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10 movies that you need to watch twice to understand, on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar
Need a baffling plot? These films will make you hit rewind (maybe even more than once)
A movie can be a great watch, but its plot may still not have enough meat to hook you in for round two. However, there are several films out there, which introduce you to unexpected plot twists, complex storylines, multiple timelines and much more, that a second watch is inevitable. Ahead, we've curated a list of works that you will definitely need to stream again to get the subtle easter eggs and clues. Ready to rewind?
Inception (2010)
The king of all heist films, Inception features Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, an extractor who uses military-grade technology to infiltrate people's dreams and execute corporate espionage. He assembles a skilled team for his toughest assignment till date—planting a new idea in a person's sub-conscience. Dom comes up with an elaborate plan which involves triggering dreams within dreams via different team members to recreate enough realistic scenarios for their mission to succeed. However, there are a lot of risks involved, including being stuck in a subconscious void forever.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Shutter Island (2010)
US Marshals Edward "Teddy" Daniels and Chuck Aule are assigned to a psychiatric facility to investigate the disappearance of a patient. The facility is a cage for mentally unstable criminals; and the men discover that the staff is not very cooperative with the lot. Teddy religiously looks into the matter and suspects foul play after finding some underlying clues. He starts experiencing severe headaches along with nightmares, and breaks certain rules to get to the bottom of the case. The revelations that follow are unexpected and jaw dropping. The movie features Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo and Sir Ben Kingsley, among others.
Streaming on Netflix
Dunkirk (2017)
The war film follows the events leading up to the evacuation of British, French and Belgian soldiers from the town of Dunkirk in France during World War II. An evacuation ship, which is almost completely occupied and ready to depart, is sunk by the German bombers. With the Royal Navy not being able to send more vessels in time, civilian British sailors are ordered to get the soldiers to safety. The film shows the events via three perspectives: land, sea and air, each starting from a different point in time.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
The Prestige (2006)
A unique story of rival stage performers, The Prestige revolves around Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale), who work as helpers for a famous magician. Their mentor, John Cutter (Michael Cain), is an engineer who designs stage magic illusions. Initially good friends, Robert and Alfred develop a bitter relationship after the former's wife is killed in a failed water tank trick. He accuses Alfred of tying her hands in with a complicated knot that she couldn't open in time. The two begin their separate careers as magicians, each trying to one-up the other by any means. Their aim to be the best leads them down dark paths, resulting in hazardous consequences.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Joker (2019)
A grounded and eerily realistic take on the famous DC Comics villain, this film narrates the story of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a washed-out comedian who struggles to make ends meet. He works as a party clown and lives with his elderly mother. Arthur struggles with mental health issues, one of which causes him to laugh hysterically in pressure situations, regardless of how he feels. He tries to cope, using medication and by seeing a therapist funded by social services. Eventually, things spiral further in his life as he is abused, bullied and shunned by society. The injustice he faces as a 'nobody' slowly begins his transformation into the manic Joker.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) is a child psychologist who faces a terrible situation when a former patient appears at his house. The man accuses Malcolm of failing him, shoots him, and commits suicide. Months later, Malcolm starts treating a young boy named Cole (Haley Joel Osment), who claims he can see dead people just like the living ones and can't tell the difference between them. Initially labelling him as delusional, Malcolm realises that the child is telling the truth and helps him use this ability for good. As the story progresses, Malcolm unveils a truth that is as shocking to him, as it is to the audience.
Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar
Cloud Atlas (2012)
Spread over 500 years, Cloud Atlas depicts the lives of six people living in different periods of time. Starting from 1849 and leading to a futuristic 2321, the narrative threads together their actions and the impact they have on the lives of their loved ones. The tales include a nuclear power plant conspiracy, a sham about a publisher, a clone in Korea, a tribe in dystopian Hawaii and more.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Birdman (2014)
Michael Keaton plays Riggan Thomson, a has-been actor formerly known for playing a superhero called Birdman in a '90s trilogy. As he struggles to gain relevance again, he constantly interacts with his character's voice inside his head, and frequently imagines himself using superpowers in real life. The voice is a negative influence and often criticises his actions and of those around him. Riggan gets a new chance at fame after he is cast in a play being produced by his best friend. The events in his life unfold peculiarly thereafter, blurring the lines between his imagination and reality.
Streaming on Netflix
Triangle (2009)
Jess decides to take her son Tommy, who is dealing with autism, on a boat trip along with her friend Greg. But she eventually turns up alone at the harbour in Florida and tells Greg that Tommy is at school. Aboard the boat, she meets Greg's friends who join them for the sail. A series of unfortunate events cause their boat to capsize and they get on a seemingly deserted ship near the radio for help. Things start getting confusing as Jess experiences déjà vu. Onboard the vessel, the group is hunted and murdered by a mysterious person. As Jess tries to uncover the mystery, she falls upon a sight which defies all logic.
Available to buy on Amazon Prime Video
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
The film plays with the idea that an unidentified piece of technology of alien origin was placed on earth in Africa, triggering evolution on the planet. Millions of years later when humankind has inhabited the moon, a similar monolith is discovered buried in the lunar surface. When they examine the monolith, it sends a signal to the ones who placed them and informs them of humanity's advancements. Now, humans must contact the monolith placers to achieve the next unknown stage of evolution. However, computers equipped with artificial intelligence are in the race to achieve the same prize.
Streaming on Netflix
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