Best Movies like Doctor Strange (2016)

Inception explores the boundaries of reality through mind-bending visuals and intricate world-building, similar to Doctor Strange’s manipulation of perception and reality. Both films use visually immersive storytelling to depict characters navigating extraordinary mental landscapes shaped by powerful forces beyond ordinary comprehension.

Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious. Inception is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 28m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 8.4 by 39,766 people. The movie made an estimated total of $839,030,630 in the box office.

The Matrix and Doctor Strange share protagonists who enter hidden worlds and develop extraordinary abilities after experiencing dramatic personal upheavals. Each film combines action and philosophical elements to explore the nature of reality and self-transformation through encounters with mentors and battles against powerful adversaries.

Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth. The Matrix is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 16m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 8.3 by 28,355 people. The movie made an estimated total of $463,517,383 in the box office.

Batman Begins and Doctor Strange both follow central characters who, after personal downfalls, train under expert mentors and confront inner flaws. The films chart their evolution into protectors, blending action with themes of redemption, responsibility, and overcoming personal darkness to defend the world from evil forces.

Driven by tragedy, billionaire Bruce Wayne dedicates his life to uncovering and defeating the corruption that plagues his home, Gotham City. Unable to work within the system, he instead creates a new identity, a symbol of fear for the criminal underworld - The Batman. Batman Begins is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 20m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.7 by 22,908 people. The movie made an estimated total of $374,218,673 in the box office.

Spider-Man features a well-known origin story where a flawed and gifted individual transforms into a superhero following a life-altering event. Like Doctor Strange, it centers on a character’s journey from personal adversity to taking on the responsibility of protecting others using their newfound powers.

After being bitten by a genetically altered spider at Oscorp, nerdy but endearing high school student Peter Parker is endowed with amazing powers to become the superhero known as Spider-Man. Spider-Man is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 7.3 by 21,027 people. The movie made an estimated total of $821,708,551 in the box office.

Iron Man mirrors Doctor Strange’s trajectory by chronicling a brilliant but self-absorbed professional who survives a catastrophic event, reevaluates his life, and ultimately becomes a hero dedicated to fighting evil. Both films launch these characters into larger interconnected universes after pivotal moments of personal growth.

After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil. Iron Man is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 7.7 by 28,484 people. The movie made an estimated total of $585,174,222 in the box office.

The Prestige explores the limits of possibility and the pursuit of mastery within a magical framework, paralleling Doctor Strange’s themes of rigorous training and transformation. Both films highlight the costs and consequences of seeking knowledge and power beyond conventional boundaries.

A mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy -- full of obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences. The Prestige is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 2h 10m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 8.2 by 17,870 people. The movie made an estimated total of $109,676,311 in the box office.

The Fountain offers a blend of fantasy and meditative exploration of existence, sharing with Doctor Strange abstract approaches to time, mortality, and the quest for transcendence. Both movies employ otherworldly visuals and thematic ambition to probe the limits of human understanding and transformation.

Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world. The Fountain is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 6.9 by 3,157 people. The movie made an estimated total of $15,304,890 in the box office.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice centers on a young protagonist who is introduced to the world of magic through mentorship, much like Doctor Strange’s arc. Themes of unrealized potential, learning supernatural skills, and using them to combat dark forces unite both films within fantastical, adventure-driven narratives.

Balthazar Blake is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath. Balthazar can't do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler, a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness. The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 6.1 by 5,333 people. The movie made an estimated total of $215,300,000 in the box office.

Constantine delves into mystical and supernatural realms, presenting a protagonist trained in esoteric arts who must contend with evil threatening humanity. The film’s focus on defending the world from dark supernatural threats aligns with Doctor Strange’s blend of magic, occultism, and heroism.

John Constantine has literally been to Hell and back. When he teams up with a policewoman to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists beneath the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles. Constantine is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.2 by 8,374 people. The movie made an estimated total of $230,900,000 in the box office.

Big Trouble in Little China infuses fantasy adventure with mystical encounters in an urban setting, where the protagonist faces extraordinary magical adversaries. Its combination of action, humor, and elaborate supernatural challenges aligns with the adventurous spirit and imaginative set pieces found in Doctor Strange.

Truck driver Jack Burton gets embroiled in a supernatural battle when his best friend Wang Chi's green-eyed fiancée is kidnapped by henchmen of the sorcerer Lo Pan, who must marry a girl with green eyes in order to return to the human realm. Big Trouble in Little China is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 1986 with an average rating of 7.2 by 3,434 people. The movie made an estimated total of $11,102,672 in the box office.

Pan’s Labyrinth, though set in a very different context, weaves fantasy and reality through a protagonist’s journey involving powerful otherworldly forces and imaginative magic. Both films employ visually striking storytelling to explore characters navigating between the mundane and the mystical.

In post–civil war Spain, 10-year-old Ofelia moves with her pregnant mother to live under the control of her cruel stepfather. Drawn into a mysterious labyrinth, she meets a faun who reveals that she may be a lost princess from an underground kingdom. To return to her true father, she must complete a series of surreal and perilous tasks that blur the line between reality and fantasy. Pan's Labyrinth is a movie from Mexico in Spanish, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.8 by 11,608 people. The movie made an estimated total of $83,258,226 in the box office.

The Green Hornet centers on an unlikely hero taking on a crime-fighting role after a life-changing event. Both The Green Hornet and Doctor Strange depict initially self-centered protagonists who evolve into defenders of their cities, combining action with character-driven transformation.

Britt Reid, the heir to the largest newspaper fortune in Los Angeles, is a spoiled playboy who has been, thus far, happy to lead an aimless life. After his father dies, Britt meets Kato, a resourceful company employee. Realizing that they have the talent and resources to make something of their lives, Britt and Kato join forces as costumed crime-fighters to bring down the city's most-powerful criminal, Chudnofsky. The Green Hornet is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 5.6 by 3,528 people. The movie made an estimated total of $227,817,248 in the box office.

Chronicle presents young characters developing supernatural powers and grappling with the moral repercussions of wielding such abilities. Like Doctor Strange, it examines the transformative effects of extraordinary powers acquired in modern settings and the impact on personal relationships and integrity.

Three high school students make an incredible discovery, leading to their developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities and use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides begin to take over. Chronicle is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 24m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.9 by 5,841 people. The movie made an estimated total of $145,000,000 in the box office.

Lucy follows a protagonist who gains extraordinary cognitive and supernatural abilities, resulting in profound changes to her perception of reality. Both Lucy and Doctor Strange blend action with themes of personal transformation through the awakening of hidden potential and powers beyond human limits.

A woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic. Lucy is a movie from France in English, with a total 1h 29m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 6.5 by 17,227 people. The movie made an estimated total of $469,058,574 in the box office.

The Adjustment Bureau involves a protagonist discovering a hidden world influencing destiny. Its interplay of fate, higher powers, and altered reality echoes Doctor Strange’s exploration of secret realms and unseen forces guiding human lives, blending romance and action with metaphysical intrigue.

A man glimpses the future Fate has planned for him – and chooses to fight for his own destiny. Battling the powerful Adjustment Bureau across, under and through the streets of New York, he risks his destined greatness to be with the only woman he's ever loved. The Adjustment Bureau is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.8 by 5,004 people. The movie made an estimated total of $127,900,000 in the box office.

Jumper features a young man discovering supernatural powers, learning to navigate them, and facing pursuit from adversaries seeking to exploit or eliminate him. Both films juxtapose personal empowerment and the dangers inherent in mastering forces previously unknown to the protagonist.

David Rice is a man who knows no boundaries, a Jumper, born with the uncanny ability to teleport instantly to anywhere on Earth. When he discovers others like himself, David is thrust into a dangerous and bloodthirsty war while being hunted by a sinister and determined group of zealots who have sworn to destroy all Jumpers. Now, David’s extraordinary gift may be his only hope for survival! Jumper is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 28m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.2 by 6,330 people. The movie made an estimated total of $222,231,186 in the box office.

The Shadow tells of a protagonist trained in mystical arts who uses his powers to fight evil. Like Doctor Strange, it features an origin story structured around dramatic personal change, mentorship, and the application of esoteric abilities to protect the world from dark threats.

Based on the 1930s comic strip, The Shadow is put up against his archenemy Shiwan Khan, who plans to take over the world by holding a city to ransom using an atom bomb. Using his powers of invisibility and "the power to cloud men's minds", The Shadow comes blazing to the rescue with explosive results. The Shadow is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 1994 with an average rating of 6.1 by 575 people. The movie made an estimated total of $48,063,465 in the box office.

K-PAX examines a mysterious, unconventional figure whose arrival challenges those around him to reconsider the nature of reality. Both films feature protagonists who profoundly alter their environments due to their extraordinary experiences, inviting others to explore transformative new perspectives.

Prot is a patient at a mental hospital who claims to be from a far away planet. His psychiatrist tries to help him, only to begin to doubt his own explanations. K-PAX is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,806 people. The movie made an estimated total of $50,315,140 in the box office.

Paprika depicts vibrant, dreamlike realities and shifting perceptions, employing striking visuals and imaginative scenarios to blur the lines between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Its playful manipulation of reality aligns closely with the kaleidoscopic imagery and imaginative world-building featured in Doctor Strange.

Dr. Atsuko Chiba is a research psychologist who uses a device called the DC Mini to enter her patients' dreams, wherein she adopts the alter-ego "Paprika". When the device is stolen, she must stop rogue elements from merging the dream and waking worlds. Paprika is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.8 by 2,936 people. The movie made an estimated total of $946,590 in the box office.

The Cell employs immersive, mind-bending journeys into inner landscapes and fluctuating realities, echoing Doctor Strange’s visual style and thematic preoccupation with altered consciousness. Both films use visual effects to externalize psychological or magical dimensions beyond everyday experience.

A psychotherapist journeys inside a comatose serial killer in the hopes of saving his latest victim. The Cell is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 6.3 by 1,752 people. The movie made an estimated total of $104,155,843 in the box office.

Dark City uncovers hidden truths behind a fabricated reality, with a protagonist awakening to powers capable of reshaping his environment. Like Doctor Strange, it features a journey through shifting realities and the discovery of secret forces governing the world’s structure.

A man struggles with memories of his past, including a wife he cannot remember, in a nightmarish world with no sun and run by beings with telekinetic powers who seek the souls of humans. Dark City is a movie from Australia in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 7.3 by 3,273 people. The movie made an estimated total of $27,200,000 in the box office.

Push focuses on characters with psychic and supernatural abilities struggling to evade and defeat shadowy organizations. Its emphasis on urban fantasy settings, superhuman powers, and conflicts with secretive adversaries mirrors elements central to Doctor Strange's story.

After his father, an assassin, is brutally murdered, Nick Gant vows revenge on Division, the covert government agency that dabbles in psychic warfare and experimental drugs. Hiding in Hong Kong's underworld, Nick assembles a band of rogue psychics dedicated to destroying Division. Together with Cassie, a teenage clairvoyant, Nick goes in search of a missing girl and a stolen suitcase that could be the key to accomplishing their mutual goal. Push is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 6.1 by 2,477 people. The movie made an estimated total of $49,678,401 in the box office.

The Man from Earth follows a central figure whose incredible revelations challenge those around him to reconsider accepted reality. The film’s philosophical approach to extraordinary experiences mirrors Doctor Strange’s exploration of the boundaries between science, magic, and belief.

A departing professor gathers his closest colleagues for an intimate farewell, but the night takes an unexpected turn when he shares a stunning secret about his past. As the conversation unfolds, skepticism and curiosity collide, challenging everything they thought they knew about history, science, and belief. The Man from Earth is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 27m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.6 by 2,966 people.

Flatliners centers on a group of medical professionals pursuing knowledge beyond conventional science, leading to encounters with the supernatural and disturbing consequences. The search for deeper understanding and the risks of probing beyond limits make it akin to Doctor Strange’s journey.

Five medical students experiment with "near death" experiences, until the dark consequences of past tragedies begin to jeopardize their lives. Flatliners is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 1990 with an average rating of 6.5 by 1,763 people. The movie made an estimated total of $61,489,265 in the box office.

Stardust interlaces magical mentorship, quests, and hidden fantastical worlds with a protagonist discovering untapped potential. Like Doctor Strange, it tracks personal growth through otherworldly adventures, blending fantasy, humor, and high-stakes conflicts with magical and human antagonists.

In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. His journey takes him into a world beyond his wildest dreams and reveals his true identity. Stardust is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 2h 7m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.3 by 4,521 people. The movie made an estimated total of $137,500,000 in the box office.

Now You See Me showcases illusionists employing magic and clever tricks to outwit opponents, often blurring the line between spectacle and supernatural. While more grounded, its focus on elaborate deception and mastery of awe-inspiring abilities connects with Doctor Strange’s magical showmanship.

An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money. Now You See Me is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.3 by 16,972 people. The movie made an estimated total of $351,723,989 in the box office.

The Incredible Hulk follows a character transformed by a traumatic event, leading him to battle internal and external threats. Both films chart reluctant heroes coping with new, powerful identities while being drawn into larger conflicts that challenge their sense of self.

Scientist Bruce Banner scours the planet for an antidote to the unbridled force of rage within him: the Hulk. But when the military masterminds who dream of exploiting his powers force him back to civilization, he finds himself coming face to face with a new, deadly foe. The Incredible Hulk is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.3 by 12,906 people. The movie made an estimated total of $264,770,996 in the box office.

Hellboy revolves around a protagonist who, having been altered by supernatural forces, is mentored and entrusted to protect humanity from mystical dangers. The film’s focus on hidden magic, personal struggle, and fantastic adversaries parallels key narrative elements shared with Doctor Strange.

In the final days of World War II, the Nazis attempt to use black magic to aid their dying cause. The Allies raid the camp where the ceremony is taking place, but not before they summon a baby demon who is rescued by Allied forces and dubbed "Hellboy". Sixty years later, Hellboy serves the cause of good rather than evil as an agent in the Bureau of Paranormal Research & Defense, along with Abe Sapien - a merman with psychic powers, and Liz Sherman - a woman with pyrokinesis, protecting America against dark forces. Hellboy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 6.7 by 7,532 people. The movie made an estimated total of $99,318,987 in the box office.

Midnight Special features a child with unexplainable powers pursued by those who would exploit him, focusing on secrecy, the limits of human understanding, and a sense of wonder about the supernatural. Its blend of family bonds and extraordinary abilities resonates with themes in Doctor Strange.

A father and son go on the run after the dad learns his child possesses special powers. Midnight Special is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 6.3 by 2,075 people. The movie made an estimated total of $7,112,282 in the box office.

Enter the Void plunges viewers into altered states of consciousness and subjective realities through bold, experimental visuals and structure. Its exploration of life, death, and metaphysics shares a spirit of visual inventiveness and thematic ambition seen in Doctor Strange.

This psychedelic tour of life after death is seen entirely from the point of view of Oscar, a young American drug dealer and addict living in Tokyo with his prostitute sister, Linda. When Oscar is killed by police during a bust gone bad, his spirit journeys from the past -- where he sees his parents before their deaths -- to the present -- where he witnesses his own autopsy -- and then to the future, where he looks out for his sister from beyond the grave. Enter the Void is a movie from France in English, with a total 2h 41m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 7.3 by 2,019 people. The movie made an estimated total of $754,249 in the box office.

The Frighteners follows a protagonist with supernatural abilities aiding in the battle against evil spirits. Both stories feature reluctant heroes using their unique gifts to defend the world from occult threats, blending lighthearted moments with dark, supernatural confrontations.

Once an architect, Frank Bannister now passes himself off as an exorcist of evil spirits. To bolster his facade, he claims his "special" gift is the result of a car accident that killed his wife. But what he does not count on is more people dying in the small town where he lives. As he tries to piece together the supernatural mystery of these killings, he falls in love with the wife of one of the victims and deals with a crazy FBI agent. The Frighteners is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 50m runtime, released in 1996 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,787 people. The movie made an estimated total of $29,359,216 in the box office.

The Forbidden Kingdom involves a protagonist drawn into a magical realm, undergoing training and growth under the guidance of mentors. Like Doctor Strange, it combines martial arts, legendary figures, and an outsider’s initiation into a world of ancient magic.

An American teenager who is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kung-fu classics makes an extraordinary discovery in a Chinatown pawnshop: the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King. With the lost relic in hand, the teenager unexpectedly finds himself travelling back to ancient China to join a crew of warriors from martial arts lore on a dangerous quest to free the imprisoned Monkey King. The Forbidden Kingdom is a movie from China in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.6 by 1,958 people. The movie made an estimated total of $127,906,624 in the box office.

Kung Fu Hustle melds martial arts with heightened, almost magical abilities and whimsical action, as characters confront extraordinary adversaries. The creative fusion of physical prowess and the fantastical aligns with Doctor Strange’s approach to combat and reality-bending visuals.

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. Kung Fu Hustle is a movie from Hong Kong in Cantonese, with a total 1h 39m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 7.5 by 3,267 people. The movie made an estimated total of $102,034,104 in the box office.

Only Lovers Left Alive contemplates immortality, the passage of time, and the burdens of extraordinary existence. While its tone diverges, the film’s meditation on knowledge, isolation, and otherworldly experience resonates on a thematic level with Doctor Strange’s more reflective elements.

A depressed musician reunites with his lover. However, their romance, already played over several centuries, is disrupted by the arrival of her uncontrollable younger sister. Only Lovers Left Alive is a movie from France in English, with a total 2h 3m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,425 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,213,623 in the box office.

Warlock features a powerful, magical antagonist and battles between forces seeking to save or destroy humanity using sorcery. The film’s focus on supernatural powers, ancient conflict, and the defense of humanity parallels the magical confrontations present in Doctor Strange.

In 17th century New England, witch hunter Giles Redferne captures an evil warlock, but the conjurer eludes death with supernatural help. Flung into the future, the warlock winds up in the 1980s and plans to bring about the end of the world. Redferne follows the enchanter into the modern era and continues his mission, but runs into trouble in such unfamiliar surroundings. With the help of a young woman, can Redferne finally defeat the warlock? Warlock is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 1989 with an average rating of 6.3 by 446 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,094,451 in the box office.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings shares with Doctor Strange a Marvel universe origin story centered on a hero with initially hidden talents who, through mentorship and family conflict, learns to wield extraordinary powers to protect the world from supernatural threats.

Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 12m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 7.5 by 10,562 people. The movie made an estimated total of $432,243,292 in the box office.