The Top 10 Best Memory Loss Movies

These are Some Unforgettable Memory Loss Movies.

Unlike a lot of soap operas, memory loss movies don’t normally use amnesia as a tool for mellow drama. Sure, there are some truly awful ones out there that we all wish we could forget, but it’s always exciting watching a hero trying desperately to remember who they are. Of course, most of these movies aren’t medically accurate when it comes to amnesia. But if I wanted to see that I’d watch a special on TLC. No, audiences want the whole shebang with it comes to memory loss movies and Hollywood has certainly delivered when it came to that. For the sake of this list, I decided to focus on movies where memory loss is a big proponent of the film, not just a subplot. Luckily, there were enough films with the theme out there to give me plenty to choose from and I managed to whittle the selection down to the top 10. So, sit back and relax, because I guarantee this is one list you won’t want to forget.

10. Anastasia

I’m willing to bet that this film is a guilty pleasure of pretty much every millennial out there. See, I know that Anastasia isn’t exactly one of the great animated films of our generation, but I can’t help loving the damn thing. As far as memory loss movies go, this one actually has some basis in fact. See, Russia was a pretty screwed up place during the turn of the century. The whole Rasputin thing was true, and there were rumors that one of the children managed to survive the whole slaughter of the royal family. The talking bat though was probably entirely fictional. Not all memory loss movies have such happy endings or catchy musical routines though. That’s why I couldn’t help but include Anastasia on this list.

9. The Hangover

Look, for the sake of this list, let’s just pretend that the sequels never happened. The Hangover is probably one of the funniest memory loss movies ever made and it definitely kicked off some careers. The film follows three nitwits who have to retrace their steps through a wild night of partying in Sin City that they just can’t remember. Along the way, they meet all sorts of colorful characters, most of whom remember the trip fondly. They say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and that certainly applied to the memories these three had of the wild night they shared together. Unfortunately, Hollywood saw how much people enjoyed the first movie and proceeded to bludgeon it until they had a full-blown franchise. An awful, awful franchise.

8. Regarding Henry

As far as memory loss movies go, Regarding Henry isn’t the most exciting one but it’s full of feels. Henry is a jerk of a lawyer who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and suffers a gunshot wound to the head. Doctors have the technology to rebuild him, but he’s pretty messed up afterward. So much so that he’s pretty much starting from scratch. What makes Regarding Henry so interesting is that as he learns about the person he was, Henry decides that he doesn’t really like that guy. It’s an interesting take on what we become and who the real us is underneath it all. It turns out that amnesia Henry is a pretty good guy with a slight obsession with Ritz crackers. I can’t blame him for that though. Ritz makes some pretty bomb crackers.

7. The Long Kiss Goodnight

I’m no neurologist, but I’m pretty sure that most amnesia patients don’t suddenly remember that they’re unstoppable, government trained assassins. Luckily for the Geena Davis, she goes from suburban mom to suburban murder machine and has Samuel L. Jackson to help piece together her mysterious past. Unluckily though, her mysterious past is on its way to catch up with her, and when you’re a former operative for the government, that isn’t good. Honestly, a lot of memory loss movies use the troupe of assassins who can’t remember their identity, but I guess that’s just one of the risks that come with the job. More importantly, though, The Long Kiss Goodnight shows that you never know when a school teacher might have the skills to put the hurt on unruly students.

6. Overboard (1987)

Let me be sure to specify that I’m talking about the 1987 Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn “classic” and not the remake. Honestly, of all the movies you could remake this one seems like a really weird choice. Still, it’s one of the best memory loss movies of all time, even if some of the plot points are a little questionable looking back at it. On the one hand, Kurt Russell essentially kidnaps Goldie Hawn and tricks her into indentured servitude after she suffers a bump on the head. On the other hand, Goldie definitely needed to check her privilege. Then again, it’s also a comedy movie that doesn’t really need us to start nitpicking about social issues. Instead, let’s just enjoy the blue collar shenanigans of Kurt and the fairytale that true love doesn’t care what tax bracket you’re in.