8 Best Movies Like Coherence (Ranked & Where to Stream)

Shane Carruth's "Primer" is often cited alongside "Coherence" for its intricate time travel mechanics, but "Predestination" delves into even deeper philosophical territory regarding self and causality. Spierig Brothers craft a masterful temporal paradox thriller, where a Temporal Agent (Ethan Hawke) embarks on an intricate series of time-travel assignments, only to unravel a confounding narrative of identity, destiny, and the very nature of existence. Its contained narrative, relying heavily on dialogue and revelation, mirrors "Coherence's" intimate scale, while its mind-bending twists will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about linear time and personal identity. A true companion piece for those who crave intellectual puzzles.

"ARQ" delivers a tightly wound, contained thriller experience that echoes "Coherence" with its high-concept sci-fi premise and limited setting. Two characters find themselves trapped in a mysterious time loop within a single house, repeatedly reliving the same day as they try to protect an energy-generating device. The film expertly builds tension through its relentless repetition and incremental revelations, forcing the protagonists—and the audience—to piece together a fractured reality. Like "Coherence," it leverages its restrictive environment to amplify the psychological stakes, making every decision, every interaction, resonate with escalating dread. It's a gripping, puzzle-box film that will keep you guessing.

Alex Proyas's "Dark City" is a towering achievement in reality-bending cinema, predating "The Matrix" with its exploration of manipulated perceptions. A man awakens with amnesia in a nocturnal metropolis, accused of murder and hunted by enigmatic beings who can 'tune' reality. The film’s pervasive sense of disorientation, the constant questioning of what is real, and the unraveling of a vast, sinister conspiracy resonate deeply with the core anxieties of "Coherence." While visually grander, its thematic exploration of identity theft, imposed realities, and the search for authentic selfhood will appeal to anyone who appreciated "Coherence's" existential dread and narrative ambition.

The premise of "It's What's Inside" is perhaps the most direct spiritual successor to "Coherence" on this list. A pre-wedding reunion of college friends descends into a psychological nightmare when a mysterious, uninvited guest arrives, bringing with them an inexplicable phenomenon that shatters the group's reality. The film taps directly into the escalating paranoia, fractured relationships, and existential dread that defined "Coherence's" dinner party from hell. Its intimate setting and focus on character reactions to the absurd and terrifying unknown make it a must-watch for anyone craving that specific brand of contained, character-driven mind-bending horror. This is new, but its thematic resonance is undeniable.

Directly tackling the quantum physics themes that subtly underpin "Coherence," "Multiverse" explores what happens when a group of brilliant university students conducting an experiment inadvertently rip holes in their own reality. The film quickly escalates into a gripping psychological thriller as they confront alternate versions of themselves and the terrifying consequences of their scientific ambition. Its focus on the scientific explanation (or lack thereof) for reality's unraveling, combined with the intimate drama between the characters, makes it a potent parallel to "Coherence's" blend of speculative science and interpersonal tension. A compelling journey into fractured timelines and identity.

H.P. Lovecraft's influence looms large in "From Beyond," a classic horror film that, while stylistically distinct from "Coherence," shares its underlying cosmic dread. A scientist invents 'The Resonator,' a device that allows humans to perceive a dimension populated by monstrous entities, leading to grotesque transformations and horrifying discoveries. This film channels the subtle, unseen cosmic horror that implies something vast and terrifying beyond our comprehension, a feeling that permeates "Coherence" when the comet passes. It's an exploration of scientific hubris and the terrifying implications of peering beyond the veil of our known reality.

"The Signal" presents a compelling narrative of disorientation and uncovering a distorted reality, making it a strong thematic match for "Coherence." Three college students on a road trip are lured to an isolated area by a computer genius, only to awaken in a mysterious facility with fragmented memories and unsettling physical changes. The film masterfully builds a sense of unease and paranoia, mirroring "Coherence's" gradual descent into the unknown. Its exploration of identity, perceived reality, and the struggle to comprehend an inexplicable situation will resonate with viewers who appreciate a slow-burn mystery that plays with their perceptions.

For fans of "Coherence" who appreciate a more direct, technological approach to temporal manipulation, "57 Seconds" offers an intriguing premise. A tech blogger discovers a mysterious ring that allows him to rewind time by 57 seconds. This power, initially used for personal gain, quickly spirals into dangerous territory, forcing him to grapple with the ethical implications and unforeseen consequences of altering causality. While perhaps less overtly philosophical than "Coherence," it shares the core element of a single, extraordinary anomaly disrupting an ordinary life, leading to escalating tension and moral dilemmas, reminiscent of the choices made under pressure in Coherence's alternate realities.