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Critical Thinking

The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship. The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship. The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship.

John Leguizamo
Dito Montiel
Rachel Bay Jones
Michael Kenneth Williams
32 User reviews
20 Critic reviews
65 Metascore

Top cast 74

Mr. Martinez

Principal Kestel

Mr. Roundtree

Sedrick Roundtree

Oelmy 'Ito' Paniagua
(as Jorge Lendeborg)

Rodelay Medina
(as Angel Bismark Curiel)

Marcel Martinez

Detective Ransone

Detective Vargas
Michael Rivera

Jitney Driver

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Trivia Martinez started the after-school chess club in 1992 after his teacher's lounge rounds of chess with another teacher sparked student interest. His playing partner left the school that year and students began challenging him to matches so the club was born.
Goofs During Ito's game at the regional tournament, both Ito and Martinez say that he is in "Zugzwang". However, in a real "Zugzwang" situation, a player loses only because he is forced to make a move, while Ito lose the same way even if it was his opponent's time to move, as he could take the pawn on d3 with the queen.

Mr. Martinez : All right, now, people, this is gonna be very basic for some of you, but for the fish, or the newbies as I like to call you, this is gonna be eye opening because what you've got is 64 squares, 32 pieces, it doesn't matter how rich or poor you are, what Ivy League school you may go or you may not go to, what prison you hopefully never set foot in, because chess is the great equalizer.

Crazy credits Over the credits, there are interviews with the real people who the movie is based on.
Soundtracks What Would You Do Written by Timothy McNealy Performed by Timothy McNealy Published by Afrika Kuruvilla Kurian, BMI

User reviews 32

Sep 4, 2020
How long is Critical Thinking? Powered by Alexa
September 4, 2020 (United States)
United States
Eleştirel Düşünme
Miami, Florida, USA
Critical thinking
Cinema Veritas
Hialeah Park Studios
See more company credits at IMDbPro
$3,000,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

Runtime 1 hour 57 minutes

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Critical Thinking Movie

Who's Involved:

Michael Kenneth Williams, John Leguizamo, Dito Montiel, Angel Bismark Curiel, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Will Hochman, Zora Casebere, Rachel Bay Jones, Jeffry Batista, Ramses Jimenez, Corwin C. Tuggles

Release Date:

Friday, September 4, 2020 VOD / Digital

Plot: What's the story about?

Based on a true story from 1998, five LatinX and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional but inspirational teacher.

4.00 / 5 stars ( 5 users)

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Who stars in Critical Thinking: Cast List

John Leguizamo

One for the Money, Ice Age: Collision Course

Rachel Bay Jones

Michael Kenneth Williams

Breaking

Jorge Lendeborg Jr.

Bumblebee, Boogie

Angel Bismark Curiel

Will Hochman

Corwin C. Tuggles

Jeffry Batista

Ramses Jimenez

Zora Casebere

Who's making Critical Thinking: Crew List

A look at the Critical Thinking behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's writer Dito Montiel last wrote The Clapper and The Son of No One .

Screenwriter

Dito Montiel

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Production: what we know about critical thinking.

Based on a true story.

Filming Timeline

2020 - August : The film was set to Completed status.

Critical Thinking Release Date: When was the film released?

Critical Thinking was a VOD / Digital release in 2020 on Friday, September 4, 2020 . There were 5 other movies released on the same date, including Mulan , Guest House and The Owners .

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Fri., Aug. 21, 2020
added photos to the photos gallery
changed the US film release date from TBA to September 4, 2020
set film release to VOD / Digital
added a poster to the photo gallery
added Official Trailer to movie trailers & videos
added drama as a genre
added John Leguizamo as director to movie credits
added Dito Montiel as screenwriter to movie credits
added Zora Casebere as actor to movie credits
added Ramses Jimenez as actor to movie credits

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Critical Thinking

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Watch Critical Thinking with a subscription on Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Strategic in delivering all the feels, Critical Thinking is a good old-fashioned underdog story that marks a winning directorial debut for John Leguizamo.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

John Leguizamo

Mario Martinez

Rachel Bay Jones

Principal Kestel

Michael Kenneth Williams

Mr. Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles

Sedrick Roundtree

Jorge Lendeborg

Ito Paniagua

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Supported by

‘Critical Thinking’ Review: All the Right Moves

John Leguizamo directs and stars in this warmhearted drama about underprivileged teenagers who enter a national chess championship.

Share full article

By Jeannette Catsoulis

Whether championing math, poetry, or just how to be a decent human being , the inspirational teacher is as familiar to movie audiences as the class stoner. “Critical Thinking” does little to detach itself from genre cliché; yet this heartfelt drama about a rough-and-tumble group of high-schoolers who claw their way to a national chess tournament has a sweetness that softens its flaws.

Based on a true story and set in an underserved Miami neighborhood in 1998, the movie drops us into the boisterous classroom of Mr. Martinez (played by the director, John Leguizamo).

“Chess is the great equalizer,” he tells his multiethnic students, using the game to teach his critical thinking elective — with a side of racial history discouraged by his school board. The principal (Rachel Bay Jones) might treat his classroom like a dumping ground for miscreants, but Martinez, assisted by wigs and funny accents, explains complicated chess moves with a deftness that cuts through their indifference.

With goals as modest as the lives of its characters, “Critical Thinking” follows the predictable arc of the underdog drama as the chess team overcomes troubled home situations and other setbacks on the road to a Beverly Hills-set finale. Slow and straightforward, the movie knows that a chess match is hardly a barnburner; but its lively young performers and their eventual triumph are easy to warm to. Drugs and gangs might beckon — and immigration officers hover just outside the frame — but they’re no match for the values of sportsmanship and teamwork. And Mr. Martinez’s pep talks.

Critical Thinking Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes. Watch through virtual cinemas, or rent or buy on iTunes , Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.

Teachers Look to Film to Foster Critical Thinking

Twenty-one teachers sit in a small movie theater here watching a quick, dialogue-driven scene that culminates with Mark Zuckerberg, as played by actor Jesse Eisenberg, getting dumped by his girlfriend.

Larry Knapp, a film professor at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Ill., pauses “The Social Network” and asks the teachers why they think Zuckerberg is wearing a gray Gap sweatshirt.

They throw out varied analyses: It shows that Mr. Zuckerberg does not want to stand out—he’s uncomfortable in public. It’s an all-American brand and, as the inventor and CEO of Facebook, he embodies the American dream. It symbolizes the “gap” in communication between him and his girlfriend.

These educators, who work in a wide range of subjects and grade levels, are participating in a five-day intensive “film camp” through Facets Multimedia , a nonprofit arts organization in Chicago. The camp is a small-scale effort to promote the use of film studies in the K-12 classroom.

Resources for K-12 Film Studies

Despite the fact that film studies is not widely taught in K-12 classrooms, curricula and resources are available for teachers looking to incorporate film into their lessons. Places to start include:

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences An educator-outreach page offers a series of free “teachers’ guides.” It includes an activity page for teaching students to “read a film.”

ReadWriteThink This site, hosted by the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association, allows users to search for lesson ideas for using film in the classroom, including one on teaching Elie Wiesel’s Night in conjunction with “Life Is Beautiful.”

Australian Teachers of Media ATOM offers study guides for feature films and documentaries, as well as other resources, including Screen Education magazine.

Movieclips This free site has an expansive collection of movie clips teachers can show in the classroom.

Prentice Hall Media Studio This Pearson product has lesson plans and activities focused on helping students make sense of film, news, and advertising. Clips are included. The bundle for each grade costs about $330.

Media Literacy Clearinghouse Media-literacy consultant Frank W. Baker calls himself a “resource guy,” and his website offers evidence. See his page on film study and suggested readings on the “language of film.”

—Liana Heitin

While film-studies classes are common in higher education, the idea that a film should be taught as an academic text with younger students is still nascent.

“That doesn’t mean teachers are not showing film,” said John Golden, the author of Reading in the Dark: Using Film as a Tool in the English Classroom . “They’re absolutely showing film. But in terms of giving kids the language to talk about and learn film, there’s very little pedagogy going on.”

Critical viewing, a foundation of film literacy, is more than just putting on a movie or showing the film adaptation of a novel. Like critical reading, it’s a way of analyzing the components of a text and the choices made during its creation—key emphases, film-studies proponents point out, of the Common Core State Standards.

Of those teachers who are teaching critical viewing in the classroom, most tend to be English teachers, said Frank W. Baker, a consultant in media-literacy education and the author of Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom . Nearly all film literacy is being taught at the high school level, he said.

Proponents of media studies, like Mr. Golden, also an English teacher and instructional specialist in the 46,000-student Portland, Ore., district, argue that critical viewing of film should be an essential part of instruction—not just something taught by film buffs at the high school level. Students are bombarded by visual images, said Mr. Golden, especially now with the proliferation of mobile devices on which to view them. They’re “subject to so much manipulation,” he explained, including stereotyping, veiled biases, and false claims. “I don’t think we can say students are literate anymore if we’re not giving them the language to talk about visual media and film.”

Analyzing ‘Texts’

Jessica Keigan, an English teacher in the 44,000-student Adams 12 Five Star Schools in Thornton, Colo., received an undergraduate minor in film and spent a semester interning in the film industry in Los Angeles before becoming a teacher. For her, it was only natural to incorporate film into her classes. Now in her 11th year of teaching, she uses film about 25 percent of the time in her English classes.

See examples of films that teachers say can contribute to classroom lessons.

Ms. Keigan explains that she typically incorporates film “as a springboard for critical reading.” For instance, when introducing students to the different “levels” of literary analysis—from simple recall to complex thinking—she often starts by showing the Pixar short film “Boundin’.” After watching the four-minute short about a dancing sheep who loses his wool, she begins by asking students questions about the storyline. She moves on to questions about “what the filmmaker is doing symbolically” and then about how the film compares with other hero stories the students have seen or read. “Film gives me a chance to teach the thinking skill without having to do the reading skill as well,” she said.

Edna Camacho, an English teacher in the Weslaco Independent school district, which serves 19,000 students in Weslaco, Texas, initially began using film as a reward—students watched “Of Mice and Men” after completing the novel. Soon after, though, “I realized I could’ve done a lot more with the film if I used it as a text,” she said.

Now, she pairs novels and films with similar themes to hone her students’ critical-thinking skills. For instance, her students read the book Night by Eli Wiesel and watch the movie “Life Is Beautiful,” both of which center on Jewish characters’ experience of the Holocaust. She asks students to find similarities in the relationships in the stories, to look for archetypes in each, and to consider what the author or director does to evoke feeling. “The same type of figurative language you use with literature, we use with film,” she said.

Another way to exercise critical thinking with film, Mr. Knapp told teachers at the film camp in Chicago, is to have students look for motifs, or distinctive patterns. Mr. Knapp illustrated that by showing the opening credits of Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X,” in which an American flag burns until only the shape of an X is left. The teachers identified “reinvention” and “a changing America” among the motifs illustrated by that image. “If you set up this way of looking at a film,” said Mr. Knapp, “usually students will start looking for other motifs.”

For Ms. Camacho, one of the great benefits of using film is its accessibility. In the cases of students with learning disabilities and English-language learners, she noticed that film “kind of loosened them up. ... It opened the door for them to start conversations in class.”

Mr. Golden said he sometimes refers to film in the classroom as “the great equalizer” because it gives even the most reticent reader a chance to display understanding and deep thinking.

Consortia Plans

The higher-order thinking skills that students learn in analyzing film transfer to other mediums, say film-instruction proponents. “In my absolute gut, I’m convinced it makes them stronger readers when we talk about print text,” said Mr. Golden. When asked to analyze, for instance, tone in the novel The Great Gatsby , his students have already “used and practiced and discussed in really accessible terms those literary devices in film.”

And while studying film in K-12 is far from widespread, the new common standards could breathe some life into the idea: The English/language arts standards require students to analyze texts of all kinds, and several standards mention film as an example text type.

“Analysis is the word of the day with common core,” said Ms. Keigan. “You’re reading to understand the deep symbolic meaning of a text.” Film and other art forms are good ways “to practice those thinking skills.”

Mr. Golden said the standards’ emphasis on nonfiction could lead to more teachers showing documentary films. However, because the standards that mention film predominately ask students to compare two presentations of a text, he worries that teachers will simply show film adaptations of books. “The problem for me is [film literacy] is not explicitly called out as much as I’d wished” in the standards, he said.

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, which is designing computer-based tests aligned to the common standards, plans to include items asking students to “read and analyze one digital source,” PARCC spokesperson Chad Colby wrote in an email. That source could be “a video, a narrated slide show, a podcast, etc.”

Pilot tests from the competing assessment consortium, Smarter Balanced, initially included items asking students to watch and analyze video clips. However, many piloting schools had technical difficulties, including insufficient broadband. The videos have since been eliminated, said Brandt Redd, the chief technology officer for Smarter Balanced. In addition, for initial stages of implementation, both consortia plan to offer paper-and-pencil testing options, which would likely preclude the use of video.

Even so, Mr. Baker, the consultant, sees the conversations around including the use of video components on tests as a start. “The fact that these national assessments have acknowledged the visual-media world in which our students reside, and are planning to incorporate images and video into tests, is yet another opportunity for us to teach film-literacy skills,” he said.

Considering that professional-development opportunities like the one at Facets are rare, many teachers who might like to incorporate film into their lessons may not know where to start. Ms. Camacho, the Texas teacher, suggests they read well-written film reviews to learn “the basics of what it takes to make a film—acting, music, camera angles.” Mr. Baker advises teachers to watch the extras at the ends of DVDs for analysis and insights on the filmmaking process.

Mr. Golden, the Reading in the Dark author, believes all teachers can and should incorporate film. “It takes 25 minutes to get an introduction to film terminology,” he said. “It’s not super esoteric—it’s pretty obvious.” The challenge from there, he said, is that teachers “have to be willing to give students this vocabulary .... and to ask kids to look at film this way.”

Classroom Cinema

Teachers share their suggestions for films that can contribute to classroom lessons..

Stage Beauty Director: Richard Eyre Used by: Jessica Keigan

Ms. Keigan shows clips from the film to discuss directorial decisionmaking and varied interpretations of William Shakespeare’s “Othello.”

Boundin’ Directors: Bud Luckey and Roger Gould Used by: Jessica Keigan

Ms. Keigan uses this Pixar short to teach archetypes and levels of analysis, and for general skill building around film analysis.

Run Lola Run Director: Tom Tykwer Used by: Jessica Keigan

Clips from this German film are used in Ms. Keigan’s classroom to analyze narrative elements.

Bowling for Columbine Director: Michael Moore Used by: John Golden

Mr. Golden uses clips from Moore’s 2002 documentary to discuss a director’s point of view and the concept of biases.

Jaws Director: Steven Spielberg Used by: John Golden and Edna Camacho

After viewing selected clips from this blockbuster 1975 film, Mr. Golden’s class examines how the director shifts camera angles to show different characters’ points of view. Ms. Camacho uses the film to illustrate the importance of musical choices, showing a clip with the shark approaching as the iconic theme music plays.

Life Is Beautiful Director: Roberto Benigni Used by: Edna Camacho

Ms. Camacho pairs this film with the novel Night by Elie Wiesel to inspire discussion on archetypes and how a director or author evokes emotion.

Super Size Me Director: Morgan Spurlock Used by: John Golden

Mr. Golden shows the film during his unit on American literature, pairing it with books like The Jungle by Upton Sinclair and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.

Edward Scissorhands Director: Tim Burton Used by: John Golden

Mr. Golden’s students explore themes like setting, atmosphere, and identity after watching sections of Burton’s 1990 film.

The Shining Director: Stanley Kubrick Used by: Edna Camacho

Ms. Camacho uses clips from Kubrick’s horror classic to discuss narrative techniques for building suspense, both in literature and in movies.

Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith Director: George Lucas Used by: Edna Camacho

Ms. Camacho has her class watch the full film and pairs the movie with Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex” to discuss symbolism and the theme of family ties.

Vertigo Director: Alfred Hitchcock Used by: John Golden

Mr. Golden pairs clips from Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 thriller with Edgar Allan Poe’s writing to teach students about setting and foreshadowing.

Coverage of leadership, expanded learning time, and arts learning is supported in part by a grant from The Wallace Foundation, at www.wallacefoundation.org . Education Week retains sole editorial control over the content of this coverage. A version of this article appeared in the August 21, 2013 edition of Education Week as Teachers Look to Film to Foster Critical Thinking

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10 Summer Movies to Broaden Kids' Perspectives

Topics: Social & Emotional Learning News & Media Literacy Digital Citizenship

Get students thinking and reflecting over the break.

The summer box office is known for action-packed hits, beloved remakes, and long-awaited sequels. This year is no exception with Spider-Man: Far from Home, the Lion King, and Toy Story 4 hitting the big screen. Of course summer movies have high entertainment value, but some can also offer valuable opportunities for out-of-school learning.

Students benefit from experiences that expand their knowledge, not just of math or science but also of the world around them. We all have a framework of attitudes and beliefs that define our worldview. Sometimes to see life for what it truly is, we need to break away from these notions. Movies can remind kids that we all have different perspectives, that human rights matter, that cultures can share many fundamental values, and that kindness and compassion are key qualities in a just, civil, and inclusive society.

As the school year winds down, consider sending kids off with a few movie recommendations to get them thinking and reflecting this summer. The selections here can help students see the world from new perspectives, giving them an introduction to people, cultures, events, and beliefs that may be new to them. And though movies aren't always 100 percent historically or scientifically accurate, they can still be a great starting point for rich conversations.

Image The Iron Giant

With references to the 1950s setting, there's a lot to unpack about technology vs. nature in The Iron Giant . But what kids (and even adults) will really learn from this tale of robot/kid friendship is acceptance, the consequences of being too quick to judge, and the many forms of heroism.

Discussion questions : What do you know about the Cold War of the 1950s? How might the characters have acted differently if the story had been set in another time period (like post-9/11)? Where do you see statements about technology vs. nature? How does paranoia drive the plot of the film?

Image Wall-E

Grades 1+ This Disney flick about human excess and environmental decay manages to be relatable to kids. An adorable robot and his quest to connect with another are the backdrop for a reflection on the impact of our collective actions.

Discussion questions : What does Wall-E learn from the movie Hello, Dolly ? How is satire used in the movie to drive home the messages about the environment and big business? What similarities do you see in the movie and in our consumption of media today? Do you think this is our future?

Grades 2+ Coco explores the Day of the Dead and a kid's desire to become a musician despite his family's wishes. A moving tribute to Mexican traditions and customs, this movie will get kids contemplating the ways we remember and honor our departed family members.

Discussion questions : What about learning the traditions of the Day of the Dead surprised you? How does your family pay tribute to relatives and loved ones after they've passed away? How do you think the practice of honoring the dead might factor into how tight-knit Mexican families make important decisions?

Image A League of Their Own

Grades 5+ Based on the real-life 1940s All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, this classic film will get kids thinking about the value of female athletes throughout history. Students will also see how both individual strength and teamwork play a factor in success.

Discussion questions : What is women's role in most professional sports -- and their role in the film? Have all those changes been good? To keep the game popular with fans, the players flaunted their femininity. Do you think this was all in good fun, a sign of the times, or somewhat demeaning?

Image Remember the Titans

Grades 5+ Remember the Titans tells the inspirational true story about the struggles and victories of a newly integrated high school football team in 1971. Themes of segregation and prejudice will help students think critically about race relations.

Discussion questions : How did playing football help the students better understand the prejudice of the time? Do you see segregation or racism today in schools or neighborhoods? How might you apply the lessons from the movie (change is inevitable, teamwork and attitude are important) to the issues of today?

Image The Truman Show

Grades 5+ The main character in this satirical movie is an insurance salesman who discovers that everyone around him is part of an elaborate "show" and that every aspect of his life has been orchestrated. Kids will inevitably begin to question the consequences of our media-driven world.

Discussion questions : How does this movie address the reality of those who spend hour after hour of their free time watching TV or movies? Does the proliferation of social media make the story outdated today? What lessons can we still learn about how we consume -- and are influenced by -- media?

Image Arrival

Grades 6+ With a strong female lead, this sci-fi alien tale leaves out the action scenes in favor of a reflective look at how we communicate as a species. It's great for class discussions, and students will end up having lots to say about the political and personal choices we make.

Discussion questions : How might you have started to communicate with the aliens? What are the benefits of communicating through symbols rather than words? How does this movie compare with other movies or stories about aliens?

Image The Help

Grades 7+ Despite some controversy surrounding a central white character in a civil rights-era film, this movie adaptation still demonstrates how oppressed people have a story that needs to be told. It will get kids thinking about segregation and class differences in our society, and what it takes to break the legacy of racism.

Discussion questions : Why do you think people might be critical that the story is anchored in the coming-of-age tale of a white girl? Do you think the characters are realistic representations of the time, or are they stereotypes? How do we know?

Image Bend It Like Beckham

Grades 8+ A girl living in England struggles to pursue her soccer dreams while also respecting her parent's traditional Indian values. This feel-good story grounds the popular "follow your heart" theme in relevant discussions about second-generation immigrant families and cultural identity.

Discussion questions : How much should you preserve the traditions of a culture when you're no longer living (or never lived) in that place? What are some strategies for helping to build up your own sense of self-worth and for coping with pressures from family members or society?

Image Love, Simon

Grades 8+ While this lighthearted tale isn't based on a historical event and doesn't delve into deep intellectual themes, it does give insight into the emotional turmoil of a young man trying to come out. It's a rare slice of cinema that gives kids a chance to relate to and empathize with the struggles of a gay man and the gay community.

Discussion questions : How does the film compare to the novel it's based on ( Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda )? How do you think these childhood experiences might later affect someone as an adult? What other type of secrets do you think students may be struggling with in high school? How might it affect their relationships with their classmates?

Danny was Senior Editor, Education Reviews at Common Sense Education. His focus was on guiding the editorial direction of the Ratings & Reviews platform to discover the best in education technology. In addition to reviewing digital media for learning potential, Danny produced content and wrote articles for a variety of topics, including STEM and social and emotional learning. Previously, he was Curriculum Technology Integration Specialist for San Francisco Unified School District and a science and robotics teacher for a decade in the Midwest. Prior to his career in education, Danny worked as an Environmental Engineering consultant.

15 Great Movies for the STEM Classroom

Use these powerful films to teach problem-solving and nurture students' curiosity.

15 Great Documentary Movies for Middle and High School Classrooms

Try one of these thought-provoking documentaries to get kids thinking (and learning).

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This topic is part of the Starting The Journey stage of the Spiritual Wanderer's Journey

21 Mind-Bending Movies That Make You Think Deeply

by Mateo · Updated: Aug 14, 2024 · 29 Comments

As humans, we have been telling stories since the beginning of time. Stories help us to understand important ideas and make sense of the world around us.

Stories are the fabric of our lives: our lives begin and end with a story. Each relationship in our life is a story, every dream, every experience is a story. Life itself is one big story composed of many smaller stories, and every atom dancing is telling us its story.

It’s no surprise that we’ve fallen in love with movies: they perfectly embody stories. And stories can be powerful. We watch movies to find a sense of relief from our daily responsibilities, to experience excitement and intrigue, and to even feel our humanity again by letting them touch our hearts.

But films can also help us grow as individuals. They can encourage us to question our lives, to awaken to endless possibilities and help us to understand where we’re heading as a society. Most people are familiar with popular thought-provoking movies like The Matrix , Inception , Donnie Darko , Moon , V for Vendetta , Mulholland Dr. , Memento , Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Fight Club .

There are also plenty of other movies out there that are just as thought-provoking but not as well known. These movies are obscure because they lacked big budgets and therefore couldn’t hire as many actors. But in this obscurity, these movies preserved their souls, and the artistic visions behind each film stayed intact without being influenced by the masses.

Here are some of the best little-known cryptic and mind-bending movies out there.

21 Mind-Bending Movies That Make You Think

Prepare to question everything you know!

By the way, if you do decide to watch any of the movies below by clicking on the links, you’ll be supporting our work through the small affiliate fees we receive. We appreciate your support. :)

1. Upstream Color (2013)

Description: A man and woman are drawn together, entangled in the life cycle of an ageless organism. Identity becomes an illusion as they struggle to assemble the loose fragments of wrecked lives.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: It’s a sensual experience of poetic ideas; modern disconnection, biophysical insecurity, and existential doubt.

Watch the movie here !

2. TiMER (2009)

Description: When implanted in a person’s wrist, a TiMER counts down to the day the wearer finds true love. But Oona O’Leary faces the rare dilemma of a blank TiMER. Her soul mate – whoever and wherever he is – has yet to have a TiMER implanted. Staring down the barrel of thirty and tired of waiting for her would-be life partner to get off the dime, Oona breaks her own rules and falls for Mikey, a charming and inappropriately young supermarket clerk with a countdown of four months.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: If a clock could count down to the moment you meet your soul mate , would you want to know?

Watch the movie here!

3. Coherence (2013)

Description: On the night an astronomical anomaly passes close to the Earth, eight friends at a dinner party start experiencing strange and mysterious events. Soon it becomes clear that nothing and no one are what they appear to be.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: It explores the physics concept of Schrodinger’s Cat , and forces the question of whether we truly know what we’re capable of.

5. Primer (2004)

Description: While tweaking their current project, two young engineers accidentally discover that it has some highly unexpected capabilities – ones that could enable them to do and to have seemingly anything they want. Taking advantage of this unique opportunity is the first challenge they face. Dealing with the consequences is the next.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: What do you want when you can have anything? And if you have everything, what do you do?

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6. Frequencies (2013)

Description: What if physics determined the laws of attraction? In a parallel world where human frequencies determine luck, love, and destiny, Zak, a young college student, must overcome science in order to love Marie, who emits a different frequency than his own. In an attempt to make their love a reality, Zak experiments on the laws of nature, putting in danger the cosmic equilibrium of fate and everything he holds dear.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: Are human conditions, actions, relationships determined by fate, free will, or a combination of both? At any rate, if it we cannot control it – should we care?

7. Waking Life (2001)

Description: A boy has a dream that he can float, but unless he holds on, he will drift away into the sky. Even when grows up, this idea recurs. After a strange accident, he walks through what may be a dream, flowing in and out of scenarios and encountering various characters. People he meets discuss science, philosophy and the life of dreaming and waking. The protagonist gradually becomes alarmed that he cannot awake from this confusing dream.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: What if you gradually become aware that you are walking through life in a dream state, but could not wake up from this confusing dream?

8. Extracted (2012)

Description: A scientist invents a technique to enter people’s memories deep within their subconscious mind when it is in its most vulnerable state. When he is tasked with entering a heroin addict mind who is a convicted criminal to see whether he committed murder, the scientist is faced with his most dangerous and risky memory extraction ever.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: How far is too deep into the darkness of another’s unconscious mind?

9. Open Your Eyes (1997)

Description: A once handsome playboy, César finds himself in a mental facility and can’t remember why. All he can remember is meeting the love of his life for one day, and then getting into a car accident which left his face horribly disfigured. But the pain of becoming physically undesirable may help him to find the truth.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: Where does reality end and fantasy begin?

10. I Origins (2014)

Description: Dr. Ian Gray, a molecular biologist is studying the evolution of the eye. He finds his work permeating his life after a brief encounter with an exotic young woman who slips away from him. As his research continues years later with his lab partner Karen, they make a stunning scientific discovery that has far reaching implications and complicates both his scientific and spiritual beliefs. Traveling half way around the world, he risks everything he has ever known to validate his theory.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: Which is right, science or faith, chance or destiny?

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11. The Congress (2013)

Description: More than two decades after catapulting to stardom with The Princess Bride, an aging actress (Robin Wright) decides to take her final job: preserving her digital likeness for a future Hollywood. Through a deal made with her loyal agent, her alias will be controlled by the studio, and will star in any film they want with no restrictions. In return, she receives healthy compensation so she can care for her ailing son and her digitized character will stay forever young. Twenty years later, under the creative vision of the studio’s head animator, Wright’s digital double rises to immortal stardom. With her contract expiring, she is invited to take part in “The Congress” convention as she makes her comeback straight into the world of future fantasy cinema.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: This movie is a dystopian political story exploring the ideas of ageism in Hollywood and the soullessness of digital life.

12. Predestination (2014)

Description: A Temporal Agent is sent on an intricate series of time-travel journeys designed to prevent future killers from committing their crimes. Now, on his final assignment, the Agent must stop the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time and prevent a devastating attack in which thousands of lives will be lost.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: It’s an elegant study of the human self-identity.

13. The Frame (2014)

Description: Two strangers find their lives colliding in an impossible way. Alex is a methodical cargo thief working for a dangerous cartel. Sam is a determined paramedic trying to save the world while running from her past. Suddenly and mysteriously, Alex and Sam’s lives crash into each other and the fabric of reality is ripped from underneath their feet. Taking on the very root of fate, destiny, and their own existence, Alex and Sam race through a maze of an ever-changing universe while being pursued by a demonic man determined to erase the world.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: What if you could re-write the script that life has handed you and create something much more beautiful?

14. 2046 (2004)

Description: A writer works on a novel about a mysterious train that leaves for a place called 2046 every once in a while. Everyone who boards that train has the same intention – which is to recapture their lost memories. It is said that in 2046, nothing ever changed. Nobody knows for sure if it was true, because nobody who went there had ever come back – except for one person. This person had been there but he chose to leave. He wanted to change.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: How does a memory dictate the way you live your life?

15. Under the Skin (2013)

Description: A mysterious woman seduces lonely men in the evening hours in Scotland. Events lead her to begin a process of self-discovery.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: This movie is a darkly captivating exploration of identity, normality and otherness.

16. Another Earth (2011)

Description: On the night of the discovery of a duplicate Earth in the Solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: This movie is a meditation on the infinite possible variations that a human life can take; it sparks the brain and moves the heart.

17. Enter The Void (2009)

Description: Oscar is a heavy drug user who lives in colorful Tokyo, and his sister Linda is a stripper. Having constant traumatic flashbacks from childhood from drug-induced hallucinations, Oscar is eventually shot by the police. After they shoot him, he floats above his body and observes life: his sister’s sorrow, the rooms in a hotel, and even life at a molecular level.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: This movie is an astonishing trip through life, death, and the universally wonderful and horrible moments between. Is there an afterlife?

18. Robot & Frank (2012)

Description: Set in the near future, Frank, a retired cat burglar, has two grown kids who are concerned that he can no longer live alone. They are tempted to place him in a nursing home until Frank’s son chooses a different option. Against Frank’s wishes, his son buys him a walking, talking humanoid robot programmed to improve his physical and mental health.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: This movie is a light exploration of aging, dementia and the humanist potential of technology.

19. Exam (2012)

Description: Shown into a windowless examination room, eight candidates have reached the final stage of selection for a prestigious job at a mysterious corporation. There is one question before them and one answer is required. If they try to speak to the armed guard by the door they will be disqualified. If they leave the room for any reason they will be disqualified. If they spoil their papers they will be disqualified. As the clock ticks down, they must figure out what the company expects of them.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: How far are we prepared to go to secure the ultimate job?

20. The Machine (2013)

Description: Two computer programmers fall in love as they create the first-ever piece of self-aware artificial intelligence, designed to help humanity. But things go terribly wrong when the British Government steals their breakthrough and teaches it to become a robotic weapon.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: This movie raises interesting questions regarding A.I technology that is becoming ever more present in our world. How will artificial intelligence impact our lives?

21. The Nines (2007)

Description: Gary, an actor who plays a cop on television, burns his ex-girlfriend’s things, then he drinks and drives, uses crack, and crashes his car. Sobering up in jail, Gary is placed under house arrest by the watchful eye of a cheery and tough-minded woman called Margaret. She moves him into the empty house of a writer who’s away in Canada. There, Gary meets Sarah, an attractive and seemingly-willing neighbor. As his friendship with Margaret blooms, strange things begin to happen: he finds notes that he doesn’t remember writing, he hears noises, and he seems to bump into himself in the kitchen. Two remaining chapters reveal what’s going on.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: Alternately funny and unsettling, this movie is like a riddle where the answer is the question: “How does it all add up?”

Watch these movies and let me know what you think! You’re new favorite movie might just be in this list.

Are there any movies that make you think that I haven’t mentioned here? Comment below and let me know.

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There doesn’t seem to be a movie #4???? 😕

It’s not a movie but tales from the loop is an amazing t.v series.

Do You Consider Yourself Media Literate?

“you have a brain and mind of your own. use it and reach your own decisions.”.

Posted December 21, 2023 | Reviewed by Michelle Quirk

Our brains are susceptible to manipulation and coercive control.
Consumption of media can accelerate prejudice and bias and narrow our viewpoints.
Media literacy can be improved through lateral thinking, specifically testing our assumptions and beliefs.

As we find ourselves caught up in the maelstrom of modern media, it can be challenging to separate fact from fiction. Furthermore, as the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates, and in some instances is nefariously used to fuel misinformation and disinformation campaigns, it’s not hard to understand the rising distrust in modern communications. The question is, do you consider yourself media literate and, therefore, somewhat immune to the influence?

According to a 2010 report , children between the ages of 8 and 18 years spent just over 7.5 hours per day consuming entertainment media outside of school. Updated reports such as Guttmann (2023) highlight little change, with the average adult worldwide consuming 7 hours, 52 minutes of media per day. In and of itself, time spent on media is not the problem, it is the potential exposure to content with a specific agenda, bias, or general negative influence that creates the need for improved media literacy.

Victoria Short, executive director of the Open Minds Foundation highlights

“At Open Minds, we bring together a group of individuals with direct or indirect lived experience of coercion and coercive control. Through high control religious groups, or membership of cults, our benefactors understand the reality of manipulation and misdirection employed to influence an individual. Regardless of race, intelligence , and socio-economic factors, every individual is potentially at risk of being manipulated, and the consequences can be disastrous.”

She continues,

“One of the key attributes underpinning coercion and coercive control is the control of information. How and what information is shared, can have a direct impact on victim susceptibility. In the age of modern media, it can become additionally challenging to differentiate truth from lies. Critical thinking, and importantly the practise of media literacy, should not be underestimated. They are the fastest, most reliable methods for inoculating your psyche from external manipulation.”

To be media literate is to be able to think critically about information consumed through media and specifically is our ability to apply critical thinking to retain an objective viewpoint. Psychologically, being objective is not a natural human forte, and we are already grappling with the realities of aspects such as groupthink , truth bias, the illusory truth effect, and confirmation bias , for example, which naturally narrow our viewpoints in favour of expedited cognitive reasoning. Add to this the tsunami of content that we consume on a daily basis, and it is no surprise that our already saturated brains seek familiarity to simplify our information processing.

As explored by Dill-Shackleford in her book How Fantasy Becomes Reality (2009), “it is a widespread belief that when one reaches the age that one can differentiate between fact and fiction in the media, one is no longer subject to learning or persuasion through fictional media.” This could not be further from the truth, and additional studies consistently highlight a typically poor ability to differentiate.

Improved media literacy is essential, not only to curb the impact of coercion within society but also to help undermine and reduce other social challenges. Scharrer and Ramasubramanian (2015) note that media can fuel racial and ethnic stereotyping, but media literacy education can result in a reduction in prejudice and an appreciation for diversity. More recent studies such as Kahne & Bowyer (2016) and Melki et al. (2021) have explored the connection between improved media literacy and better identification of misinformation and fake news finding that practised critical thinking can offer better identification. What these studies have in common is that improved media literacy can drive a reduction in negative influence by the media, which can only be a good thing.

One key aspect of media literacy, which can be specifically used to challenge our thinking and improve our abilities, is to employ lateral thinking. The word lateral may have most of us thinking of lateral flow tests thanks to the pandemic, but lateral thinking refers to the capacity for nonselective reading, specifically seeking multiple sources and incorporating alternative viewpoints that challenge our own. A 2017 study published by Stanford found that people typically fall into two groups—vertical thinkers and lateral thinkers or “fact checkers,” with vertical thinkers being more common. Traditionally, Western education systems focus on the pursuit of facts, commonly rely on a single source of information, and encourage us to read “vertically,” starting with a core subject and then branching down tangents into other related content. Lateral thinking is the opposite. It encourages us to focus on a single or small group of details and then to seek multiple sources to corroborate or refute the claims, including sources that conflict with our own viewpoints. The intention is to test, rationalise, and maintain an objective viewpoint.

But how often do you practise your lateral thinking skills and test your own opinions? We are constantly externally influenced, and we can develop skewed opinions because of it, so it’s important to practice this skill regularly.

“You have a brain and mind of your own. Use it and reach your own decisions” – Napoleon Hill, author.

6 Simple Ways to Improve Your Lateral Thinking

The brain is like a muscle and needs regular workouts to stay healthy. Use these six simple ways to try out and improve your lateral thinking.

Use books and podcasts: Reading a wide range of books, ideally in different genres, or listening to a variety of podcasts is a good way to challenge your thinking or gain a new perspective and deeper understanding of a topic. Lateral reading is also a good skill to practise when evaluating sources.
Use key exercises and techniques: By using techniques such as random word association, SCAMPER, or even mind mapping, you can flex your lateral thinking muscles and improve this underutilised critical thinking skill.
Try experimentation and reflection: Why not test your assumptions in real-life situations? By doing so, you can reflect on the outcomes and your learnings. Applying lateral thinking to real-life situations helps to make things less abstract and improve your overall performance.
Seek feedback and collaboration : The key thing about lateral thinking is the idea of approaching a problem differently. By collaborating with different groups and individuals, you can get a fresh perspective and come up with ideas outside of your usual.
Play games and puzzles: Playing games and doing puzzles such as sudokus and crosswords can help you develop your mental flexibility and curiosity, and further develop your cognitive skills. Plus, research has shown that performing moderately difficult cognitive tasks is helpful for cognitive and brain health.
Rework your mindset and habits: It is possible to rework your mindset to establish new habits that you wish to develop. For example, you can try being more playful or curious in your daily life. With practice, this will become easier and can help you embrace lateral thinking as a way of life, not just a skill.

Dill-Shackleford KE. How Fantasy Becomes Reality. New York: Oxford University Press; 2009

Scharrer E, Ramasubramanian S. Intervening in the Media’s Influence on Stereotypes of Race and Ethnicity: The Role of Media Literacy Education. Journal of Social Issues. 2015

Kahne J, Bowyer B. Educating for Democracy in a Partisan Age: Confronting the Challenges of Motivated Reasoning and Misinformation. Am Educ Res J. 2016

Melki J, Tamim H, Hadid D, Makki M, El Amine J, Hitti E. Mitigating infodemics: The relationship between news exposure and trust and belief in COVID-19 fake news and social media spreading. PLoS One. 2021

Wineburg, Sam and Mcgrew, Sarah, Lateral Reading: Reading Less and Learning More When Evaluating Digital Information (October 6, 2017). Stanford History Education Group Working Paper No. 2017-A1 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3048994 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3048994

Guttman, A, Media usage in the U.S. (Dec 18, 2023, Accessed online at: https://www.statista.com/topics/1536/media-use/#topicOverview

Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. Accessed online at https://www.kff.org/other/report/generation-m2-media-in-the-lives-of-8-…

The Open Minds Foundation is dedicated to undermining the effects of coercive control, through critical thinking education and training.

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Home » General » What is the Difference Between Common Sense and Critical Thinking

What is the Difference Between Common Sense and Critical Thinking

The main difference between common sense and critical thinking is that common sense is something that comes naturally, while critical thinking is an intentional process where we assess or analyze a situation in a rational and organized manner .

Common sense and critical thinking are two qualities that help us in problem-solving. Common sense is good sense and sound judgement in practical matters, while critical thinking is the ability to think in an organized and rational manner, understanding the logical connection between ideas or facts.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Common Sense – Definition, Features 2. What is Critical Thinking – Definition, Features 3. Difference Between Common Sense and Critical Thinking – Comparison of Key Differences

Difference Between Common Sense and Critical Thinking - Comparison Summary

What is Common Sense

Common sense is a person’s good sense and sound judgement in practical matters. In other words, it’s the basic level of practical knowledge and judgment we all need to live in a reasonable and safe way in society. Moreover, it does not involve any specialized knowledge.

Difference Between Common Sense and Critical Thinking

In fact, common sense is a type of unwritten and unspoken knowledge that all humans have. We acquire it unconsciously from the time we are born. To be more specific, we acquire this knowledge through experience, observation and curiosity, without being even aware of it. Moreover, we use this knowledge in a practical situation, sometimes without even realizing that we are doing it. Wearing a good pair of boots when you are going on a hike is an example of common sense. But, if you use high heels or some other fashionable shoes for this type of excursion, you are not using your common sense.

What is Critical Thinking

Main Difference - Common Sense vs Critical Thinking

Critical thinking involves a process with several steps. The first step is identifying the problem or question. Once you narrow it down, it’s easier to find solutions. Then find sources that give different ideas and points of view relevant to this issue. Next, analyze and evaluate the data you have found. Now you can determine whether these sources are reliable, unbiased and whether they are based on strong data. After a good analysis, you can establish what sources are most important. Then you can make a decision or reach a conclusion based on this data.

Difference Between Common Sense and Critical Thinking

Common sense is good sense and sound judgement in practical matters while critical thinking is the ability to think in an organized and rational manner, understanding the logical connection between ideas or facts.

Common sense is something that comes naturally to us, while critical thinking is a practised and intentional process where we assess or analyze a situation in a rational and organized manner.

Critical thinking always happens at a conscious level, while common sense can also occur at an unconscious level.

Moreover, common sense usually leads you to make correct decisions, but critical thinking may sometimes mislead you since there can be mistakes in your data or logical process of thinking.

Image Courtesy:

1. “2519654” (CC0) via Pixabay 2. “Critical Thinking” By EpicTop10.com (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

About the Author: Hasa

Hasanthi is a seasoned content writer and editor with over 8 years of experience. Armed with a BA degree in English and a knack for digital marketing, she explores her passions for literature, history, culture, and food through her engaging and informative writing.

Critical Thinking

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5. Primer (2004)

Would you like to save this?

6. Frequencies (2013)

7. Waking Life (2001)

8. Extracted (2012)

9. Open Your Eyes (1997)

10. I Origins (2014)

11. The Congress (2013)

12. Predestination (2014)

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18. Robot & Frank (2012)

19. Exam (2012)

20. The Machine (2013)

21. The Nines (2007)

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