Parallel universes and multiverses are an interesting concept to tackle in art. The idea that there is a universe like ours existing at the same time and under different conditions and rules is pretty fun, although scary, to think about. Sometimes we wonder what would have happened if we had taken a different path in life, or what would have and could have been in other circumstances.
Some stories about parallel universes are some of the coolest sci-fi concepts out there. Wondering about the unknown is generally a bit scary, too, so it’s only right that stories of all kinds and sentiments exist out there. This list will rank the ten greatest movies about parallel universes. These daring efforts are a beautiful mix of potential, some chilling ideas, and a lot of creativity that continue to push science fiction to new heights.
10
‘Another Earth’ (2011)
Directed by Mike Cahill
Brit Marling starred in The OA in 2016, one of the best and most innovative shows about parallel dimensions. However, five years before that, she and her frequent collaborator Mike Cahill co-wrote Another Earth, in which she starred and he directed. Her affinity for telling emotional, understated, but poignant sci-fi stories made Marling one of the most influential sci-fi creators during the 2010s. Another Earth puts its protagonist on a cosmic-sized search for redemption, making the movie less sci-fi and more meditative, but still having to do with parallel realities.
Another Earth follows young Rhoda (Marling), who hits a family with her car after a night of celebration. The husband survives, but the rest of his family doesn’t, and Rhoda serves a four-year sentence in prison. While she’s there, news appears of a scientific discovery and the appearance of another Earth that looks the same as ours. Rhoda sees that as an opportunity to get redemption and provide a new life for her victims. Another Earth may not fully be about parallel universes, but it does rely on their existence; knowing that maybe there is a way out makes people act differently, so the movie is quite thought-provoking.
9
‘Triangle’ (2009)
Directed by Christopher Smith
Triangle is one of the most captivating parallel timeline horror movies of our time, and though it was received with mixed reviews, watching it for the first time really packs a heavy punch. It’s not too scary, but it’s laced with tension and thrills, and once you really catch on, you’ll never watch it the same again. Although learning the plot for the first time ever might ruin the vibe of every next watch, it still has a high rewatchability value for all of its intricacies. Melissa George stars as the lead and elevates Triangle to great heights.
The film follows Jess (George) going to meet her friends for a boat ride. As they enjoy their time, an unexpected storm comes and swings the boat around the water before capsizing it and everyone in it. Jess and her friends see an ocean liner and someone on it, and they board it; once they’re on, though, they realize it’s deserted. Triangle tackles the idea of coexisting alternate realities in a very nauseating but interesting way. If you’re phobic of open water or ships, this movie might not be for you, because that feeling of isolation is amplified really well. If you’re fine with it all, Triangle is a great sci-fi psychological thriller to dive into, pun intended.
8
‘Sliding Doors’ (1998)
Directed by Peter Howitt
Sliding Doors is a more marketable approach to a parallel universe storyline—it’s a rom-com. Stories about other realities are more often than not science fiction, but packing them into a charming romantic movie with elements of comedy and drama is a great way to make wider audiences think about the concept. 1990s darling Gwyneth Paltrow stars as the lead in this English movie that also shows some of the most iconic locations across London. It was also highly influential in pop culture and inspired parodies and homages, like entire episodes of Frasier, Broad City, and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Sliding Doors follows Helen (Paltrow), who gets fired from her PR firm one day. Distraught, Helen’s life takes several turns that make her miss the train home. However, the story then rewinds and makes Helen actually catch the train. The storylines unfold in which Helen’s life changes based on whether she was able to catch the train home or not, showing how different events can lead to different consequences. While the movie is a tad bit depressing, it’s still an interesting one that dabbles with the concept of split realities; the performances are also great.
7
‘The One’ (2001)
Directed by James Wong
Honestly, nothing’s cooler than a slick martial arts movie with great choreography, unless it’s a sci-fi martial arts movie that dabbles in parallel universes and dimensions, such as The One. Ok, it may not be the greatest movie of all time, but Jet Li makes everything so much more entertaining and appealing just for his incredible physicality and unique charm. While this movie was critically panned, people still recommend it because it’s fun, action-packed, and a nice, fresh take on a pretty heavy topic.
The One follows LA County’s deputy sheriff, Gabe Law (Li), who starts experiencing an increase in his physicality and strength without explanation. On the other side is Gabriel Yulaw (also Li), an evil variant of himself from another universe who is seeking all of his parallel selves and defeating them to become the only one with unlimited power. Jet Li portrays nine variants of the character Gabe Law, and the movie feels similar to a recent Oscar winner, Everything Everywhere All at Once, though Li’s characters are pitted against each other.
6
‘Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness’ (2022)
Directed by Sam Raimi
While Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness needed a lot more to be great, it also has a lot of good parts that come together to make something great. It’s a pity it was overly CGI’d and turned into a family movie when the premise is incredibly dark, most notably due to Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). Multiverse of Madness tackles the parallel universes theme effectively and makes it the focal point for the plot. With some subtle horror and camp touches by Sam Raimi, the movie still serves as a good example of a sprawling film.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows Steven Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), who can travel through dimensions; they’re pursuing Wanda Maximoff, who is broken after the unraveling of events in WandaVision and is hopping between dimensions to find the reality she created there. Strange and Chavez need to stop her from destroying the world as they know it while encountering other dangerous enemies from parallel dimensions. The movie was refreshed by Raimi’s touch and is one of the flashiest examples of a movie about other dimensions.
5
‘Mr. Nobody’ (2009)
Directed by Jaco Van Dormael
When thinking about parallel universe movies, Mr. Nobody is likely the first that comes to mind to most people who grew up during the 2000s. This international effort was a massive home video hit and an immediate cult classic. It seems the complex and intertwined narrative was better off viewed at home, and it does warrant a rewatch or two to really allow the viewer to take in everything that happens in it.
Mr. Nobody is set in a distant future, in 2092, and Nemo Nobody (Jared Leto) is the last mortal human on Earth. Lying in his deathbed at 118, Nemo speaks to a journalist, recalling his life. He tells the journalist that, before we are born, we all know the possible paths in our lives but forget them as soon as we’re out of the womb; Nemo claims he didn’t forget and remembers all the alternate versions of his life. This retelling is non-linear and mixes a lot of back and forth; the story is divided into three clear parts, though, following Nemo at ages 9, 15, and 34. Mr. Nobody makes you think; it’s romantic, sad, and beautiful at the same time. This interesting sci-fi film takes us through two and a half hours of all of life’s possibilities.
4
‘Coherence’ (2013)
Directed by James Ward Byrkit
If you’re often finding yourself on underrated sci-fi lists, Coherence will sound familiar. Though it’s been recommended so much that it’s no longer as underrated as it seems, Coherence still deserves a much larger audience because it’s a larger-than-life movie. It’s one of those cerebral sci-fi features that just hits the spot with its plot twist, making you think about it for a long time after you’re done watching. Coherence is also great rewatch material, since it has a lot of elements we can’t notice upon first viewing.
Coherence follows a group of friends gathered at a house party who begin experiencing strange events after a comet passes over Earth. Saying more would be a spoiler, and a movie like this is best gone into with as little information as possible. Just know that, if you like movies like Karyn Kusama‘s The Invitation or the works of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, Coherence is the ideal movie for you. Praised for a greatly developed story and plot, James Ward Byrkit created a movie debut that will be long remembered as one of the greatest parallel universe films.
3
‘Donnie Darko’ (2001)
Directed by Richard Kelly
The story is that Richard Kelly, a newcomer in 2001, wrote a script for Donnie Darko that many studios, producers, and directors liked but never dared to make until Kelly was motivated to direct it himself. Good thing it happened, since the film school graduate created a cult classic that is still referenced and recommended to this day. Donnie Darko wasn’t Jake Gyllenhaal‘s first role, but it was his breakout, which led to a fruitful and rich acting career later on. If you’ve only heard of the movie but not seen it, you’re in for a dark, twisted treat.
Donnie Darko follows the titular character, played by Gyllenhaal, who is a teenager and lives with his parents and sister. Donnie sleepwalks and sees a monstrous giant rabbit called Frank, who tells him the world is ending in 28 days. Donnie continues seeing Frank, who seems to guide him away from death but also into darker behaviors. Explaining how the movie dives into parallel realities might be a spoiler, so go ahead and just press play on it. Warning, though, make sure you watch the director’s cut, which Roger Ebert rated with three out of four stars.
2
‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (2022)
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Everything Everywhere All at Once is a groundbreaking feature because it opened doors for actors of Asian descent to win awards and get the accolades they deserve. Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu were among the first Asian actors to be nominated and win Oscars (though Hsu was only nominated); Yeoh finally got acknowledged for her work on film, and Quan got a career revival of a lifetime. However, this movie wasn’t just exceptional because of how it represented its cast; it’s one of the most exciting and moving features that tackles the parallel universe/multiverse premise.
EEAAO follows a family of Chinese immigrants who own a laundromat; the protagonist is Evelyn Wang (Yeoh), who lives with her husband, Waymond (Quan), and they have a daughter, Joy (Hsu). Evelyn is distant from her family, especially her daughter, and during her visit to the IRS, she begins experiencing strange events. Suddenly, an alternate reality version of Waymond visits her and tells her that every action creates a new parallel universe and that he comes from one of them. Evelyn goes through self-reflection and self-discovery, and also makes peace with her family. The movie, though chaotic and sometimes hard to keep up with, is a messy and beautiful metaphor for mental health, immigrant struggles, family ties, and, really, just love in general.
1
‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (2018)
Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the greatest Marvel movies of all time. That’s a fact many people will freely claim, and not just because of a very tight script and stunning animation, but because it dared to be a stylized animated film in an increasingly CGI-heavy Marvel landscape. There’s a fine line between tacky and tasteful, and while some movies cross into the tacky, Into the Spider-Verse‘s animation is tasteful, innovative, and unforgettable. It’s also a Marvel movie that doesn’t overcomplicate the multiverse premise, instead explaining it well and even making it the best part of the plot.
Into the Spider-Verse follows teenager Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), who gets bitten by a radioactive spider while he’s out with his uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali). As he becomes the next Spider-Man, he realizes Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) has built a machine that will open portals to parallel universes, where he can find his dead wife and son alive. Miles must now use his powers and work with alternate reality Spider-Man variants to stop Kingpin. The film also has a sequel that is worthy of its predecessor; though the first movie was groundbreaking, the sequel still lives up to high expectations.