10 Movies Like In the Blink of an Eye You Must See

Directed by Andrew Stanton, Hulu’s ‘In the Blink of an Eye’ interweaves three distinct timelines related to the past, present, and future of human civilization. In 45,000 BCE, a Neanderthal family consisting of the mother, Hera (Tanaya Beatty), the father, Thorn (Jorge Vargas), and the daughter, Lark (Skywalker Hughes), aims to survive its harsh living conditions. In the present day, Claire (Rashida Jones), a doctoral candidate in anthropology studying ancient remains, begins a romance with fellow student Greg (Daveed Diggs).

In the distant future, a nearly immortal pilot named Coakley (Kate McKinnon) and her AI co-pilot, ROSCO, are on a mission to find a new planet to sustain human life. These three interconnected stories deal with the meaning of life, the future of civilization, survival, and purpose. The science-fiction drama is a poignant and deep dive into the intricacies of human evolution. If you are looking for movies similar to ‘In the Blink of an Eye,’ this list comprises stories that will keep you hooked.

10. Nine Days (2020)

‘Nine Days’ is the tale of a man named Will (Winston Duke), who lives in isolation at a remote location. His purpose is to observe human life and check whether new deaths open space for a new life. When one of the subjects whom he is observing passes away, Will must decide which unborn soul deserves to take birth. Unborn soul candidates arrive for tests to determine their fitness for birth, with unsuitable ones facing oblivion. Will’s routine is challenged by Emma (Zazie Beetz), a unique candidate who forces him to confront his own past. As he goes through the journey, Will learns more about his own soul. Directed by Edson Oda, the fantasy drama movie is spiritually and thematically related to ‘In the Blink of an Eye’ due to its focus on philosophical truths, the purpose of life, morality, and the cycle of birth and death.

9. A Ghost Story (2017)

Helmed by David Lowery, ‘A Ghost Story’ follows the experiences of a man known only as C (Casey Affleck). He dies in an accident, leaving his wife M (Rooney Mara) heartbroken. However, C wakes up as a white-sheeted ghost, invisible to the living. In his spectral form, C witnesses the aftermath of his death and its emotional effect on M. As he goes through a mind-boggling journey as an observer of human life, he also attempts to reconnect with his wife and make sense of his reality. The supernatural drama complements ‘In the Blink of an Eye’ through its deeply engaging questions about the meaning of life and death, while also exploring the complexities of human evolution.

8. I Origins (2014)

‘I Origins’ is the story of Ian Gray (Michael Pitt), who is conducting research into the evolution of the human eye. In the science-fiction romantic drama, Ian becomes romantically involved with Sofi Elizondo (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey), whose eyes he finds remarkable. The two fall deeply in love, but their relationship ends tragically when Sofi dies in an accident. Despite this, Ian becomes obsessed with her eyes and tries to find out whether anyone else in the world has eyes like hers. His journey leads him to India, where he makes a shocking discovery that may change his worldview forever. Directed by Mike Cahill, the narrative is closely connected to ‘In the Blink of an Eye’ as it asks probing questions about human connection, the nature of the soul, and the role of destiny.

7. Contact (1997)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, ‘Contact’ revolves around Dr. Eleanor “Ellie” Ann Arroway (Jodie Foster), who dedicates her life to researching the possibility of extraterrestrial contact. She works at a SETI program, which has other alien research enthusiasts. Following years of dedicated searching, Ellie has conclusive radio evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, along with plans for a mysterious machine. To examine this, she is forced to team up with a Christian philosopher, Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey), who holds opposing views on philosophical and religious matters. Based on Carl Sagan’s eponymous novel, the science fiction drama, like ‘In the Blink of an Eye,’ is a commentary on life, evolution, and the future of human civilization in all its complexity.

6. Mr. Nobody (2009)

‘Mr. Nobody’ is a science fiction drama set in 2092 and examines a situation where humanity has learned how to overcome death through the perfect regeneration of cells. The last mortal man on Earth is Nemo Nobody (Jared Leto), who only has vague memories of important life moments. He agrees to narrate his life story to a reporter, but Nemo’s memory is confusing, with timeline inconsistencies. The core of the narrative is the exploration of multiple potential lives he could have lived, and his choice to stay with either his father or mother. Written and directed by Jaco Van Dormael, the narrative’s take on memory, legacy, evolution, and civilization connects it to the world and characters of ‘In the Blink of an Eye.’

5. Solaris (2002)

The science fiction drama ‘Solaris’ chronicles the trials and tribulations of Dr. Chris Kelvin (George Clooney), a psychologist who travels to a space station orbiting a planet called Solaris. He investigates the mysterious events surrounding the crew of the station, who seem to have either killed themselves or disappeared. Kelvin must determine the crew’s fate while grappling with questions of his own. The two remaining scientists exhibit signs of mental instability.

Kelvin soon faces strange occurrences, including the sudden appearance of his deceased wife. What follows is a harrowing and layered journey that forces the psychologist to come to terms with certain revelations. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and based on Stanisław Lem’s eponymous novel, the story, like ‘In the Blink of an Eye,’ asks layered questions about the human condition, the future of civilization, space travel, and the circle of life and death.

4. The Tree of Life (2011)

In ‘The Tree of Life,’ middle-aged Jack O’Brien (Sean Penn) reflects on his complex upbringing in 1950s suburban Waco, Texas, alongside his two younger brothers, R.L. and Steve. His memories center on the clashing personalities of his parents. His mother offers unconditional affection and encourages a sense of wonder, while his father, Mr. O’Brien (Brad Pitt), seeks to prepare his sons for life’s challenges through strict discipline. The father’s demanding nature strains family life, leading Jack to view his childhood as unhappy. As Jack deals with R.L.’s death, he must accept the positives and negatives of his life. Directed by Terrence Malick, the drama, akin to ‘In the Blink of an Eye,’ is a profoundly philosophical inquiry into the puzzles of the human condition, the importance of memory, and the fleeting joy of life.

3. Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022)

‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’ is the tale of British narratologist Dr. Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton), who is in Istanbul seeking universal truths. She finds a crystal bottle and unleashes the Djinn (Idris Elba), a supernatural entity. The Djinn offers her three wishes, but Alithea knows that Djinns often manipulate human desires to seek their own freedom. What follows is a set of three fascinating stories that the Djinn narrates, chronicling important moments that led to his imprisonment in the crystal bottle. Through these tales, Alithea learns more about humanity, desire, love, and meaning. The romantic fantasy drama is directed by George Miller and based on the short story “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye” by A. S. Byatt. The film’s take on human desire, history, and memory makes it complementary to the world and characters of ‘In the Blink of an Eye.’

2. The Fountain (2006)

Written and directed by Darren Aronofsky, ‘The Fountain’ interweaves three distinct timelines to explore the quest for the mythical Tree of Life and the pursuit of immortality for loved ones. In the present, surgeon Tommy Creo (Hugh Jackman) looks for a way to save his dying wife, Izzi (Rachel Weisz). The past explores the struggles of a 16th-century Spanish conquistador named Tomás Creo, who searches for the Tree of Life for his queen. In the future, a man named Tom journeys through space, accompanied by an encapsulated tree and driven by his desire for eternal life with his beloved. In the science-fiction romantic drama, the three stories converge to reveal the profound nature of life and death in a way similar to the intertwining storylines of ‘In the Blink of an Eye.’

1. Cloud Atlas (2012)

‘Cloud Atlas’ explores the interconnectedness of souls across centuries through the experiences of several individuals. Adam Ewing (Jim Sturgess), Robert Frobisher (Ben Whishaw), Luisa Rey (Halle Berry), and Zachry Bailey (Tom Hanks) face diverse challenges in their respective eras. Despite the vast span of time, their lives are interwoven by a shared destiny, demonstrating how acts of kindness resonate across time. Based on David Mitchell’s eponymous novel, the science fiction film is directed by Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski, and Lilly Wachowski. Akin to ‘In the Blink of an Eye,’ the narrative explores destiny, shared humanity, human evolution, and the complexities of life. The two films feature similar visuals, layered characters, and vivid portrayals of different time periods.