Trippy movies aren’t just films you watch when you are high on weed or shrooms. They are psychedelic movies that can be just as gripping and mind-bending when you are stone cold sober. These films can be visually arresting or have detailed plots that deal with subjects outside the norm. They cover all genres, from science fiction to horror, and can be big-budget epics or independent thrillers. 

Many trippy films will also have you asking questions about your own reality and trying to decipher what is real and what isn’t. Should you take the red pill or the blue pill?

Whether you want your mind blown by a film starring Jake Gyllenhal and a talking rabbit or a Terry Gillian masterpiece, these 20 trippy movies are sure to sizzle your brain.

1. Enter the Void (2009)

This movie is a visual marvel. Set in fluorescent drenched streets of Tokyo, it follows the spirit of an American drug dealer who is killed. Instead of dying, Oscar’s spirit remains on earth and he is able to view events as they unfold. The psychedelic melodrama also features shots of Oscar floating in the sky and lots of vibrant visuals and lighting. Much of the imagery for Gaspar Noe’s film is inspired by psychedelic drug experiences. Although a box office failure, Enter the Void was well received critically and certainly worth your time.

2. Donnie Darko (2001)

20 years later and Donnie Darko still leaves me puzzled. Richard Kelly’s yet bettered debut is a wild ride about Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal), a troubled teen who dreams about a rabbit, Frank, who informs him the world is going to end. This one has a bit of everything – time travel, horror elements, a great soundtrack, and Patrick Swayze as a creepy motivational speaker.

Not only is the story warped (but also engaging), but Donnie Darko is shot exceptionally well for a guy directing his first film. The cast is also top notch, with Gyllenhall and Swayze joined by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Noah Wyle, Drew Barrymore, Mary McDonnell, and Seth Rogan. Watch this one stoned and you’ll be in a daze for days.