Christopher Nolan‘s Inception is considered one of the greatest movies of the past couple of decades, making its way onto “best of” lists since it came out in 2010. That sort of fantastical movie that combines science fiction, action, thriller, and mystery comes out once every few years and completely mesmerizes global audiences; it’s hard to replicate (though some claim it was “inspired” by Satoshi Kon‘s Paprika), so all we can do is rewatch it.
There are shows that feel spiritually connected and similar to Inception; whether it’s the genre blending or the philosophy behind it, these are the shows to watch if you love Inception and want to get thrown back into those vibes.
10
‘Devs’ (2020)
Created by Alex Garland
Devs is the brainchild of Alex Garland, who created, wrote, and directed the eight-episode miniseries that feels like a punch in the gut in its final moments — much like Inception. They are in a similar vein, both being techno-thrillers with hints of mystery and a deep philosophy about life and reality. Devs is a slow burn, but the ultimate plot twist is devastating. Garland has frequent collaborators, and we can see them here, too: Sonoya Mizuno, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Nick Offerman take center stage, but Karl Glusman and Cailee Spaeny also make their appearances.
Devs follows Lily Chan (Mizuno), a software engineer in the tech company Amaya, founded by the mysterious man named Forest. Lily welcomes her boyfriend, Sergei (Glusman), to the team as a newcomer developer in Amaya, but Sergei dies on the first day of his job there. Lily becomes embroiled in the mystery of his death, connecting it to a bigger picture happening at Amaya. If Inception‘s made you think about reality and the perceptions of it, Devs will make you think about the futility of life; don’t let that dark theme deter you — it’s a great show.
9
‘Dark’ (2017–2020)
Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese
Dark was one of the biggest Netflix hits of 2017, mostly for its innovative depictions of time travel, time loops, and multiple timelines blending together. Though there aren’t any time-traveling moments in Inception, there is the feeling of not being sure which time or place we’re in during certain scenes and situations. Dark has three seasons, all of which dive into the complexities of time travel and the consequences of changing events; it may be a bit too complex in some moments, but it still gives off that Inception vibe.
Dark follows several families from a small German town called Winden — the Kahnwalds, the Nielsens, the Dopplers, and the Tiedemanns. The protagonist is Jonas Kahnwald (Louis Hofmann) at first, and he begins looking into the recent disappearances of children from Winden. This triggers unusual appearances and bizarre shifts in the timelines, and Jonas’ friends, family, and even enemies become a part of the events. It’s really complex to explain, much like Inception, and it’s best to see it to really get it. It’s a great sci-fi thriller that often gets pretty dark (pun intended).
8
‘Electric Dreams’ (2017–20218)
Created by Ronald D. Moore and Michael Dinner
Electric Dreams is a lesser-known anthology series that people often compared to Black Mirror, which came to the show’s detriment a lot more than its aid. Being compared to something so loved should be a good thing, but viewers frequently dismiss it as a mere copy. The thing is, Electric Dreams was based on the works of Philip K. Dick, so it is technically older material than Black Mirror. This futuristic sci-fi series adapts some of Dick’s most famous stories (and one novelette), and it’s great for fans of Inception as a way to explore the integration of technology into storytelling.
Electric Dreams has ten one-hour episodes, adapting stories like The Hood Maker, The Impossible Planet, Human Is, and the novelette Autofac. Stars of the show include Bryan Cranston, Steve Buscemi, Timothy Spall, and Greg Kinnear, among many others. The dreamy quality of each story gives off a similar vibe to Inception, where we’re unsure whether something is reality and where the subconscious vividly plays games with the protagonists and the viewers. It’s a pretty decent series, unfairly compared to other similar works; it’s original enough and doesn’t try to replicate anyone else’s success.
7
‘Humans’ (2015–2018)
Created by Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent
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Humans is a fantastic British show that’s quite fairly underrated, or at least not widely known outside the UK. This futuristic thriller series lasted for three seasons and gathered a brilliant cast of massive names, including Gemma Chan, Katherine Parkinson, and even William Hurt and Carrie-Anne Moss. With an iconic theme song, exceptional performances, and a gripping story, Humans garnered widespread critical acclaim throughout its run; it was based on the Swedish series called Real Humans.
Humans is set in the near future, when society relies on humanoid robots called “synths.” The synths are artificial intelligence and are typically used for housework, babysitting, and other menial jobs. The story opens with Anita (Chan) and her role as a synth in the Hawkins household. The mother, Laura (Parkinson), feels uneasy around Anita and like something is off with her. These suspicions soon prove to be founded, as Anita communicates with other synths differently. In terms of Humans being similar to Inception, its constant uncertainty about what’s real and what isn’t draws a nice parallel. Also, both are visually gorgeous feats.
6
‘Legion’ (2017–2019)
Created by Noah Hawley
Legion, a great adaptation of an exceptional comic book by a talented writer — Noah Hawley — started and ended on the creator’s terms, after three seasons and 27 episodes. The show employs a retro-futuristic setting, with the costumes, set design, and the show’s visual identity relying on a lot of design choices from the 1960s. This was done on purpose, meant to depict the show’s protagonist, mutant David Haller (Dan Stevens), as an unreliable protagonist whose mind often wanders. Much like Inception, Legion embraces its story down to the smallest details, which contribute to its overall emotional and moral message.
Legion follows David Haller (Stevens), a mutant with powerful psychic powers (set within the X-Men universe), who gets diagnosed with schizophrenia as a young child. David is placed in a new psychiatric facility as an adult, where he meets and falls in love with Syd Barrett (Rachel Keller). David’s mind unfolds, and we learn how he ends up becoming one of the most powerful mutants in the series through his interactions with Syd and her friends, as well as digging deep within his memories, trauma, and subconscious. Similar to Inception, it relies on the subconscious to reveal truths, and both are beautiful and well-thought-out programs.
5
‘Black Mirror’ (2011–)
Created by Charlie Brooker
Black Mirror is one of the closest TV shows to Inception because of its integration of technology with moral themes and profound studies of life. Each episode of the seven seasons thus far weaves a story about how technology becomes a defining point in humanity, often to their detriment. In Inception, we see the integration of a dream-infiltrating technology that allows the protagonists to plant subconscious messages into people’s dreams; this is often used for the purpose of financial gain, business sabotage, or powerful people simply going against each other. Such a technology can impact its users and its victims equally, drawing a parallel with Black Mirror.
Black Mirror is an anthology series where each episode is different; taking the format of The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Tales from the Crypt, Black Mirror doesn’t have a “host” or “narrator” like Rod Serling, for example, but it does weave a common narrative about the plights and advantages of technology. Many big stars have appeared in the series so far, including the likes of Jon Hamm, Paul Giamatti, and even Miley Cyrus.
4
‘Inside No. 9’ (2014–2024)
Created by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton
To UK fans, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton are basically household names. They’re creators of the cult comedy horror series, The League of Gentlemen, where they play most of the characters together with another co-writer, Mark Gatiss. In 2014, Pemberton and Shearsmith created an anthology series that weaves horror, dark comedy, drama, and sometimes even science fiction and fantasy, called Inside No. 9; each episode is self-contained and has a conclusion that often turns out to be a massive plot twist. Inside No. 9 lasted for a decade, and it was one of the greatest shows on television during its runtime.
Fans of Inception could find themselves enamored with this series really quickly because of its aesthetic appeal, beautiful cinematography, and intricate narratives. Most stories contain some kind of moral conclusion or lesson, a sort of karmic redemption that takes place throughout the episode. Just like Black Mirror, Inside No. 9 has attracted some great actors; besides Pemberton and Shearsmith, who star in every episode, some guest stars include Kayvan Novak, Helen McCrory, Eddie Marsan, and even Gatiss.
3
‘Mr. Robot’ (2015–2019)
Created by Sam Esmail
Inception fans have, very likely, seen Mr. Robot already. It’s one of the quintessential 2010s TV shows that employs visually stunning cinematography and a non-linear narrative that often jumps back and forth, depicting the protagonist’s emotional state and making the story feel a little more complex. Rami Malek leads the three-season series; he was often praised for his performance, and many would argue this show launched him into superstardom. Malek is joined by Christian Slater and both have received praise for their performances, while the show garnered critical and wide audience acclaim.
Mr. Robot follows Elliott (Malek), a hacker with social anxiety and DID; he gets approached by the elusive hacker Mr. Robot to join his group of digital anarchists whose purpose is to eliminate all debt records that the world’s largest conglomerate, E Corp, possesses. While Elliott deals with the hackers, his emotional and mental states shift, and we watch him unravel. It’s an essential series for any fan of techno-thrillers, dystopian sci-fi, and, well, Inception.
2
‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964)
Created by Rod Serling
The Twilight Zone is the essential sci-fi/horror series, and its anthology format became highly influential in the television landscape. Telling a different story connected by a similar thread — supernatural, fantastical, and dystopian events — is a great way to stay fresh and innovative; with every self-contained episode comes a new message and purpose, with creator Rod Serling serving as the narrator who introduces and signs out of each episode. Every episode has a moral or karmic message and often philosophizes deeply about life. It could be a show similar to the movie Inception because of its intricate messages and ideas.
The Twilight Zone has four seasons and 156 episodes that often last no longer than 30 minutes (though season four ventured into one-hour specials). Some of its episodes were voted among the greatest television episodes of all time, such as Season 3, Episode 8, “It’s a Good Life,” and Season 3, Episode 24, “To Serve Man.” Enjoying this show even if you’re not a fan of Inception is welcome, but fans of Inception will surely love and cherish it.
1
‘Maniac’ (2018)
Created by Patrick Somerville
Maniac was adapted from the Norwegian comedy-drama of the same name by Patrick Somerville; all ten episodes were directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, and Emma Stone and Jonah Hill lead it as its two protagonists. So, how is Maniac similar to Inception? Visually, both are stunning; Maniac relies on a retro-futuristic setting, while Inception has all the qualities of a dreamy, surreal piece of cinema. Both employ fantasy in some way, and both guide us through the mind as the ultimate human tool.
Maniac follows two protagonists: Annie (Stone) and Owen (Hill), who apply to take part in a clinical trial set up by Neberdine Pharmaceutical Biotech (NPB). The study consists of giving the subjects highly hallucinatory drugs that take us through their innermost worlds, like their fears, emotional landscapes, and wishes; each episode guides viewers through Annie and Owen’s subconscious minds, showing their growth and realizations. Inception also tackles the subconscious, so Maniac is ideal viewing for fans of Nolan’s movie.
