A confession: since my academic background is in film and philosophy, people often assume I must love philosophical movies. Honestly, they are rarely among my favorites. There is a special place in my heart, however, for the genre flick that doesn’t explicitly set out to be philosophical, but just happens to be so. Popcorn movies with a side helping of philosophy.

My normal friends—i.e., those who are not philosophers by trade—often appreciate a bit of philosophizing. They don’t, however, necessarily relish a weekend snuggling up with their sweetie in front of an Ingmar Bergman meditation on death or a documentary on Wittgenstein (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). For these folks, I’ve decided to make a list of movies that are first and foremost entertainment—but ones that also open a door to deeper consideration of an important issue in philosophy.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Many movies can serve as case studies for why a given action (such as, say, euthanasia) is right or wrong. Hot Fuzz, a hilarious spoof of buddy cop movies, does something a little different. It analyzes the reasons why any of our actions are right or wrong. Is an action the right thing to do because it maximizes happiness for as many people as possible (a theory philosophers call utilitarianism)? Or should we instead follow rules, acting on the belief that some actions are by their nature the right thing to do, regardless of whether they make people happy (known as deontology)?

Hot Fuzz is structured more like a philosophical argument than any movie I’ve seen. It shows the appeal of utilitarianism. But as the movie progresses, it implicitly argues that deontology is a more satisfying explanation of right and wrong.

Total Recall (1990)

We can change many things about ourselves over the course of time, but what is it that makes us us—what couldn’t we change without becoming a different person? This is the question of personal identity, a philosophical topic far more popular in films than, say, paraconsistent logic. Total Recall is an Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi action movie from the Peak Days of Arnold that interrogates the connections between memory and personal identity. If we could alter our memories to make ourselves happier, should we? Or would doing so interfere with who we authentically are?

Total Recall covers much of the same philosophical territory as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), which certainly has better writing, acting, and direction—if you’re into those kinds of things—as well as a more conclusive philosophical opinion on the issue. I picked Total Recall, though, because lots of stuff explodes. It is also determinedly entertaining, and deals with some philosophical implications more than Eternal Sunshine does—such as whether our sense perceptions are trustworthy, as well as issues of class and capitalism.

Finding Dory (2016)

Finding Dory also considers the connections between memory and personal identity, though with an unusual and valuable focus on the personal identity of cognitively disabled people. Most of the film’s characters are either physically or cognitively disabled. In addition to addressing personal identity, Finding Dory is one of the most sophisticated and nuanced films on what it means to include disabled people in community life and to respect the autonomy of disabled people (well, disabled marine life, but the conclusions for all of us are clear).

Get Out (2017)

Get Out is a straight-up horror flick that, again, focuses on personal identity and memories. However, Get Out explores different territory than many other movies on personal identity. It explores the connection between the memories we form and the bodies we inhabit, with a specific focus on how race informs our identities. It also dramatically conveys the harmfulness of belief in eugenics and genetic determinism.

Trading Places (1983)

Who doesn’t love a 1980s Eddie Murphy comedy? Trading Places probes race and genetic determinism, as well as class and capitalism. It is dated in a few ways and surprisingly forward-thinking in others. It asks whether our success or failure in life are matters of luck or character—and further suggests that even to ask that question can be ethically fraught.

Terminator (1980) and Terminator 2 (1991)

More Peak Days of Arnold sci-fi action! In these two movies, we have illustrations of philosophical issues surrounding time, causation, and whether we have free will to make choices as opposed to our “choices” being determined by prior events. Bizarrely, the second movie takes a different position on the free will/determinism debate than the first one, but both are good popcorn fun.

Inside Out (2015)

Another film on personal identity and memory, though Inside Out has an eye toward demonstrating how emotions—sadness in particular—are, in their own way, rational and crucial for the formation of the self. The movie takes place mostly inside the protagonist’s head, and her personal identity is depicted visually. Kids, then, are more apt to grasp how the events on the screen connect to the philosophical issues at stake.

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

One of the great classic horror flicks, it’s scary not for what it shows but what it prompts you to imagine. Invasion of the Body Snatchers focuses on the connection between our minds and bodies, as well as the frustration of our inability to really truly know what others closest to us are thinking. It also serves as a warning of the perils of thoughtless social conformity.

There are so many more movies to include, not to mention television shows. But here’s a start to having some intellectual stimulation along with your entertainment!