12 of the Most Unusual Movies We've Ever Watched

      Here are 12 of the oddest films we've ever encountered.

      Some of these are also considered among the finest movies we've watched.

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

      Mulholland Drive (2001)

      Universal Pictures

      The most peculiar aspect of Mulholland Drive, arguably David Lynch’s greatest film, is how it starts off feeling almost conventional. Naomi Watts portrays an aspiring actress named Betty Elms, who impressively showcases her talent. Together with Rita (Laura Harring), who suffers from amnesia, they embark on a quest to find a woman named Diane Selwyn, as Rita can recall that name.

      However, Watts soon begins to embody Diane, and Rita morphs into Camilla. Surprisingly, Melissa George is in the mix too. There's involvement from the mafia and a cameo by Billy Ray Cyrus as Gene.

      Lynch, who passed away last month, always refused to clarify the film's meaning, but the original DVD release included a card with "David Lynch’s 10 Clues to Unlocking This Thriller." Some of the clues mentioned are, “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.”

      While it would be easy to fill this list with David Lynch films, we’ve chosen to highlight the one we most prefer — at least for today. It goes without saying that almost anything he created — with the exception of The Straight Story — would easily belong on a list of the oddest films we've ever seen.

      Vanilla Sky (2001)

      Paramount Pictures

      Riding high from their success with the charming Jerry Maguire, writer-director Cameron Crowe and star Tom Cruise had free rein and decided to remake the intriguing 1997 Spanish film Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes) with one of its stars, Penelope Cruz.

      Both films are wonderfully bold and strange, but Vanilla Sky is particularly audacious, transforming from a complex romance into serious sci-fi. Without divulging too much, this film includes a visual homage to a 1963 Bob Dylan album, a conversation about your favorite Beatle, and a song by one of those Beatles. It stands out as one of the most peculiar films, yet, oddly enough, it serves as a comforting watch.

      It also features impressive performances from Cameron Diaz and Kurt Russell.

      Superstar (1988)

      Todd Haynes

      Todd Haynes’ Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story is a biopic about Karen Carpenter, the singer of The Carpenters, highlighting her tragic death in 1983 from heart failure caused by anorexia. It might sound straightforward, except we didn’t mention a critical detail: it is entirely performed with Barbie dolls.

      The film faced release issues after being halted due to a copyright infringement lawsuit by Richard Carpenter, Karen’s brother, who was not pleased with the use of The Carpenters' songs.

      If you perceive the film as disrespectful, that's not the case: it conveys a deep empathy towards Karen while honoring her artistic legacy, using the dolls as a commentary on her manipulation and objectification. However, Richard and their parents come across as decidedly unlikable in the film, which may explain Richard’s objections to Superstar.

      All Jacked Up and Full of Worms (2022)

      Cinedigm Corp.

      A very DIY, micro-budget film that explores depressed thrill-seekers in search of an exhilarating new high derived from… worms.

      Director Alex Phillips, along with producer Ben Gojer, who crafted the film’s unsettling creatures, fills the screen with shocking behavior while employing all the cinematic tools — the anticipation of catharsis and uplifting music — to get us to root for characters we logically shouldn’t support.

      Easily one of the strangest films we’ve encountered, it's an intoxicating cinematic venture.

      Videodrome (1983)

      Universal Pictures

      No collection of the strangest films could be complete without at least one entry from David Cronenberg, the master of body horror, whose themes are perfectly captured in Videodrome.

      We find it difficult to explain the film, released during the boom of home video, except to say that it presciently anticipates reality TV, the internet, and the advancing technologies of VR and AR that blend humanity with tech, especially when Max Renn, played by James Woods, inserts a Betamax tape into his body.

      We also appreciate features from Blondie’s lead vocalist, Debbie Harry, as the enigmatic Nikki Brand.

      Sorry to Bother You (2018)

      Annapurna Pictures

      The debut film from Boots Riley, the leader of the remarkable rap group The Coup, stars LaKeith Stanfield as Cassius “Cash” Green, a young Black man who finds success in his telemarketing job after adopting a white voice (voiced by David Cross).

      That’s not what makes it one of the oddest