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10 Movies About Parallel Universes For Hardcore Sci-Fi Fans

December 13, 2022
movies about parallel universes

Many movies in the sci-fi genre have taken to the fascination of parallel universes even before researchers have been able to prove their existence. Movies often transport the viewers to a different reality, and such films expand the imagination and possibilities of a person. Parallel universes have been a trope of science-fiction movies and some other genres. However, they may just be regular old fiction if NASA’s discovery bears out. For your consideration, here are some great movies about parallel universes that you might enjoy!

List of Movies About Parallel Universes

  1. Everything Everywhere All at Once 
  2. Predestination
  3. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
  4. Another Earth
  5. Comet
  6. The Butterfly Effect
  7. The Matrix
  8. Mr Nobody
  9. Coraline
  10. Coherence

1. Everything Everywhere All at Once  (2022)

The recently released Everything Everywhere All At Once has been gathering favourable reviews from critics and viewers. This film is an absurd sci-fi comedy-drama film that follows the iconic Asian actress Michelle Yeoh as a woman called Evelyn Wang. Wang is an immigrant who runs a laundromat somewhere in America and is being audited by the IRS. Check out more movies like Everything Everywhere All At Once.

The first part of the film is like any usual realistic film. However, when Wang enters the multiverse space, the film turns into cosmic chaos of prefiltering timeliness and possibilities. Through dangers and silliness Wang zigzags many realities with hotdog fingers, martial arts, raccoon chef, and so much more. This plot is full of twists and makes for a great choice for movies about parallel universes.

2. Predestination (2014)

Created by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig, Predestination is a mind-bending Sci-fi movie. Ethan Hawke plays a time-travelling agent who is assigned his final assignment before retirement. His job is to go back and prevent a bomb attack in New York in 1975. Sarah Snook, who has now become popular for her role in Succession, plays the role of an unmarried mother in this movie. 

The movie’s bizarre and intertwined nature of story-telling develops a unique experience for the viewers. For his final assignment, the temporal agent must catch the one criminal that has slipped his tail for years. Without going further into detail about the movie’s daring plot and great acting performances, it’s fair to say that Predestination will thrill if you’re a fan of movies about parallel universes.

3. Spiderman: Into The Spiderverse (2018)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is an impressive American computerised animated film based on popular Marvel superhero comics. Everyone knows about Peter Parker’s Spider-Man; this animated film looks at a universe where a kid called Miles Morale gets bitten by a radioactive spider and gains powers similar to those of Peter.

Miles is a young boy trying to adjust to his life in a prep school. When Miles is met with his alternate self, he gets entangled in an epic battle to save the multiverse. The visuals of this movie are, dare I say, more antic and cooler than the ones you might have seen in other movies about parallel universes. Be sure to check out Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. 

4. Another Earth (2011)

Another Earth is quite a gem in a lot of ways but wrapped in an enigma. It’s a very sophisticated approach to a familiar theme. At its best, it is original and affecting and one of the best American independent efforts this year. On the night of the discovery of a duplicate Earth in the Solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident. 

An interesting narrative device of a 2nd earth that serves as a reflective metaphor for a type of anguish Brit’s character undergoes following a heart-ripping tragedy. Having first seen shows like The OA, I can see how this was the root of their spiritual and philosophical journey. This is a beautiful movie about human regret and a wish to have a chance to change the past. A must-watch if you’re searching for movies with parallel universes.

5. Comet (2014)

The film Comet was released with The Independent Film Channel (IFC) in 2014. 
After meeting by chance at a meteor shower, pessimist Dell and insightful Kimberly begin a six-year journey of a relationship. The film is shown through glimpses of parallel universes and flashbacks that are not chronologically ordered, showing the viewer the ebb and flow of their intricate relationship.

I find myself revisiting this film; it follows, maybe haunts me. Justin Long’s heartache performance is not for his usual comical audience but still entertaining nonetheless. The symbolic locations and colours, dream-like mindsets, and perception of reality are all tested like an imitation of falling in love. The intangible concepts leave you gasping for more. The subtle deja vu makes us all feel like we’ve been here before. Comet is a highly underrated gem in the genre of parallel universe movies. 

6. The Butterfly Effect (2004)

The Butterfly Effect movie is based on the idea that even the smallest changes have unusual effects on complex systems like life. The main character Ewan Trebon is played by Ashton Kutcher. A college student, Trebon experiences incredibly painful headaches all throughout his life which often lead to blackouts. Ewan discovers that while he is unconscious, he can travel in time and change the reality for people close to him who have gone through traumatic events. 

However, it is discovered that changes he makes to previous events drastically turn the present into chaos, leading him to experience terrifying alternate realities. The time-warping illusions of this sci-fi movie are executed well. If you want to watch movies about alternate realities, The Butterfly Effect is worth a watch.

7. The Matrix (1999)

Without a doubt, our first recommendation will be The Matrix. This sci-fi dystopian action film has become a pop-culture classic since its release. The story follows a computer programmer Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves), referred to by his hacking alias as “Neo”. He uncovers a shocking truth about his world that leads him to join a rebellion force of other people freed from ‘The Matrix’ world. 

The Matrix’s revolutionary and mind-bending scenes, like the slow-motion bullets and the ‘blue pill’ and ‘red pill’ have inspired many films that followed. The acting performances, dialogues, and action sequences are worth every praise. I could go on and on about what makes this one of the most defining films of the 2000s. The Matrix is one of the best parallel-world movies out there, be sure to check it out. 

8. Mr Nobody (2009)

Mr. Nobody is a science fiction film that revolves around the multiverse hypothesis and follows a non-linear story of a 118-year-old man called Nemo. He is the last mortal man on earth. Humanity here advances into a quasi-immortal race. Immortals are interested to know about the journey and look into his fading memory, mainly when he was the age of 9, 15, and 34. 

The film explores the idea that every choice can create a different universe. Furthermore, the movie indicates that it could be the protagonist’s choices resulting in alternated paths. This intriguing speculative fiction story of Mr. Nobody should be on your list if you are intrigued by movies about alternate realities. 

9. Coraline (2009)

The film tells the story of its titular character discovering an idealized parallel universe behind a secret door in her new home, unaware that it contains a dark and sinister secret. Henry Selick’s career-best work is for every age group and should be watched by every person to feel the heaviness and the other beautiful side of them.

This will make you cry with its gratitude and thoughtfulness. The stop-motion animation in this movie gave me chills. The way the cinematography was held in focus to make us understand how those small inhumane things mattered to us and every detail. Coraline is my favourite movie about parallel universes; I hope you like it too. 

10. Coherence (2013)

Coherence is a 2013 American surreal science fiction psychological thriller film 
A woman who must deal with strange occurrences following the close passing of a comet. Eight friends at a dinner party experience a troubling chain of events due to the malevolent influence of a passing comet. Check out more movies like Coherence.

This is a microbudget indie film, but it gets deep into the thick of the parallel universes. A passing comet causes quantum decoherence that splits the universe apart. As a dinner party comes to grips with it, they start to suspect some of them are from other universes. This one is a real mind-bender film about parallel universes.

Honourable Mentions 

Here are a few movies about parallel universes that are not a part of the main list, but you should also check them out.

  1. Tron Legacy
  2. Sliding Doors
  3. The Chronicles of Narnia
  4. Donnie Darko
  5. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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