20 Best Movies About Time Travel That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Movies About Time Travel

Humans are drawn to the idea of time travel because it allows them to envision how their planet will look when they’re gone, or to relive their most treasured moments from the past. and visually stunning. As a result, it’s only natural that the subject gets resurrected again and again in movies.

Science fiction is the primary genre for time travel movies, however they can be found in a wide range of genres. Even if you prefer action-packed science fiction tales, we’ve got enough of those for you to choose from. When it comes to film, time travel has been employed for everything from romantic comedies and family dramas to serial killer thrillers. Time travel allows us to deal with both our inability to let go of the past and our persistent fear of the future at the same time. It’s also a lot of fun to time travel. These are some of the best time travel movies to watch if you’re seeking for something new.

20. When We First Met

When We First Met

“When We First Met” may be the first time we’ve seen a time-traveling photo booth in a film or TV show. At his favorite piano bar, Noah (Adam DeVine) has the chance to relive the night he first met Avery (Alexandra Daddario), the “lady of his dreams,” who is now engaged to another man, when he enters the photo booth. Regardless of what Noah does on that fateful day, he wakes up in a little different time.

As a result, Noah takes every opportunity he can to ensure that he and Avery have a happy ending. Though it challenges the idea of a “perfect lady,” it also gives a cautionary tale about the perils of developing an idealized image for someone in your mind, which prevents you from seeing them for who they really are. “When We First Met” At the very least, “When We First Met” deserves credit for highlighting Adam DeVine at his most adorable.

19. Your Name

“Your Name” by Makoto Shinkai features two high school kids from different sections of Japan named Mitsuha and Taki. Strangers began exchanging bodies one day. Mtsusha and Taki are forced to go through each other’s daily lives, making mistakes as they try to navigate school, interpersonal connections, and new gender standards in “Your Name,” which starts off as classic gender-bending comedic farce. In time, the two learn to interact with each other by leaving notes on paper, their phones, and even on their flesh through this body swapping.

To make matters more complicated, “Your name” reveals that these two groups of teenagers aren’t simply from different parts of the country, but are also from separate eras of human history. Taki is three years older than Mitsuha, and he learns of a bizarre accident that wreaked havoc in her hometown. However, can he get the word out in time? Time travel romance “Your Name” develops a genuine link between its two key characters, who are bound together by a unique skill that ends up being their salvation.

18. Kate & Leopold

What happens when a handsome man from the 19th century winds himself in the present day? “Kate & Leopold” dares to tackle this essential subject. On top of the Brooklyn Bridge, Stuart (Liev Schreiber) spots a time portal and can’t help but travel back in time to explore. Leopold, the 3rd Duke of Albany (played by a particularly dreamy Hugh Jackman), follows him back through the portal, which he does not anticipate.

As a result of Stuart’s fall down an elevator shaft, his ex-girlfriend Kate (Meg Ryan) is forced to take care of the duke, an anachronistic duke, because Leopold wasn’t around to build elevators in the 1800s. Look at Hugh Jackman and Meg Ryan, they’re obviously in love. If they weren’t going to get romantically connected, why bother putting them in a movie together?

Although Meg Ryan ends up living in the past where she has no rights in “Kate and Leopold,” the rom-com is nonetheless incredibly beautiful. So what? It’s all about the love, right?

17. Palm Springs

Palm Springs

Following in the footsteps of Groundhog Day, “Palm Springs” features “Saturday Night Live” star Andy Samberg as an obvious successor to Bill Murray. Nyles has long since given up on ever breaking free of his own personal jail, which is a never-ending time loop in which he is compelled to repeat his friend’s wedding day over and over. Nyles, on the other hand, is accompanied by Sarah (Cristin Milioti), who joins him in the enigmatic cave at the center of the time loop and gets herself stranded as well.

A seasoned time-looper who has lived the same day for hundreds of years, and a fresh-faced rookie, are the two characters featured in “Palm Springs,” which provides us two views. “Palm Springs” is noteworthy because it truly embraces the dreadful boredom that is the natural result of this kind of environment. Rather than a setup for comedy, the time loop is a reality where despondency can only be temporarily halted by meaningless distractions. The fact that this film was released in 2020, a year in which most of us were living in quasi-quarantine, further enhances its emotional relevance.

16. Back to the Future Part III

“Back to the Future: Part III” is the much-maligned last chapter in the series. But what about this? This film has received far too much criticism than it should have. Although it does not measure up to the first and second Back to the Future films, this film is still a worthwhile watch.

Upon returning to the ancient West in 1885, Marty finds a tombstone for Doc Brown, who had written a letter to Marty pleading not to be rescued just days before his death from a lightning strike in his DeLorean. Marty obviously does that. As a result of Doc and Clara’s romance, the Back to the Future team gets to see a different aspect of Doc’s character. There are several smart references to the previous films in this latest outing, including Marty getting to have his famous Clint Eastwood moment. In addition, Michael J. Fox playing a McFly ancestor in an Irish accent? Attendance was well worth the cost of entry.

15. The Map of Tiny Perfect Things

Like “Groundhog Day,” the plot of “The Map of Tiny Perfect Things” centres around Mark (Kyle Allen), a man stuck in a time loop. That is, until he meets Margaret (Kathryn Newton), who has been stuck in the same time loop as he has for a long time. It took them several lifetimes to observe everything that happened in their town, so they decided to create a map of everything that happened.

A time loop’s smaller consequences are brought forth in “The Map of Tiny Perfect Things” in a unique way. Because his mother had to work an extra shift on this specific day, Mark hadn’t seen her for more than an hour in years. Because of her own emotional ties to her dying mother, Margaret is reluctant to break free of the time loop. In an increasingly crowded time-loop genre, “The Map of Tiny Perfect Things” stands out because of these small moments.

14. 12 Monkeys

12 Monkeys

Time travel and post-apocalyptic action combine in “12 Monkeys.” James Cole (Bruce Willis) is transported back in time to the ’90s in an attempt to halt the spread of a terrible disease that has decimated the earth.

When it comes to science fiction films, “12 Monkeys” is a masterclass in eccentricity, thanks to Terry Gilliam’s creative direction and Brad Pitt’s breakout role in the picture. It’s hard to forget his insane performance as Jeffrey Goines, the erratic commander of the eco-terrorist group known as the Army of the Twelve Monkeys. As a result, “12 Monkeys” has a unique visual aesthetic that would influence several subsequent science fiction films of the late 1990s, as well as a darker space that few other time travel films dare to visit.

13. Meet the Robinsons

Meet the Robinsons is possibly the most underestimated Disney picture of all time, and we’re taking this moment to proclaim it loud and clear. “Meet the Robinsons” is tragically misunderstood like Lewis, a talented orphan whose inventions have a tendency to bring him into trouble. To locate an adoptive family, Lewis suffers since his inventions go crazy at the most inconvenient times and because he is fully fixated on the past and, in particular, discovering the identity of his mother.

Lewis is taken 30 years into the future by a youngster named Wilbur Robinson, who introduces him to an unconventional family that is caring, compassionate, and completely loyal to one another, as well. “Meet the Robinsons” is a hilarious comedy, but it’s also a heartwarming story about the joys of starting a family of your own.

12. Peggy Sue Got Married

Adults approaching middle age are sometimes asked, “Would you go back in time and relive your high school years?” In “Peggy Sue Got Married,” the recently divorced Peggy Sue (Kathleen Turner) attends her 25th high school reunion and realizes she’s wasted her life. However, she is abruptly transported back to her final year of high school in 1960, interrupting her gloomy reverie.

Peggy Sue has a few options there. Will she make the same decisions if she had the chance to do it all over again? Will she stay with Charlie (Nicolas Cage), her high school sweetheart, despite the fact that she knows their relationship is doomed? In Peggy Sue Got Married, a bittersweet look at nostalgia, growing old, and looking back on your childhood with equal parts disappointment and longing.

11. Somewhere in Time

Somewhere in Time

Prior to discussing the time travel aspects of “Somewhere in Time,” it is imperative to confront the elephant in the room: Has there ever been two people on Earth more preternaturally gorgeous than Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve? Seymour plays an actress nearly a century older than Reeve’s character Richard Collier, who uses self-hypnosis to transport himself back in time to 1912 so that they might be together. Reeve plays the playwright who falls in love with the portrait of Seymour.

Somewhere in Time is a lovely, imaginative performance, with John Barry’s stunningly beautiful music. This charming but ultimately disastrous affair between Reeve and Seymour is enhanced by their strong chemistry. “Somewhere in Time” tells the story of a love that spans the years, set against the backdrop of Mackinac Island, Michigan’s famous Grand Hotel.

10. Time After Time

When you consider that HG Wells, the sci-fi author who invented “The Time Machine” (along with dozens of other classics), has never appeared in any time travel story, it’s astonishing. Malcolm McDowell plays Wells, who is kidnapped by the Ripper (David Warner) and uses his time machine to elude the police and travel back in time to 1970s San Francisco in “Time After Time.”

Wells sets off in pursuit of Jack, who must be apprehended before he commits another murder (in the meantime, he falls in love with a bank teller played by Mary Steenburgen, as one does). Despite the fact that this was recently redone as a mediocre network drama, the original film is a lot of fun, depicting an epic duel between these two prominent historical people.

9. La Jetée

Chris Marker directed the French short film “La Jetée.” It’s a 28-minute film that’s primarily made up of still images and narration. It’s breathtaking.

In the post-apocalyptic future depicted in “La Jetée,” scientists are attempting to develop time travel devices in order to avoid the catastrophe that has befallen humanity. He recalls standing on a dock as a boy and witnessing the murder of a stranger. Time travel is no longer a mental shock for him thanks to this glimpse into his history.

The man meets a woman and falls in love with her once he is safely in the past. When his duty is complete and he is permitted to relive his history, he comes to the realization that the man he witnessed being murdered was actually the adult version of himself. With still photography, Marker places a high value on visuals that are so powerful that they allow the viewer to journey back in time. He also sends out an unmistakable, obvious message: You can’t change the past or the future, so you have to live in the here and now.

8. Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day

One of our less-loved national holidays, Groundhog Day is a backdrop to one of our most beloved comedy films. When a groundhog predicts an early spring, weatherman Phil (Bill Murray) unwillingly heads to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities. In fairness, he’s not happy about a lot of things, so this task isn’t making him any happier. When Phil is forced to relive the same day over and over again, things grow even more difficult.

In “Groundhog Day,” we see Phil’s emotions change as he adjusts to his situation: first, he’s amused, then angry, then depressed, and ultimately he accepts it. Once the novelty of being allowed to do whatever you want with no consequences wears off, Phil finds himself in an increasingly solitary situation. He can’t have a meaningful conversation with anyone because no one he knows changes or matures. “Groundhog Day” does a good job of showing the tragedy of Phil’s life while also making it a source of laughs by having him go through an amusing existential crisis.

7. The Terminator

One of the most cringe-worthy things you can tell your best buddy is that he must travel back in time to seduce your mother so that she can become pregnant and give birth to your child. But that’s essentially what “The Terminator” is all about. When Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator (a super-buff Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor before she has her son John, who will grow up to lead the fight against the robots, he does so in order to prevent her from becoming a mother.

“The Terminator” has a time travel element from the start, even though it’s set in the 1980s. As a sci-fi action film, it’s also unusually intellectual. While there is plenty of violence, battle sequences, and gore to keep adrenaline addicts pleased, a philosophical undertone hides underneath the surface. Even more impressive is Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, who goes from being an ordinary waitress to an unstoppable warrior in a matter of minutes.

6. Mirai

Having to share his parents with his new baby sister Mirai does not sit well with Kun, a spoilt youngster used to being the center of attention. But one day, Kun visits his family’s garden, where he meets not only his older sister, but also his mother as a child and his great-grandfather as a young man.

“Mirai” has a special power: When Kun, who has a purely self-centered viewpoint, is granted access to all of the branches of his family tree, he learns more about the people he cares about most by seeing them at different periods in their lives, which helps him to better understand them. Kun learns a valuable lesson about his place in a far greater scheme by experiencing this. When it comes to philosophy, “Mirai” doesn’t hold back; Kun’s journeys are a joyous adventure, not a dry family history lesson.

5. Back to the Future Part II

Back to the Future Part II

There are no surprises in “Back to the Future Part II.” When Marty and Jennifer (whose actress strangely changed between films) reconnect, Doc Brown appears, desperately informing them that they must travel to the future to save their children’s lives.

Back to the Future Part II’s 2015 sequences are a major selling point since they are so innovative and detailed that they still feel futuristic, even though the real 2015 passed us by long ago. From 1955 to 1985 to 2015, Hill Valley’s transition into a modern California suburb is stunning. But “Back to the Future II” also revisits all of the original film’s best highlights, especially when Marty is forced to fly back to the 1950s to thwart Biff’s exceedingly Trump-esque ascent to power. Even if some critics say it’s nothing new, why tinker with something that isn’t broken?

4. The Time Machine

The best live-action rendition of HG Wells’ famous science fiction novel “The Time Machine” is directed by George Pal and stars Rod Taylor. With his time machine, a steampunk invention, George, an inventor around the turn of the century, can look into the future. After a brief stay in the 20th century, where he witnesses the destruction of the first and second World Wars and the ever-present terror of nuclear weapons that would wipe out civilization, he is knocked unconscious and travels through time for thousands of years.

Humanity has recovered from nuclear bombs, but has split into two subspecies: the Eloi, a peaceful surface dweller, and the Morlocks, a ferocious subterranean predator. Many of the fears of both the 1960s and the 1890s are brought to light in “The Time Machine,” which is a fascinating and thought-provoking adventure that touches on many of these same issues. In the long run, what will happen to humanity? Do you think we’ll ever be able to overcome our innate need for violence and put it to good use? To both questions, “The Time Machine” has the answer.

3. About Time

It’s not uncommon for time travel movies to make you feel a variety of emotions, but they don’t frequently cause you to shed your own tears. “About Time” appears to have missed the memo. His father, Bill Nighy, tells Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) that the men in their family can travel back to any period in their own timeline when they turn 21.

Initially, Tim sees this as a chance to rekindle his relationship with Rachel McAdams, whom he had previously rejected.

When Tim’s father dies suddenly, the tone of the story changes dramatically. Because of this, the time they spent together becomes more important than ever, especially as Tim knows that seeing his father may eventually lead to major, long-lasting consequences for the people he cares about (after Tim’s baby daughter is born, for example). However, “About Time” is more than just a romantic comedy. You will fall in love with this story of a father’s love for his child as well as an inspirational message for all of us.

2. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” stars Alex Winter as Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted Logan as Ted “Theodore” Logan. Because they need to stay together long enough to write the song that would lead humanity to a peaceful utopian state, Bill and Ted are on the point of failing their high school history class. In response, Rufus (George Carlin) arrives with a time machine in the guise of a phone booth, which the students may use to travel back in time and finish their history presentation.

It’s time to go on a crazy journey back in time.

Billy the Kid, Socrates, Joan of Arc, and Genghis Khan are just some of the historical characters that Bill and Ted end up cramming into their phone booth. Although Napoleon getting overly involved in an ice cream eating contest might not seem like a natural choice, it works perfectly in “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.”

1. Back to the Future

“Back to the Future” is the standard for time travel movies. In 1955, Marty uses Doc Brown’s time machine to return to his own time, but Doc Brown’s mother falls in love with him, threatening Marty’s entire existence (also, he invents rock music?). Marty is a very active youngster).

When it comes to the film’s 1985 and 1955 episodes, Marty and Doc Brown’s relationship is a standout. But it’s also fascinating to watch Marty’s parents as teenagers, and to see how they’ve changed over the years. In the role of Marty’s father and mother, Crispin Glover and Lea Thompson are brilliantly cast. They are able to play both the younger and older versions of their characters with equal ease. It’s also impossible to think of anything negative to say about the film because it’s so precisely structured and expertly made. Are there any flaws in “Back to the Future?” If you believe in yourself, you can do it!