A Glean movie guide
Beyond the Multiverse
Everything, everywhere, all at once.
Surreal, high-energy films that blend absurdist humor with deep emotional stakes.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Swiss Army Man
From the directors of EEAAO, this is a bizarre and beautiful journey through existentialism and friendship.
Alone on a tiny deserted island, Hank has given up all hope of ever making it home again. But one day everything changes when a dead body washes ashore, and he soon realizes it may be his last opportunity to escape certain death. Armed with his new “friend” and an unusual bag of tricks, the duo go on an epic adventure to bring Hank back to the woman of his dreams.
- 02
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
A visually stunning multiverse adventure that balances kinetic action with a heartfelt family story.
Struggling to find his place in the world while juggling school and family, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales is unexpectedly bitten by a radioactive spider and develops unfathomable powers just like the one and only Spider-Man. While wrestling with the implications of his new abilities, Miles discovers a super collider created by the madman Wilson "Kingpin" Fisk, causing others from across the Spider-Verse to be inadvertently transported to his dimension.
- 03
Turning Red
A vibrant exploration of mother-daughter dynamics and generational legacy through a supernatural lens.
Thirteen-year-old Mei is experiencing the awkwardness of being a teenager with a twist – when she gets too excited, she transforms into a giant red panda.
- 04
Kung Fu Hustle
A masterclass in cartoonish martial arts action and over-the-top absurdist comedy.
It's the 1940s, and the notorious Axe Gang terrorizes Shanghai. Small-time criminals Sing and Bone hope to join, but they only manage to make lots of very dangerous enemies. Fortunately for them, kung fu masters and hidden strength can be found in unlikely places. Now they just have to take on the entire Axe Gang.
- 05
Being John Malkovich
A mind-bending dive into identity and the surreal experience of living in someone else's head.
One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.
- 06
Paprika
A dizzying, visually dense trip where dreams and reality collide in spectacular fashion.
When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patient's dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist can stop it and recover it before damage is done: Paprika.
- 07
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
A poignant sci-fi romance that uses a high-concept premise to explore the fragments of human memory.
Joel Barish, heartbroken that his girlfriend underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realises that he still loves her, and may be too late to correct his mistake.
- 08
Coherence
A tense, low-budget thriller that masterfully handles the dread of colliding parallel realities.
Four couples gather for dinner the night a mysterious and powerful comet passes overhead.
- 09
Sorry to Bother You
A wild, unpredictable satire that takes a sharp turn into the extreme and the surreal.
In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, black telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success – which propels him into a macabre universe.
- 10
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Witness Michelle Yeoh in the legendary martial arts epic that redefined gravity-defying action.
Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman's daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.
- 11
Run Lola Run
A high-octane race against time that explores how tiny choices create vastly different destinies.
Lola receives a phone call from her boyfriend Manni. He lost 100,000 DM in a subway train that belongs to a very bad guy. She has 20 minutes to raise this amount and meet Manni. Otherwise, he will rob a store to get the money. Three different alternatives may happen depending on some minor event along Lola's run.
- 12
Palm Springs
A sharp, funny time-loop comedy that tackles existential nihilism with plenty of heart.
When carefree Nyles and reluctant maid of honor Sarah have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other.