In truth, the idea of writing an article like this instead of highlighting complex movies and TV shows infuriates me a bit because I hate that we've gotten to a place where second-screening is so widespread that it's en route to fully changing how stories are being told. Smartphone habits are ruining streaming productions so drastically that even those who typically don't notice such changes in the text realized that there was a difference in exposition dumping that unfortunately took place during the final season of Stranger Things (2016).
In various discussions on social media, we talk a lot about how we're losing media literacy because online debates are getting a bit out of hand, but we can also chalk up a lot of it to this irritating habit that's simply wrong. I'm never one to shame someone for watching a movie on a plane, a tablet, or even on their phone. I can understand that not everyone has the luxury of attending in-theater screenings, but watching something and scrolling through phones? All the time? Now, that's a no.
If you want to grasp the significance of some brilliant movies and TV shows, here are some of the best ones you absolutely shouldn't have your phone out during, as well as where you can stream them on platforms like Prime Video.
Inception (2010)
I found myself in a ton of fan forums when Inception first released in theaters because I was obsessed with it and wanted to engage in conversations with people, so imagine my shock at all the wild theories that came out of that ending. To be fair, Inception, like many of Christopher Nolan's movies, is complex, but like Memento (2000), if you pay close attention, the answers are all laid bare in front of us, even if there's ambiguity.
For someone who's watching Inception for the first time today, there's absolutely no way to process the immensity of the complex dream world by looking down even for a second. It's a movie that not only demands full attention, but it also requires that you think things through a few times afterwards. It'll perpetually be my favorite Nolan movie for how deeply it continues to make me think, and it's a must-watch if you want mind-bending dramas with a sensational cast.
Sinners (2025)
Sinners is the type of movie that's so profound in all the themes it presents that once it's finished, additional research for the sake of self-education feels mandatory. Pull out your phones right after, look up points in history that our textbooks left out, because how the movie uses music and mythological creatures to tell a story is a huge accomplishment. However, it's also in the quiet beats where so much of its depth lies.
Ryan Coogler is exceptional at using every second of every frame to fill the scene with something meaningful and thought-provoking. Sinners is also wildly entertaining and thoroughly compelling, yes, but it's not some light-hearted story. It requires careful attention and empathy. It demands that we pay close attention to every detail, and its record-breaking Oscar nominations prove just how much greatness each moment holds. If you want something that'll completely change your perception of how impactful the horror genre is in underscoring real human emotions.
Hamnet (2025)
Imagine my surprise upon learning that people simply didn't get the message of Hamnet at the very end, and why Jessie Buckley's Agnes has such a visceral reaction to the live production of Hamlet that her husband, William Shakespeare, puts on, honoring their late son. If we can't understand the heart and purpose of a movie like Hamnet and reduce it to "trauma dumping," then we might've fully lost the plot.
You don't have to love a movie like Hamnet. I sobbed so hard, I may never be able to revisit it, but to not understand the purpose of that final scene and what it represents about our connection to art and how grief manifests into the things we create is perhaps the very problem with how we engage with media today. You don't have to relate to the struggles, but the message is clear as day, and if you want to understand it, it's imperative to put aside phones.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Plenty of connections can be made between a movie like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and a TV show like Severance (2022). Yet, interestingly, it's also one of the few movies that some people dismiss simply by looking at the cover or presuming that it's going to be some silly rom-com. (Which, I can talk at length about why rom-coms have profound depth.) But in 2026 especially, a movie like this matters as a cautionary tale.
The deeply relatable human emotions that are explored through Joel and Clementine's journey are worthy of dissertations. How the movie emphasizes the importance of growth through pain and how it explores distinct memories as a means to develop the characters is no small feat. It's rare in that regard, and as something that's both haunting and powerful, it's a classic for a reason that you simply cannot second-screen during.
Severance (2022-Present)
If I had a nickel for every time my non-film critic friends texted me to ask what on earth Severance is, I'd have a lot of nickels. The show isn't overly complex, nor does it try to be if you're paying attention, and the ambiguity before various things are revealed to us is simply part of the viewing experience. With a show like Severance, it also feels like people are used to immediate gratification from binge releases, so the weekly process is altering how they're engaging with the series.
At the same time, a show like Severance certainly deals with complicated issues like grief and a work system that might seem tricky, but paying attention makes it hugely satisfying. The differences between character innies and their outties are part of the satisfaction in figuring out what's happening, so even while the episodes have slow and quiet moments, they're always giving us something that's important to pay attention to. Simply put, anyone can understand the heart of Severance solely by paying close attention during every episode.
The Americans (2013-2018)
In a day and age where TV shows are spoon-feeding us exposition, I keep thinking about the sheer masterpiece that was The Americans, and how so much of the show's appeal is found in the conversations characters have in silence. The narrative is, in more ways than one, a marriage story, and the performances that Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys deliver throughout have yet to be replicated. It's as exemplary as it is because the show demanded we pay attention to every little detail.
Additionally, The Americans features one of the most perfect series finales to date, with the kind of ambiguous ending that's as satisfying as it is once you pay attention to everything throughout the entire series. The series's writing is so sharp and so remarkably fine-tuned that the best moments lie in the silence. There's even depth in the settings, and how impactful each moment is from the first episode to the finale hinges on deeply human and simple moments. If you want something thoroughly compelling and love a good spy drama, then this one's for you.
The Expanse (2015-2021)
The sheer number of outstanding sci-fi shows isn't limited, but absolutely nothing has ever topped The Expanse for me. There's not a single dull episode, and as a show that adapts from a series, it does an incredible job of staying true to the source material while also delivering moments that are added in the adaptation that still honor the heart of the characters. From its production value to the characterizations, it's impossible to believe The Expanse is a TV show at times.
If you love Christopher Nolan's directorial vision, so much of The Expanse feels like something he would create. But also, if you ever loved shows like Battlestar Galactica (2004), The Expanse will likely give you the same viewing experience of well-written, complex characters and thrilling plot points that leave you on the edge of your seat. Without fully paying attention to every episode and every detail, the magic of The Expanse is lost, and when you do fully pay attention, you'll realize just how brilliantly written every episode is. (And for my romance fans, it delivers in spades.)
Breaking Bad (2008-2012)
There's a reason that film critics and TV buffs often refer to Breaking Bad as one of the best shows of all time. And if you're currently watching Vince Gilligan's thrilling Apple TV+ series, Pluribus, and want to know what he's capable of delivering, look no further than Breaking Bad. Few shows bear a final season with as much satisfaction for its entire audience, but beyond this, it's how every detail matters in the grand scheme of things that makes it so riveting.
The mere thought of someone scrolling through their phone during "Ozymandius" makes my skin crawl. There's a reason that the episode was the highest rated on IMDb before Heated Rivalry's (2025) "I'll Believe in Anything" came into the picture. The entire appeal of the show is dependent on how closely viewers pay attention, because, like in The Americans, the performances tell an even bigger story than the dialogue.
