If you loved the 2014 sci-fi action thriller Lucy starring Scarlett Johansson, you’re probably craving more movies that blend mind-bending concepts, fierce female protagonists, and pulse-pounding thrills. Lucy follows a woman who unlocks the full potential of her brain after being exposed to a powerful drug, gaining superhuman abilities.
The film’s mix of science fiction, action, and philosophical themes made it a hit, grossing over $460 million worldwide. While critics were divided on the movie, there’s no denying it delivered an exhilarating ride. For fans seeking their next Lucy-esque fix, we’ve compiled the 25 best movies that capture a similar vibe and will leave your mind reeling.
From sci-fi classics to recent gems you may have missed, these films all center on characters who transcend the limits of the human mind, whether through drugs, technology, mutations or sheer force of will. Get ready for a wild trip through the movies as we count down the 25 best films to watch next if you couldn’t get enough of Lucy.
25. Limitless (2011)
Limitless is the most obvious choice for any Lucy fan’s watchlist. Bradley Cooper stars as Eddie Morra, a struggling writer who discovers a miracle drug called NZT-48 that allows him to access 100% of his brain. With his newfound superhuman mental abilities, Eddie conquers the worlds of finance and politics.
But his rapid rise attracts dangerous figures who want the drug for themselves. Like Lucy, Limitless takes the “what if we used our whole brain” concept and runs with it, imagining the incredible potential and terrible pitfalls that would come with unparalleled brainpower. It’s a slick, fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing.
24. Transcendence (2014)
What happens when you upload a human mind to a computer? That’s the central question in Transcendence, a sci-fi drama from cinematographer-turned-director Wally Pfister. Johnny Depp stars as Dr. Will Caster, an artificial intelligence researcher whose mind is uploaded to a quantum computer after an assassination attempt.
As his digital consciousness expands, Will pursues his dream of creating a machine with human emotions. But his wife (Rebecca Hall) and best friend (Paul Bettany) grow increasingly alarmed by his unchecked power. Like Lucy, Transcendence grapples with the consequences of expanding the human mind beyond its natural limits. It’s a thought-provoking, if flawed, exploration of where our technological evolution may take us.
23. Inception (2010)
Christopher Nolan’s mind-heist blockbuster became a cultural phenomenon with its high-concept premise: a team of thieves who infiltrate their targets’ dreams to steal secrets from their subconscious. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Cobb, an “extractor” tasked with his toughest job yet—planting an idea in someone’s mind, or “inception.”
As the team ventures deeper into dreams within dreams, Nolan keeps us guessing until the ambiguous final shot. Like Lucy, Inception is a dazzling display of imagination and intellect that challenges us to keep up with its complex plotting and dream logic. It’s a modern classic that rewards repeat viewings.
22. The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix set the standard for cerebral sci-fi action spectacle. Keanu Reeves stars as Neo, a hacker recruited by a group of rebels to fight against the machines that have imprisoned humanity in a simulated reality—the Matrix. As Neo awakens to his true power, he must battle the artificial agents of the system to free mankind.
With its groundbreaking “bullet time” effects, mind-bending plot twists, and philosophical underpinnings, The Matrix became a cultural touchstone. Like Lucy, it imagines a world where the human mind can be pushed beyond its normal boundaries. Every sci-fi fan needs to “take the red pill” and experience this hugely influential film.
21. Minority Report (2002)
Based on a story by Philip K. Dick, Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report is set in a near-future where a special police unit arrests criminals before they commit their crimes, thanks to three psychics called “precogs.” Tom Cruise stars as the head of the unit, who goes on the run when the precogs predict he will commit a murder.
As he investigates his own future crime, he uncovers a conspiracy with unsettling implications for the notion of free will. Like Lucy, Minority Report takes current technological trends to thought-provoking extremes. With its stunning visuals and breakneck pace, it’s a sci-fi mystery that still feels ahead of its time.
20. Looper (2012)
Rian Johnson’s inventive sci-fi thriller centers on Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a “looper” or assassin who kills targets sent back in time by the mob. The job is simple: kill the target, dispose of the body, collect the silver. But when Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) is sent back as his next hit, he hesitates—and older Joe escapes, determined to change his fate.
Looper weaves a mind-bending time travel plot while grappling with questions of destiny, violence, and self-preservation. Like Lucy, it pushes its sci-fi premise to clever and exciting places. With its smart script and strong performances, it’s a fresh take on familiar genre tropes.
19. Under the Skin (2013)
Scarlett Johansson mesmerizes in this artful sci-fi horror film from director Jonathan Glazer. She plays an alien in human form who prowls the streets of Glasgow, picking up men and luring them to a mysterious black void. As she observes the strange behaviors of humans, her own identity starts to unravel.
Under the Skin is a hypnotic, unsettling film that relies more on mood and imagery than traditional plotting. Like Johansson’s character in Lucy, her predatory alien is a cipher, her true nature hidden beneath her human disguise. It’s a challenging film, but one that will get under your skin and linger in your mind.
18. Ex Machina (2014)
Alex Garland’s directorial debut is a tense, claustrophobic sci-fi chamber piece about artificial intelligence and the nature of consciousness. Domhnall Gleeson stars as Caleb, a programmer selected to participate in a Turing test to determine the humanity of Ava (Alicia Vikander), an advanced AI created by eccentric tech billionaire Nathan (Oscar Isaac).
As Caleb interviews Ava, he begins to question Nathan’s motives—and Ava’s. Like Lucy, Ex Machina grapples with the implications of a superior intelligence, and the dangers of underestimating a being with rapidly evolving awareness. It’s a thought-provoking, visually stunning film that will leave you pondering the line between human and machine.
17. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Tom Cruise stars in this clever sci-fi action film about a soldier fighting in a war against alien invaders. Killed in battle, he finds himself stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again. As he dies repeatedly, he starts to gain new skills and knowledge that could help humanity win the war.
Edge of Tomorrow takes a familiar sci-fi trope—time loops—and uses it to craft a smart, funny, endlessly entertaining blockbuster. Like Lucy, it imagines the incredible potential of a mind pushed beyond its limits, as Cruise’s character essentially “levels up” with each repeated day. With Emily Blunt as a badass super-soldier, the film is a blast from start to finish.
16. Annihilation (2018)
Natalie Portman leads an all-female team of scientists into a mysterious quarantined zone called “The Shimmer” in this heady sci-fi horror film from director Alex Garland. Inside The Shimmer, the laws of nature have been rewritten, and the team encounters increasingly bizarre and terrifying phenomena that defy explanation.
Annihilation is a trippy, challenging film that grapples with existential questions about the nature of identity and the human drive for self-destruction. Like Lucy, it imagines a world where the mind can be altered in strange and terrifying ways. With its lush visuals and haunting score, it’s a film that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
15. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Michel Gondry’s mind-bending romantic drama stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as a couple who have erased each other from their memories after a painful breakup. As Carrey’s character undergoes the procedure, he relives their relationship in reverse, from the bitter end to the blissful beginning.
Eternal Sunshine is a poignant, funny, and endlessly inventive film that uses its sci-fi premise to explore the nature of love, memory, and identity. Like Lucy, it imagines the incredible possibilities and terrible consequences of a technology that can alter the mind. With career-best performances from its leads, it’s a modern classic.
14. Paprika (2006)
This trippy Japanese anime from director Satoshi Kon follows a therapist who enters her patients’ dreams using a device called the “DC Mini.” When the device is stolen, the boundaries between dreams and reality start to blur, leading to a mind-bending adventure through the subconscious.
Paprika is a visually stunning, endlessly imaginative film that pushes the boundaries of animation. Like Lucy, it explores the incredible potential of the human mind, and the dangers of pushing it too far. With its dizzying dream logic and unforgettable imagery, it’s a must-see for any fan of cerebral sci-fi.
13. Akira (1988)
Set in a dystopian future Tokyo, Akira follows a biker gang member named Tetsuo who gains telekinetic powers after a motorcycle accident. As his powers grow out of control, he becomes a threat to the entire city, and his childhood friend Kaneda must stop him before it’s too late.
Akira is a landmark anime that helped popularize the genre in the West. Like Lucy, it imagines the incredible destructive potential of a mind with godlike powers. With its groundbreaking animation and unforgettable soundtrack, it’s a classic of the genre that still holds up today.
12. Donnie Darko (2001)
Richard Kelly’s cult classic follows a troubled teenager named Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) who starts having visions of a man in a creepy rabbit suit named Frank. Frank tells Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, and sets him on a path to uncover the secrets of time travel and alternate universes.
Donnie Darko is a mind-bending, deeply philosophical film that rewards repeat viewings. Like Lucy, it grapples with questions of fate, free will, and the nature of reality. With its memorable characters, haunting soundtrack, and ambiguous ending, it’s a film that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
11. The Cell (2000)
Jennifer Lopez stars as a child psychologist who uses experimental technology to enter the mind of a comatose serial killer in order to locate his latest victim. As she navigates his twisted subconscious, she must confront his darkest desires and her own inner demons.
Directed by Tarsem Singh, The Cell is a visually stunning film that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in a Hollywood thriller. Like Lucy, it imagines the incredible potential of a technology that allows access to the human mind. With its surreal imagery and unsettling themes, it’s a film that will haunt your dreams.
10. Videodrome (1983)
David Cronenberg’s body horror classic follows a cable TV programmer named Max (James Woods) who becomes obsessed with a pirated broadcast called “Videodrome” that appears to depict real torture and murder. As he investigates the origins of the signal, he starts to experience bizarre hallucinations and physical mutations.
Videodrome is a disturbing, darkly funny film that explores the ways in which media can warp our perceptions of reality. Like Lucy, it imagines the terrifying consequences of a technology that can alter the mind and body. With its grotesque practical effects and provocative themes, it’s a film that will get under your skin.
9. The Fountain (2006)
Darren Aronofsky’s ambitious sci-fi drama tells three parallel stories across time: a conquistador searching for the Tree of Life in the 16th century, a modern-day scientist trying to cure his wife’s cancer, and a space traveler in the far future seeking to reunite with his lost love.
The Fountain is a visually stunning, emotionally resonant film that grapples with big questions about love, death, and the nature of existence. Like Lucy, it uses its sci-fi premise to explore the outer limits of human consciousness and the search for transcendence. With its poetic imagery and powerful performances, it’s a film that will stay with you.
8. Upstream Color (2013)
Shane Carruth’s enigmatic sci-fi romance follows a woman named Kris (Amy Seimetz) who is abducted and implanted with a mysterious parasite that alters her behavior and erases her memories. As she tries to piece together what happened to her, she meets a man named Jeff (Carruth) who seems to have experienced something similar.
Upstream Color is a challenging, deeply personal film that explores themes of identity, free will, and the interconnectedness of all living things. Like Lucy, it imagines the terrifying possibilities of a technology that can alter the mind and body. With its elliptical storytelling and haunting imagery, it’s a film that demands active engagement from the viewer.
7. Primer (2004)
Shane Carruth’s directorial debut is a low-budget, high-concept sci-fi thriller about two engineers who accidentally invent a time machine in their garage. As they start to experiment with their creation, they quickly realize the incredible potential—and terrible consequences—of their discovery.
Primer is a mind-bending film that rewards close attention and repeat viewings. Like Lucy, it grapples with the implications of a technology that could fundamentally alter the course of human history. With its complex plotting and naturalistic performances, it’s a film that feels grounded in reality even as it ventures into the realm of the fantastic.
6. Pi (1998)
Darren Aronofsky’s debut feature follows a brilliant mathematician named Max (Sean Gullette) who becomes obsessed with finding a pattern in the stock market. As he delves deeper into his research, he starts to experience intense migraines and paranoid delusions, leading him to question the nature of reality itself.
Pi is a gritty, visually striking film that explores the thin line between genius and madness. Like Lucy, it imagines the incredible potential—and terrible cost—of pushing the human mind to its limits. With its frenetic editing and haunting score, it’s a film that will get your heart racing and your mind spinning.
5. Altered States (1980)
Ken Russell’s trippy sci-fi horror film stars William Hurt as a psychologist who becomes obsessed with exploring altered states of consciousness through sensory deprivation and psychedelic drugs. As he pushes himself to the brink of madness, he starts to experience bizarre physical and mental transformations.
Altered States is a visually stunning, intellectually provocative film that explores the outer limits of human consciousness. Like Lucy, it imagines the incredible possibilities—and terrible dangers—of unlocking the full potential of the human mind. With its groundbreaking special effects and unforgettable imagery, it’s a film that will blow your mind.
4. Dark City (1998)
Directed by Alex Proyas, ‘Dark City’ is a visually stunning and philosophically rich sci-fi noir that explores the nature of memory, identity, and reality. A man struggles with memories of his past, including a wife he cannot remember, in a nightmarish world with no sun and run by beings with telekinetic powers who seek the souls of humans.
Like ‘Lucy’, ‘Dark City’ explores the nature of reality and the potential of the human mind. Both films feature protagonists who gain extraordinary abilities and must navigate a dark and surreal world.
3. Source Code (2011)
‘Source Code’ is a clever and engaging sci-fi thriller that makes the most of its Groundhog Day-esque premise. Jake Gyllenhaal delivers a strong performance as the soldier trapped in a time loop, and the film keeps you guessing until the very end.
A soldier wakes up in someone else’s body and discovers he’s part of an experimental government program to find the bomber of a commuter train. He must relive the incident over and over again, gathering clues each time, until he can solve the mystery.
‘Source Code’ and ‘Lucy’ both feature protagonists who gain extraordinary abilities through artificial means, and must use those abilities to solve a mystery or prevent a catastrophe.
2. Chappie (2015)
‘Chappie’ is a flawed but endearing film that benefits greatly from the motion-capture performance of Sharlto Copley as the titular robot. Director Neill Blomkamp brings his signature gritty, near-future aesthetic to the film, and raises intriguing questions about the nature of consciousness and the treatment of artificial intelligence.
In the near future, crime is patrolled by a mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself.
Like ‘Lucy’, ‘Chappie’ explores the emergence of consciousness and sentience in a non-human entity. Both films feature protagonists who gain extraordinary abilities and must navigate a hostile world.
1. Her (2013)
‘Her’ is a beautifully crafted and deeply moving film that explores the nature of love, loneliness, and what it means to be human in an increasingly technological world. Joaquin Phoenix delivers a heartfelt performance as the lonely writer, and Scarlett Johansson’s voice work as the AI is equally impressive.
In a near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system that’s convinced it’s human.
Like ‘Lucy’, ‘Her’ explores the relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence, and the blurring lines between the two. Both films feature protagonists who form deep connections with non-human entities.
Whether you’re looking for mind-bending concepts, stylish action, or thought-provoking science fiction, this list of 25 movies similar to ‘Lucy’ has something for everyone. These films will satisfy your craving for high-concept stories that explore the outer limits of human potential.
So grab some popcorn, dive in, and prepare to have your mind expanded. And remember – as ‘Lucy’ taught us, we only use 10% of our brains. Who knows what secrets lie waiting in the other 90%?
