Summary

• Time travel movies often explore the concept of changing the past or glimpsing into the future, but they typically conclude that meddling with time is not advisable.
• The rules of time travel in movies play a crucial role in determining the validity and success of the film, and scientific accuracy is just one factor in making the audience believe in the concept.
• Not every time travel movie is popular, but that doesn't diminish the value of portraying the triumphs and dangers of time travel, and sometimes incorporating comedy into the genre can be highly entertaining.

Time travel is a frequently explored topic in movies, and the films that stand the test of time use intricate plots to their advantage. Movies and TV shows have been exploring the ways that time travel could be possible since their inception. Humanity has long dreamed of what would happen if they could change the past or get insight into the future. The movies that explore this often conclude that time is not something to be meddled with.

The time travel movie rules are a vital element of these stories; their logic can make or break the validity of the film. Additionally, while not every time travel film is the most popular, that doesn't take away from how successfully it portrays the triumphs and dangers of time travel. Making the movie scientifically accurate is only one way for the filmmakers to get the audience to believe in the concept. The point of watching a science fiction film, or one that deals with the fluidity of time, is to suspend one's disbelief and enjoy the ride.

10 Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

Directed by Stephen Herek

Starring a young Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves as Bill and Ted, there's no need for logic in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure because the protagonists aren't interested in any. The titular characters are two high schoolers looking for a good time. They use time travel as a way to make sure they and get to be in a band. There isn't much danger that Bill and Ted won't learn their lesson and achieve their goal, but the movie is a great example of how not all time travel has to be life or death.

In recent years, the film has reached cult classic status, and though the sequel films weren't as beloved, they prove that there's a place for comedy within the genre. Referencing traditional time travel stories, as well as real people and events from the past, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure makes history fun, and the two lovable goofballs at the center of the story are easy to relate to. It's a reminder that time travel doesn't always have to be complex and heady to be worth watching.

9 Time After Time (1979)

Directed by Nicholas Meyer

Time After Time takes the real author H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowell), known for his novel The Time Machine, and portrays a fictionalized version of him. However, his invention accidentally set Jack The Ripper (David Warner) loose in 1979. Wells pursues him, and both men discover that the future isn't exactly what they imagined it to be. It's an effective conceit that delivers social commentary effectively without feeling like the film is preaching to the audience. Though the premise is a little unconventional, it's notable because it deals directly with such an important figure in time travel storytelling.

Watch Time After Time on Prime Video.

8 The Time Machine (1960)

Directed by George Pal

The Time Machine is also a great sci-fi movie based on a story by H.G. Wells. Wells (Rod Taylor) is the protagonist, but in this adaptation, the story is told as it is in the novel. The frame narrative shows Wells describing his travels with his friends. He goes forward in time continuously until he witnesses the apocalypse and its aftermath. No discussion on time travel films would be complete without bringing up The Time Machine. While it can feel a bit dated upon rewatch, its influence is far-reaching and sets the standard for what the genre should be.

Watch The Time Machine on Prime Video.

7 12 Monkeys (1995)

Directed by Terry Gilliam

Bruce Willis cuts a tragic figure in 12 Monkeys as the dystopian film blends elements of sci-fi, a post-apocalyptic future, and relevant social issues of the time. James (Willis) is plagued by recurring nightmares of a man being shot in an airport, and after he is sent back in time to prevent the decimation of humanity, he realizes in the final moments of the film it's his own death that he is ing. 12 Monkeys does an excellent job of leaving the audience feeling as if they're not sure what is real and what James is imagining.

A dark take on the genre, the movie doesn't shy away from proposing that time travel can destroy a mind. The biggest pitfall of 12 Monkeys is that it can sometimes get caught up in its own intricacies, making the plot more confusing than necessary. However, this does add to the overall atmosphere of intensity and shows James' perspective of losing his grip on reality. The performances anchor the film, but the premise itself is timeless, which led to the spin-off series of the same name.

6 Groundhog Day (1993)

Directed by Harold Ramis

More of a time loop than time travel, Groundhog Day is the preeminent example of how to incorporate sci-fi and fantasy plot devices into a romantic comedy seamlessly. Often, time travel films can be inaccessible because of the scientific language and contradicting storylines, but Groundhog Day doesn't have this problem. Though Phil (Bill Murray) is forced to relive the same day over and over, something that couldn't happen in real life, his struggles and character development remain grounded and relatable. By effectively crossing genres, the film has achieved a permanent place in the cultural memory.

Often, time travel films can be inaccessible because of the scientific language and contradicting storylines, but Groundhog Day doesn't have this problem.

5 Looper (2012)

Directed by Rian Johnson

Though much of the film's complex plot has been unraveled, Looper's biggest mystery still hasn't been explained. It's one of Rian Johnson's earlier movies before his career took off with Knives Out. Looper combines many sci-fi premises to flesh out its intricate world-building, including the interaction of the same person at different points in their lifetime. Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) conflicts with Old Joe (Bruce Willis) as different potential futures are changed by his actions in the past. The film received great critical acclaim for its attention to character motivations instead of relying on the flashy aspects of time travel.

4 Run Lola Run (1998)

Directed by Tom Tykwer

The German film Run Lola Run doesn't worry about explaining how its time travel works but uses it as a tool to put Lola (Franka Potente) through a high-adrenaline chase. In trying to deliver a huge sum of money to her boyfriend with only twenty minutes to get to him, Lola relives her journey over and over with different results each time. These differences in the timelines affect her and the people around her more than she could guess.

Few films directly interrogate the balance between fate and chance that is at the heart of all narratives that interact with time. Run Lola Run is as stress-inducing to watch as it is for Lola to live through, but the ability of the film to raise the stakes with each loop makes it unforgettable. Some critics felt that the message of the film was only surface level and cashed in on the high-energy pacing without thoughtful plotting. However, this isn't the case at all. Run Lola Run uses its action film gimmicks to sneak in a larger message.

Watch Run Lola Run on Prime Video.

3 The Terminator (1984)

Directed by James Cameron

One of the most successful sci-fi franchises of all time, The Terminator got that way by being a fantastic action movie as well. The premise is simple: a cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) before she can give birth to the man who will one day save the world from AI and robotic beings. However, sometimes the most straightforward plots can have the best results. The relatively easy-to-understand story makes room for fantastic visual and thematic choices.

At the time of its release, it was enormously popular, and though some of its depictions of masculinity and traditional gender roles are critiqued today, the sequels attempted to fix these problems while staying true to the neo-noir and technological themes that make it so iconic. It's important not to discard older films for their flaws but to acknowledge them and appreciate them for the aspects that changed movie history forever.

Watch The Terminator on Apple TV.

2 Primer (2004)

Directed by Shane Carruth

Due to its low budget and independent production, Primer wasn't on the audience's radar in 2004 when it was released. However, it's gained significant prominence since then and is considered one of the most scientifically accurate time travel movies ever made. Primer is the classic example of a film that refused to par down complex ideas and dialogue, choosing to let the viewer decipher the plot as best they could. Shockingly, this doesn’t alienate the audience but draws them in.

It's impossible to fully capture the multiple intersecting timelines and interactions future versions of the protagonists have with their past selves. Primer is better watched than explained, and though it might take a few watches to understand it, but the result is worth the initial confusion. The film is so important because it subverts all the classic hallmarks of a time travel film and manages to tell a character-driven story in a highly technical way.

Watch Primer on Prime Video.

1 Back To The Future (1985)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

There are many different timelines across the Back to the Future movies, but the first and best film, the original Back to the Future, only deals with a few. It revolves around Marty (Michael J. Fox) traveling from 1985 to 1955, where he has to correct the events he disrupted and make sure his parents fall in love. Many time travel films and shows have followed the movie's example of having the time traveler correct the accidental meddling in their own timeline.

The story is tight, the characters are charismatic and engaging, and the film perfectly hits upon nostalgia for the 1950s, as well as present-day nostalgia that people have for the 1980s. It's the quintessential time travel film that cleverly uses tropes like the eccentric scientist to its advantage and is a massive critical and commercial success to this day. It was the highest-grossing film of 1985 and has only grown in acclaim since then (via Box Office Mojo).