8. Donnie Darko
Simultaneously one of the greatest cult films, independent films, and debut films ever made, Donnie Darko is one of the most cerebral, atmospheric, and hypnotic sci-fi movies ever made. The film follows the titular character, Donnie Darko, as he struggles to understand the meaning behind a series of strange visions he has that seem to hint at an upcoming apocalypse. A rarely sure-handed movie for a first time director, Donnie Darko is a very well constructed film that is extremely convoluted, unsettling, and ultimately rewarding. It is the kind of film that demands multiple viewings in order to appreciate, which has no doubt helped establish its rabid cult fan-base. Donnie Darko takes the old science fiction idea of time travel, flips it on its head, shakes it up, and makes it into one of the most clever movies of the last decade as well as one of the most memorable.