40 Time Travel Movies That Will Take You on a Cinematic Journey

Time travel has always been the playground of filmmakers who can mess with timelines to make you question time itself. From whimsical adventures to mind-bending thrillers, the genre has a lot of stories. Here’s a list of the 40 best time travel movies of all time—proof of how creative this genre can be.

1. Back to the Future (1985):

This Robert Zemeckis classic deals with the coherent Marty McFly, who, while being in a DeLorean time machine, accidentally travels back to 1955. It spawned two sequels, which see Marty travelling to the future and the Old West.

2. Terminator 2:

Judgment Day (1991)—James Cameron’s sequel brings Arnold Schwarzenegger back as a reprogrammed cyborg to go back in time and protect young John Connor. It delivers state-of-the-art special effects and pursues themes of fate and free will.

3. 12 Monkeys (1995) –

The mind-bending thriller by director Terry Gilliam. It told the story of a convict (Bruce Willis) sent back in time to glean information about a deadly virus. Brad Pitt received a supporting Oscar nomination.

4. Looper (2012) –

Rian Johnson’s sci-fi actioner follows a hitman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who executes targets sent from the future. When his latest target is himself in older age, played by Bruce Willis, things take an interesting turn as the movie goes on to explain consequences in time travel and personal decisions.

5. Primer (2004)-

Independent film by Shane Carruth is an intellectual exploration of time travel wherein two engineers accidentally invent a time machine, leading to some intricate moral consequences and a plot that pays dividends on repeated viewing.

6. Groundhog Day (1993)-

A classic in comedy, the title sees a cynical weatherman played by Bill Murray’s character, stuck into the same day repeatedly. From learning to enjoy life and love himself, this film uses time loops with much ingenuity in personal growth and redemption.

7. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)-

Tom Cruise is a soldier stuck in a time loop as an alien invasion happens. Assisted by Emily Blunt, he must learn from each iteration to save humanity. The film acts as both action and a fresh take on time travel mechanics.

8. Donnie Darko (2001)-

This is a cult film where Jake Gyllenhaal plays a troubled teenager haunted by visions of a character dressed in a rabbit costume. Mixing together time travel, mental illness, and existentialism makes for a memorable tale.

9. Frequency (2000) –

This sentimental sci-fi drama revolves around a son, played by Jim Caviezel, making contact with his dead father, played by Dennis Quaid, via ham radio and attempting to change events. It was about a father-son relationship and the time-travel effect.

10. The Time Machine (1960) –

This is the classic film adaptation of the novel by H.G. Wells about a scientist who develops a time machine and journeys into the far future; its theme, regarding the social development of human nature, remains opportune to this day.

11. Timecrimes (2007)-

This Spanish thriller follows a man who accidentally travels back in time and gets himself mixed up in some unforeseen events. It had a quite tight narrative, with several twists and turns in plot development that made it really a genre showstopper.

12. The Time Traveler’s Wife-2009:

Based on the bestseller novel, this romantic drama is about a man who suffers from a genetic disorder that involuntarily makes him time travel. This movie epitomizes love, loss, and the trials of a relationship across periods.

13. Arrival (2016) –

While primarily a film about communicating with aliens, *Arrival* adopts time perception as one of the film’s main themes. Amy Adams stars as a linguist who learns to perceive time differently and, as such, has deep insights into life and loss.

14. Palm Springs –

This 2020 romantic comedy of a modern tone stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as two wedding guests who become trapped in a time loop. At least, with its themes of love, humor, and existentialism, the movie gets to be refreshingly different.

15. Synchronic (2019) –

A dark sci-fi thriller in which two paramedics uncover a designer pharmaceutical that allows users to travel through time. This movie deals with their conclusions and tangles them into themes of friendship and loss.

16. About Time (2013)-

This enticing romantic comedy-drama follows a young man who discovers he can travel in time. As he glides through love and family, the film underlines the importance of savouring each ordinary moment.

17. The Butterfly Effect (2004)-

a psychological thriller in which Ashton Kutcher acts, about a man who discovers that by reading his journals, he can change his past. This movie revolves around the unintended consequences of his actions.

18. Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) – This raunchy comedy follows a group of friends who go back in time through a hot tub to the 1980s by accident. The film combines humour with nostalgia and explores themes of friendship and regret.

19. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)-

Two slackers, played by Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter respectively, travel through time to round up historical figures for their high school presentation. Light as air, just to celebrate friendship and adventure.

20. The Adam Project (2022) –

Ryan Reynolds stars in this family-friendly sci-fi adventure about a time traveller who teams up with his younger self to save the future. The film combines humour and heart, making it a delightful watch.

21. Time After Time (1979)-

This original film follows H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowell) chasing Jack the Ripper (David Warner) through time to modern-day San Francisco. It is an interesting tale with history intermixed.

22. Timecop (1994)-

Jean Claude Van Damme plays a policeman who is given the mandate to police time travel. The movie is pure science fiction, and its infusion with action has made it a cult movie.

23. The Final Countdown (1980)-

A modern aircraft carrier is sent back in time to just before the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. A mix of moral dilemmas regarding changing history takes centre stage.

24. Source Code (2011)-

starring Jake Gyllenhaal, a soldier wakes up in the body of an unknown man and is forced to relive the last 8 minutes of his life over and over to find a bomber. A very intelligent sci-fi thriller with a twist at the end.

25. The Philadelphia Experiment 1984-

This is a movie based on the urban legend of a naval experiment making a ship invisible; and the unintended time-travel consequences thereof.

26. Coherence (2013) –

A weirdly clever things transpire during a dinner party while a comet is passing overhead. Mind-bending things happen in time. It gives a glimpse into reality and relationships.

27. The Time Machine (2002)-

This remake of the classic stars Guy Pearce as a scientist who journeys far into the future for the sake of rescuing his fiancée. The film contains romance and thrilling science fiction.

28. Happy Death Day (2017) –

Combining more of a horror-comedy, this film stars a college student who keeps reliving the day of her murder until she discovers her killer’s identity. The film teases with a perfect blend of time loops and slasher elements.

29. The One (2001) –

With Jet Li in the lead role, this is a story about a former police officer who navigates parallel universes to kill his malignant doppelgangers. The movie blends martial arts action with science fiction.

30. The Jacket (2005) –

Starting Adrien Brody as a veteran of the Gulf War who undergoes an experimental treatment that permits him to travel back in time, the subtextive message here deals with trauma and redemption.

31. Happy Accidents (2000) –

A romantic comedy about a young woman who discovers her new charming boyfriend might be a time traveller from the future. To worsen the already complicated relationships, love will emerge.

32. See You Yesterday (2019)-

Two teenage geniuses take it upon themselves to save a loved one using a time machine, which leads to its consequences. The movie comprises elements of social issues and time travel.

33. Yesterday (2019) –

This musical comedy follows a struggling musician who finds himself in a world that has never heard of the Beatles, and therefore embarks on a journey performing the band’s songs to test his fame and creativity.

34. Mirage (2018) –

A woman finds herself a time portal through which she gets to communicate with a boy in the past and tries to save him from certain repercussions.

35. The Infinite Man (2014) –

Based on the Australian movie, a man uses time travel to try to set up the perfect romantic weekend, which goes hilariously and chaotically wrong.

36. The Tomorrow War (2021) –

A science fiction action movie, it deals with the recruitment of present-time soldiers for a future war against alien invaders. It showed just a perfect combination of action and time travel.

37. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) –

It tells the story of a high-school girl who, after attaining the power of time travel, uses it to make up for her mistakes. And in that process, speak out about her youth and repentance. 

38. Time Trap (2017) –

A group of students uncovers a cave that distorts time, and they find themselves on an exciting adventure trying to escape the consequences. 

39. When We First Met-2018:

A man discovers a photo booth that can transport him back in time to the night he met his crush, and through multiple comedic attempts, he tries to win her heart. 

40. In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) –

A science fiction thriller about a detective’s chase in a series of murders connected with a woman who materializes every nine years. 

Time travel movies are still so cool and get to explore so many themes. This genre allows you to get into the weeds of time, fate and human relationships and it’s often so good. Explore more with BdInfoZone.

From the fun of Back to the Future to the mind-bending of Primer, each of these movies offers a different take on time travel. Whether you want action, romance or a good thing, there’s something.

Please comment below if you would like to see more posts on this genre.