The 20 best trippy movies and TV shows on Netflix right now
Choose from Oscar-winning multiverses and mind-boggling animation.
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'Oldboy'; 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'; 'Midnight Gospel'Psychologist and author Timothy Leary originally coined the phrase “turn on, tune in, drop out” to describe the transformative power of psychedelics. In the age of streaming, that tagline has become more literal than ever before; when you’re on your own substance-laced voyage, a good movie or TV show hits that much harder.
Of course, your choice of entertainment determines whether you have a good trip worthy of Cheech and Chong or a nightmare like the original Willy Wonka boat sequence. To make sure you don’t stream the digital equivalent of brown acid at Woodstock, keep reading to discover the best trippy movies and TV shows on Netflix right now.
A Trip to Infinity (2022)
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'A Trip to Infinity'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
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
Related content: Behind Her Eyes director breaks down the series' shocking twists
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
Related content: Every Black Mirror episode ranked
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
Related content: The best horror series on Netflix
Bullet Train (2022)
Many great trippy movies eschew tight plots in favor of colorful worlds full of equally colorful characters — which Bullet Train has in spades. Brad Pitt plays an unconventional career criminal whose quest to retrieve a briefcase of cash is sidelined by gangsters, assassins (Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry), and fancy toilets. EW’s critic said it best, writing, “Bullet Train doesn't have a destination, really, or a moral imperative other than mayhem. But it's got a ticket to ride.” —C.S.
Where to watch Bullet Train: Netflix
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: David Leitch
Cast: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Sandra Bullock
Related content: Bullet Train almost gifted us a Speed reunion between Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock
Carol & the End of the World (2023)
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'Carol & the End of the World'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
Dark (2017–2020)
courtesy netflix
Louis Hofmann and Lisa Vicari on 'Dark'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.
Cast: Dietrich Hollinderbäumer, Maja Schöne, Angela Winkler, Florian Panzner
Related content: Dark: Get an inside look at Netflix's first German series
Entergalactic (2022)
Courtesy of Netflix
'Entergalactic'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
Related content: Kid Cudi brings a new meaning to 'visual album' with Entergalactic
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Winner of Best Picture (and a slew of other Oscars), Everything Everywhere All at Once weaves a multiverse that puts Marvel to shame. We follow Michelle Yeoh’s laundromat owner as she deals with divorce (from Ke Huy Quan), a rebellious daughter (Stephanie Hsu), and an IRS agent (Jamie Lee Curtis). The genre and focus shift into a different dimension with almost every jaunt, but this trippy tale has an emotionally poignant and completely original climax that keeps the affair grounded. As EW’s critic writes about the directors, “Their ambition is palpable and their imagination seemingly unfettered,” while the script “crackles and spins and throws off sparks like a Catherine wheel.” —C.S.
Where to watch Everything Everywhere All At Once: Netflix
Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis
Related content: The 'weird journey' to make Everything Everywhere All at Once
Fantastic Fungi (2019)
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'Fantastic Fungi'Who wouldn’t want to hear Captain Marvel talk about the fungus among us? That’s what’s in store with Fantastic Fungi, a Brie Larson-narrated documentary about all things mushrooms. Experts like Paul Stamets unpack the environmental and medicinal properties of fungi, but the trippiest aspect of the film is its use of gorgeous time-lapses. The result is awe-inspiring and enlightening, giving the viewer a new appreciation for these fungi and their many roles in our world. —C.S.
Where to watch Fantastic Fungi: Netflix
Director: Louie Schwartzberg
Cast: Brie Larson, Paul Stamets, Michael Pollan, Eugenia Bone, Andrew Weil, Giuliana Furci
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
Related content: The wildest celebrity acid trip stories in Have a Good Trip
How to Change Your Mind (2022)
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'How to Change Your Mind'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)
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'Life in Color'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
Related content: The 15 best nature documentaries and docuseries
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
Related content: David Fincher, Tim Miller bringing animation anthology series to Netflix
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
Related content: Adventure Time creator unveils new adult Netflix animated show
Oldboy (2003)
Mary Evans/Egg Films/Show East/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection
Choi Min-sik and Oh Dae-su in 'Oldboy'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
Related content: How the iconic Oldboy hallway fight influenced a generation of Hollywood action
Our Universe (2022)
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'Our Universe'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
Pineapple Express (2008)
Like the perfect hybrid of indica and sativa, Pineapple Express is what happens when a buddy comedy is rolled inside a stoner movie. It’s the tale of a white-collar process server (Seth Rogen) and his weed dealer (James Franco) who are on the run after witnessing a thug and crooked cop commit a murder. EW’s critic was especially keen on Franco’s Saul, describing him as “an amusing hipster-autodidact — he knows just how to hit a five-dollar word like trifecta. And the more weed Dale smokes, the more Rogen gives him a demented clarity.” —C.S.
Where to watch Pineapple Express: Netflix
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: David Gordon Green
Cast: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Danny McBride
Related content: Best stoner movies: 20 high-rated faves
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
Parrish Lewis/Netflix
From left: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx in 'They Cloned Tyrone'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
Related content: Jamie Foxx and John Boyega put a stylish spin on government conspiracies in They Cloned Tyrone
Vivarium (2019)
The horrors of suburbia have been well-documented, but never quite like Vivarium, a delightfully strange, mint-tinted thriller starring Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots. When a young couple look at a home in a mysterious new development, they find themselves trapped in a labyrinth of identical houses with a baby boy and a note that reads, “Raise the child and be released.” While Vivarium doesn’t always tread lightly with its themes, the nuanced performances of Eisenberg and especially Poots keep it feeling fresh. But perhaps the most impressive aspect of the film is its production design, which, according to director Lorcan Finnegan, was inspired by Ireland’s “ghost estates,” giant housing developments that were abandoned after the 2008 economic crash, with only a couple of people living there at a time. —Janey Tracey
Where to watch Vivarium: Netflix
Director: Lorcan Finnegan
Cast: Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg
Related content: Imogen Poots (the actress) meets Imogen Poots (the pig) on Sam Neill's farm
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