar in 77%
The Fountain (2006)
Plot Summary:
Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 247000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: surreal, melancholic, artsy, philosophical, atmospheric, thought provoking, emotional, cerebral, non-linear, touching
Similar in 83%
The Butterfly Effect (2004)
Plot Summary:
A young man struggles to access sublimated childhood memories. He finds a technique that allows him to travel back into the past, to occupy his childhood body and change history. However, he soon finds that every change he makes has unexpected consequences.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 514000
Genere: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: psychological, mind bending, philosophical, suspense, non-linear, dramatic, reflective, intellectual, intense, surprise ending
Similar in 77%
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Plot Summary:
David Aames has it all: wealth, good looks and gorgeous women on his arm. But just as he begins falling for the warmhearted Sofia, his face is horribly disfigured in a car accident. That's just the beginning of his troubles as the lines between illusion and reality, between life and death, are blurred.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 282000
Genere: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA, Spain
Duration: 136 min
Plot tags: psychological, surreal, philosophical, enigmatic, twist ending, mind bending, non-linear, confusing, psychological thriller, artsy
Similar in 87%
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Plot Summary:
Tells the story of Benjamin Button, a man who starts aging backwards with bizarre consequences.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 684000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 166 min
Plot tags: touching, philosophical, sentimental, dramatic, melancholic, atmospheric, cerebral, captivating, emotional, sad
Similar in 84%
The Lobster (2015)
Plot Summary:
In a dystopian near future, single people, according to the laws of The City, are taken to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in forty-five days or are transformed into beasts and sent off into The Woods.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 280000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: Ireland, UK, Greece, France, Netherlands, USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: surreal, art house, absurd, ironic, intellectual, allegory, dark comedy, cerebral, black comedy, clever
Similar in 79%
The Truman Show (1998)
Plot Summary:
Truman Burbank is the star of "The Truman Show", a 24-hour-a-day "reality" TV show that broadcasts every aspect of his life -- live and in color -- without his knowledge. His entire life has been an unending soap opera for consumption by the rest of the world. And everyone he knows -- including his wife and his best friend -- is really an actor, paid to be part of his life.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 12000000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: philosophical, thought provoking, psychological, touching, surreal, cerebral, clever, dramatic, motivational, spiritual
Similar in 83%
Inception (2010)
Plot Summary:
Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious.
IMDB Rating: 8.8
IMDB Votes: 25000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 148 min
Plot tags: psychological, mind bending, clever, cerebral, surreal, twist ending, futuristic, confusing, suspense, philosophical