10 Movies About the Afterlife That Will Make You Think Deeply

IMDb: 7.8

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Where to Watch: HBO Max, The Criterion Channel

Jean Cocteau’s “Orphée” is a poetic retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus, set in postwar Paris. The story follows Orphée, a poet who becomes obsessed with Death, a mysterious woman named La Princesse. After his wife Eurydice dies, Orphée enters the underworld to bring her back. The film blends surreal imagery, mirrors as portals, and haunting symbolism to explore love, art, and the thin line between life and death.

IMDb: 7.5

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Where to Watch: fuboTV, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home

In “Here Comes Mr. Jordan,” boxer Joe Pendleton dies too soon due to a heavenly mistake. Realizing the error, the angel Mr. Jordan sends Joe back to Earth in the body of a recently murdered millionaire, Bruce Farnsworth. Now living a new life, Joe tries to fix the man’s business troubles and win the heart of Bette Logan. Filled with humor and charm, the movie explores fate, redemption, and second chances.

IMDb: 7.2

Rotten Tomatoes: 73%

Where to Watch: AMC+, Philo, Shudder, Sundance Now, MUBI, Fandango At Home, Apple TV.

Gaspar Noé’s “Enter the Void” follows Oscar, a young American drug dealer living in Tokyo. When he is shot by police during a raid, his soul leaves his body and floats over the neon-lit city. Oscar watches his sister Linda and remembers their painful past, including the trauma that shaped their lives. The film’s first-person perspective and psychedelic visuals turn his journey into a haunting, dreamlike experience about death and rebirth.

IMDb: 7.6

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Where to Watch: Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Amazon Video, Fandango At Home

In Hirokazu Koreeda’s “After Life,” newly deceased souls arrive at a quiet way station where counselors help them choose one memory to keep for eternity. Takashi, one of the counselors, listens to the stories of the dead, including an old man who struggles to find happiness in his past. As they recreate these memories on film, Takashi confronts his own forgotten life. Thoughtful and touching, it explores memory, purpose, and the beauty of being human.

IMDb: 6.8

Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Where to Watch: Netflix

In “A Ghost Story,” Casey Affleck plays C, a man who dies suddenly, leaving behind his wife M, played by Rooney Mara. He returns as a ghost, covered in a simple white sheet, silently watching her grief as time moves on. Stuck in his old home, C witnesses generations of people come and go, realizing how small yet connected every life is. The film captures love, loss, and time in a deeply emotional way.

IMDb: 8.0

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Where to Watch: Plex Player, Plex Channel

In this British classic, pilot Peter Carter survives a plane crash during World War II after a heavenly messenger misses him in the fog. He falls in love with an American radio operator, June, who helped him before the crash. When heaven realizes the mistake, Peter must argue for his life in a celestial courtroom. “A Matter of Life and Death” combines stunning visuals, romance, and philosophy in one unforgettable story.

IMDb: 7.0

Rotten Tomatoes: 51%

Where to Watch: AAmazon Video, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, Sky Store

In “What Dreams May Come,” Robin Williams stars as Chris Nielsen, who dies in a car crash and finds himself in a vibrant afterlife made of his wife Annie’s paintings. When Annie takes her own life and ends up in a darker realm, Chris journeys across heaven and hell to find her. Guided by his friend Albert, he discovers that love transcends even death. The film is visually stunning and filled with emotion and hope.

IMDb: 7.3

Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Player, Plex Channel, Fawesome

In Ernst Lubitsch’s witty comedy “Heaven Can Wait,” Henry Van Cleve arrives in hell, believing he deserves punishment for his life of mischief. The Devil, His Excellency, listens as Henry tells his life story—from his charming youth to his long marriage to Martha. As the story unfolds, Henry’s warmth and humor shine through, raising the question of whether a flawed but loving man truly belongs in hell.

IMDb: 7.2

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Where to Watch: Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Apple TV

“Defending Your Life” follows Daniel Miller, played by Albert Brooks, who dies in a car accident and arrives in Judgment City, a place where souls defend their earthly choices. There, he meets Julia, a fearless woman played by Meryl Streep, who lived her life with joy. As they face judgment in court, Daniel must confront how fear shaped his past. Through its humor and heart, the film encourages viewers to live boldly and without regret.

IMDb: 6.5

Rotten Tomatoes: 48%

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home

Directed by Clint Eastwood, “Hereafter” follows three intertwined stories. Matt Damon stars as George Lonegan, a psychic who can communicate with the dead but wishes to live a normal life. Marie is a journalist who survives a tsunami and experiences visions of the afterlife. Meanwhile, a young boy named Marcus loses his twin brother and seeks answers about death. Together, their stories explore grief, fate, and the human desire for connection beyond life.