326 Best Weird Movies to Watch (Page 12)

Genre: Drama

Actor: Akari Akase, Hayato Sano, Jun Kunimura, Kanako Momota, Kenjiro Tsuda, Kimiko Yo, Koji Kikkawa, Kosuke Suzuki, Mio Imada, Ren Meguro, Riko Fukumoto, Ryosuke Sota, Seira Anzai, Takashi Tsukamoto, Terunosuke Takezai, Tomoya Maeno

Director: Kenta Tanaka, Kentarō Takemura, Murao Yoshiaki, Yoshiaki Murao

Rating: TV-14

From Sweet Tooth to The Last of Us, there’s no shortage nowadays of post-pandemic shows speculating about a virus-stricken and human-deficient world. But back in 2015, those were few and far between, making The Last Man on Earth a uniquely weird dramedy that was as existential as it was entertaining. 

But even as its novelty wore off over the years, The Last Man on Earth stands the test of time thanks to its deft balance of sadness and silliness. You could be laughing about a poop joke one moment and ruminating about the purpose of life the next—and it never feels jarring. The ensemble cast is also a notable strength of the show, with each cast member becoming more sympathetic and fleshed out every season. Even the latest additions to the crew, like Kristen Wiig’s Pamela, become fast favorites. 

If you're looking for quick laughs, you can put this show on, but expect some heartache in between as well.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Actor: Cleopatra Coleman, January Jones, Keith L. Williams, Kristen Schaal, Mary Steenburgen, Mel Rodriguez, Will Forte

Rating: TV-14

Cassie Bowen (Kaley Cuoco) is a hot mess. She’s flirty, flighty, and constantly blackout drunk, so when she wakes up one day to find a dead man next to her, it’s not entirely beyond the realm of possibility that she's responsible for it. But as Cassie uncovers new memories over time, it gets harder and harder to track the truth. Is she a murder suspect or a frame-up victim? 

That’s what Cassie sets out to solve, but with the FBI and multiple hitmen on her tail, not to mention bouts of alcoholism and PTSD getting in the way, it’s up to her to figure things out on her own before it’s too late. 

To be sure, The Flight Attendant is a well-crafted thriller, with rousing music and noir-like editing adding to the classic whodunnit experience. But it’s also refreshingly not that serious. The performances are big and loud and self-ridicule often drives the characters’ dialogue. What makes The Flight Attendant stand out from its darker counterparts is that it has a sense of humor about itself, which makes it all the more engaging to watch. It's pulpy good fun, and it knows it.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery

Actor: Callie Hernandez, Cheryl Hines, Deniz Akdeniz, Griffin Matthews, Joseph Julian Soria, Kaley Cuoco, Mo McRae, Rosie Perez, Zosia Mamet

Rating: TV-MA

With its first episode, The Changeling might feel less scary and more romantic and historical than how a horror fantasy would seem like. The series shifts in and out of flashbacks, sometimes even having a flashback within a flashback, with dreamlike sequences that makes it take a while to figure out when and where the story is taking place. This causes the series to have some unusual pacing that might turn off viewers wanting a quick scare. But there’s a certain mystery to it, a certain anxiety captured as Apollo and Emmy disobey the Brazilian witch, as it recalls those negligent parents in familiar fantastic fairy tales. And as the series makes their flashbacks, there’s a certain fear that Apollo and Emmy might redo the same mistakes their immigrant parents have done before them. It makes for an intriguing take on the novel by Victor LaValle, one that captures a realistic fear that isn’t easy to depict.

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Adina Porter, Alexis Louder, Clark Backo, Jared Abrahamson, Lakeith Stanfield, Samuel T. Herring

Rating: TV-MA

As is sometimes the case with multi-genre shows, Paper Girls starts off slow and gives us a lot to process at the onset. But if you give it some time, the eight-episode series delivers both on the sci-fi and drama fronts. Sure, it could benefit from a bigger CGI budget, but the world it imagines about timekeepers and time benders is inspired and intriguing, certainly worth exploring as much as we do the lore behind shows like Doctor Who and Loki. 

That said, the series is at its best when it centers on its mundane leads, the titular paper girls. The conversations they engage in and the epiphanies they have are gut-wrenching, not only because of their sentiment but also because of their truth. These 12-year-olds are confused and anxious and awkward and lonely—preteen girls on the brink of adolescence. The show doesn’t shy away from those qualities and parallels their volatility with sci-fi elements. The result is a nicely balanced story, equal parts thrilling and touching. It’s the perfect watch for people who enjoy fares like Back to the Future, E.T., and Stranger Things, which are themselves perfect blends of the sci-fi and coming-of-age genres. 

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Science Fiction

Actor: Adina Porter, Fina Strazza, Riley Lai Nelet, Sofia Rosinsky

Rating: TV-MA

With games creating whole virtual worlds, with stunning landscapes, powers, and storylines, it’s easy to escape into the fictional simulations, to the point of being addicted. Good Night World reimagines this idea in the present as a family drama, where video game addict Tachiro Arima struggles to relate with his family because of his addiction. As the show progresses, the game integrates with the real world, with real life-threatening consequences, but the show slowly uncovers how this game unraveled the Arimas’ family bonds, through neglect, depression, and shared trauma. It’s an interesting series about connection and video games, if you can get into the world of the series.

Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Akio Otsuka, Aoi Yuki, Aya Endo, Daisuke Hirose, Hiroki Nanami, Inori Minase, Kenjiro Tsuda, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Rie Takahashi, Ryohei Kimura

Rating: TV-MA

Cunk on Earth is a five-episode mockumentary that takes the piss out of every single historical documentary you’ve seen. The host, Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan), asks actual experts stupid but funny questions about world history, which will often leave them stunned and speechless. 

That’s part of where the brilliance of this show lies really—in the reaction of the intellectuals who take Cunk’s questions seriously without ever breaking. A much bigger part relies on Morgan’s deft impression of a daft host. It’s all idiotic good fun, and it's a breeze to binge if you’re looking for something lighthearted to put on the screen.

Genre: Mockumentary

Actor: Diane Morgan

Director: Christian Watt

Rating: TV-MA