If you’re looking to ensure that you’ve watched all of the best time travel movies ever made, you’re in the right place. Contrary to the usual “best time travel lists” all over the internet, this one is a continually evolving one, and films keep getting added. So do drop a comment with your favourite flick if you don’t see it here. So for time travel films, this is your one-stop-shop. I know some of the classics may not be in the list yet, but it’s just a matter of time. All the titles are ranked based on the BaTTR Score (Barry’s Time Travel Review Score), a rating mechanism created to particularly rate movies based on time travel. Let’s go through the best time travel movies ranked in reverse order by the BaTTR Score.
If you’re looking specifically for time-loop films where a character lives the same day over and over again, check this – Every Time Loop Movie.
Shortcuts
- – Movies Ranked 83 to 81
- – Movies Ranked 80 to 71
- – Movies Ranked 70 to 61
- – Movies Ranked 60 to 51
- – Movies Ranked 50 to 41
- – Movies Ranked 40 to 31
- – Top 30 Movies
- – Top 20 Movies
- – Top 10 Movies
Best Time Travel Movies: 83 to 81
83. Terminator 5: Genisys (2015)
With a brand new Sarah Connor and Terminator model, this film tried it’s best to recover the series from the wreck that Terminator 4 was. Sadly, one does not simply mess around with timelines in a way that undoes T1 and T2 and get away with it. After over a decade, it was good to see Arnold reprising his role. I suspect this film might always stay at the bottom of this evolving best time travel films list. You can find a quick discussion about the film here – Terminator Genisys Explained.
BaTTR Score: 1.20
⏱ Terminator 5 – Why this score?
82. Before I Fall (2017)
A high-school girl begins reliving one day of her life after dying in a car accident. Going through the many time-loops, she understands the impact she can make on the people in her life.
BaTTR Score: 1.30
⏱ Before I Fall – Why this score?
81. Terminator 6: Dark Fate (2019)
Dark Fate saw both Sarah Conor and T-101 coming back to settle an old score. The movie felt like an alternate-reality version of T2: Judgement Day. Though it was rinse-dry-repeat of the same concept, it still manages to keep you guessing. Some impressive CGI does transport you back to 1991 as you see some very familiar faces in events that never occurred before this film – I know this is cryptic, but I can’t say more without spoiling it. If you’re looking for a quick summary of the entire franchise – every Terminator movie summarized.
BaTTR Score: 1.30
⏱ Terminator 6 – Why this score?
Best Time Travel Movies: 80 to 71
80. Ritânâ / Returner (2002)
Returner is a Japanese film that sees a girl travelling back in time, from a dystopian future, to try and stop an alien race from invading the planet. She arrives in the present time and forces a talented assassin to help her with her quest.
BaTTR Score: 1.35
⏱ Returner – Why this rating?
79. See You Yesterday (2019)
See You Yesterday follows two wiz-kids who invent a time machine and go back in time by one day to save a sibling who was killed due to a mistaken police shooting. They soon realize it’s never easy to change the past without consequences.
BaTTR Score: 1.35
⏱ See You Yesterday – Why this rating?
78. Synchronic (2019)
This film is about a synthetic drug that hits the legal market, making consumers travel through time. One man goes on a hunt for his friend’s daughter, who might be lost in time. Here’s a detailed breakdown – Synchronic movie explained.
BaTTR Score: 1.40
⏱ Synchronic – Why this score?
77. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
The third instalment came a decade after the superhit sequel – Judgement Day. The terminators are back from the future, and the filmmakers tried to put a new spin on the film by shifting the attention from Sarah and John Connor to another person by the name Katherine Brewster. It was good to see Arnold reprise his role after a long break. Honestly, this film even ended well, and part 4 should have taken it to the point leading up to Kyle and the very first Terminator. But clearly, an end was never intended for the Terminator Series.
BaTTR Score: 1.40
⏱ Terminator 3 – Why this rating?
76. The Final Countdown (1980)
This 80s film sees a modern super-aircraft carrier that gets hit by an electric storm that transports the vessel to 1941- a day before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The crew are left the choice to alter history or not. The Final Countdown is an alternate-history film which delivers very well on this engaging tale.
BaTTR Score: 1.50
⏱ Final Countdown – Why this rating?
75. Time Bandits (1981)
Time Bandits is a fun fantasy film that sees a young boy joining a bunch of dwarfs on a journey through time as they run into epic fictional and real characters from history. It’s a pretty loaded cast and is a very entertaining movie.
BaTTR Score: 1.50
⏱ Time Bandits – Why this rating?
74. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2010: Live Action)
This live-action film is based on a novel by the same name. The storyline has no commonalities with the 2006 Anime other than the fact that they are both on this top time travel movies list. In fact, this film is a sequel to the 1983 flick also by the same name. The movie follows a girl who travels back in time to fulfill her seemingly dying mother’s wish.
BaTTR Score: 1.50
⏱ The Girl Who Leapt Through Time – Why this score?
73. The Lift / El Ascensor (2021)
The Lift is a Spanish film centred on a couple arguing inside an elevator on their way out of the building. Soon as they hit the lowest floor, one of them ends up returning to the moment they entered the lift. The rest of the film takes us through the couple’s time in the elevator and their attempts to break free.
BaTTR Score: 1.55
⏱ The Lift – Why this rating?
72. Repeaters (2010)
Three people in rehab suddenly find themselves waking up on the same day repeatedly. While one of them sees this as a blessing, the other two want to stop the phenomenon leading to a cat and mouse chase.
BaTTR Score: 1.55
⏱ Repeaters – Why this rating?
71. Happy Death Day 2U (2019)
This is the second instalment of the film series. While the first movie was an unexpected surprise, the sequel as in most cases, doesn’t deliver as well. That said Happy Death Day 2U is a fun film with all the characters coming back to reprise their roles with a lovely little twist.
BaTTR Score: 1.55
⏱ Happy Death Day 2 – Why this rating?
Best Time Travel Movies: 70 to 61
70. Naked (2017) / Naken (2000)
Naked is a funny time-loop film that sees Marlon Wayans’ character living a one hour loop endlessly, which begins with him waking up naked inside an elevator. It is a remake of the Swedish film, Naken.
BaTTR Score: 1.55
⏱ Naked / Naken – Why this score?
69. Project Almanac (2015)
Project Almanac follows a bunch of teenagers who stumble upon a time machine in one of their home’s basement. While initially, they use the time machine carefully with many defined ethical rules, as expected, they break those rules. For all the details about this film, you can check this out – Project Almanac Explained.
BaTTR Score: 1.65
⏱ Project Almanac – Why this rating?
68. Men In Black 3 (2012)
In this third instalment of the film series, Agent J finds himself slipping into an alternate timeline where Agent K does not exist. J goes back in time to hunt down the alien Boris, who is responsible for the altered history. It was good to have Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones reprise their roles with the addition of Josh Brolin in the mix.
BaTTR Score: 1.65
⏱ Men In Black 3 – Why this rating?
67. Midnight In Paris (2011)
This is a super-light romantic comedy where Owen Wilson’s character gets picked up by a bunch of people at midnight each night, taking him to the 20s. The film smartly weaves in a variety of characters from history and has a brilliant cast.
BaTTR Score: 1.75
⏱ Midnight In Paris – Why this score?
66. Time Trap (2017)
This film is a pleasant surprise. The plot synopsis makes it appear like it’s going to be a big blunder but Time Trap manages to turn thing around. The plot is centred on a group of students looking for their professor who goes missing after entering a mysterious cave. They follow him in to realize the true nature of the cave. You can read all the details about the plot here – Time Trap Explained.
BaTTR Score: 1.75
⏱ Time Trap – Why this rating?
65. The Time Machine (2002)
The Time Machine is based on H.G Wells book and is the second feature film adaptation of the novel. This movie attempted to create a variation to the original story to make it more fantastical. The Time Machine is the story of a man who goes far into the future. While visually, the movie did well, it didn’t create too much of a stir amongst movie viewers. The 1960 movie is much further below in this best time travel movies list.
BaTTR Score: 1.80
⏱ The Time Machine – Why this rating?
64. Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
A couple of magazine writers go over to investigate an ad in their magazine that requests someone interested in travelling back in time. On meeting the advertiser, it appears he might be a looney. Safety Not Guaranteed is a favourite of everyone who loves the time travel sub-genre and no time travel list is complete without it.
BaTTR Score: 1.80
⏱ Safety Not Guaranteed – Why this rating?
63. Mine Games (2012)
This one is an impressive looper film. A group of friends land up at an isolated cabin in the woods to celebrate their end of college. They find a mine nearby and enter it and unleash evil. It’s not a mindless slasher, so do give it a watch. For all details on the film check out – Mine Games explained.
BaTTR Score: 1.80
⏱ Mine Games – Why this rating?
62. The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)
This one is a romantic film set inside infinite timeloops. I know you’re thinking Palm Springs (which is also there in this list of top time travel films), but The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things has an entirely different take on the subject. Here’s a detailed article – The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things explained.
BaTTR Score: 1.80
⏱ The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things – Why this rating?
61. The Tomorrow War (2021)
In 2048, an alien species attacks Earth, and the future humans are unable to contain the battle. They travel back in time to the present, seeking help to fight in the tomorrow war. If you’d like to understand more here’s an article that goes into the timelines of The Tomorrow War.
BaTTR Score: 1.90
⏱ The Tomorrow War – Why this score?
Best Time Travel Movies: 60 to 51
60. Il Mare (2000) / Lake House (2006)
Lake House is a romantic film that narrates the story of two people who grow close and fall in love over a series of letters they exchange only to slowly realize that they may not be living in the same time. It’s a remake of a Korean film by the name Il Mare.
BaTTR Score: 1.95
⏱ Il Mare / Lake House – Why this rating?
59. Time After Time (1979)
Time After Time is a hypothetical fantasy story of H.G. Wells (the Time Machine author), who creates a Time Machine, just like in the book. Soon enough, the plot takes a turn towards the pursuit of Jack The Ripper through time.
BaTTR Score: 2.00
⏱ Time After Time – Why this rating?
58. The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009)
As the title of the movie suggests, the film revolves around a woman’s husband who has an abnormal condition where he uncontrollably travels to random points in time. Time Traveler’s Wife is not science fiction but more a romantic drama with Rachael McAdams and Eric Bana.
BaTTR Score: 2.00
⏱ The Time Traveler’s Wife – Why this rating?
57. The Adam Project (2022)
The Adam Project’s plot sees a man travel back in time to team up with his younger self to save the world. As corny as that sounds, that’s pretty much what the film is about. You can read all about it here – The Adam Project explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.05
⏱ The Adam Project – Why this rating?
56. Haunter (2013)
Haunter is a horror film that presents a story within loops of time. A girl wakes up repeatedly on the same day, the day before her birthday. As she begins finding out why, she is haunted by other spirits and a creepy old man. Here’s everything you need to know about the film – Haunter explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.05
⏱ Haunter – Why this rating?
55. Mega Time Squad (2018)
Mega Time Squad is a hilarious film that follows a small-time crook who picks up an ancient Chinese bracelet that allows him to travel back in time by a few minutes. Things get out of hands when he travels back too many times trying to escape death at the hands of a gangster.
BaTTR Score: 2.15
⏱ Mega Time Squad – Why this score?
54. In The Shadow Of The Moon (2019)
In The Shadow Of The Moon is centred on a cop on the hunt for a serial killer who resurfaces mysteriously unaged every decade. He obsesses and waits for her to track her down and uncover her identity and origin. If you want to read about this film in detail, go here – In The Shadow Of The Moon Explained (it’s got a timeline diagram too).
BaTTR Score: 2.20
⏱ In The Shadow Of The Moon – Why this rating?
53. About Time (2013)
About Time is a feel-good romantic-comedy film about a family whose male members can travel in time once they turn 21 years old. The lead character tries to utilize it to find love, but over the course of the film, we see him embracing life to the full and learns the true meaning of his gift. This is Rachael McAdams’ second film playing the wife of a time traveller.
BaTTR Score: 2.20
⏱ About Time – Why this rating?
52. Boss Level (2021)
Boss Level is a timeloop film that combines insane amounts of action and comedy. The film has a great cast – Frank Grillo, Naomi Watts, Mel Gibson and Michelle Yeoh, to name a few. This one is really high on adrenaline.
BaTTR Score: 2.25
⏱ Boss Level – Why this rating?
51. The Door Into Summer (2021)
The Door Into Summer is a Japanese adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein’s novel by the same name. The film is centred on a young robotics engineer tricked by his two partners and forced into cryosleep for 30 years. Check out the complete film details here – The Door Into Summer explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.25
⏱ The Door Into Summer – Why this score?
Best Time Travel Movies: 50 to 41
50. Somewhere In Time (1980)
Somewhere In Time is a beautiful love story starring Christopher Reeve, a play writer who obsesses on a photo of a beautiful yesteryear actress and ends up going back in time by 70 years to meet her.
BaTTR Score: 2.25
⏱ Somewhere In Time – Why this rating?
49. 12:01 (1993)
This is a TV movie based on a book by the same name. The word is that Groundhog Day plagiarized the story. Though there was a court case, it was withdrawn. The story sees a man trapped in a timeloop repeatedly witnessing the death of a woman he has a crush on.
BaTTR Score: 2.25
⏱ 12:01 – Why this rating?
48. Happy Death Day (2017)
This is a looper slasher film that finds a college girl reliving the day she gets killed by a mysterious masked murderer over and over again. Happy Death Day is a hilarious take on the classic time-loop film with an intriguing plot. For a loop by loop breakdown of this film, check this out – Happy Death Day Explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.25
⏱ Happy Death Day – Why this rating?
47. Groundhog Day (1993)
Groundhog Day is among the first few films that saw massive success in the space of a person being caught in an endless time-loop. Bill Murray shines in this role, and the film’s commercial success set the pathway for many such films after, most of which are on this list of best time travel movies.
BaTTR Score: 2.25
⏱ Groundhog Day – Why this score?
46. My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday / Boku Wa Asu, Kinō No Kimi To Dēto Suru (2016)
This is an adorable Japanese romantic film that follows the lives of two people over a month as they fall in love and begin a relationship. The catch is that both of them are experiencing the flow of time in opposite directions. This film would easily be one of the best romantic time travel movies.
BaTTR Score: 2.25
⏱ My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday – Why this rating?
45. Time Lapse (2014)
Time Lapse is a film about three friends who discover a camera in their dead neighbour’s house that takes photographs of the next day. What initially starts off as fear slowly turns into crazy ideas for each one to fulfill their desires. Take a look at this article which takes you through the plot one picture at a time – Time Lapse Explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.25
⏱ Time Lapse – Why this rating?
44. Meet The Robinsons (2007)
This film is plain hilarious. A kid steals his father’s time machine to travel to the past but has it stolen. He teams up with a young scientist to help him trace a mysterious Bowler Hat Guy who has big plans for the time device.
BaTTR Score: 2.30
⏱ Meet The Robinsons – Why this rating?
43. X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014)
The X-Men series saw two different casts, the young and old counterparts. Days Of Future Past brought all of them together in one massive movie that saw Wolverine’s consciousness going back in time to stop the creation of sentinels that eventually hunt and kill every mutant on the planet. While the rest of the XCU had no time travel, DOFP secures its place on this best time travel movies list. Here’s a short explanation of the film and a timeline diagram – X-Men Days Of Future Past Explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.35
⏱ X-Men DOFP – Why this rating?
42. Palm Springs (2020)
Palm Springs is an endless time-loop film that starts off bang in the middle of one of many loops the lead character has been stuck in. Furthermore, he gets a companion who happens to get trapped too. The film delves into romance in the context of an endless time trap. Here’s everything you need to know about the movie and its dinosaurs – Palm Springs Explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.40
⏱ Palm Springs – Why this score?
41. Synchronicity (2015)
Synchronicity is centred on a man trying to prove to his investor that his time machine works. When he realizes that he has been played and will lose his life’s work, he takes a leap of faith through time. For a detailed explanation, go here – Synchronicity movie explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.40
⏱ Synchronicity – Why this rating?
Best Time Travel Movies: 40 to 31
40. The Jacket (2005)
The Jacket is a psychological thriller in which a war veteran is wrongfully accused of murder and committed to a mental asylum. One of the doctors employs illegal treatment methods on him that has an unexpected side effect. For the detailed analysis, check out – The Jacket explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.45
⏱ The Jacket – Why this rating?
39. Retroactive (1997)
Retroactive is a classic 90s action-packed thriller that sports time-loops. The film follows a hostage negotiator who gets a lift from a couple. At once, you know the guy is toxic, and things are going to get crazy… and they do.
BaTTR Score: 2.45
⏱ Retroactive – Why this rating?
38. The Call (2020)
This is an excellent Korean film that sees two women talking to each other 20 years apart. The information exchange causes cascading effects altering the future in unpredictable ways. The Call is gripping because an ally in one timeline may not remain an ally in another. The film’s plot is why it finds a solid spot in this best time travel movies list. Here’s a detailed explanation for the movie – The Call Explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.45
⏱ The Call – Why this score?
37. Looper (2012)
Looper is a science-fiction action movie that deals with gangs in the future, sending people back to the past to have them executed. Each executor eventually retires when he kills his future self. The film follows the lead character (Gordon-Levitt) who fails to kill his older self (Bruce Willis) and the many consequences that follow. This article, with a detailed timeline diagram, will answer all the questions you have about the film – Looper Explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.45
⏱ Looper – Why this rating?
36. Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
Honestly, we all know that Bill and Ted’s is more a comedy than a time travel flick. That said, the movie has not ignored the causal loop at any point throughout the storyline. A man from the future shows up to help two teenagers pass their history exam by providing them with a time machine. The characters are silly, funny, iconic and bodacious… all at the same time, dude. Some find them too corny, but that was by design and the film sits comfortably in the middle of this time travel list.
BaTTR Score: 2.50
⏱ Bill And Ted – Why this rating?
35. The Terminator (1984) & 34. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
How on earth do iconic blockbusters like T1 and T2 be positioned as low as this, right? Before you judge this list, let’s just ask this question – Were the first two Terminator films primarily time travel movies or where they futuristic action films with a little bit of time travel concepts sprinkled in? Time Travel is not the primary focus of the movies. Both films take place in one time with humans and machines appearing mysteriously from the future, after that it’s full-blown action all the way. Personally, T2 is one of my all-time favourite films that gave Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton a cult status, but comparing with the others on this list, it’s barely a time travel movie. However, a list featuring the best time travel movies would be incomplete without mentioning these two films. Here is the summary of all Terminator films.
BaTTR Score: 2.50
⏱ Terminator 1 And 2 – Why this rating?
33. ARQ (2016)
ARQ is an infinite time-loop film that has a couple waking up in their house to realize that they have a break-in. The assailants are revealed to be from a corporation from whom the lead character has stolen data. The lead soon realizes that he resets back to the point he woke up each time he dies. Over the various loops that follow, the plot unfolds, and we understand the complex nature of the time cycles. Here is a loop-wise explanation of this film – ARQ Explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.60
⏱ ARQ – Why this score?
32. Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009)
Yeah, Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel is the actual name of the film. And no, it’s not a documentary. The movie is about three socially awkward dudes who go out to grab a drink at the local bar. Unfortunately, the restroom ends up being a coordinate for a time leak sending the guys unexpectedly through erratic points in time.
BaTTR Score: 2.60
⏱ Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel – Why this rating?
31. 41 (2012)
41 is a hidden gem. It’s an independent film made on a shoestring budget. The plot follows a student who stumbles upon a motel room with a hole in the floor that takes a person back in time by 12 hours. You can watch the full film and read the explanation here – Watch 41 with a detailed analysis.
BaTTR Score: 2.60
⏱ 41 – Why this rating?
Best Time Travel Movies: 30 to 21
30. Arrival (2016)
People who went to the halls expecting an alien invasion film were most disappointed. Arrival is a science-fiction drama which delves deep into languages and how it affects our thought processes. The story sees a linguist who tries to decode the language used by heptapods who have mysteriously appeared and positioned 12 ships over the world’s major cities. This article analyses the plot in a simplified manner – Arrival Explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.65
⏱ Arrival – Why this rating?
29. The House At The End Of Time (2013) / House Of The Disappeared (2017)
The original is the Venezuelan film La casa del fin de los tiempos that released in 2017. It was beautifully remade in Korean in 2017 as Si-gan-wi-ui jib. These are the original titles, and you can look up the films by their English titles too. The plot revolves around a woman who’s jailed for the murder of her husband and child. She returns after many years to uncover what actually happened. They’re both fantastic films, and you can read the detailed analysis here – House Of The Disappeared explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.70
⏱ House Of The Disappeared – Why this rating?
28. La Jetée (1962)
La Jetée is a French science fiction film that presents a convoluted story via a narration over still images. This film inspired the movie 12 Monkeys which took the concept and really did magic with the plot. La Jetée is unique and deserves to be on this list of best time travel movies even though it is a short film.
BaTTR Score: 2.75
⏱ La Jetée – Why this score?
27. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)
This is the third film in the Harry Potter series and the only one to feature a little time travel. The story is based around Sirius Black who is the escaped prisoner from Azkaban on his way to the school to kill Harry. While all the other parts of this film-series are completely in the fantasy genre, part 3 played it differently mixing it up with some science fiction and hence finds its way to this best time travel movies list.
BaTTR Score: 2.75
⏱ Harry Potter – Why this rating?
26. Maanaadu (2021)
Maanaadu is a time-loop film that sees a man heading for a wedding getting caught in a political terror attack. The film is predominantly a thriller with some outstanding elements of comedy in the mix.
BaTTR Score: 2.75
⏱ Maanaadu – Why this rating?
25. A Day / Ha-roo (2017)
A Day is a Korean time-loop film that has a renowned surgeon getting trapped in a loop where he struggles to save his daughter from a repeating accident. As the story progresses, we are introduced more characters and complexity, and finally, the reason for the looping. This Asian film outdoes many of the western productions on this list of best time travel movies. You can read all the details about this film here – A Day Explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.75
⏱ A Day – Why this rating?
24. The Time Machine (1960)
The Time Machine was the first mainstream film adaptation of the book by the same name by the amazing H.G. Wells. The story is about a scientist who narrates his experience of time travel to the future; to the year 802,701. The movie is an excellent adaptation of the book and also adds a good reason to why he lands up in a year so far into the future.
BaTTR Score: 2.75
⏱ The Time Machine (1960) – Why this score?
23. Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)
Edge Of Tomorrow is a multiple-loop movie based on the Japanese book All You Need Is Kill. The film is centred on a soldier (Tom Cruise) fighting an alien race who resets to a day prior every time he is killed. He eventually runs into a Sergeant (Emily Blunt) who states that she too used to loop. Together they take the fight to the alien species. I must say this film is one of the coolest sci-fi flicks on this list of amazing time travel movies. This article here explains the film and its ending while comparing it to the book – Edge Of Tomorrow Explained.
BaTTR Score: 2.85
⏱ Edge Of Tomorrow – Why this rating?
22. Frequency (2000)
Frequency sees a man fiddling around with an old radio, and thanks to the strange occurrence of an aurora borealis, he ends up connecting with his father 30 years in the past.
BaTTR Score: 2.90
⏱ Frequency – Why this rating?
21. Back To The Future: Part 3 (1990)
This is the third and final instalment of the trilogy by Robert Zemekis. Unlike the first two parts, the film takes place mostly in 1885 and has limited connection to the events back in good ol’ 1985. The story follows the lead characters trying to fight it out in the wild west and travelling back to the future one last time. In case you are wondering why is this iconic film scores so low on this best time travel moves list, don’t worry, this is part 3 we’re talking about.
BaTTR Score: 2.90
⏱ Back To The Future 3 – Why this score?
Best Time Travel Movies: 20 to 11
20. Blink (Doctor Who 2007 Episode)
Blink is an exception, it’s not a film but one episode of the series Dr Who. It’s a standalone episode, and you can watch it even if you haven’t seen any part of the show, which is why it’s on this list of best time travel movies. It all begins with one person mysteriously disappearing from a house that has these strange statues called the Weeping Angels.
BaTTR Score: 3.00
⏱ Blink – Why this score?
19. Blood Punch (2015)
This is a splendid thriller which involves time-loops. Blood Punch is centred on three people who head to a lonely hunter’s villa in the woods to cook a ton of meth and get caught in perpetuity. It’s an excellent thriller garnished with just the right amount of humour. The filmmakers have really taken the effort to think the concept in the film through. The whole point about a giant time travel films list is to dig up movies like these. Here’s a detailed analysis of the plot and ending – Blood Punch Explained.
BaTTR Score: 3.00
⏱ Blood Punch – Why this score?
18. Donnie Darko (2001)
Donnie Darko follows a troubled young boy who narrowly escapes an aircraft propeller that comes crashing on to his bed. He’s soon met by a man in a bunny suit who claims to be from the future and says the world is soon going to end. For a detailed breakdown of this film and its timeline diagram, go here – Donnie Darko Explained. Jake Gyllenhaal is so young in this one!
BaTTR Score: 3.00
⏱ Donnie Darko – Why this score?
17. Source Code (2011)
Source code is a multiple time-loop film where Jake Gyllenhaal’s character is trying to catch the bomber responsible for killing hundreds on a train. Before the terrorist strikes again, the government is trying to identify who he is through a cutting edge technology that allows a person to live multiple iterations of the 8 minutes leading up to the explosion on the train. If you would like to read a loopwise explanation and plot analysis, check this out – Source Code Explained.
BaTTR Score: 3.00
⏱ Source Code – Why this score?
16. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006 Anime)
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a 2006 anime is a lovely romantic science-fiction that follows the life of a girl who suddenly gains the ability to jump back in time. While initially, she uses her newfound powers for some frivolous personal reasons, she later learns how she has affected the people around her.
BaTTR Score: 3.10
⏱ The Girl Who Leapt Through Time – Why this score?
15. Deja Vu (2006)
Déjà Vu is a film centred on a cop who’s trying to locate a terrorist responsible for the bombing of a ferry. With the help of a sophisticated surveillance system that can reconstruct events from 4 days prior, the team follows the life of a woman who was onboard the ferry. The film combines the time travel sub-genre well with a crime thriller and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
BaTTR Score: 3.20
⏱ Deja Vu – Why this score?
14. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
I’m pretty sure you’re thinking what a comic book movie is doing a list of the best time travel movies at a spot this high. Well, I can’t say this enough but Avengers: Endgame decided to execute a film based on time travel but had to keep in mind there were 20+ movies prior to it that couldn’t in any way be ruined. So not only did the film have to execute a great story based on time travel, it needed to preserve the prequels. Endgame follows the remaining Avengers trying to bring back all the lives that were lost through an elaborate time heist. For a simplified video of the timelines and the plot analysis, read this – Avengers: Endgame Time Travel Explained.
BaTTR Score: 3.25
⏱ Avengers: Endgame – Why this score?
13. Interstellar (2014)
If you’re a Nolan fan [like me], you’re probably wondering why this film doesn’t feature in the top 5 of this top time travel films list. Well, think about it, would you really call Interstellar a time travel movie? Or is it more a grand space-travel science-fiction with elements of time travel? I’d say the latter. Interstellar is a brilliant film set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans are trying to save themselves by leaving Earth. You can read about the details of the plot and the possible plot-holes here – Interstellar Explained.
BaTTR Score: 3.25
⏱ Interstellar – Why this score?
12. Butterfly Effect (2004)
Butterfly Effect is a concept which talks about how a small insignificant event, like the flap of a butterfly’s wings, can cascade and escalate into a giant storm as a result of causality. The film The Butterfly Effect deals specifically with this idea. The lead character experiences blackouts through his younger life and is somehow able to revisit those very moments and make a change to alter the course of reality.
BaTTR Score: 3.30
⏱ Butterfly Effect – Why the score?
11. Mirage / Durante la tormenta (2018)
Mirage is a Spanish film which combines the sub-genres of a murder mystery and time travel most elegantly. A mysterious storm connects two people 25 years apart in time, and this leads to the unravelling of a murder. For a detailed explanation of the film and its timeline, you can check this out – Mirage Movie Explained.
BaTTR Score: 3.35
⏱ Mirage – Why this score?
Best Time Travel Movies: Top 10
10. Twelve Monkeys (1995)
A lot of the mainstream time travel movies with big actors tend to focus on elements other than the timeline and eventually make a mess of the plot, but not 12 Monkeys. This Bruce Willis starrer is based on a dystopian future where a strain of a powerful mutating virus kills most of humanity. A small team of scientists figure that the only way to fight it is to send someone back in time to locate the original source and strain of the virus. You can read all about it here in good detail – 12 Monkeys Explained. This popular film also spawned a TV Series by the same name with events running parallel to the film.
BaTTR Score: 3.50
⏱ 12 Monkeys – Why this score?
9. The Infinite Man (2014)
Infinite Man is a hidden gem which is centred on a couple celebrating their anniversary and getting caught in a series of time jumps that takes them back by one year. Most lists talking about the awesome time travel movies tend to leave this film out. The tiny-budgeted movie has just three characters and packs quite the punch with both time complexities and humour. Here’s a detailed explanation with a timeline diagram – Infinite Man Explained.
BaTTR Score: 3.50
⏱ The Infinite Man – Why this score?
8. Triangle (2008)
Triangle is a film based on multiple time-loops. A woman and her friends go on a sailing trip and get hit by a storm. Before they drown, they find a cruise ship passing by and get onboard and soon wish they never did. Unlike other time-loop films, Triangle’s loops have an extra dimension of complexity, and this makes it more exciting. Here’s everything you need to know about the movie – Triangle Movie Explained.
BaTTR Score: 3.50
⏱ Triange – Why this score?
7. Tenet (2020)
Christopher Nolan is the father of Nolan-Time. Many of his films portray time in a non-linear format, either as a narrative (Memento) or a plot-element (Inception). Tenet is Nolan sitting down and thinking, “what can I do in the space of time travel which has never been done before” and delivering just that. In a nutshell, the film is about a group that is trying to protect the world from extremists of the far future, but you know that is an oversimplification. So, here’s a simplified explanation of the film with timeline diagrams – Tenet Explained.
BaTTR Score: 3.75
⏱ Tenet – Why this score?
6. Timecrimes / Los Cronocrímenes (2007)
Timecrimes is a Spanish film that follows one man who accidentally stumbles upon a time machine and travels back in time by merely an hour. In this short time window, he makes life quite miserable for himself. It’s a hilarious flick that needs your focus and attention as the consequences of the time travel are quite messy despite the humour. Here’s is a detailed explanation of the film – Timecrimes Explained.
BaTTR Score: 3.75
⏱ Timecrimes – Why this score?
5. Primer (2004)
Made within a shoestring budget of just $7000, Primer gives many mainstream time travel productions a run for their money. Shane Carruth wore multiple hats in this film like actor, producer, director, and music producer. Not only is the film super-complicated, but it also sports one of the most believable time travel mechanics in the sub-genre. Check out the detailed timeline-wise analysis of the film- Primer Movie Explained.
BaTTR Score: 3.80
⏱ Primer – Why this score?
4. Predestination (2014)
Anyone who has just finished watching Predestination has the same look as that of a pigeon with massive digestion issues. Based on the short story All You Zombies by Robert A. Heinlein, Predestination presents a plot focused on packing as many impossible scenarios as a human mind can take within one film. Here’s the timeline diagram and detailed explanation – Predestination Movie Explained. This film is easily the most bizarre film on this list of the great time travel films.
BaTTR Score: 4.00
⏱ Predestination – Why this score?
3. Back To The Future – Part 1 (1985)
This film really raised the bar for all time travel movies. Everything from the characters to the concept of a time machine in a DeLorean makes this film unique to date. The film is a giant bundle of awesomeness and has put a smile on my face each time I’ve watched it since 1985 (yeah, you have to read that in Doc’s voice). We love you Marty McFly, we love you Michael J Fox.
BaTTR Score: 4.30
⏱ Back To The Future 1 – Why this score?
2. Back To The Future – Part 2 (1989)
Not only did the film create a fresh storyline, but it also beautifully layered itself on top of the complexities of the first part. Marty McFly and Doc Brown are forced to go back to the same date in the past (as they did in the first movie) to undo something terrible. For me, this film really took it to the next level for a sequel. Even Avengers: Endgame mentions this film because of how they revisit some of the older MCU movies. It’s iconic and soars up high in this list of the best time travel movies.
BaTTR Score: 4.50
⏱ Back To The Future 2 – Why this score?
1. Kimi No Na Wa / Your Name (2016)
Okay, if you haven’t already watched this film, stop reading now. Knowing even the slightest details about this film can potentially spoil it for you. Please return once you’ve watched this phenomenal film.
Kimi No Na Wa is a Japanese anime directed by Makoto Shinkai. It has one of the most captivating visuals and characters. This film takes creativity in the sub-genre of time travel to the next level. It all begins with some mysterious yet harmless body-switching between two people but a while into the film, it all becomes crazy. If you’re looking for the full explanation with a timeline diagram, go here – Your Name Explained.
BaTTR Score: 4.75
⏱ Your Name – Why this score?
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Barry is a technologist who helps start-ups build successful products. His love for movies and production has led him to write his well-received film explanation and analysis articles to help everyone appreciate the films better. He’s regularly available for a chat conversation on his website and consults on storyboarding from time to time.
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