The movie you are asking about, where a man wakes up in an alternate version of his life, is a common theme in science fiction and psychological thriller films. Several notable movies explore this concept, each with its own unique take on alternate realities or parallel lives.
One well-known example is the film “Coherence” (2013). In this movie, a group of friends experiences strange events during a dinner party when a comet passes overhead. They discover that the comet has caused multiple parallel realities to overlap, and people begin encountering alternate versions of themselves. The characters realize that moving through certain dark areas outside causes them to shift into different realities, leading to confusion and tension as they try to figure out who is from which reality. The film explores themes of identity, reality, and the consequences of choices in a very intimate and suspenseful setting[2].
Another film with a similar premise is “Triangle” (2009). This movie follows a group of friends whose yacht is capsized by a sudden storm. They board a mysterious, seemingly deserted cruise ship that appears out of nowhere. Onboard, they encounter strange and deadly events, including a masked figure who hunts them. The protagonist, Jess, experiences a confusing and looping reality where time and events repeat or overlap, creating an alternate version of her life that she must navigate. The film is known for its psychological complexity and mind-bending plot twists[3].
“Altered States” (1980) also touches on alternate states of consciousness and reality, though in a more experimental and hallucinatory way. The protagonist, Edward Jessup, is a scientist who uses sensory deprivation tanks and hallucinogenic substances to explore different states of consciousness. His experiments lead him to experience visions and transformations that blur the line between his waking life and alternate, primal forms of existence. While not exactly waking up in an alternate life, the film delves deeply into altered perceptions of reality and identity[1].
These films share the core idea of a character waking up or finding themselves in a reality that is different from what they knew, often leading to a journey of discovery, confusion, and sometimes danger. The concept taps into fundamental questions about the nature of reality, self, and the consequences of choices.
If you are looking for a more mainstream or recent example, “The Adam Project” (2022) involves time travel and alternate timelines, where the protagonist meets his past self and tries to change the future. While it focuses more on time travel than waking up in an alternate life, it shares thematic elements of encountering different versions of oneself and altered realities[4].
In summary, the movie you might be thinking of could be “Coherence” for its direct handling of alternate realities and waking up in different versions of life, or “Triangle” for its mysterious and looping alternate reality experience. “Altered States” offers a more psychedelic and scientific exploration of altered consciousness, and “The Adam Project” provides a time travel perspective on alternate lives. Each film uniquely explores the unsettling and fascinating idea of waking up in a life that is not quite your own.
