We guess if you’re reading this, you’re interested in the concept of dreams and movies. That’s how we found out about it. Humans have dreamt for centuries and will continue to do so for centuries to come. Dreams are the doorways to understanding life in different forms, with different sets of rules and objectives. How can you start pondering upon your dreams if you don’t know how other people dream? Without dreams, there would be no journeys, and there would be no stories; there would be nothing.
What’s especially interesting is either the fact that people didn’t think about this topic until someone pointed it out, or they have been thinking about it for quite a long time. So, we came up with this idea of the Top 20 best movies about dreams. These movies all have similar themes, while some are movies about lucid dreaming.
For most people, dreams are something that flies away the moment they wake up. But for some, dreams may be more than just figments in your head: they could make you rich and famous, even save your life. In this article, we offer you a list of films where dreams play an important role. There are many different movies about dreams. For example, you have a movie from the 2010 year called “Inception” with Leonardo DiCaprio, and we think it is one of the most famous movies about dreams.
There are such great movies about dreams, but only 20 of them can make it to the top. So we have selected and ranked the best dream movies of all time.
Which is the best movie about dreams of all time streaming on Disney Hotstar?
The 2011 Sci-Fi movie, Avatar is the best movie about dreams that streams on Disney Hotstar with 82% Rotten Tomatoes ratings.
Is there any good movie about dreams available on Netflix?
A Nightmare on Elm Street of 1984 is the most enjoyable movie about dreams on Netflix, with 94% Rotten Tomatoes ratings.
Which is the best movie about dreams of all time streaming on Amazon Prime Videos?
The Wizard of Oz (1939) is the best movie about dreams on Prime Videos, with 99% Rotten Tomatoes ratings.
In this article, we will show you the top 20 best dream movies on the web that have ever been made.
20. The Good Night (2007)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 31% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Romance/ Comedy |
| Director: | Jake Paltrow |
| Cast: | Gwyneth Paltrow, Martin Freeman |
| IMDb Rating: | 5.8 |
The Good Night was released in 2007 and was directed by Jake Paltrow. Thus one of the best movies about dreams Coming true features Gwyneth Paltrow, Martin Freeman (Breeders), Danny DeVito (The Kominsky Method), and Penelope Cruz (The 355). The movie about dreams follows Gary, a former musician who makes commercial jingles for a living. He begins dreaming about a glamorous woman, Anna. Things begin to regress when he discovers that Anna is a real person. Gary eventually realizes that the girl he dreams about does exist. Paul arranges for Gary to join her, but this shows disappointment, as she fails to live up to the expectations that Gary has swelled up in his dreams of her. This is one of the good movies about dreams which comes up with a good storyline and screenplay.
19. Vanilla Sky (2001)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 42% |
| Currently available on: | Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Sci-Fi & Thriller |
| Director: | Cameron Crowe |
| Cast: | Tom Cruise (Edge of Tomorrow 2), Penelope Cruz |
| IMDb Rating: | 6.9 |
Cameron Crowe directed Vanilla Sky as an adaptation of the Spanish movie ‘Abre Los Ojos.’ This movie hit the theaters in December 2001. This one of the best dream movies was quite a mind-boggling thriller, and that’s what the critics and the people who saw it thought about this remake. The film follows the life of David Aames (Tom Cruise) from age 35 as he sits in a coma after a car accident, throughout a series of flashbacks. These flashbacks show David’s life from age 18 to 35 and how each decision he made would affect his future life, his love for Sofia (Penelope Cruz), Clive (Jason Lee), Brian Shelby (Kurt Russell), and Sara (Cameron Diaz).
18. What Dreams May Come (1998)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 53% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Romance/Fantasy |
| Director: | Vincent Ward |
| Cast: | Robin Williams, Annabella Sciorra, Cuba Gooding Jr. |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.0 |
What dreams may come is an example of the compelling drama movies about dreams Coming true released in 1998. We don’t think many people will disagree when we say that Robin Williams has been one of the most successful actors in the 1990s and 2000s. The entire story revolves around Chris Neilson, who finds himself in heaven after his death. However, when his inconsolable wife commits suicide and goes to Hell, he decides to risk his eternal soul to search for her spirit. This movie has made its appearance a very good event in the entertainment industry in general.
17. Prince of Darkness (1987)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 58% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Horror/ Supernatural |
| Director: | John Carpenter |
| Cast: | Donald Pleasence, Victor Wong, Lisa Blount |
| IMDb Rating: | 6.7 |
Prince of Darkness is a supernatural horror dream movie directed and written by John Carpenter (Halloween Kills), featuring Donald Pleasence, Victor Wong, and Lisa Blount. The film pursues a group of quantum physics students in LA who are demanded to assist a Catholic priest in investigating an old cylinder of liquid created in a monastery. They come to find a conscious, physical embodiment of Satan. His students join him in the foundation of a Los Angeles monastery relating to “The Brotherhood of Sleep,” an old organization that communicates within dreams.
16. Wayne’s World 2 (1992)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 60% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Hulu Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Comedy/Music |
| Director: | Stephen Surjik |
| Cast: | Mike Myers, Dana Carvey |
| IMDb Rating: | 6.2 |
Wayne’s World 2 is directed by Stephen Surjik and featuring Mike Myers (Shrek 5) and Dana Carvey as owners of a public-access station cable television show in Aurora, Illinois. One of the movies about lucid dreaming is the sequel to Wayne’s World (1992), adapted from a sketch on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. The story revolves around Heavy metal freaks Wayne and Garth, inspired by Jim Morrison’s ghost to stage a big Woodstock-style rock festival. Wayne must also fend off a record producer who has his eye on his girlfriend.
15. Dreams (1990)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 65% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Drama, Magical Realism |
| Director: | Akira Kurosawa |
| Cast: | Martin Scorsese, Akira Terao, Mieko Harada |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.8 |
Dreams (1990) is a fascinating surreal drama movie that was directed and written by Akira Kurosawa. The movie is about a young man who works for a publishing house. He helps his company find stories for their writers to create new books. In this movie, we follow this man as he comes to life and struggles with the world around him. It is a sentimental, artful film. It follows the artistic journey of a late-middle-aged man and his dreams. The movie’s style is often ethereal and experimental, with superb sound design.
14. The Science Of Sleep (2006)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 70% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Fantasy/ Romance |
| Director: | Michel Gondry |
| Cast: | Michel Gondry, Gael Garcia Bernal |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.3 |
The Science Of Sleep (2006) is a good movie in the drama genre. It was published in 2006 and directed by Michel Gondry. It revolves around an introverted and melancholy dreamer (Gael Garcia Bernal). The Science Of Sleep (2006) is a movie that describes the process of getting sleep and dreaming humorously. The movie also explains what the lack of sleep does to us. You will certainly be left with a smile on your face after watching this movie. The most important thing we can do for our body is to get enough quality sleep. This allows us to function at our best every day. Recommendation: if you want to know more about rest, watch this movie.
13. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 75% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Drama, Mystery |
| Director: | Stanley Kubrick |
| Cast: | Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Syndey Pollack |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.4 |
In 1999, Stanley Kubrick released his final movie based on dreams in the form of Eyes Wide Shut. The film is classified as a psychological drama that features computer-generated imagery and stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Based on Arthur Schnitzler’s 1926 novella Traumnovelle (Dream Story), The film follows the sexually charged adventures of Dr. Bill Harford (Tom Cruise). He is shocked when his wife, Alice (Nicole Kidman), reveals that she had envisioned having an affair a year earlier. He then starts on a night-long experience, during which he infiltrates a masked orgy of an unnamed secret society.
12. Waking Life (2001)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 81% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Drama/ Adult cartoon |
| Director: | Richard Linklater |
| Cast: | Richard Linklater, Wiley Wiggins, Ethan Hawke |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.8 |
Waking Life is a 2001 best dream movie directed by Richard Linklater. It follows the story of a young philosophy college student who finds himself trapped in the world of dreams where he searches for meaning. If we were to say that the Waking Life adult movie explores the themes of love, loss, and spirituality, you probably wouldn’t be impressed. And we don’t blame you. But once you see the cartoon film for yourself, watching it is one of those rare cinematic experiences that separate worthwhile productions from forgettable ones.
11. Avatar (2009)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 82% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Disney Hotstar |
| Genre: | Sci-fi |
| Director: | James Cameron |
| Cast: | Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.4 |
Avatar (2009) was a great movie if you’re a big fan of sci-fi movies. The entire movie was groundbreaking. It delivered spectacular graphics and had an epic story! James Cameron (Alita Battle Angel 2) directed this movie featuring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters: Afterlife). The film follows a paraplegic marine’s mission to Pandora, where he becomes involved in a conflict between the natives and the Resources Development Administration (RDA). No doubt, Of all the 3D movies we have seen, Avatar is by far the most breathtaking one. The underwater scenes were beautifully shot and gave you an idea of what it would be like to breathe underwater for real.
10. Total Recall (1990)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 82% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Sci-fi |
| Director: | Paul Verhoeven |
| Cast: | Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Rachel Ticotin |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.5 |
Total Recall is a science fiction flick about dreams directed by Paul Verhoeven and features Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Ronny Cox, and Michael Ironside (Top Gun Maverick). The movie is vaguely based on the 1966 Philip K. Dick short fiction “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale.” This movie based on dreams tells the account of a construction artist who abruptly finds himself embroiled in surveillance on Mars and unable to conclude if the experiences are real or the effect of memory implants. With a budget of $50–60 million, Total Recall was one of the most valuable films made at the time of its announcement, although estimates of its production estimates vary and whether it ever really held the record is not certain. The film grossed $261 million worldwide.
9. Open Your Eyes (1997)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 85% |
| Currently available on: | Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Sci-Fi, Mystery |
| Director: | Alejandro Amenabar |
| Cast: | Penelope Cuz, Eduardo Noriega |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.7 |
Open Your Eyes (1997) movie is a science fiction drama film directed by Alejandro Amenabar and written by Amenabar and Mateo Gil. The film stars Penelope Cruz, Eduardo Noriega, and Fele Martinez. It won eight Goya Awards, including Best Film and Best Director. It’s been described as a love story between two blind people because, even though they can’t see each other, they manage to fall in love. As the movie progresses, it conveys that what matters is not whether you can see but can open your eyes to what is there for you to see. The idea that love can lead you to discover new things about yourself has made Open Your Eyes one of the best foreign films of all time.
8. Inception (2010)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 87% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Action, Sci-fi |
| Director: | Christopher Nolan |
| Cast: | Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard |
| IMDb Rating: | 8.8 |
Inception is the 2010 American drama movie written and directed by Chris Nolan. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio (The Right Stuff) as James Ellis, an ambitious young software developer who persuades his employer, Arthur, a powerful media conglomerate, to participate in a top-secret project. During the movie, James meets his future wife, Iris (played by Melissa Leo), and begins to believe that she loves his life. This movie based on dreams was an emotional and suspenseful drama that received widespread critical acclaim.
7. Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind (2004)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 92% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Romance/ Sci-fic |
| Director: | Micheal Gondry |
| Cast: | Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kristen Dunst |
| IMDb Rating: | 8.3 |
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an American drama flick directed by Michel Gondry. It supports an estranged couple who have killed each other from their thoughts. Pierre Bismuth created the account with Kaufman and Gondry. We think that this movie is worth enjoying. Some pretty good directors filmed it before 2004, and now it is available to download or stream online. We have never regretted missing some episode or a moment from the Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind movie – it is an interesting piece made up of best stories, best director’s vision, best roles, and best actors.
6. Take Shelter (2011)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 93% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Thriller/Drama |
| Director: | Jeff Nicjolas |
| Cast: | Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.4 |
Take Shelter is a 2011 American subjective thriller film, written and directed by Jeff Nichols and featuring Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain. The plot ensues a young partner and father (Shannon) plagued by a series of apocalyptic images and questions whether to protect his family from a coming storm or himself. Curtis, a construction supervisor, lives in Ohio with his parents. The happiness of his people is at stake when he starts to have nightmares which slowly turn into hallucinations. The film explores themes of PTSD, race relations, poverty, and family.
5. Dead of Night (1945)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 93% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Horror/ Anthology |
| Director: | Basil Dearson |
| Cast: | Michael Redgrave, Mervyn Johns, Sally Ann Howes |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.7 |
Dead of Night is a British compilation horror film made by Ealing Studios. The different portions were directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, and Robert Hamer. It stars Mervyn Johns, Sally Ann Howes, and Michael Redgrave. Dead of Night opens with creator Walter Craig (played by Mervyn Johns) being summoned to a country home on the assumption of acquiring work. Once there, he meets several guests, all of whom are forward to him because of their external appearance in a recurring dream he has experienced. With a running time of under two hours, this is one of the most elusive movies about dreams to find on videotape. What makes it so appealing is the exploration of narrative technique that makes for a fascinating experience.
4. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 94% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Horror/Mystery |
| Director: | Wes Craven |
| Cast: | Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Jhonny Depp |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.5 |
A Nightmare on Elm Street of 1984 is a nightmare that never ends and one of the iconic movies about lucid dreaming. It’s been twenty years now considering the effects of the film took place, and still, the residents of Derry, New Jersey, never quite forget what happened there. Some people have known the entire story by heart, while others only caught a glimpse of it through the news coverage at the time. The story goes around a young girl who realizes that she has to stay alert at any cost to bypass the clawed assassin who is butchering her associates one by one in their dreams.
3. Wild Strawberries (1957)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 96% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Drama/Romance |
| Director: | Ingmar Bergman |
| Cast: | Ingrid Thulin, Bibi Andersson, Victor Sjostrom |
| IMDb Rating: | 8.2 |
Wild Strawberries is a 1957 Swedish drama flick about dreams written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Traveling to receive an honorary degree, Professor Isak Borg—masterfully performed by the veteran filmmaker and artist Victor Sjöström—is forced to confront his past, come to sessions with his faults, and make friends with the inevitability of his impending death. Wild Strawberries dramatizes one man’s remarkable voyage of self-discovery through flashbacks and fantasies, dreams and nightmares. This richly humane masterpiece, full of iconic imagery, is one of Ingmar Bergman’s most widely acclaimed and influential films.
2. Brazil (1985)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 98% |
| Currently available on: | Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Black Comedy/ Sci-fic |
| Director: | Terry Gilliam |
| Cast: | Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.9 |
It is a great movie about dreams to follow if you want to learn about Brazilian culture, history, politics, and economy. There are several ways this unique film lays out its themes to be understood and enjoyed by an international audience. This one of the best dreams movie centers on Sam Lowry, a low-ranking functionary trying to find a woman who seems in his dreams while he is running in a mind-numbing job and living in a small studio, set in a dystopian world in which there is an over-reliance on poorly maintained (and rather whimsical) machines.
1. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
| Rotten Tomatoes: | 99% |
| Currently available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre: | Fantasy / Musical |
| Director: | Victor Fleming |
| Cast: | Judy Garland, Ray Bolger |
| IMDb Rating: | 8.0 |
The Wizard of Oz is a choral fiction movie about dreams directed by Victor Fleming. It is an American classic film starring Judy Garland as the young Dorothy Gale, who travels to the land of Oz with her aunt and uncle in search of the Tin Man, also known as the Scarecrow. After being captured by the Scarecrow tribe, Dorothy is forced to work as their servant until her finances can be improved. Despite the hardships she faces at the start of the movie, it is later revealed that Dorothy has a great passion for learning and building civilization and desires to find a way to return home despite her enemy’s attempts to scare her away.
Conclusion!
The movies about dreams that we have discussed above are some of the best and popular movies that have been produced so far for this specific topic. This list can be of huge help if you want to watch movies about dreams. From this list, You can check out the IMDB rating and rotten ratings as most people will choose a movie based on the reviews, although some people do read IMDB before they see a movie. So, we hope that it might be helpful if you are looking for something similar.
