The Best Movies About Memory Manipulation

Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Movies About Memory Manipulation
Voting Rules
Films in which characters are implanted with false memories or have their thoughts erased or zapped

List of the best movies about memory manipulation, as ranked by movie fans and critics. Memory is a very powerful thing. It controls how we feel about ourselves and others. So when somebody has the power to manipulate a person’s memory, they have the power to control their thoughts and how they act around others. It’s a power that can be abused and end up hurting people greatly. That’s why memory manipulation is an interesting concept for a film.Characters who can manipulate memories are fascinating villains, while those who have been implanted with false memories are dangerous because there’s no telling who they are really.

The movies on this list feature characters that don’t know anything is wrong with their memories, those who are fighting to understand why their memories seem wrong, and even those who are manipulating their own minds,like in Memento. In movies like Inception, it’s the main characters who are doing the mind manipulation. In other films, like Overboard, characters are abusing somebody’s amnesia for personal gain.

What are the best movies about memory manipulation or false memories? This list features the best movies where characters cannot trust what they remember and those who enjoy messing with other’s memories.

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  • The Bourne Identity
    1
    Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper
    41 votes
    • Released: 2002
    • Directed by: Doug Liman
    The Bourne Identity, a gripping action-thriller, introduces us to Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), a man suffering from extreme memory loss, discovered by fishermen off the French coast. As he embarks on a quest to rediscover his identity, aided by Marie Kreutz (Franka Potente), he finds himself entangled in a web of CIA operatives and assassins. The film, directed by Doug Liman, is renowned for its intense chase sequences and intricate plot. It's an adrenaline-fueled journey into the mind of a man trying to piece together his past while outwitting those who want him dead.

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  • Memento
    2
    Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
    61 votes
    • Released: 2000
    • Directed by: Christopher Nolan
    Memento is a gripping exploration of memory and revenge, directed by Christopher Nolan. The film revolves around Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), who suffers from anterograde amnesia - an inability to form new memories. Determined to find his wife's murderer, Leonard relies on photographs, notes, and tattoos to retain information. The narrative unfolds in a non-linear fashion, with scenes alternating between color and black-and-white sequences, reflecting the disjointed nature of Leonard's memory. Co-stars include Carrie-Anne Moss as Natalie and Joe Pantoliano as Teddy. Memento was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay.

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  • Blade Runner
    3
    Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young
    46 votes
    • Released: 1982
    • Directed by: Ridley Scott
    In Blade Runner, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a seasoned blade runner, undertakes an assignment that plunges him into the dystopian underbelly of future Los Angeles. His mission? To hunt down and retire rogue replicants - bioengineered beings virtually indistinguishable from humans. Amidst this grim task, he encounters Rachael (Sean Young), a special replicant who triggers a spiral of existential questions. Directed by Ridley Scott, this neo-noir science fiction film is acclaimed for its thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human, set against a backdrop of striking visual effects and haunting music. A must-watch classic in the genre.

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  • Total Recall
    4
    Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone
    44 votes
    • Released: 1990
    • Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
    Total Recall is a riveting blend of science fiction and action. The film showcases Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) as an ordinary construction worker, plagued by a recurring dream about Mars. Determined to uncover the truth behind his dreams, he opts for memory implants of a Martian holiday from Rekall Inc., only to have things go awry. Suddenly, Quaid finds himself embroiled in espionage, with blurred lines between reality and implanted memories. Aided by Melina (Rachel Ticotin), he must unravel the mystery of his past on a treacherous Martian terrain. This Paul Verhoeven directed spectacle won an Academy Award for its groundbreaking visual effects, setting new industry standards.

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  • Dark City
    5
    Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly
    34 votes
    • Released: 1998
    • Directed by: Alex Proyas
    In the enigmatic film Dark City, John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) grapples with memory loss in a shadowy, ever-changing metropolis. Waking up accused of brutal murders, he's pursued by Inspector Bumstead (William Hurt), and an ominous group known as the Strangers. As Murdoch seeks answers, he crosses paths with his estranged wife Emma (Jennifer Connelly), and Dr. Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland), a neurotic scientist who holds the key to his past. The movie, a mix of science fiction and noir, won the prestigious Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay. It explores themes of identity and reality manipulation while keeping viewers on edge with its fast-paced plot twists.

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  • Inception
    6
    Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page
    58 votes
    • Released: 2010
    • Directed by: Christopher Nolan
    Inception is a mind-bending, science-fiction thriller directed by Christopher Nolan. The plot pivots around Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), an adept 'extractor' who invades people's dreams to steal secrets. However, his latest task is not stealing an idea but planting one - inception. In this high-stakes job, he's aided by Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Ariadne (Elliot Page), and Eames (Tom Hardy). Tackling complex themes of reality and subconsciousness, Inception won four Academy Awards. This cinematic labyrinth, riddled with plot twists, leaves viewers questioning the very nature of reality.

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