The concept of traveling through time is incredibly fascinating. It’s a dream for many people, and it’s no surprise that the movie industry loves to explore this idea. Whether it’s going back in time to the ’50s or the future where androids rule the world, there’s something about time travel that keeps us coming back for more. From the classic Back to the Future trilogy to more recent films such as The Butterfly Effect and Source Code, movies are constantly exploring new ways for characters to travel through time. The problem is that, more often than not, movies about time travel fall into one of two categories: either they’re bogged down by pretty ridiculous inaccuracies, or they’re so far-fetched and preposterous that they become silly. Luckily, some films out there manage to strike a balance between these two extremes — they’re super entertaining but also usually grounded in science (or at least sound enough so to be believable).
But what if you could actually travel through time? Would you go back in time and change something in your life? Or would you go forward in time and see what the world will look like in 50 years? We’ve put together a list of must-watch time travel movies that show you a glimpse of what could happen with the power of time traveling in the palm of your hand. Some focus on changing the past, while others explore the possibility of seeing the future awaiting us. Check them out, and don’t forget to upvote your favorites!
#1 Back To The Future
1985 | 1h 56m | Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Everybody knows this time travel comedy, and if you don’t, pick it up as soon as possible! Back to the Future follows Marty McFly as he travels back through time to 1955, where he accidentally prevents his parents from meeting, threatening his own existence. The movie became famous for being utterly hilarious, full of memorable lines and unforgettable characters. And let’s be honest here, Back To The Future is thoroughly a pretty great saga; not much else you should know to start watching it.
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39points
#2 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1991 | 2h 17m | Directed by James Cameron
In the future, machines have taken over the world, and only one man can stop them. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a cyborg from the future who gets sent back in time by Skynet to kill John Connor, who will one day lead the human uprising against them. The second installment in the Terminator franchise is action-packed, and it features some of the best special effects ever seen on film.
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33points
#3 Back To The Future Part II
1989 | 1h 48m | Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Back To The Future’s sequel follows Marty McFly and Doc Brown as they travel from 1985 to 2015 to prevent Marty’s son from sabotaging the McFly family’s future. When their arch-nemesis Biff Tannen steals Doc’s time machine and uses it to alter history for his benefit, the duo must repeat their visit to 1955. The film was filmed back to back with its sequel, Back To The Future Part III, released six months later.
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33points
#4 Groundhog Day
1993 | 1h 41m | Directed by Harold Ramis
Previously seen as an exclusively comic actor, Groundhog Day showed that Bill Murray could also take on more serious roles in critically acclaimed movies. Bill Murray plays a weatherman who finds himself stuck in a time loop, living Groundhog Day over and over again. The film is considered one of the biggest successes of the 1990s and led to the expression “Groundhog Day” becoming part of the English lexicon, meaning a monotonous and repetitive situation.
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33points
#5 12 Monkeys
1995 | 2h 9m | Directed by Terry Gilliam
“Apocalypse” and “time travel” are not tropes that you usually find paired in the same movie, but they somehow worked for 12 Monkeys. Bruce Willis stars as James Cole, a convict from 2035 who volunteers to travel back in time to find out what caused the outbreak that destroyed the planet. Before shooting began, Bruce Willis received a list of forbidden “Willis acting clichés” from director Terry Gilliam, including his notorious “steely blue eyes look”.
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33points
#6 The Terminator
1984 | 1h 47m | Directed by James Cameron
The Terminator franchise is one of the greatest action sagas ever created. The series is about a human resistance against a race of killer machines that want to exterminate the last humans left on the face of the earth. The plot is simple and effective, and a well-developed concept of humans and robots fighting each other always works. The films are full of special effects, explosions, and a great cast of actors, with an especially iconic performance by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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30points
#7 Edge Of Tomorrow
2014 | 1h 53m | Directed by Doug Liman
Adaptation of the Japanese light novel All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, the movie is set in the future, where Europe has been invaded by aliens. Tom Cruise stars as William Cage, an officer who gets caught up in the alien invasion and, stuck in some sort of time loop, must relive the same battle over and over again until he figures out how to win against them. If you liked Groundhog Day, then you’ll love this one!
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29points
#8 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
1989 | 1h 30m | Directed by Stephen Herek
Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, and George Carlin star in this sci-fi comedy, a box office success in 1989. Silly high schoolers Bill and Ted travel through time to relive some critical historical events and prepare the ultimate history presentation that will save them from failing out of school. A sequel, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, was released in 1991.
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29points
#9 Back To The Future Part III
1990 | 1h 58m | Directed by Robert Zemeckis
The film immediately follows the story of its predecessor. Stranded in 1955, Marty McFly learns that Doc Brown was killed in 1885 and must travel back in time to save his friend from Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen, Biff’s ancestor. The 1885 time setting was chosen partly because Michael J. Fox told the producers he always wanted to act in a Western movie.
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29points
#13 Avengers: Endgame
2019 | 3h 1m | Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Eleven years of buildup. Eleven years of Avengers movies. And it’s all led to Avengers: Endgame. We’re not gonna spoil this one; just know that the movie is so good that it’s been breaking records left and right, from being the highest-grossing film of 2019 to being the top global box office performer of the 21st century. This movie is a seriously satisfying conclusion to an epic eleven-year run by Marvel Studios but still left fans waiting for more new adventures with their favorite superheroes.
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20points
