Christopher Nolan’s 2006 film The Prestige is a masterclass in storytelling and misdirection. Featuring stellar performances by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as rival magicians in 19th century London, the movie keeps audiences spellbound with its complex plot, unreliable narrators, and shocking twists. If you loved The Prestige and are craving more movies that will play tricks on your mind, here are 18 brilliant films that are sure to do the trick.
1. Inception (2010)
Another mind-bending Christopher Nolan film, Inception stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a professional thief who steals corporate secrets by infiltrating the subconscious minds of his targets. The movie’s labyrinthine plot unfolds across multiple layers of dreams within dreams, leaving audiences unsure of what is real. With jaw-dropping visuals and a stellar ensemble cast, Inception is a cinematic puzzle box that rewards repeat viewings.
2. The Sixth Sense (1999)
The Sixth Sense stars Bruce Willis as a child psychologist treating a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who claims to see ghosts. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the supernatural thriller is best known for its shocking twist ending that completely recontextualizes the story. Like The Prestige, The Sixth Sense is a movie that demands to be watched twice, as the clues to its big reveal are cleverly hidden in plain sight.
3. Se7en (1995)
David Fincher’s harrowing crime thriller follows two detectives, played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, as they hunt a serial killer who is staging his murders around the seven deadly sins. With its oppressive atmosphere, bleak cinematography, and gut-punch of an ending, Se7en is a relentlessly dark film. But like The Prestige, it’s also a gripping mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end.
4. The Usual Suspects (1995)
When five criminals meet in a police lineup, they decide to pull a heist together. But the story of how their scheme unfolds, as told by the lone survivor, becomes increasingly convoluted – and the mysterious crime lord Keyser Söze looms large over the whole affair. Featuring an Oscar-winning screenplay and a star-making performance by Kevin Spacey, The Usual Suspects is a neo-noir puzzle that challenges you to separate fact from fiction.
5. The Illusionist (2006)
In 19th century Vienna, a magician named Eisenheim (Edward Norton) uses his powers to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing. But his daring illusions draw the suspicion of the Crown Prince and a dogged police inspector. Like The Prestige, The Illusionist is a period piece that uses stage magic as the backdrop for a captivating tale of romance and mystery.
6. Now You See Me (2013)
Now You See Me follows “The Four Horsemen”, a team of illusionists who pull off daring heists during their sold-out shows, then shower their audiences with the stolen money. As an FBI agent and an Interpol detective try to anticipate their next move, the magicians always seem to be one step ahead. With a star-studded cast and several surprising reveals, this is a fun, fast-paced caper that keeps you on your toes.
7. Death Defying Acts (2007)
This romantic drama focuses on Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) during a 1926 tour of Britain, as he enters into an affair with a Scottish con artist (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who claims to be a psychic. She says she can contact Houdini’s late mother, but her real plan is to swindle the magician out of his money. Death Defying Acts may be a lesser-known film, but it offers an intriguing look at the world of spiritualism and stage magic in the early 20th century.
8. Memento (2000)
Christopher Nolan’s breakthrough film stars Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby, a man with anterograde amnesia who is hunting for his wife’s killer. The movie is presented as two separate narratives – one in color that is told backwards, and one in black and white that moves forwards. As the timelines converge, the truth proves slippery. With its unique structure and unreliable protagonist, Memento is a neo-noir mystery that will have you questioning everything you think you know.
9. Shutter Island (2010)
Martin Scorsese’s psychological thriller stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a U.S. Marshal investigating a disappearance at an isolated hospital for the criminally insane. But as he begins to uncover the island’s dark secrets, his own sanity is called into question. With its Gothic atmosphere, dramatic plot twists, and devastating emotional payoff, Shutter Island is a movie that haunts you long after the credits roll.
10. The Departed (2006)
Martin Scorsese’s The Departed is a twisty crime drama about two moles – one a cop undercover in the mob (Leonardo DiCaprio), the other a gangster working as a police informant (Matt Damon). As they try to expose each other, their fates become inextricably linked. Featuring a labyrinthine plot and an all-star cast, the movie builds to an operatic crescendo of violence and betrayal.
11. Donnie Darko (2001)
After narrowly escaping a freak accident, a troubled teenager (Jake Gyllenhaal) begins having visions of a man in a monstrous rabbit suit who compels him to commit crimes. As Donnie investigates the strange events happening around him, he uncovers a mind-bending mystery involving time travel, alternate universes, and the end of the world. Donnie Darko is a surreal and ambiguous film that has inspired vigorous debate about what it all means.
12. Certified Copy (2010)
From Iranian auteur Abbas Kiarostami, Certified Copy stars Juliette Binoche as a French antiques dealer who attends a lecture by a British writer (William Shimell) in Tuscany. The two go on a drive together and have conversations that call into question the nature of their relationship. Are they really strangers, or are they actually a long-married couple? The film keeps you guessing as it explores themes of authenticity, perception, and the mysteries of human connection.
13. Mulholland Drive (2001)
David Lynch’s mesmerizing neo-noir follows an aspiring actress (Naomi Watts) and an amnesiac woman (Laura Elena Harring) who try to solve a mystery in Los Angeles. But as they pull at narrative threads, the story begins to unravel in strange and unexpected ways. With its lush cinematography, haunting score, and surreal imagery, Mulholland Drive is a fever dream of a movie that resists easy interpretation.
14. Adaptation (2002)
Directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman, this wildly inventive film stars Nicolas Cage as both Kaufman himself and his (fictional) twin brother Donald, as Charlie struggles to adapt a book about orchids into a movie. Blurring the lines between reality and fiction, Adaptation is a hilarious and profound meditation on storytelling, identity, and the creative process.
15. Fight Club (1999)
Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, David Fincher’s provocative film stars Edward Norton as an insomniac office worker who starts an underground fight club with a charismatic soap salesman named Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). But as the club evolves into an anarchist movement, the narrator begins to question his own sanity. Famous for its mind-blowing twist, Fight Club is a subversive satire of masculinity and consumer culture.
16. The Game (1997)
Wealthy investment banker Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) receives an unusual birthday gift from his brother (Sean Penn) – a voucher for a “game” that will change his life. As Nicholas begins to play, he finds himself caught up in a conspiracy that blurs the lines between the game and reality. Directed by David Fincher, The Game is a paranoid thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last shot.
17. Primer (2004)
Shane Carruth’s ultra-low-budget sci-fi film follows two engineers who accidentally invent a form of time travel in their garage. As they perform experiments on themselves, the consequences spiral out of control. With its complex (some might say confusing) plot and hyper-realistic dialogue, Primer is a movie that demands multiple viewings to fully untangle. But its exploration of causality and the perils of unchecked innovation will leave you pondering the implications long after.
18. Timecrimes (2007)
After accidentally traveling back in time one hour, a man finds himself caught in a mind-bending loop as he tries to prevent a series of crimes from happening. But his actions only seem to make things worse, drawing him deeper into a temporal paradox. This Spanish sci-fi thriller from writer/director Nacho Vigalondo is a cleverly constructed puzzle box of a movie that plays with the tropes of time travel in constantly surprising ways.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of The Prestige and its intricate plot machinations, these 18 movies offer similar pleasures. From sci-fi head trips to psychological thrillers to neo-noir mysteries, they all use non-linear storytelling, unreliable narrators, and shocking twists to keep audiences on their toes. So sit back, pay close attention, and prepare to have your mind well and truly bent. And remember – the magic is in the mystery.
