The 20 best trippy movies and TV shows on Netflix right now

A Trip to Infinity (2022)

A hallmark of a good trip (be it physical or pharmaceutical) is obtaining a fresh perspective. That’s the goal of this documentary, in which Jonathan Halperin and Drew Takahashi explore the abstract concept of infinity. Their approach utilizes equal parts physics and philosophy, and by the time the credits roll, you may have more questions than answers. Nonetheless, the endlessly entertaining movie is a trip worth taking. —Chris Snellgrove

Where to watch A Trip to Infinity: Netflix

Directors: Jonathan Halperin, Drew Takahashi

Cast: Alan Lightman, Brian Greene, Stephon Alexander, Steven Strogatz

Bad Trip (2021)

Eric André has made a career out of making people extremely uncomfortable in the name of comedy, and he’s at his best in the movie Bad Trip. A hidden camera comedy prank movie in the style of Jackass or Bad Grandpa, Bad Trip is about Bud and Chris (André and Lil Rel Howery), two friends who take a road trip from Florida to New York City in search of a girl Chris likes (Michaela Conlin), while struggling to evade Bud’s criminal sister (Tiffany Haddish), whose car they stole.

The movie is a trip to watch, and according to André, even more of a trip to film. (See: his interview with EW where he talks about how one particular prank in the movie almost got Howrey killed.) A nice addition to the prank-tertainment genre, Bad Trip is fun, funny, and, at times, even heartwarming. —Ilana Gordon

Where to watch Bad Trip: Netflix

Director: Kitao Sakurai

Cast: Eric André, Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany Haddish, Michaela Conlin

Behind Her Eyes (2021)

Your mileage may vary, but we at EW love trippy stories that veer in unexpected directions, and Behind Her Eyes is one such show. At first, the tale of a woman (Simona Brown) who starts sleeping with her boss (Tom Bateman) while navigating a strange relationship with his wife (Eve Hewson) might sound like a lurid Lifetime drama. However, the series soon becomes a mind-boggling supernatural thriller that’s a delight to dissect. —C.S.

Where to watch Behind Her Eyes: Netflix 

Cast: Eve Hewson, Tom Bateman, Simona Brown, Robert Aramayo

Black Mirror (2011–present)

Black Mirror might be the optimal trippy anthology show if (and only if) you don’t mind some occasional bad vibes. The throughline in this series is examining how technology exacerbates the worst parts of society and human nature, painting a bleak reflection of our present reality through razor-sharp sci-fi stories. Episodes run the gamut from memory implants gone awry to astronauts committing familicide from space, though EW’s writer notes that some installments have a “dash of faithful techno-optimism” that stoners may welcome as a change of pace. —C.S.

Where to watch Black Mirror: Netflix

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Hayley Atwell, Jon Hamm, Anthony Mackie, Daniel Kaluuya, Salma Hayek

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)

As it turns out, the only thing missing from the British anthology series, Black Mirror, was options. In Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, the TV show gets a movie makeover, but with a twist: The film was shot in the style of a Choose Your Own Adventure novel, and viewers can customize their viewing experience through their scene selections.

Centered around a young programmer named Stefan (Fionn Whitehead), Bandersnatch follows Stefan's journey in developing a video game for a famous gaming company, which puts him under a great deal of mental and emotional stress, and results in one of ten main endings. Black Mirror is beloved for its eldritch and tech-focused content, and Bandersnatch keeps that tone alive, using the main storyline to explore themes like free will and mind control, even as the viewers' choices drive the plot forward. —I.G.

Where to watch Black Mirror: Bandersnatch: Netflix

Director: David Slade

Cast: Fionn Whitehead, Will Poulter, Craig Parkinson, Tallulah Rose Haddon, Catriona Knox

Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021)

To understand the taste of Brand New Cherry Flavor, imagine going up to the Hollywood soda fountain and filling your cup with equal parts David Lynch and Diablo Cody. The series is about a woman (Rosa Salazar) trying to get a big break directing her first film, but when a manipulative misogynist deceives her, she ends up putting a very real curse on him. The line between reality and cinema twists and turns from there, delving into a kind of #MeToo-inspired surreality. —C.S. 

Where to watch Brand New Cherry Flavor: Netflix

Cast: Rosa Salazar, Catherine Keener, Eric Lange, Manny Jacinto, Jeff Ward

Carol & the End of the World (2023)

It’s the end of the world, and I feel…nothing? That’s the premise of this trippy series, following Carol (Martha Kelly) as she sinks into the mundane joys of life while everyone else is partying like…well…it’s the end of the world. Another planet is about to collide with Earth, and most of humanity is living like it’s the first act of a frat comedy film. Carol, on the other hand, craves routine and finds it with the help of a coworker (Laurie Metcalf) and friend (Gillian Jacobs), leaving audiences to debate the meaning of their own lives. —C.S.

Where to watch Carol & the End of the World: Netflix

Cast: Martha Kelly, Beth Grant, Lawrence Pressman, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Laurie Metcalf, Gillian Jacobs

Dark (2017–2020)

Dark is unlike anything else on television. The bleak German sci-fi series begins in the modern era with a concerned town searching for missing children, but a nearby wormhole brings in some time travel elements that make everything more complex and captivating. Though the premise is quite serious, the plot is a trippy treat, serving up a mystery that spans three generations and glimpses at the ever-changing future. —C.S.

Where to watch Dark: Netflix

Cast: Dietrich Hollinderbäumer, Maja Schöne, Angela Winkler, Florian Panzner

Entergalactic (2022)

Serving up eye candy and ear candy, Entergalactic is an animated companion piece to Kid Cudi’s album of the same name, painting an electric, eclectic world in the style of the Spider-Verse movies. The plot involves a young artist (Scott Mescudi) who falls hard for the girl next door (Jessica Williams), while Kudi’s music and stunning visuals color their love in cosmic shades. —C.S.

Where to watch Entergalactic: Netflix

Director: Fletcher Moules

Cast: Scott Mescudi, Jessica Williams, Ty Dolla Sign, Timothée Chalamet

Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (2020)

It may be a little on the nose, but what makes for a better trippy film than your favorite celebs talking about tripping? Host Nick Offerman brings his usual impish warmth to this Netflix documentary, but the real draw is hearing famous people describe their own journeys (sometimes good, sometimes bad, always memorable) with psychedelic drugs. Of particular note is seeing dearly departed stars (including Anthony Bourdain and Carrie Fisher) share their stories — and hilarious wisdom — with us once more. —C.S.

Where to watch Have A Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics: Netflix

Director: Donick Cary

Cast: Nick Offerman, Carrie Fisher, A$AP Rocky, Nick Kroll, Natasha Lyonne, Ben Stiller 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

When Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was first released, EW’s critic at the time wrote that the film “may be the first movie I’ve seen that bends your brain and breaks your heart at the same time.” Joel (Jim Carrey) meets a stranger named Clementine (Kate Winslet) — only she’s not a stranger. She’s his ex-girlfriend, and she chose to undergo a surgery to have her memories of Joel and their time together clinically expunged from her brain. Realizing what she’s done, Joel decides to do the same.

Their relationship is showcased through a series of memories that are being erased, and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman cleverly explores the lengths to which people will go to get rid of their pain, even if it means taking the pleasure with it. Beautifully acted, constructed, and with a whimsical streak of sci-fi woven in, there’s nothing else quite like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. —I.G.

Where to watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Netflix

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Michel Gondry

Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson

How to Change Your Mind (2022)

While some trippy shows have a more playful bent, How to Change Your Mind takes the topic of psychedelics very seriously. Sure, it focuses on things like LSD and MDMA, but rather than extol their recreational benefits, this docuseries (based on the book of the same name by Michael Pollan) sees the author explain the history of drug use in therapeutic settings. The title is quite literal; no matter what state you’re currently in, you’ll learn how the right drugs could literally change your mind. —C.S. 

Where to watch How to Change Your Mind: Netflix

Cast: Michael Pollan

Life in Color (2021)

If you’re a nature documentary lover, then you know that anything hosted by David Attenborough is the real deal. Life in Color clocks in at only three episodes, making this miniseries more of a visual snack than an entire buffet. However, it’s a satisfying treat that explores how animals use color to navigate their daily lives and survive deadly encounters. In a world where wildlife docs are a dime a dozen, this niche focus stands out from the herd. —C.S.

Where to watch Life in Color: Netflix

Cast: David Attenborough

Love, Death + Robots (2019–present)

This futuristic anthology series produced by David Fincher sees a revolving door of animators craft thought-provoking shorts. Love, Death + Robots was originally conceived of as a reboot of the ‘80s midnight movie Heavy Metal, and it succeeds as a successor by making dystopia look as stylish as it is sad. Robots might be a major focus of the title, but like the best sci-fi works, this series also emphasizes the vulnerable human elements embedded in each story. —C.S.

Where to watch Love, Death + Robots: Netflix

Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Topher Grace, Troy Baker, Josh Brener

The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

Children were born and grew into legal adults in the years since the last Matrix movie was released. But that 18-year gap was well spent; The Matrix Resurrections — directed solely by Lana Wachowski — finds a compelling way to yank the film out of the internet's infancy and into the modern technological era. The stunts are impressive, but it's the romance between Neo and Trinity (Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss) that both revives the franchise and elevates it to heights that Reloaded and Revolutions could only ever dream of.

Neo — who now goes by the name Thomas Anderson — has developed several successful video games based on his distant memories of the Matrix, but his inability to distinguish between dreams and reality has him running to his therapist for help. Well worth a watch, The Matrix Resurrections reminds us why we loved getting red-pilled the first time, or, as our reviewer puts it, "All that's old is Neo again." —I.G.

Where to watch The Matrix Resurrections: Netflix through Nov. 30

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Lana Wachowski

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff

Midnight Gospel (2020)

The concept behind Midnight Gospel is trippy in and of itself. This series takes audio from the Duncan Trussell Family Hour podcast and, through animated direction by Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward, turns everything into a navel-gazing voyage from hell (or heaven, as the tone turns on a dime).

It’s difficult to sum up this surreal show, but EW’s critic took a crack at it, writing, “It's an action-packed cartoon about humanity's spiritual reckoning with reality, and a meditative odyssey across hallucinogenic science-fictional fantasies. There are sequences bone-dripped with hard-R freakout imagery — but the vibe is whimsical, full of freewheeling conversation.” —C.S.

Where to watch Midnight Gospel: Netflix

EW grade: A (read the review)

Cast: Duncan Trussell, Phil Hendrie, Drew Pinsky, Damien Echols

Oldboy (2003)

Oldboy is a great trippy movie as long as you’re willing to wade into dark territory. Director Park Chan-wook carefully constructs the story of a kidnapped man (Choi Min-Sik) who is freed after 15 years in isolation and seeks bloody revenge on his mysterious captor while searching for his daughter. Equal parts transformative and gruesome, this legendary cult film isn’t for the faint of heart.

Even so, EW’s critic notes, “The brio and glee that Korean bad-boy filmmaker Park Chan-wook brings to the gaudy psycho-shockeroo Oldboy is undeniable, even impressive.” —C.S.

Where to watch Oldboy: Netflix

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Park Chan-wook

Cast: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jung

Our Universe (2022)

Rather than focusing on plants or animals, this docuseries explores how Earth is connected to billions of years of cosmic history and development. With the help of host Morgan Freeman, you’ll discover the link between things like starlight and your own body. For veteran trippers with a cosmic bent, the Sagan-like wisdom that we’re all made of “star stuff” might be old news. But this series has more than a few surprises, and what trip could be complete without narration from the voice of God himself? —C.S.

Where to watch Our Universe: Netflix

Cast: Morgan Freeman

Sausage Party (2016)

A movie that could be described as putting the rated R in Pixar (while possessing no affiliation with the production company) Sausage Party is adult animation at its silliest. A movie about anthropomorphized grocery store items that doesn’t shy away from low-hanging fruit, the film’s story was conceived by Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and Evan Goldberg, and its cast includes a heavy sampling of Judd Apatow favorites (Apatow himself is not involved).

In their review, EW's critic welcomes audiences to "to the wildly crass, intermittently brilliant world of Sausage Party — a sort of Secret Life of Groceries exposé that is literally bananas. And also nuts." A foul-mouthed, sex-filled comedy — what did you expect given the name? — Sausage Party is not for the whole family, but it’s worth putting in your grocery cart and checking out. —I.G.

Where to watch Sausage Party: Netflix through Sept. 22

EW grade: B (read the review)

Directors: Conrad Vernon, Greg Tiernan

Cast: Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd, Nick Kroll, David Krumholtz, Edward Norton, Salma Hayek

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

Good trips and conspiracy theories go hand in hand, but what if surreal comedy was added to the mix? That’s the vibe in They Cloned Tyrone, a film that brings together powerhouse talents Jamie Foxx and John Boyega. When Boyega’s character is fatally shot and then shows up healthy (albeit slightly amnesiac), it kicks off an investigation into a government cloning project targeting Black people. The movie has some real things to say about race and government exploitation, but it never loses its comic appeal amid the weighty messages. —C.S.

Where to watch They Cloned Tyrone: Netflix

Director: Juel Taylor

Cast: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier, Kiefer Sutherland