20 Weird Movies for Those Who Like Their Movies Strange

Do you ever get sick of watching the standard Hollywood movie and crave something a little different? Perhaps even something a little weird? Well, we have good news for you. Despite the number of rom-coms, actioners, and dramas that fill the multiplexes, there is a host of weird movies well worth investigating. 

Weird movies run the whole gauntlet of film genres. While they often fall into the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy categories, there are plenty of weird movies that don’t involve aliens or monsters. Many of these bizarre films are about normal folk in extraordinary circumstances or people who are pushed to the edge due to their surroundings. And while you might associate weird with bad, that’s not the case, with many weird films winning high-profile awards at the likes of the Cannes Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival. 

While films like Stanley Kubrick’s Eraserhead and Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse are more on the mainstream side of things, there are plenty of weird movies on this list you probably haven’t heard about. So grab the popcorn, crack open a beer, and prepare to get freaked out by these weird and wonderful movies. 

20 Weird Movies for Those Who Like Their Movies Strange

1. Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)

This horror film stars a barely clothed Jake Gyllenhaal as a weird art dealer who has sex with a lot of people. Throw in some murders, strange characters, and creepy moments and you have yourself one of the weirder films of the past decade. 

Gyllenhaal, who never seems to disappoint, is in top form, while the supporting cast of Rene Russo, Toni Collette, Zawe Ashton, John Malkovich, and Tom Sturridge are fantastic. While it doesn’t live up to director and screenwriter Dan Gilroy’s debut movie, Nightcrawler, it’s still worthy of an appearance on this list of weird movies.  

2. Brazil (1985)

Terry Gilliam’s black comedy is a little different from his work with Monty Python. Set in a futuristic world very similar to the one in George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, this movie revolves around low-level government official Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) chasing after a woman he sees in his dreams.

Brazil is visually satisfying with lots of imaginative sets and an ensemble cast that is exceptional, with Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond, Bob Hoskins, Ian Holm, Jim Broadbent, and Michael Palin all fantastically cast. While the themes are heavy and the comedy black, Brazil still feels like a breath of fresh air some 35-odd years later. 

3. Maximum Overdrive (1986)

Loosely inspired by Stephen King’s short story Trucks, this 80s B-grade flick is absolutely bonkers. Not only is it based on a King story, but he also wrote the screenplay and directed it. The plot is absolutely wild, with Emilio Estevez leading a team of townsfolk trying to stop killer machines that have come to life thanks to a comet passing over the town. 

While the premises will most likely pip your interest, just bear in mind it was nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards. King has admitted to being coked out of his mind during filming and has disowned the project and never directed a movie since. But don’t let that deter you from giving this movie a go. Just be prepared to be laughing for the wrong reasons. 

4. Dogtooth (2009)

If you don’t know Yorgos Lanthimos you’re in for a treat. The Greek auteur is responsible for some of the strangest movies of the past two decades. Any of his movies could be considered “weird,” but we are going to pick one of his earlier movies, the psychological drama Dogtooth.

A husband and wife keep their adult children sheltered from the real world, locked inside a walled compound. When the father brings home a woman to have sex with his son, he and the two daughters discover a little more about the outside world than daddy planned and things start to go to shit. This film will have you on edge throughout and the ending will stay with you long after the credits roll. 

5. Swiss Army Man (2016)

Shedding his Harry Potter image once and for all, Daniel Radcliffe stars as a corpse in this wildly weird and funny black comedy. When Paul Dano finds himself stranded on an island, he’s about to end it all when he stumbles across Radcliffe’s corpse.

When he realizes the constantly farting corpse can be used as a type of boat, he rides the corpse across the ocean to the mainland. That’s when things get really weird and Radcliffe learns to talk as he and Dano try and find their way back to civilization. 

This really is a strange movie, but it’s hard not to love the chemistry between Radcliffe and Dano. Not since Weekend at Bernie’s has a dead body been so entertaining, with Radcliffe incredible as Manny the corpse. A truly remarkable movie that has to be seen to be believed. 

6. The Holy Mountain (1973)

Alejandro Jodorowsky doens’t make normal movies, as evident by this surreal 70s flick. Written, directed, produced, co-scored, co-edited, and starring Jodorowsky, The Holy Mountain is an absolute head trip. 

While both John Lennon and George Harrison loved this movie, it’s safe to say they were high while watching. There’s a lot going on in this one, with the main plot about a powerful alchemist leading seven characters to the Holy Mountain. There’s more to it than that, but a lot of it doesn’t make sense in the written form. You just have to watch to find out what it’s all about, and even then you might not really get it. 

But if you enjoy this one, be sure to check out another Jodorowsky classic, El Topo, which is described as a Mexican acid Western. 

7. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1985)

Depending on your view of the world, The Rocky Horror Picture Show might not be that weird in your eyes. But when it was released in the mid-80s, nobody had seen anything like it. A mad scientist who is actually an alien transvestite. Wild musical numbers. Lots of sexual innuendoes. Costumes that leave more to the eye than desired. This movie has it all. 

Based on the stage production of the same name, it’s a pretty good reimagining of the original. Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter is a riot and Susan Sarandon as the virginal Janet Weiss is also terrific. Meatloaf’s cameo is also worth mentioning. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of those weird movies that’s actually really good. 

8. Eraserhead (1977)

Before he jumped off the deep end with Blue Velvet, David Lynch simultaneously terrified and astonished movie critics with Eraserhead. A surreal masterpiece, this black and white movie is a collection of non-sensical scenes that involve lead actor Jack Nance interacting with a wide range of characters, including his mutant baby. 

Widely praised by critics, Eraserhead is often mentioned as one of Lynch’s best movies, although if you can understand what is going on kudos to you. If you like this freakout, be sure to check out Lynch’s other movies, such as Inland Empire, Lost Highway, and Mulholland Drive.

9. Funky Forest: The First Contact (2005)

This Japanese anthology is a surreal movie starring some of the top Japanese talent. The movie features several different stories that all revolve around “Guitar Brother, his randy older sibling, and the pair’s portly Caucasian brother.”

It’s an extremely bizarre movie with a lot of strange references and influences that won’t be for everyone. But if you love foreign films that are really weird, light up a spliff and give Funky Forest: The First Contact a go. 

10. Being John Malkovich (1999)

Only the great Charlie Kaufman could come up with something as weird as Being John Malkovich. John Cusak stars as an office worker who finds a portal that leads inside John Malkovich’s head. Once there he can control the actor (playing himself) for 15 minutes until he is ejected. He soon begins selling the experience while his wife (Cameron Diaz) can fulfill her transgender feelings while in control of Malkovich. 

There are a few other weird things that go on, but as you can tell, this one is a complete mind fuck. It’s also Spike Jonze’s debut feature as a director, which is pretty remarkable considering how fantastic this flick is. Weird yes, worth checking out, definitely. 

11. Naked Lunch (1991)

Based on the novel of the same name, Naked Lunch is another mind fuck that will have you shaking your head in disbelief at what you are watching. Robocop’s Peter Weller is an exterminator who believes his boss is a giant insect who has tasked him with killing his own wife. 

Weird doesn’t even begin to describe this film. It’s certainly not a movie everyone will enjoy, but if you like surrealism and great casts (Weller is joined by Judy Davis, Ian Holm, Roy Scheider, and Julian Sands) then Naked Lunch might be just the appetizer for you. 

12. The Lighthouse (2019)

Horror movie director Robert Eggers delivers a surreal movie about two men working at a lighthouse. Both Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson are incredible as the two men who slowly go crazy when a storm traps them on the island where the lighthouse they are working on is located.

This one has mermaids, sea shanties, and a mind-boggling performance from Dafoe, who is churning out amazing performances of late. Don’t be put off by the black and white footage either, as The Lighthouse is an extremely weird movie that will have you wondering what the hell you just watched as the credits roll. 

13. The City of Lost Children (1995)

French filmmakers Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet deliver a weird and wonderful science fiction flick with The City of Lost Children. A mad scientist kidnaps children to steal their dreams in hopes of slowing down the aging process. Yeah, it’s bonkers but still a great movie with an interesting cast led by Ron Pearlman. 

While it’s pretty in-depth and does require a little bit of thinking, the movie itself is wonderfully shot with some great scenes that will leave you questioning your own sanity. There was even a video game released based on the movie, although it’s not one we recommend seeking out. 

14. Enter the Void (2009)

Gasper Noel makes strange films. It’s just what he does. Enter the Void fits that bill perfectly. The movie revolves around a drug dealer in Tokyo who gets shot. Although dead, we see what happens in the aftermath of his shooting through his eyes. Shot in the first person, you often see things as he would while floating through the sky. 

Noel has called the film a “psychedelic melodrama,” but we think it’s just a weird trip gone bad. Heavily inspired by drugs, the visuals are eye-opening and the direction top-notch. While Noel has certainly courted controversy during his career, Enter the Void is less shock value and more compelling drama. 

15. Gummo (1997)

Harmony Korine’s Gummo is a seriously weird movie set in a town struck by a devastating tornado. It follows several people who live in the town and how they pass the time. These characters find destructive ways to entertain themselves, with the footage seen in the movie focusing on what they get up to spliced with vignettes of other people who live in the area and how they are dealing with things. 

There’s lots of weird stuff that happens as the movie follows the characters through their everyday lives during such a strange time. The movie has a lot of themes throughout and is very challenging. While not many film critics enjoyed Gummo, directors love it, with Gus Van Sant, Werner Herzog, and Lukas Moodysson all big fans. 

16. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)

This Japanese feature is all sorts of crazy. The two main characters are a metal fetishist and another man who begins to transform into a metal being. There are lots of sexually suggestive imagery and violent moments in this very weird film. It’s really hard to explain what happens without actually watching. It’s fucking bonkers. 

To go into detail about the plot will just spoil this movie. You are best to go in with little knowledge and find yourself reeling at what you see on the screen. If you somehow enjoy this mind fuck, good news, as there are two sequels you can check out. 

17. Tommy (1975)

The Who decided to make a rock opera in the 70s that turned out much better than most expected. While it’s still pretty weird, the soundtrack is incredible and well worth watching. The plot surrounds a deaf, mute, and blind kiddie who happens to be a pinball champion. Over the course of the film, he becomes somewhat of a religious leader and a lot of strange things occur. 

As far as rock operas go, they don’t get much better than Tommy. Everybody involved in the movie is sensational and Ken Russell’s directing is magnificent. Then there are the songs, with The Who producing incredible compositions such as “Pinball Wizard” and “I’m Free,” which are some of the group’s best. 

18. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

This classic from Stanley Kubrick is based on Anthony Burgess’s novel of the same name. It’s a violent, scary, and inventive piece of filmmaking starring Malcolm McDowell as a delinquent who goes on a crime spree with his gang in a not-to-distant future. They steal, rape, beat, and generally terrorize people until they are captured and the state tries to rehabilitate them using the experimental Ludovico Technique.

If that doesn’t sound strange enough, McDowell also narrates the film in Nadsat, which is a language created by Burgess that comprises Russian, English, and Cockney rhyming slang. A Clockwork Orange is a visually arresting movie dealing with themes of morality and psychology that remains one of the best book-to-movie adaptations of all time. 

19. The Nines (2007)

Ryan Reynolds stars as three different characters whose lives all interconnect in The Nines. Split into three chapters, one deals with Reynolds as a troubled actor under house arrest, the second features him as a TV executive, while in the third segment he plays a video game designer whose car breakdown in the middle of nowhere. 

It’s hard to know what is going on at times as you watch this one unfold, and it’s not until the very end that things start to make sense. Kind of.  Reynolds is reliable as ever, while great support comes in the form of Melissa McCarthy and Hope Davis, who all play three different characters as well. 

20. Gozu (2003)

Japanese director Takashi Miike is known for his violent and gruesome films that often deal with serial killers and generally horrible people. Gozu is no different. Named after the Japanese urban legend “Cow Head,” the movie begins with a member of the Yakuza being ordered to kill his mentally unstable brother by his boss. What follows is a David Lynch-esque journey that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. 

It’s a slow burn, but don’t let that put you off, as the final act is a blood-soaked body horror splatter attack that will either revolt or delight. Gozu is one of Miike’s more bizarre efforts and isn’t for everyone, but if you like your films weird, you’ll probably dig it.