The 13 Most Astonishing Movies We've Ever Witnessed

      These astonishing films may alter your perception of reality.

      They might even lead you to question the very nature of your reality. Wow.

      At the very least, they'll provide you with entertainment. Here’s our compilation.

      **Planet of the Apes (1968)**

      *20th Century Fox*

      Inspired by Pierre Boulle’s 1963 book, the movie was co-written by Michael Wilson and Rod Serling, the genius behind The Twilight Zone, who knew how to weave social commentary into genre narratives.

      This film is mind-blowing merely because of its premise: Human astronauts crash-land on a planet ruled by intelligent apes that regard humans as we do animals.

      Just as you begin to grasp its metaphorical layers regarding humanity's cruelty, the movie surprises you with what we consider to be the greatest twist ending of all time.

      The sequel series introduced a mind-bending aspect with the second Apes installment, 1971’s *Escape From the Planet of the Apes*, where the film’s timeline begins to intertwine. The Apes franchise has, of course, continued onwards even to the present.

      **Star Wars (1977)**

      *20th Century Fox – Credit: C/O*

      Before *Star Wars*, there were many great sci-fi films, but its most notable innovation was the goal of making the universe feel familiar and aged rather than futuristic. It was famously set “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away,” instead of a utopian future like *Star Trek*.

      Thus, the protagonists' ships were often rattling, their hyperdrives malfunctioned, and the robots seemed to be breaking down. The ragged quality of the rebellion lent *Star Wars* a remarkable, relatable, and unpretentious vibe reminiscent of the 1970s, making audiences instantly cheer for the rebels.

      By lowering expectations—these ships were meant to look imperfect—George Lucas created one of the most mind-blowing films ever, fully immersing us in a galaxy where we accepted the imperfections because we intimately understood our own life’s flaws—from the dent in our car we can’t afford to fix to the old jacket we cling to.

      *Star Wars* mirrored our existence. Or at least, much of it. The film mirrored our aversion to an Empire that appeared polished, efficient, and malevolent.

      It also excelled in storytelling, starting with a dramatic shot of a large ship pursuing a smaller one, making it clear who the heroes and villains were—even without the aid of parents reading the iconic yellow crawl.

      **Jurassic Park (1993)**

      *Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O*

      Experiencing this Steven Spielberg film in a theater in 1993, the simplest interpretation of the dinosaurs’ lifelike portrayal was:

      You had entered a time machine disguised as a movie theater and were now gazing through a gigantic window at authentic dinosaurs living during the Jurassic era, approximately 200 million years ago.

      Until 1993, no movie had come close to *Jurassic Park* in merging practical effects with CGI, and many films released even years later still don’t achieve its stunning realism.

      **The Usual Suspects (1996)**

      *Gramercy Pictures*

      There are twist endings, and then there are truly remarkable twist endings.

      After establishing the enigmatic Keyser Söze as one of cinema's most merciless villains, Christopher McQuarrie’s script executes a brilliant cinematic trick that compels you to watch the entire movie again.

      McQuarrie’s talent for crafting surprises has led to numerous collaborations with Tom Cruise, who is referenced elsewhere in this list. Their latest project is *Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning*, hitting theaters later this month.

      This film is also rich with cinematic references, starting with its title, which nods to *Casablanca*.

      **Dark City (1998)**

      *New Line Cinema – Credit: New Line Cinema*

      Numerous reality-bending films emerged in the late ’90s, but Alex Proyas’ *Dark City* arrived a year before *The Matrix*, delivering its own take on a dystopian world where nothing is as it seems.

      Set in a stylized 1940s noir-inspired environment, *Dark City* follows John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell), who wakes up in a shabby motel room with a dead woman beside him. He discovers he is married to a singer named Emma (Jennifer Connelly), who has recently betrayed him—and that he may or may not be a serial killer.

      It’s perpetually night, and he yearns to find Shell Beach—a place no one can seem to remember how to reach. He’s being hunted by ghastly, pale entities known as the Strangers.

      After much deliberation, the filmmakers consented to include an explanatory voiceover from Kiefer Sutherland’s eerie character, Dr. Daniel P. Schreber. While this adds some clarity, it may diminish the allure