7 Mind-Melting Movies To Watch After ‘Severance’ Season 2

If the first half of its second season is any indication, Apple TV+’s mind-bending workplace thriller Severance has only continued its critical rise in popularity, commanding as equally astounding a reaction from fans as its inaugural season.

At once a psychological thriller and sci-fi-leaning social satire, Severance leaves an undeniable impression on any and every viewer fortunate enough to see it.

As audiences carry on navigating the frequently enigmatic world of corporate espionage, shady business practices, and branching identity crises, it’s worth wondering which similarly-veined films you might want to watch once Severance’s second season has officially concluded. From dystopian dark comedies to nonlinear neo-noir mysteries, here are seven fantastic movies that bear a startling resemblance to Apple’s breakout sensation.

Brazil (1985)

One of the greatest films most people have unfortunately never seen, Brazil is a brilliant satirical comedy every bit as unnerving as George Orwell’s 1984. In theory, one can almost describe it as a bizarre amalgamation of Monty Python, Brave New World, Jim Henson’s puppet projects, and the brainy writings of Franz Kafka. Set in a nightmarish totalitarian future where the average person has been reduced to a mere cog in a monstrous, woefully unbalanced political steam engine, Terry Gilliam’s absurdist epic comes packed to the brim with sobering, thought-provoking, and/or refreshingly humorous subject matter. 

Memento (2000)

The film that, in many ways, put director Christopher Nolan on the map, Memento also introduces audiences to Nolan’s extraordinary penchant for nonlinear subject matter. Establishing two branching storylines where the end is the beginning and the beginning the end, Nolan asserts his own unique take on the traditional neo-noir mystery, zeroing in on an amnesiac’s quest to find his wife’s killer. Dark, disturbing, and endlessly inventive in regards to its non-chronological presentation, it’s among Nolan’s best and most dizzyingly complex films, likely requiring a few repeated viewings to fully unravel. 

The Truman Show (1998)

Deep down, each of us have probably marveled at just how similar our lives feel to a movie or television show at any given moment. But what if that momentary feeling we had about our surroundings were actually true? What if our life was just one big reality TV show where every moment of our existence was broadcast to millions of viewers worldwide? Such is the simple but haunting premise behind the classic Jim Carrey comedy drama, The Truman Show. Evoking a far more emotional atmosphere than his usual zany comedies, The Truman Show masterfully depicts one man slowly coming to realize just how artificial his life truly is (a terrifying idea in and of itself).

The Matrix (1999)

Virtually everyone and their mother has seen The Matrix by now, but what’s amazing to note is just how well the Wachowskis’ sci-fi extravaganza continues to hold up with each rewatch. Tossing together disparate influences borrowed from kung fu films, anime, Hong Kong action, and ‘80s science fiction, The Matrix truly deserves all the acclaim it continues to garner with each passing decade. Bridging multiple realities and various opposing genres, it’s a lovingly stylized action film that freely explores weightier themes like artificial simulations, malevolent A.I. oppressors, and the nature of reality itself.

A Scanner Darkly (2006)

Philip K. Dick has a reputation for his narratively challenging sci-fi novels, and the 2006 adaptation of his book, A Scanner Darkly, is certainly no exception. A headier take on the noir detective stories of the 1940s and ‘40s, A Scanner Darkly transports audiences down a meandering rabbit hole of hallucinogenic substance abuse, split personalities, shady career criminals, and intrusive police surveillance. Throughout it all, Keanu Reeves’ undercover detective comes to grips with the increasingly murky world around him, leading him to wonder what’s real, what’s in his head, and who exactly is spying on who.

Office Space (1999)

Anyone who has worked in a corporate environment might view Office Space less as a comedy and more as a maddening representation of daily life in the office. A cult classic comedy praised by fans over 20 years later, Office Space analyzes the unfulfilling, boring, often soul-crushing assignments most low-level employees face in their professional ventures. From dealing with smug, micromanaging employers to nervously worrying about potential layoffs within the company, Office Space is a righteous social satire that’s both laugh-out-loud funny and … also a little depressing.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Each of us has probably experienced a breakup that left us so devastated, we almost wish we could erase all the memories we have of our former partners from our head. Adapting this simple idea as its main narrative premise, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind sees Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet’s recently separated couple deleting the individual memories they hold of one another. Exploring the philosophical ideas of fate and destiny as well as the strength of love and endearing memories, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind makes for one of the most innovative and unforgettable romantic comedies you’ll ever have the pleasure of seeing.