Top 15 Psychedelic Documentaries

Taking trips is one thing, but understanding them is quite another. After all, what is really going on here? That’s why learning as much as possible about the nature of entheogens is tremendously helpful to make better sense of the experience and integrate it into a deeper level. Documentaries are an excellent way to educate yourself and receive though-stimulating input. Here are the Top 15 documentaries about psychedelic sthat will surely broaden your horizon.

15. Magic Trip (2001) - IMDB 6,9

Based on raw video footage of the legendary LSD-fueled cross country trip Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters undertook in 1964, this documentary offers a rare glimpse into an extraordinary moment in American psychedelic history. Colorful, uplifting and cheerful!

14. Psychonautics: A Comic’s Exploration Of Psychedelics (2018) - IMDB 6.9

A unique fusion of comedy and psychedelia, join comedian Shane Mauss as he dives headfirst down an entheogenic rabbit hole. Enjoy the stories of his most intense and bizarre experiences, and learn a thing or two from scientists and experts that weigh in from an academic perspective.

13. The Substance: Albert Hofmann’s LSD (2011) - IMDB 7,1

When the Swiss chemist Albert Hofman first synthesized LSD, he wasn’t aware of the monumental importance of his discovery. It wasn’t until he involuntarily embarked on the legendary bicycle trip when he realized he was onto something. „The Substance“ covers the history of LSD, as well its cultural impact.

12. Dosed (2019) - IMDB 7.2

Follow the journey of a woman who makes the conscious decision to turn to psychedelics. After enduring the gauntlet of prescription pills, Adrianne seeks out natural psychedelics in an attempt to address her inner turmoil.

11. Orange Sunshine (2016) - IMDB 7.2

Ever wonder where all that LSD came from in the ’60s and ’70s? This film takes a look at the so-called Brotherhood of Eternal Love, a group of free-spirited surfers from Cali who went from carving barrels to setting up the largest LSD production operation in the country.

10. The Spirit Molecule 2010 - IMDB 7,2

Exploring DMT is exploring the inexpressible. DMT is one of the most powerful psychedelics on earth, and yet it appears naturally in our brains, as well as in hundreds of plants. Hear what Rick Strassman, Alex Grey, Graham Hancock, Dennis McKenna and Roland Griffith have to say about the god particle.

9. Peyote To LSD: A Psychedelic Odyssey (2008) - IMDB 7,3

Ethnobotanist Richard Evans Schultes was one of the first westerners to explore the use of magic mushrooms among the native tribes in Mexico. In this documentary he explores hallucinogenic plants across the world and how they influenced the wild psychedelic sixties.

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8. Entheo:genesis: Awakening The Divine Within (2007) - IMDB 7,5

Entheo: genesis is a beautifully made documentary that explores the archaic revival in the bigger picture. How does traditional spirituality tie in with modern civilisational collapse and the challenges we face today? What is the fundamental paradigm shift proposed by entheogens?

7. Other Worlds (2004) - IMDB 7,7

Other Worlds has been filmed mostly in the Ucayali region of the Amazon and explores traditional life in the Shipibo community, their ayahuasca traditions and views on spirituality. This is as close as you can come to experience the Amazon without being there.

6. Neurons To Nirvana (2013) - IMDB 7,7

Neurons to Nirvana documents the resurgence of psychedelics in modern science. The documentary explores the five leading substances - LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, ayahuasca and cannabis. Breaking the taboo surrounding psychedelics, this movie is a must see for anyone interested in their potential.

5. Terence Mckenna’s True Hallucinations (2016) - IMDB 8.1

Terence McKenna rocked the world of hallucinogens with his groundbreaking books and unique insights into culture, history, and evolution. This experimental documentary takes a close look at McKenna’s time spent tripping in the Amazon basin, a period of his life that gave rise to several of his most recognised theories.

4. A New Understanding: Science Of Psilocybin (2015) - IMDB 8.4

Labelled a “fabulous film” by spiritual teacher and psychologist Ram Das, this flick explores the effects of psilocybin on users facing impending death. Watch patients embark on a psychedelic journey to face the biggest unknown of them all.

3. Journeys To The Edge Of Consciousness (2019) - IMDB 8.4

Take an animated dive into the psychedelic experiences of three of the best minds of all time: Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary, and Alan Watts. This colourful journey will give you a peek into the brains of these psychedelic pioneers, who expressed their ideas so vividly through literature and the spoken word.

2. Hallucinogenic Honey Hunters (2011) - IMDB 8.5

We’ve all heard of LSD, mushrooms, DMT, and MDMA. But what about honey? This unlikely source of psychoactive alkaloids is highly sought after in areas of Nepal. Honey hunters scale great heights and risk their lives for the sweet taste and altered state of mind.

1. From Shock To Awe (2019) - IMDB 9.3

Nightmares and horrible images have long haunted veterans returning from the horrors of war. Conventional care often fails to ease the struggles of those who have seen things we can’t even imagine... but what about psychedelics? Follow the journey of two veterans to find out.

Luke Sumpter

With a BSc (Hons) degree in Clinical Health Sciences and a passion for growing plants, Luke Sumpter has worked as a professional journalist and writer at the intersection of cannabis and science for the past 7 years.

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