The 13 Most Bizarre Movies We've Ever Watched

      These are the most peculiar films we've ever encountered — some of which also rank among the finest we've seen.

      Think we missed one? Share your thoughts in the comments.

      Mulholland Drive (2001)

      Universal Pictures

      The most unusual aspect of Mulholland Drive, widely considered David Lynch’s best work, is its almost conventional beginning. Naomi Watts portrays Betty Elms, an aspiring actress who reveals herself to be surprisingly talent. She teams up with Rita (Laura Harring), who suffers from amnesia, to search for a woman named Diane Selwyn, a name that is remembered by Rita.

      However, Watts soon portrays Diane, while Rita becomes Camilla. Melissa George also plays a role. The mafia gets involved. Billy Ray Cyrus appears as Gene.

      Lynch, who passed away last month, consistently declined to clarify his film's meaning, but the original DVD release featured a card with “David Lynch’s 10 Clues to Unlocking This Thriller.” Among the clues were: “Pay particular attention in the beginning of the film: At least two clues are revealed before the credits” and “Notice the appearances of the red lampshade.”

      It would be simple to fill this list with David Lynch films, but we are choosing our current favorite. It goes without saying that nearly everything he created — with the exception of The Straight Story — could easily be included in a list of the strangest films we've viewed.

      Vanilla Sky (2001)

      Paramount Pictures

      Building on the success of their previous collaboration, the charming Jerry Maguire, writer-director Cameron Crowe and star Tom Cruise had the freedom to create anything they wanted and chose to remake the intriguing 1997 Spanish film Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes), featuring one of the original stars, Penelope Cruz.

      Both films are audaciously bold and bizarre, but Vanilla Sky particularly stands out, blending a complex romance with serious sci-fi elements. Without revealing much, this film contains a visual homage to a 1963 Bob Dylan album, a conversation about a preferred Beatle, and a song by one of those Beatles. Although it's one of the oddest films, it strangely serves as a comfort watch.

      It also stars a notable performance from Cameron Diaz and features Kurt Russell.

      Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1988)

      Todd Haynes

      Todd Haynes’ Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story recounts the life of The Carpenters’ singer Karen Carpenter, encompassing her tragic 1983 death from heart failure related to anorexia. While this may sound straightforward, it’s essential to note one key detail: the film is entirely acted out using Barbie dolls.

      The film was withdrawn from distribution following a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Karen’s brother and musical collaborator, Richard Carpenter, who objected to the use of The Carpenters’ songs.

      If you find the film sounds disrespectful, it’s not; the film exhibits deep empathy for Karen and honors her artistic legacy. The doll representation serves as a commentary on Karen's manipulation and objectification. However, Richard and their parents are depicted unfavorably, which may explain Richard’s opposition to Superstar.

      All Jacked Up and Full of Worms (2022)

      Cinedigm Corp.

      A truly DIY, microbudget film about despondent thrill-seekers looking for an exhilarating new high involving… worms.

      Director Alex Phillips, along with producer Ben Gojer — who designed the film’s disturbing creatures — fills the screen with abhorrent behavior, yet utilizes cinematic conventions — the quest for catharsis, uplifting music — to encourage us to root for characters we likely shouldn’t.

      It’s undoubtedly one of the strangest films we've ever seen, but it is also an enthralling cinematic experiment.

      Videodrome (1983)

      Universal Pictures

      No list of the most bizarre movies we've encountered would be complete without at least one film by David Cronenberg, the master of body horror, whose themes are perfectly embodied in Videodrome.

      It's challenging to describe the film, released during the rise of home videos, but it fascinatingly anticipates reality television, the internet, and virtual and augmented reality advancements blending humanity with technology, most notably when James Woods’ character, Max Renn, inserts a Betamax tape into his body.

      We also appreciate Debbie Harry, the lead singer of Blondie, as the enigmatic Nikki Brand.

      Sorry to Bother You (2018)

      Annapurna Pictures

      The debut film from Boots Riley, frontman of the excellent rap group The Coup, centers on LaKeith Stanfield as Cassius “Cash” Green, a young Black man who begins to thrive in his telemarketing job after adopting a white voice (dubbed by David Cross).

      However, this is not what makes it one of the oddest films we've seen.

      Things take a turn when Cash investigates the company's actual purpose… and we won’t spoil it for you. Just know it features one of the most surprising twists in cinema.