In film, few genres go further out than trippy, mind-bending movies. These films warp reality, break linear storytelling and explore philosophical, existential and surreal themes. Watching these films is like being in an altered state – visuals become dreamlike, timelines get fuzzy and reality cracks. Whether through story or visuals, these movies will transport you into an experience that expands your reality.

Some trippy movies, like Fantasia, use classical music to enhance the surreal experience, integrating orchestral compositions with animated storytelling.

If you want to push the boundaries of your mind, art and reality then trippy films are the medium. In this article, we will dive into six of the trippiest movies on Netflix, handpicked for their ability to spark creativity, challenge your thinking and offer deep insights into existence. Whether you want to get introspective or just entertained, these will blow your mind. Plus, we’ll look at the link between trippy movies and natural psychedelics like mushrooms—both tools for expanding consciousness.

What is a “Trippy” Movie?

Before we get into our list of trippy movies on Netflix, let’s define what makes a movie "trippy.”

At its core, a “trippy” movie has:

1. Disorienting Visuals: These films use unconventional visual styles, often with surreal imagery, distorted perspectives and otherworldly locations.

2. Nonlinear Narratives: Trippy films break away from linear storytelling, with time travel, alternate dimensions and parallel realities.

3. Existential or Philosophical Themes: These films explore the nature of reality, consciousness and identity, making you question your reality.

4. Reality Distortion: A trippy movie will blur the line between dream and reality, creating moments that feel like vivid waking dream states. Hallucinations, altered perceptions and bifurcated narratives are common.

If you’ve ever wondered about reality-bending movies that mirror altered states of mind (traditionally associated with psychedelics or spiritual practices like meditation), then trippy films are an accessible yet deep journey into the surreal.

Okay, now onto the six trippiest movies on Netflix.

On the Chill Side of Netflix: Light but Mind-Bending Films

For those who want to keep it light but expand their minds, Netflix has a selection of films that will challenge your reality but in a fun, relaxing way. These are perfect for a relaxed but visually stimulating movie night.

1. The Midnight Gospel (Animated Series)

• Why it’s trippy: Imagine having a conversation with a space wizard while exploring alternate dimensions—that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what “The Midnight Gospel” offers. Created by comedian Duncan Trussell and Pendleton Ward (the creator of Adventure Time), this animated series combines absurdist visual comedy with deep philosophical discussions on meditation, life and death.

• Themes: Meditation, death, alternate universes, mindfulness.

Deep Dive:

“The Midnight Gospel” is not your average cartoon. Its playful, colourful animation belies the dark and introspective themes that are explored in each episode. Clancy goes on multiverse podcasts with beings from off-kilter realities while existential life lessons are discussed as the characters face apocalyptic-level challenges. Visually, it’s like being inside a glitching kaleidoscope with complex patterns and shifting contexts.

Scenes will jolt you out of your comfort zone and into ambiguity, a cerebral ride like psilocybin-induced reflections on mortality and reality. Episodes will touch on big ideas and blend them with absurd, often surreal imagery that mirrors the scattering of thoughts when you’re in an altered state of consciousness.

2. Cloud Atlas

• Why it’s trippy: Cloud Atlas, based on the novel by David Mitchell, is a sprawling, multigenerational puzzle of a film that spans centuries, genres and interconnected stories. With six different plotlines across different time periods (from a post-apocalyptic future to a historical maritime journey), Cloud Atlas explores reincarnation, free will and the cyclical nature of human history.

• Themes: Time, interconnectedness, reincarnation, cosmic cycles.

Deep Dive:

The nonlinear storytelling is a disorienting yet philosophical way of confronting the human condition. Characters in one storyline appear in another, highlighting the unity of seemingly separate lives. The philosophical undertones suggest a kind of cosmic interconnectedness where every action ripples through time. Visually, the film plays with tropes from different genres—sci-fi, drama and historical epic—leaving you in a state of déjà vu.

If you’re into cosmic cycles, karmic connections and the eternal return, the film is a kind of “mental alignment” with the patterns in human experience and the biosphere—patterns sometimes magnified through psychedelic experiences where time feels circular and slippery.

3. I Lost My Body

• Why it’s trippy: Ever wondered what the universe looks like from the perspective of a severed hand? Based on the novel “Happy Hand” by Guillaume Laurant, I Lost My Body is that journey. The French animated film follows a young man’s severed hand as it goes on a surreal pilgrimage to find its body.

• Themes: Memory, fate, existentialism.

Deep Dive:

This strange animated film combines action and introspection with dreamlike sequences that warp reality. The hand’s journey is mostly silent, using visuals and sound to tell a story that jumps between external and internal landscapes. Human memories flash as surreal moments and the narrative explores loss, fate and the value of personal connection. The hand is metaphorical; it often represents the subconscious drive for unity, like the mind searching for coherence during meditation or psychedelic journeys.

Much like the fantastical narratives involving evil dragons in 'Son of the White Mare,' where the protagonist's mission involves rescuing princesses to restore their ancestral kingdom, 'I Lost My Body' offers a unique take on surreal storytelling.

Visually, the film’s charm comes from its beautiful, inventive cinematography. The animation jumps abruptly from cold, clinical cityscapes to warm, intimate moments. The disorienting nature of a disembodied protagonist makes you question your assumptions about self, existence and memory—like mushroom trips where the boundaries between self and world dissolve.

On the Darker Side of Netflix: Films That Go Deep into the Mind

Some trippy films are entertaining and playful; others are dark and explore the darker recesses of the mind. These films take you to the edge of your psyche—like the challenging or “bad” trips you have with psychedelics—they probe your fears, anxieties and the darker mysteries of human consciousness.

4. Enter the Void

• Why it’s trippy: Filmed in first person, Enter the Void is a trip through life, death and the afterlife set in the neon-lit underworld of Tokyo. Directed by Gaspar Noé and heavily influenced by the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the film puts you in the shoes of the protagonist as he dies and his spirit journeys through realms of existence and consciousness.

• Themes: Death, reincarnation, psychedelic experiences.

Deep Dive:

The visuals alone are enough to get it on this list. Neon lights flash constantly, camera movements spin relentlessly and sequences jump between dream states and reality as you follow Oscar's soul through the vibrant streets of Tokyo after his death. Enter the Void is notorious for making you feel like you’re actually inside a hallucinogenic trip—each scene pulls you deeper into psychedelic dimensions where reality is constantly in flux.

Gaspar Noé uses fluid cinematography to make you see through the eyes of a soul wandering between death and rebirth. The colour modulation, disorienting timelines and repetitive visuals are like the “looping” described in more intense psychedelic experiences. It’s one of the most psychedelic—and emotionally challenging—films ever made and will leave you fascinated and existentially terrified.

5. Midsommar

• Why it’s trippy: Florence Pugh stars in this folk horror that takes place in broad daylight—a subversion of the dark and shadowy horror genre. And it’s punctuated by trippy hallucinogenic sequences. Midsommar explores the rites of passage within a pagan community and looks at the darker psychological themes of cult psychology, ritual sacrifice and the power of communal experience.

• Themes: Cult psychology, ritual, nature, psychedelic visuals.

Deep Dive:

Ari Aster creates a fairytale of horrors where bright visuals collide with deeply disturbing content. The magic mushrooms taken by the community members are key to the plot, as you experience several key moments through the lens of hallucinogenic intoxication. The visuals are intoxicating—mirrors breathe, flowers smile and the sun never sets—as the protagonist becomes slowly consumed by the cult’s communal madness.

The brightness is often more unsettling than the darkness, creating a world where horror can thrive in beautiful surroundings. The visually hallucinatory sequences in Midsommar will resonate with those who have experienced the life-changing beauty and terror of psychedelic trips.

6. The Platform

• Why it’s trippy: The Platform is a high concept dystopian horror/thriller where the social order and food resources are distributed through a tower-like structure. The film shows the disparity between those who live at the top and those who scrape by at the bottom and is a critique of capitalism. The disorienting and confined environment is a nightmarish reality.

• Themes: Socio-economic inequality, survival, capitalism.

Deep Dive:

Visually sparse and oppressive, The Platform uses its confined space to explore power structures. The film’s metaphor for how resources are distributed in real life is how we fight for food and profit in a world of scarcity. The grim, haunting vertical shaft is a dehumanising representation of a stratified society.

The surrealist horror sequences are like being trapped in a nightmare or bad trip. It forces you to confront moral dilemmas and survival instincts, like some aspects of a difficult psychedelic experience make you reflect on societal constructs and personal choices.

Honorable Mentions: Trippy Classics That Are Awesome

These didn’t make our Top 6 but are still awesome in their own right.

Classic Trippy Movies

• Eraserhead (1977) is a surrealist body horror film by David Lynch about parenthood.

• 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is a sci-fi film by Stanley Kubrick about human evolution and technology.

• The Holy Mountain (1973) is a surrealist film by Alejandro Jodorowsky about spiritual enlightenment.

Psychedelic Animated Movies

• Midnight Gospel (2020) is an adult animated series about existentialism and hypnotic soundscapes.

• Fantastic Planet (1973) is a classic animated sci-fi film about slavery, rebellion and intellectual progress.

• Spirited Away (2001) is an animated film by Hayao Miyazaki about identity and self discovery.

Trippy Sci-Fi Movies

• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) is a sci-fi film by Michel Gondry about memory and relationships.

• The Matrix (1999) is a sci-fi film by the Wachowskis about reality and free will.

• Inception (2010) is a trippy sci-fi film by Christopher Nolan about dreams and reality.

Trippy Movies on Netflix

• A Trip to Infinity (2022)—a documentary about infinity and trippy animations.

• Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (2020)—a documentary about psychedelics and celebrities/experts. Nick Offerman hosts the film, bringing his engaging personality to the forefront, which adds warmth and insight to the narrative. Sarah Silverman also contributes with her entertaining and thought-provoking accounts of her psychedelic experiences.

• The Midnight Gospel (2020) is an adult animated series about existentialism and hypnotic soundscapes.

Documentaries

• Fantastic Fungi (2019)—a documentary about fungi and trippy visuals and experts.

• The Mind, Explained (2019) is a documentary series about the human mind and trippy animations and experts.

• How to Change Your Mind (2022) is a documentary series about psychedelics and experts and celebrities.

TV Shows

• Black Mirror (2011) is a sci-fi anthology series about the dark side of technology and mind-bending storylines.

• Love, Death & Robots (2019) is an adult animated anthology series about love, death and robots.

• The OA (2016) is a supernatural thriller series about near-death experiences and interdimensional travel.

What’s the Trippiest Movie Ever (In Modern Times)?

In recent years, filmmakers have continued to push the boundaries of visual storytelling and make movies that challenge our perceptions and explore complex themes. One of the most modern trippy movies is Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, this film is a mind-bending journey through alternate universes with stunning visuals and an intricate narrative about identity, family and the multiverse. It’s a must-watch for anyone interested in modern trippy cinema. It’s ability to blend humor, action, and existential questions into a cohesive and visually stunning film has made it one of the most modern trippy movies ever made.

A Deeper Understanding: How Trippy Movies (and Mushrooms) Expand Consciousness

Both trippy movies and mushrooms (psilocybin) have something in common: they change your perception of reality and expand your consciousness. By exploring self, existence and reality in abstract ways, trippy films and psychedelics allow us to dive deeper into our psyche and question our reality.

Cinema and Psychedelics

Trippy films are artistic representations of altered states of mind—the surreal, non-linear and abstract ways in which mushrooms or psychedelics interact with our consciousness. Fresh perspectives, heightened emotions and expanded sensory experiences are common in both psychedelic journeys and the immersive experience of watching a trippy film.

Mushrooms and Artistic Appreciation

Mushrooms can temporarily change our minds and make us appreciate art in all its forms—film included. Like mushrooms can make us see patterns, colors and relationships in new ways, films that are surreal and mind-bending offer us the same opportunity to think and perceive differently.

When watched on a trip, Enter the Void or Midsommar may hit on a deeper level as we pick up on the symbolic and metaphorical truths. Or mushrooms may give us empathy and we can enjoy the emotional currents in films like I Lost My Body or The Midnight Gospel.

The Psychology of Psychedelic Movies

Psychedelic movies can have a profound impact on the viewer’s psyche, tapping into their subconscious mind and altering their perception of reality. This can be attributed to the way that psychedelic movies manipulate the viewer’s emotions, creating a sense of empathy and connection with the characters and their experiences.

The Science Behind Psychedelic Experiences

Psychedelic experiences, whether induced by movies or other means, are rooted in the brain’s ability to alter its own chemistry and function. When we watch a psychedelic movie, our brain is processing a vast amount of visual and auditory information, which can trigger a range of psychological and physiological responses.

How Psychedelic Movies Affect the Brain

Psychedelic movies can affect the brain in a number of ways, including:

Visual Style in Trippy Movies: Why the Aesthetic Matters for Consciousness Expansion

In mind-expanding films, the aesthetic and visual elements aren’t just supplemental to the story; they are often the story. Cinematography in these films is designed to alter our perceptions—bright, flashing colors, distorted realities, confusing camera angles, and rapid timeline shifts all reflect the fluid, sometimes incoherent nature of our consciousness when we’re in an altered state.

Like a mushroom trip blurs the lines between our senses, these films use sound and visual blending—often synesthetic. Pure sound waves match with color shifts, hypnotic rhythm and sensory overload.

For example, in Enter the Void, the neons and flashing lights are intense like the altered state of consciousness. In Midsommar, the sun-drenched fields and blooming flowers introduce the mind-expanding effects, contrasted with the terrifying visuals within a world of pure light.

Music and Sound Design

Another element that makes these films trippy is the sound design and music. Music underplays a lot of the surreal, disturbing and awe-inspiring moments in many of the films mentioned here.

Unpredictable rhythms, unsettling drones, and hypnotic melodies create sonic spaces in films like Enter the Void and Midsommar. Midsommar folk music with tension and discomfort underpins the calm landscapes with sinister undertones. The drone-like electronic score of Enter the Void matches the choppy visuals and disorients us.

These films blend music with ambient noise to manipulate our emotions, from hypnotic calm to stark discomfort. For mushroom enthusiasts—people who enjoy heightened sensory experiences—sound design can mirror or enhance the journey through different states of consciousness.

Trippy Movie Tips: How to Set It Up

If you want to challenge your mind and get surreal for a few hours try these tips:

1. Set the Scene:

Warm ambient LED lighting or a completely dark room will amplify the visuals. The opening scene in trippy movies is crucial for immediately engaging the audience and setting the tone for the rest of the film.

2. Invest in Sound:

• High-quality headphones or a sound system will put you in the middle of the action.

3. Feed the Body:

• Immersive but light snacks like fruit, herbal tea or nuts to keep you grounded and not overwhelmed.

4. Take Breaks:

• Take time to reflect or meditate between key scenes in more metaphysical films. Pausing to reflect on thoughts, emotions or insights will deepen the experience.

5. Mushrooms (Where Legal):

• For those who want to enhance their cosmic journey, only experiment with mushrooms in legal settings with intention. These films can be visual and emotional markers for the inner journey.

Let These Films Take You Away

Trippy films are not just entertainment; they are an invitation to question reality. Whether you watch during a quiet night of self-reflection or while exploring the deeper realms of your mind where mushrooms are legal, these Netflix films will take you on a journey beyond ordinary consciousness. From existential questions to surreal visual trips, they are a cinematic experience like altered reality, awakening and challenging your perception of the world—films worth the trip!

Conclusion

In conclusion, trippy movies are a unique and fascinating genre of film that can have a profound impact on the viewer’s psyche. By exploring the characteristics of trippy movies, the psychology of psychedelic experiences, and the science behind psychedelic experiences, we can gain a deeper understanding of the power of trippy movies to alter our perception of reality and challenge our assumptions about the world.

Recap of the Best Trippy Movies on Netflix

If you’re looking for a wild ride, here are some of the best trippy movies on Netflix:

• The Midnight Gospel: An animated masterpiece that explores the nature of reality and the human condition.

• A Trip to Infinity: A documentary that delves into the mysteries of infinity and the universe.

• Waking Life: A classic trippy movie that explores the nature of reality and the human condition.

• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: A romantic drama that explores the nature of memory and relationships.

• The Holy Mountain: A surrealist masterpiece that explores the nature of reality and the human condition.

These movies are sure to provide a satisfying trip, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the wild ride!