Ontology is the philosophical study of being, existance, becoming and reality. In simple terms it seeks to classify and explain entities.
In movies and tv show ontology usually comes in the flavor of an ontological mystery at the center of the plot with several of the following elements: the characters do not know who they are, where they are, how they got to the place there are in, and the central conflict is to get out of there and find answers to the above questions.
In the most common version of the trope, the characters are locked into a strange room or find themselves at a strange place with no contact to the outside. They have no idea how they got there, why they are there or how to get out, nor do they know who is behind their predicament, if anyone at all.
The main idea behind such stories is the investigation of a restricted environment in which the characters find themselves with the goal of mastering the environment, revealing secrets, and ultimately escape.
This list focuses on such stories. I added a few edge cases for good measure, like pure escape room, death game or timeloop movies that have a strong ontological undertone, even though they are not ontological mysteries per se.
If you think something shouldn't be on this list, or if I missed something that should be on here please leave a comment.
Last Updated: 2023/02/03
My 2019 Statistics
1,964 Items Watched
1,499h, 26m Watched
71 different shows watched this year
63 different shows started with 66 starts and 1,747 episodes watched
8 shows continued with 79 episodes watched
122 different movies watched this year
122 new movies with 144 plays
0 rewatched movies with 0 plays
shows I watched in 2013 its self explanatory yo
Total Shows watched: 29
The Blacklist (5 Episodes): 4x08 - 4x12
Blindspot (6 Episodes): 3x17 - 3x22
CSI: Cyber (2 Episodes): 2x17 - 2x18
CSI: Miami (9 Episodes): 5x16 - 5x24
CSI: NY (2 Episodes): 8x03, 8x14
Castle (23 Episodes): 4x01 - 4x23
Columbo (13 Episodes): 8x01 - 8x04, 9x01 - 9x06, 10x01 - 10x03
Criminal Minds (24 Episodes): 6x01 - 6x24
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (5 Episodes): 1x01 - 1x05
Die Rosenheim Cops (19 Episodes): 1x01 - 1x12, 2x01 - 2x07
Doctor Who (3 Episodes): 2x30 - 2x32
Helstrom (2 Episodes): 1x09 - 1x10
Human Universe (2 Episodes): 1x01 - 1x02
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (1 Episode): 1x11
Luther (1 Episode): 1x06
Marvel's Runaways (7 Episodes): 1x04 - 1x10
Monk (2 Episodes): 6x05 - 6x06
NCIS: Los Angeles (25 Episodes): 4x01 - 4x24, 5x01
Once Upon a Time (24 Episodes): 5x01 - 5x23, 6x01
Outcast (5 Episodes): 1x01 - 1x05
Person of Interest (22 Episodes): 2x01 - 2x22
Rosewood (3 Episodes): 2x07 - 2x09
Star Trek: Lower Decks (4 Episodes): 1x02 - 1x05
Star Trek: Picard (4 Episodes): 3x07 - 3x10
Star Trek: Voyager (9 Episodes): 5x01 - 5x09
The Swarm (2 Episodes): 1x07 - 1x08
Tijuana Toads (1 Episode): 1x08
Torchwood (1 Episode): 3x01
Tut (1 Episode): 1x01
Total Movies watched: 15
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Eingeschlossene Gesellschaft
Fierce Creatures
Godzilla
Guglhupfgeschwader
Jupiter Ascending
Life of Brian
M
The Mummy Returns
The Mummy
Star Trek Beyond
Star Trek: First Contact
Star Trek: Generations
War for the Planet of the Apes
Winterkartoffelknödel
Ontological Mystery
by TwentyWasHereVIP 7