"...and then they woke up, and it was all a dream!" It's the dreaded ending to any story we've invested time in. When writers are unsure how to tie up all of their loose ends, they'll often use the dream device to get out of their sticky situation. Much of the time it's a cop-out, and through the years we've been disappointed by a number of different TV shows, films and other forms of entertainment that have gone down this route.
Not all movies that include dreams or dream sequences should be immediately written off, however. There have been plenty throughout the decades that have left lasting impressions, and ensured we've gone back time and time again for a rewatch.
With that in mind, we're taking a look here at seven amazing movies that include dreams or dream sequences! Let us know what you think of those that made the cut, and tell us in the comments of any films we may have missed off the list that we should get watching ASAP!
7. Inception
Christopher Nolan's 2010 blockbuster Inception is one of those films that refuses to adhere to strict genre rules. Instead, it breaks down all pre-placed barriers and takes inspiration from a multitude of different places before finding itself somewhere way outside of the box. True, you may have to watch the movie a few times before you really come close to understanding what's going on, but the narrative is so smartly developed that it's an exercise worth undertaking.
When it comes to extracting information, the hands of the authorities in the Western world are often tied. Inception approaches this with an entirely new concept; retrieving information which will help with unsolved cases and the like by infiltrating dreams.
The trippy landscapes that we explore along with the film's leading characters are a sight to behold. Buildings fold in on themselves as a world of fantasy comes as close as is possible to being a reality, testing the metal not only of those fictional folk involved, but the real-life audiences watching at home.
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6. Paprika
Animated and produced by Japanese animation studio Madhouse, alongside Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan, 2006 Japanese sci-fi psychological thriller Paprika is an anime that got the world talking upon its debut.
The movie follows the narrative of a world set in the near future, where a revolutionary new treatment called dream therapy has been invented, which allows users to view the dreams of others. Of course, not everybody involved in the process of handling the machine is doing so whilst following the law, and we quickly discover that the head of the team working on the treatment has been illegally helping those outside of the research facility using a sentient persona she controls in the dream world.
It's an infectious story with a brilliant pay-off, and one you'll want to return to time and again long after your first watch.
5. Spirited Away
This 2001 coming-of-age Japanese fantasy film is the perfect introduction to anime for anybody who's not yet discovered the genre. Spirited Away tells the story of a 10-year-old girl who enters the spirit world of Japanese Shinto-Buddhist folklore whilst moving to a new neighbourhood, with writers exploring her concerns for the future and emotions through all of the fantastical creatures and scenarios shown on screen.
It's an absolutely gorgeous tale, and certainly one that should be watched by everybody at least once in their lives. If you can get past the fact it's animated and appreciate it for what it's built to be, then Spirited Away may find a slot in your favourite movies of all time.
4. The Good Night
Martin Freeman and Gwyneth Platrow lead one of the strangest films of the Noughties in The Good Night, which follows the story of a former pop star who's forced to write commercial jingles for a living as they experience a mid-life crisis.
Exploring the concept of lucid dreaming, we find our pop star meet the literal girl of his dreams; a woman he can only contact and enjoy a relationship with when his eyes are closed.
Yes, it's as crazy as it sounds and yes, it won't be a movie for everybody, but give this one a shot.
MORE: What does it mean to dream about love?
3. The Matrix
Whether you're a fan or not of The Matrix series, the sci-fi franchise is one that's had the world talking for almost 20 years. Though the idea of the entirety of what goes on in the films being a dream is one too cheesy to consider being a reality, there are certainly dream sequences woven throughout the narrative that have blown our minds.
Humanity living in an illusion; what's dreamier than that?
2. The Wizard of Oz
"There's no place like home." It's a catchphrase we all know and love, and one that countless people have woven into their own messages of joy when it comes to celebrating their family. Instantly recognisable as a quote from 1939's The Wizard of Oz, it reminds us all of the time we first sat down to watch Dorothy Gale's adventures in the magical land itself.
Travelling down the Yellow Brick Road, and coming across a bunch of eclectic characters along the way, what many people watching wondered when the credits rolled on the movie was whether the land of Oz is simply one conjured up by the youngster's imagination, or indeed a real place.
Whatever the truth may be, there was no way we could have missed this legendary picture off our list!
1. A Nightmare on Elm Street
Coming in at number one, we've got a classic horror in the form of Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street. Debuting all the way back in 1984, the movie saw the monstrous spirit of Freddie Krueger seeking revenge for his murder, by slaying the teenagers whose parents were responsible for his death.
Of course, as he's no longer part of the living world, there are some conditions to Freddie's killing spree; he's only able to take the lives of those who fall asleep, by invading their dreams and making sure they never wake up.
I don't know about you, but the first time I watched this film, I found it hard going to bed! The very idea of being most vulnerable when you're sleeping is one that's enough to make the hairs on your arm stand to attention. Partnering that with a truly terrifying villain who has a melted face and razor-sharp claws made for one of the scariest horror flicks of the 80s.
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