Existential Watching Lists

Not everyone is an avid book worm. In fact, many of us - myself very much included - prefer visual and auditory learning. Films, series, and documentaries which explore existential concepts can be a fantastic alternative to books.​ They are often very thought provoking, deeply considering fundamental aspects of our incredible and complex existence. 

​

Prepare to question the 'truths' that you've lived with, and consider what life could be life from alternate perspectives...Here - in no particular order - is an ever-growing list recommending what to watch when exploring existential ideas. 

​

With thanks to everyone who contributed... keep the recommendations coming!​

 

Existential Film Recommendations

​The Truman Show (1998)

I Heart Huckabees  (2004)

Yes Man (2008)

Cast Away (2000)

Groundhog Day (1993)

Seven (1995)

The Man Who Stole The Sun (1979)

Sliding Doors (1998)

Inception (2010)

Limitless (2011)

Transcendence (2014)

The Matrix (1999)

Bruce Almighty (2003)

Life of Pi (2012)

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2003)

The Invention of Lying (2009)

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Memento (2000)

Shutter Island (2010)

Vertical Limit (2000)

Click (2006)

A Cure For Wellness (2016)

Switch (1991)

Gayby Baby (2015)

High-rise (2015) 
Inside Out (2015)
The Lobster (2015)
Palm Springs (2020)
Rear Window (1954)
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Modern Times (1936)
Blade Runner (2017)
The Ballad of Buster Skrugg (2018)
Snowpiercer (2020)
Exmachina (2014)
Filth (2013)
Fight Club (1999)
Let The Right One In (2008)
Soylent Green (1973)
Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

 

Existential Series Recommendations

​The Mighty Boosh (2003)

The Good Place (2016)

After Life (2019)

The Handmaid's Tale (2017)

Black Mirror (2011)

Mr. Robot (2015)

Living With Yourself (2019)

Lucifer (2016)

Money Heist (2017)

An Idiot Abroad (2010)

Russian Doll (2019)

Noughts + Crosses (2020)

Time: The Kalief Browder Story (2017)

Rick and Morty (2013)

The Kindness Diaries (2017)

11.22.63 (2016)

​

Existential Documentary Recommendations

​​HUMAN | Yann Arthus-Bertrand

​Examined Life (3 Parts) | Astra Taylor

​Human, All Too Human | BBC

​Wittgenstein: A Wonderful Life (1989) | BBC

​The Art of Effortless Living A Taoist Documentary | Jason Gregory

​Cobra Gypsies | Raphael Treza

​Japan The Way of Zen : Zen Buddhism Documentary | Pierre Brouwers

​Finding Joe | Staring Deepak Chopra, Robin Sharma, Rashida Jones, Sir Ken Robinson | Patrick Solomon, Alan Cohen

​Is The Man Who Is Tall Happy? | Michel Gondry

​Being In The World | Tao Ruspoli

​Eastern Philosophy | Documentary Base

​Western Philosophy | Documentary Base​

TAOISM: The Philosophy Of Flow | Einzelgänger

​Mindwalk | A.J. Cohen

​​

Other Recommended Video Channels:

The Weekend University

Philosophy Overdose 

Academy Of Ideas

The School of Life

Pursuit of Wonder
Meaning Online