30 Epic Time-Travel Movies

Whether you think time is a flat circle, a cruel mistress, a paradox or a construct, stories about time travel have long been a mainstay of the sci-fi genre. Since H.G. Wells’ 1895 novel The Time Machine, audiences have been fascinated by works about time travel. While arguably film versions of A Christmas Carol were the first films made about time travel, 1921 saw one of the first film adaptions of a time travel story with a silent version of the 1889 Mark Twain story A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Since then, many films have been made about time travel. While all the best films about time travel come from the sci-fi genre, many blend Sci-fi with other genres like romance, family and even comedy. From time machine movies to time loops, the greatest time travel movies made you laugh, cry and think about the nature of time itself.

Top Time-Travel Movies

The highest-grossing movie about time travel makes this list’s 22nd spot and is also the second highest-grossing movie of all time. However, this list also features far less-known time travel classics. It also includes several types of films about time, including time machines, time loops and connections across time. However, this list excludes films where someone sees the future/past without traveling through or interacting with it. This rule controversially excludes film versions of A Christmas Carol, which have been seen as a part of early time travel narratives. This list also generally excludes films where someone is frozen and wakes in the future, such as the first Austin Powers film or Idiocracy (with one notable exception).

There are a couple of micro-genres in the larger time travel genre. Especially popular ones include time travel romances and comedies, which are prominently featured on this list. Films on this list are ranked by two factors: the overall quality of the film and the film as a time travel narrative. This does mean that unique approaches to time travel and higher focuses on time travel influence the ranking. Notably, there are a couple of spoilers on this list; many films feature time travel as a twist. Any narrative spoilers have been marked with a SPOILER WARNING; however, some films’ inclusion on this list is a spoiler in itself. Consider yourself warned.

30. Il Mare (2000)

While most Americans will be more familiar with its 2006 American remake, The Lake House, the Korean film it is based on, Il Mare, is better. Il Mare follows two people living in the same house two years apart in time who are connected by a mysterious mailbox.

Directed by Lee Hyun-seung, the film stars Lee Jung-jae and Jun Ji-hyun. While the time travel premise feels fairly unique, Il Mare is one of two Korean films from 2000 about communication through time. Il Mare’s release was slightly overshadowed by Ditto, which follows a student from 1979 and a present-day student who attend the same school and can communicate through a mysterious radio. While the films have similar premises, Il Mare’s visual beauty and acting make it the better watch. It is currently streaming for free on Viki.

29. About Time (2013)

About Time is a love story about time travel that follows a man who comes from a family where the men can relive days from their pasts. Directed by Richard Curtis, it stars Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander and Margot Robbie. It is also actor Richard Griffiths’ final film.

There are a couple of things about this film that really don’t work. SPOILER WARNING: The main character’s wife never finds out about his power to travel through time, which turns this romance into a bit of a horror movie as the audience watches a man lie to the woman he supposedly loves. However, a couple of things work amazingly, including fascinating takes on the nature of time. The main character’s relationship with his father and stopping time travel to preserve the lives of their children is specifically heartbreaking and beautiful. The film is available to rent on YouTube, Amazon Prime and Google Play.

28. Time After Time (1979)

Time After Time is a clumsy and, at times, truly silly film, but it is also really fun. The film follows H.G. Wells as he travels to 1970s San Francisco to pursue Jack the Ripper and romance a modern woman. The film was directed by Nicholas Meyer and stars Malcolm McDowell, David Warner and Mary Steenburgen.

There is something strange about watching this movie 45 years after it was made and seeing a Victorian man marvel at the technical achievements of the 1970s. This isn’t the first time a travel movie has starred a fictionalized H.G. Wells. 1960’s The Time Machine, based on the 1895 H. G. Wells novel of the same name, stars Rod Taylor as the time-traveling author. Time After Time is available to rent on Google Play, Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

27. When We First Met (2018)

There are several movies about traveling back in time for love, including Peggy Sue Got Married, Meet Cute and Time Freak. However, one of the most charming ones is When We First Met. The film is about a man who, in hopes of getting out of the “friend zone,” travels back to the night he met his best friend to convince her to fall in love with him.

Ari Sandel directed the film, which stars Adam DeVine, Alexandra Daddario, Shelley Hennig, Andrew Bachelor and Robbie Amell. DeVine really carries the film with an all-out charm offensive. This film didn’t get good reviews and only holds 45% on Rotton Tomatoes, but it has a surprisingly mature ending and a fascinating approach to time travel. It is available to stream on Netflix.

26. Tomorrow I’ll Wake Up and Scald Myself with Tea (1977)

A Czechoslovak film from the 1970s will be a hard sell for many audiences. However, Tomorrow I’ll Wake Up and Scald Myself with Tea is a funny and bizarre film about a man who travels back in time to stop a Nazi plot as his twin brother. If it sounds odd, it is.

This film isn’t cynical or, at times, even logical, but Tomorrow I’ll Wake Up and Scald Myself with Tea is a satirical and inventive farce. Directed by Jindřich Polák, it stars Petr Kostka. Unfortunately, the film is hard to find, which has also led to a bit of a cult following. It is currently not available on streaming.

25. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Several superhero movies deal with time travel; arguably, X-Men: Days of Future Past is among the best. The film follows the immortal Wolverine as he travels back to the past in hopes of saving the mutant race’s future. The film features some of the coolest scenes of the franchise, and the retro world-building, as opposed to a dystopian “future” of 2023, really works.

The film features an impressive ensemble cast, including Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Elliot Page, Peter Dinklage, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. However, unfortunately, it is directed by accused sexual abuser Bryan Singer and also stars alleged abuser Michael Fassbender. It is currently available to stream on Disney+.

24. Army of Darkness (1992)

The third film in the Evil Dead franchise, Army of Darkness, is a true cult horror classic. The film follows Evil Dead’s protagonist, Ash, as he is sucked into the middle ages and must fight the undead to get back to his own time.

Directed by Sam Raimi, the film stars his frequent collaborator Bruce Campbell. While the film originally received mixed reviews, it has a certain charm. It doesn’t hit the highs of Evil Dead II, but it works well when taken as a joyously campy horror experience. In a retrospective on the film for Syfy, Matthew Jackson writes, “We’ve also seen [Raimi] make straightforward, unironic genre films that lean deep into the conventions of the chosen story, embracing various tropes and tones to great effect. Army of Darkness is not that.” It is available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

23. Time Bandits (1981)

One of two films on this list directed by Terry Gilliam, Time Bandits is purely fantastical. The film follows a young boy and a group of pirates who travel through time to steal treasure. The film stars David Rappaport, Sean Connery, John Cleese, Shelley Duvall, Ralph Richardson, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Michael Palin, Peter Vaughan and David Warner.

Time Bandits is funny and sweet at moments; however, the real reason to watch this film is for the sets and ambiance. It is a beautiful film that will delight children and impress adults. It is currently streaming on Max.

22. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The direct sequel to Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame is the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (and one of the first ones to deal directly with time travel). While it isn’t great as a stand-alone film, you certainly don’t need to watch the mountain of Marvel content that came before it to enjoy it (but at least watch Infinity War first).

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the film follows a team of superheroes that use a mystic stone to go back in time to foil the evil Thanos’ already completed plan. The film stars an ensemble cast of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow and Josh Brolin. It was one of the most expensive films ever produced; however, it made over $2.7 billion at the box office (making it easily the highest grossing time travel movie of all time). It is currently available to stream on Disney+.

21. Planet of the Apes (1968)

Planet of the Apes maybe should not count on this list, but it feels wrong to discuss the time travel genre without it. SPOILER WARNING: The film follows the human crew of a spaceship after they crash land on a planet ruled by humanoid apes. However, in the final moments, the astronaut realizes he hasn’t traveled in space but rather to the future. It is one of those plot twists referenced so often in other media that most people will be familiar with it even if they haven’t seen the film.

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, the film stars Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore, James Daly and Linda Harrison. Planet of the Apes has now become a franchise, and with prequels and an extended universe. The prequels are surprisingly good, but not about time travel. The original Planet of the Apes is currently available to rent on YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon Prime and Google Play.

20. Donnie Darko (2001)

Donnie Darko follows a teenager who escapes death only to be plagued by visions of a nefarious man in a rabbit costume. SPOILER WARNING: This is another film that is only revealed to be about time travel later on in the film, so apologies if its inclusion on this list is a bit of a spoiler. Donnie Darko is a strange and beautiful film that has become a critical darling.

The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Duval, Drew Barrymore and Patrick Swayze. Donnie Darko premiered and was nominated for “Best Film” at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. However, the theatrical release in October of that year was complicated by the September 11 attacks. Most of the film’s advertising was canceled because it prominently featured a plane crash. The movie thus opened to a poor box office but gained an audience after reissues. The director’s cut is streaming for free on Tubi, Peacock and The Roku Channel, while the theatrical cut is streaming for free on Pluto TV.

19. Totally Killer (2023)

There have been a couple of fun time travel slasher films to come out in recent years, including Happy Death Day, its sequel Happy Death Day 2U, Time Cut and The Final Girls (well, technically, that one is about getting sucked into a movie, but close enough). Totally Killer is among the most fun. The film follows a teen who travels back in time to prevent a murder in 1987 when a masked killer was stalking her mother.

Directed by Nahnatchka Khan, Totally Killer uses slasher tropes for comedy and pays homage to 1980s horror films. It stars Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Charlie Gillespie, Lochlyn Munro, Randall Park and Julie Bowen. It is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

18. Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (2020)

Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes is a Japanese Sci-Fi comedy about a cafe owner who realizes his computer shows that will happen two minutes in the future, while his TV shows two minutes in the past. The film is a hugely inventive look at the Droste effect and time.

The production of this film is fascinating. It was extremely low-budget and shot in only a week after hours at a real cafe in Kyoto. It was also edited to look like one long shot (aka a nagamawashi film, an emerging micro-genre in low-budget Japanese filmmaking). Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes is the directorial debut of Junta Yamaguchi, who also worked as the cinematographer and editor. It is currently streaming for free on Tubi.

17. Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Safety Not Guaranteed is a comedy about a journalist investigating a personal ad that searches for someone to travel back in time with. Directed by Colin Trevorrow, the film stars Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni, Jenica Bergere, Kristen Bell and Jeff Garlin.

The film’s premise was loosely based on a real personal ad placed as a joke in an issue of Backwoods Home Magazine in 1997. Vulture called the film “one of the most influential films of the last decade” in terms of how it was made and distributed. The film had a micro-budget of around $750,000 but caught the eye of Netflix. It is available to rent on Google Play, YouTube and Amazon Prime.

16. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

Mamoru Hosoda has directed multiple anime films about time travel. While his later film Mirai, is more generally celebrated, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a deeply sweet and satisfying coming-of-age movie. The film follows a girl who learns that she has the power to travel backwards in time; however, she realizes that her new power isn’t unlimited.

The film has some great visual sequences but isn’t as beautiful or eye-catching as some of Hosoda’s later works. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, however, makes up for it with a quick pace and an interesting approach to time travel. It is currently streaming on Crunchy Roll.

15. Predestination (2014)

This movie is a little cheesy at moments, but it has one of the more unique approaches to time travel with an amazingly thorough internal logic. Predestination was based on Robert A. Heinlein’s 1959 short story —”All You Zombies”— and follows a recently deformed time-traveling agent in pursuit of a criminal called the “fizzle bomber” when he meets with a young man who tells him his life story.

Written and directed by The Spierig Brothers, Predestination stars Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook. The film has a twist that may shock some, but many will see it coming as it is heavily hinted at throughout the movie with dialogue and even music cues. The film is currently streaming for free on Pluto TV.

14. Run Lola Run (1998)

Run Lola Run is an experimental German film about Lola, a woman who must raise a large sum of money in 20 minutes to save her boyfriend’s life and a time loop. Directed by Tom Tykwer, the film stars Franka Potente and Moritz Bleibtreu.

The film is similar to the 1987 Polish film Blind Chance, which is another great watch for viewers interested in Run Lola Run’s themes of determinism and chance. Run Lola Run won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and seven German Film Awards. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

13. 12 Monkeys (1995)

Inspired by the 1962 short film La Jetée, 12 Monkeys follows a man sent back in time to the 1990s to stop a virus; however, once back in time, he is placed in a mental hospital under the suspicion that he is making it up.

Directed by Terry Gilliam, 12 Monkeys stars Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt and Christopher Plummer. The plot is slightly confusing, but it makes up for it with cool twists and set pieces. The film earned Pitt an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. It is currently streaming on YouTube TV.

12. Timecrimes (2007)

Also called Los Cronocrímenes, Timecrimes is a Spanish thriller about a man stuck in a causal loop and must fight versions of himself. Written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo, the film stars Karra Elejalde, Vigalondo, Candela Fernández and Bárbara Goenaga.

Timecrimes is a dark but surprisingly funny low-budget film that will delight sci-fi fans. The film is full of strange twists, disturbing visuals and strong themes. It currently holds a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is currently streaming for free on Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex and Philo.

11. Looper (2012)

Looper is a time travel noir action film that is hard to write about without spoiling it. So, SPOILER WARNING: it is a film about an assassin who is sent back in time to finish a hit on himself. Directed by Rian Johnson, the film stars Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Piper Perabo and Jeff Daniels. Strangely, Gordon-Levitt does an amazing job as a young Willis and really sells this, on paper, odd casting.

The film is confusing at moments; however, its internal logic is smart and fairly flawless. Peter Debruge wrote for Variety, “In a genre infamous for loose ends, this thinking man’s thriller marshals action, romance and a dose of very dark comedy toward a stunning payoff.” It is currently streaming for free on Pluto TV or with a subscription on Paramount+.

10. Groundhog Day (1993)

Groundhog Day tells the story of a weatherman stuck in a time loop and his romance with the woman who might be able to break him out. Directed by Harold Ramis, the romantic comedy stars Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott.

While the film originally received mixed reviews from critics, it has been reassessed and has become a beloved cultural touchpoint. In 1993, novelist William Goldman said “I think Groundhog Day is the one that will be—of all of the movies that came out this year, it’s the one that will be remembered in 10 years.” Thirteen years later, it was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress. It is currently streaming on Philo.

9. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

There are several films and episodes in the Star Trek franchise that contain time travel. While a lot of Star Trek’s time travel media is good, two of the most notable time travel-based films are Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and Star Trek: First Contact. Leonard Nimoy’s The Voyage Home is a goofy comedy Sci-Fi film about going to 1980s San Francisco to save the whales, while Jonathan Frakes’ First Contact is more serious.

First Contact follows the crew of the USS Enterprise-E as their enemy, the Borg, travels back in time to stop Earth’s first contact with aliens. The film stars Patrick Stewart, Frakes (who also directed the film), Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Alfre Woodard, James Cromwell and Alice Krige. The film was nominated for a Best Makeup Oscar. It is also currently the second highest-rated film in the Star Trek series on Rotten Tomatoes, after 2009’s reboot Star Trek (which also has a phenomenal time travel plot and is a must-watch for Trekkies). It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime and Paramount+.

8. My Old Ass (2024)

My Old Ass isn’t a typical time-travel film. While it features a woman who travels through time to talk to the younger version of herself, the audience never gets to see the future and isn’t concerned with paradoxes. Instead, it focuses on treasuring time during the coming-of-age years.

My Old Ass is a deeply human film about aging, love and the young people of today. Directed by Megan Park, the film stars Maisy Stella, Percy Hynes White, Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks and Aubrey Plaza. My Old Ass is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

7. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

The first film in the Bill & Ted trilogy, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure is a purely camp comedy. It follows two high schoolers who travel back in time in hopes of learning enough to pass their history class, but strange things are afoot at the Circle-K.

Directed by Stephen Herek, the film stars Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter and George Carlin. While all three films in the trilogy are fun, the third film (Bill & Ted Face the Music) is surprisingly good. While the third film’s production was long delayed and its 2020 release was overshadowed by the pandemic, Bill & Ted Face the Music is a must-watch for any fan of the original. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure is currently available to stream on Max.

6. Mirai (2018)

Mirai is another anime film directed by Mamoru Hosoda. It follows a young boy who uses a magical garden to meet future and past versions of his mother and sister. Mirai is a deeply heartwarming family film that will especially delight kids and parents.

The film won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year. It also was the sixth anime and first non-Ghibli anime to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. In a review for Variety, Peter Debruge wrote, “[It’s] the work of a true auteur (in what feels like his most personal film yet) presented as innocuous family entertainment.” It is available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

5. Palm Springs (2020)

Palm Springs is a Groundhog Day for the millennial generation. Directed by Max Barbakow, the film follows two wedding guests who get stuck in a time loop, reliving November 9th over and over again in the California desert town.

The film is funny, romantic and not afraid to reflect on the nature of time in its quieter moments. While the Covid 19 pandemic disrupted the box office (it was shown only in select drive-in theaters), it was critically lauded and nominated for two Golden Globe Awards. The film stars ​​Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti and J. K. Simmons. It is available to stream on Hulu.

4. Primer (2004)

Primer is really for super-fans of the time travel genre. It is extremely low budget and fairly experiential, but if you are okay with an art house time travel film, it is very worth watching. The film follows two engineers who create a time machine which leads to an “A-to-B” causal loop side-effect.

Primer was written, directed and produced by Shane Carruth. It stars Carruth and David Sullivan. While it was not widely released, it won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Carruth was a former engineer and mathematics student, and you can tell from this film. It doesn’t “dumb down” time travel and pushes the audience’s understanding of science. If you are looking for more unique low-budget time travel films, 2014’s The History of Time Travel is another great choice, but Primer is better. It is available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

3. Your Name (2016)

Having this film on this list is a big spoiler for this romance anime (apologies). Your Name is about two high schoolers who swap bodies as a rare comet comes to Earth (SPOILER WARNING: not only are they swapping bodies, but they are also jumping through time as one of them lives in 2013 and the other in 2016). The film features a unique narrative approach, a weirdly catchy soundtrack and striking visuals.

Directed by Makoto Shinkai, Your Name balances goofy teen romance with the themes of culture and disaster in a super satisfying way. Japan’s Toho Studios is reportedly working on a live-action version and the film currently holds a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Your Name is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

2. Back to the Future (1985)

“Wait a minute, Doc, are you telling me you built a time machine out of a DeLorean?” Back to the Future is probably the first film most think about when they think about “Time Travel Movies.” It is the first film in the Back to the Future trilogy. The second is also great; however, you can’t beat the first. Back to the Future follows Marty McFly as he travels back to the 1950s and has to make sure his parents fall in love or he will cease to exist.

While there are a couple of creepy implications, including Marty’s mom having a crush on him, this film is a comedy and sci-fi classic for a reason. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover. It was nominated for four Oscars, winning one for Best Sound Effects Editing. Its influence on the genre and American culture more generally is undeniable. The film has been directly referenced by the animated TV show Rick and Morty, the British band McFly and the Ernest Cline novel/Steven Spielberg film, Ready Player One. It is currently streaming on Peacock.

1. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Both 1984’s Terminator and its sequel, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, are fantastic time travel movies. However, Terminator 2 is a rare sequel that is better than the original. The film follows a young John Connor, who in the future will be the key to humans defeating the robot uprising; he must outrun a new and improved robotic bounty hunter (a.k.a. a Terminator) with help from another Terminator, the T-800.

The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong and Robert Patrick. While the Terminator franchise now has six films and several series, Terminator 2 is often ranked as the best. It won four Oscars, including Best Visual Effects. It is available to stream on Paramount+ and Philo.

Bottom Line

From loops to paradoxes, the time travel genre is trippy fun that often leads to heartfelt musings on what is most important to us. From comedies to romances to pure sci-fi, these films deliver high-concept themes that will have you saying, “Great Scott!”