My favorite time travel movies
I have watched many more time travel movies, but these are the ones I can personally recommend to most regular viewers. If we go below a 7/10 rating I have just as many more movies I can recommend to some specific viewers, but that's for another list. They are mostly ranked by my rating, but also by the time travel quantity and quality in them.
I added in a few stand-alone TV show episodes at the end of the list because otherwise the list will be missing several unique time travel concepts not yet seen in any movie. But largely I avoid TV show episodes/short films.
I added in a few stand-alone TV show episodes at the end of the list because otherwise the list will be missing several unique time travel concepts not yet seen in any movie. But largely I avoid TV show episodes/short films.
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- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsMichael J. FoxChristopher LloydLea ThompsonMarty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.Best movie ever? It's up there with The Godfather and Die Hard. Very rewatchable which is more rare than just high quality. Maybe the most rewatchable movie ever made because of all the cool plot details and fast pacing with clever time travel details.
Time travel: 10 - DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsMichael J. FoxChristopher LloydLea ThompsonAfter visiting 2015, Marty McFly must repeat his visit to 1955 to prevent disastrous changes to 1985...without interfering with his first trip.Still great, but not quite as good as the first one because this future is unrealistic. The first one felt like a real time travel.
Time travel: 8 - DirectorJohn WooStarsBen AffleckAaron EckhartUma ThurmanA technical wizard learns that his memory has been erased.For me this was tons of fun to watch. But it's silly action movie fun and not deep philosophical stuff. Once you understand what the time travel implies you suddenly realize that this is the only realistic John Woo movie. The rest of his movies are as unrealistic, but without any explanation for the weirdness. Which somehow makes this a regular John Woo... but good. You have to get it to enjoy it.
Time travel: 8 - DirectorBarry SonnenfeldStarsWill SmithTommy Lee JonesJosh BrolinAgent J travels in time to M.I.B.'s early days in 1969 to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.Many dislike it, many like it. I really love it. Great movie. So damn clever writing. Once you start thinking about the time travel and EXTRA time travel inside the time travel it becomes one of the time travel movies you can rewatch and think about again. It's also fun and light which is essential for a rewatchable movie.
Time travel: 9 - DirectorPeter HyamsStarsJean-Claude Van DammeMia SaraRon SilverMax Walker, an officer for a security agency that regulates time travel, must fend for his life against a shady politician who's intent on changing the past to control the future.Super fun action movie. Nothing deep, so many will find it too silly - not me! I obviously like this kind of movie that's a deep concept without being pretentious. Instead it tries to be fun and entertaining only. And I adore good plot which all these action movies have as you know exactly who wants what.
Time travel: 8 - DirectorJack SholderStarsHelen SlaterJonathan SilvermanNicolas SurovyA man likes a woman at work. He sees her get murdered. He gets drunk and zapped at 12:01AM. Next morning she's back and everything is exactly like the day before. The time loops gives him chances to save her.Very good movie. As always with low-budget movies the ending makes zero sense. Writing an ending is hard. The time travel here is just great except the ending. It's based on a mini movie you can find on Youtube that's quite a fun watch too, but way more serious and moody.
Time travel: 7 - DirectorTerry GilliamStarsBruce WillisMadeleine StoweBrad PittIn a future world devastated by disease, a convict is sent back in time to gather information about the man-made virus that wiped out most of the human population on the planet.Moody movie, but has enough fun in it to be interesting for most people. These moody movies with a twist are not always made for fast consumption or many views but this one is a classic and pretty much one of the most recommended movies ever.
Time travel: 9 - DirectorSteve PinkStarsJohn CusackRob CorddryCraig RobinsonA malfunctioning time machine at a ski resort takes a man back to 1986 with his two friends and nephew, where they must relive a fateful night and not change anything to make sure the nephew is born.Super fun comedy. One of my favorite comedies. But the ending makes zero sense logic wise. Once you get time travel in movies you understand when basic ideas are just ignored by the characters. The ending is like the 12:01 (1993) ending where you don't understand why the writers suddenly got lazy with their own idea and how the characters suddenly forgot basic stuff.
Time travel: 6 - DirectorHarold RamisStarsBill MurrayAndie MacDowellChris ElliottA narcissistic, self-centered weatherman finds himself in a time loop on Groundhog Day.Great movie! You know it. The repetition time travel is my favorite and I added these movies to my list I do think it's traveling back in time. It's one of the most rewatchable movies ever.
Time travel: 10 - DirectorGregory HoblitStarsDennis QuaidJim CaviezelShawn DoyleAn accidental cross-time radio link connects father and son across 30 years. The son tries to save his father's life, but then must fix the consequences.The frantic shaky-cam in action scenes is horrible, but besides that it's really good and the plot is great. The time travel here is more emotional than in any other movie as a family connection is made. It will really make you feel for the characters.
Time travel: 9 - DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseEmily BluntBill PaxtonA soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.Repetition time travel concept. It's really fun. One of those action movies you can rewatch, but the concept is so simple that you won't be surprised a second time around.
Time travel: 9 - DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsMichael J. FoxChristopher LloydMary SteenburgenStranded in 1955, Marty McFly learns about the death of Doc Brown in 1885 and must travel back in time to save him. With no fuel readily available for the DeLorean, the two must figure how to escape the Old West before Emmett is murdered.Very much the worst in the series, but still a quality movie.
Time travel: 6 - DirectorOriol PauloStarsAdriana UgarteChino DarínJavier GutiérrezVera, a mother of one, interacts with the ghost of a child and saves his life. However, her actions cause a space-time continuum glitch, altering reality.Very overlooked time travel movie. The ending is a bit weakish in this lower-budget movie, but the rest is really great. Go watch it right now. This is one of the best working directors we have. Everything he makes it worth a watch if you like twists and complicated plots. But this is where he used his mystery and plot brain to create a time travel story.
Time travel: 8 - DirectorGary RossStarsTobey MaguireJeff DanielsJoan AllenTwo 1990s teenage siblings find themselves transported to a 1950s sitcom where their influence begins to profoundly change that colorless, complacent world.Zero time travel. But I think it fits because they do travel to another world in the past. It's a great movie that's kinda a classic of sorts.
Time travel: 6 - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsTom CruiseColin FarrellSamantha MortonJohn works with the PreCrime police which stop crimes before they take place, with the help of three 'PreCogs' who can foresee crimes. Events ensue when John finds himself framed for a future murder.Not time travel in person. But it's a great movie and one of those movies that pretty much became a classic of sorts right away.
Time travel: 6 - DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartIan McKellenHugh JackmanThe X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.Not much time travel. But it's set in the past with modern heroes so I think it fits here.
Time travel: 6 - DirectorBradley KingStarsDanielle PanabakerMatt O'LearyGeorge FinnThree friends discover a mysterious machine that takes pictures twenty-four hours into the future, and conspire to use it for personal gain, until disturbing and dangerous images begin to develop.Low-budget movie, but it's a unique concept based on the "A Most Unusual Camera" (1960) The Twilight Zone episode. Go watch it for sure. It's one of the most underrated movies I have seen as I really didn't expect this much quality in such a small package. A remake with more and bigger sets and a complete ending would be great.
Time travel: 10 - DirectorJacob GentryStarsChad McKnightBrianne DavisAJ BowenA physicist who invents a time machine must travel back to the past to uncover the truth about his creation and the woman who is trying to steal it.5,5 rating on IMDb? Well, it's low-budget and few sets and actors, but it's spectacular acting from the lead and great tension filled time travel. Very much worth a watch. This is a unique movie for people who watch a lot of films.
Time travel: 8 - DirectorDuncan JonesStarsJake GyllenhaalMichelle MonaghanVera FarmigaA soldier wakes up in someone else's body and discovers he's part of an experimental government program to find the bomber of a commuter train within 8 minutes.This is actually time travel, but not full time travel. It's a movie that works as a plot, but it does feel empty at times as it never tries to be a work of passion or a full blockbuster. It's a movie that keeps you entertained for sure. Can be rewatched because of the clear colors, light plot and an attractive lead actress.
Time travel: 9 - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsMatthew McConaugheyAnne HathawayJessica ChastainWhen Earth becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans.This is some of the most interesting time travel I've seen. There is not much time travel, but what we have is mind blowing. The ending makes no sense though, and is a lazy cop-out.
Time travel: 8 - DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsDaniel RadcliffeEmma WatsonRupert GrintHarry Potter, Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard.The by far best Harry Potter movie also has time travel in it. Coincidence? Not fully. If you watch one Harry Potter movie pick this one.
Time travel: 8 - DirectorStephen HopkinsStarsGary OldmanWilliam HurtMatt LeBlancThe Robinson family was going into space to fight for a chance for humanity. Now they are fighting to live long enough to find a way home.Personally I really like fast paced action movies with cool characters. But many hate this one because it's not like the old TV show. So it may not be for you. The ending is weird as it sets up a universe and a sequel which we never got as the TV show fans got offended.
Time travel: 6 - DirectorSam RaimiStarsBruce CampbellEmbeth DavidtzMarcus GilbertWhen Ash Williams is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., he must retrieve the Necronomicon and battle an army of the dead in order to return home.Not much time travel, but enough for me to add it here as it's a good movie. The best Evil Dead movie by far in my opinion. The rest are skippable.
Time travel: 6 - DirectorMark DennisBen FosterStarsReiley McClendonCassidy GiffordBrianne HoweyA professor enters a cave and goes missing. Some of his students come looking for him and get trapped in the cave as well.Very fun watch. Weak ending as it's not high budget or clever writing. But very much a ride. It's another one of those "leave you brain at the door" movies. But once you watch it you'll understand that a concept remake with better writers would be glorious.
Time travel: 8 - DirectorScott DerricksonStarsBenedict CumberbatchChiwetel EjioforRachel McAdamsWhile on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.A bit time travel. But it's extremely cool so I had to add it. Some of the most memorable time travel used in a plot.
Time travel: 8
