Top 10 Time Travel Movies

Time Travel Movies

Time travel is a theme often explored in cinema, it can show us visions of the future or mistakes of the past. In this list I count down my personal ten favorites of all time.

#10 Primer (2004)   (7/10)

This is one of those 'Marmite' films that you either love or hate, for me it was the first option. I find this astounding as the film was only made on a budget of seven thousand dollars, and because of this low budget it proves that you don't need cash to produce an excellent film, it really doesn't need to be expensive, you get a far better message out of this film than 'Titanic', and comparing them is almost embarrassing. The whole premise behind the film is that time travel is accidentally discovered, and the film then guides you through various moral and technical dilemmas surrounding this topic. This is a very original topic, it's a sci-fi subject that hasn't really been played with that much, and that's probably because it confuses the hell out of people, but 'Primer' shows that it really can work wonders on a miniscule budget.

The reason people maybe dislike this film is almost certainly down to the complexity of the jargon filled plot. I was made to feel alienated by the complex dialogue on more than one occasion and half the time it never makes any sense, but it still manages to carry the message throughout the film, and the viewer should always have some kind of a feel for what is happening. I guess part of the charm for this film is that it treats you like an idiot, and I rather enjoy that. If realism is your thing then this film is definitely for you, but it really isn't for everybody, hence why it's so low on this list. 

#9 Groundhog Day (1993)   (7/10)

This is one of those films that the more you watch it, the more you appreciate the work that went into it. I never used to like this film, but looking back now I realise that I was probably being a bit of a stuck up moron. It tells the story of a man who finds himself stuck in a time loop and keeps reliving the same day over and over again, that day of course being Groundhog Day. It really is quite a well constructed comedy, which is a difficult thing to achieve, just by looking at my hall of fame, which is at the bottom of the page, you can see that there are very few comedies. The film is both witty and clever, and the jokes are well thought through and never overstep the mark, it really comes from a second viewing that you can really appreciate the gags, that combine with the well executed and intriguing storyline.

The star performer definitely has to be Bill Murray, he really does carry this film from start to finish and plays an exceptional and memorable role. This mainly comes at a surprise, the idea of Bill Murray in a comedy just doesn't entice me, but his role was very well played and it stands out over the other performances, not that they were in any way bad. The thing I like most though is the way the film handles serious and potentially very dark situations, the notion of suicide is toyed with on more than one occasion, but the film takes these themes and throws them out the window, creating an experience in which there is never a depressing moment, and that takes a lot of skill to perfect.

#8 Looper (2012)   (7/10)

This was a surprise, mainly because looking at both the poster and the cast you instantly get an idea of what this is about, but it really isn't. It tells the story of a future world in 2074 where time travel is discovered but then immediately outlawed, but criminal organizations still use it illegally to murder people in the past and stop them from ever existing. My hopes instantly rose on seeing that as it is a very original and clever plot, something that a good film can be built from. It definitely isn't flawless but it is executed in a solid yet complex way that creates a compelling experience that doesn't shy away from fancy explosives and special effects, but still keeping the plot as the main focus.

Never a dull moment, this film runs at 100mph from start to finish, whilst still managing to never feel rushed. I will say that I did enjoy this complex plot a lot more than 'Inception', that just made my brain hurt to a point of mere frustration, but 'Looper' manages to hurt your brain whilst still being exciting, and never frustrating. It really does present time travel in an effective manner, and watching it is a great experience.

#7 Donnie Darko (2001)   (7/10)

Donnie Darko is a man who seeks many answers in his life, but mainly from the dreams he keeps getting about visions of the apocalypse from a demonic rabbit. I would usually hate that idea instantly, films about visions and dreams often seem pointless to me, but somehow this one slipped through. For once a dreamy film actually has some serious points to convey, and these are put across very effectively by blending them with a intricate sci-fi inspired plot. It substitutes action for a well thought through film and the climaxes come through the intelligent plot and attention to minor details rather than through millions of pointless explosions, which is always nice to see.

Just one thing ruins this for me, and it is a rather big thing, the ending is just such an anticlimax, it really does leave a sour taste in my mouth. Up to that point the plot had taken me on a great journey, twisting and turning through every scene, and then it just fell apart at the crucial moment with a confusing and ultimately frustrating ending that serves no purpose, it ends up leaving me feeling more confused as to when I started. Apart from that though it's a solid film.

#6 The Time Machine (1960)   (7/10)

This is the original time travel movie really, a historic moment for not only literature but also cinema as well. I don't really have anything else to say, this is genesis, the whole concept of time travel is modeled around this film, in fact so is all dystopian literature, and as you can see by my hall of fame and other entries on this list I am very grateful for that. I just recommend watching it, more of an experience than anything else, but also for its historical value.

#5 The Butterfly Effect (2004)   (7/10)

I just can't help but put this so high up on my list, I want to hate it, and I know I really should, but I just can't help but like it. Endlessly repeating to myself that Ashton Kutcher has a presence in this film is still not enough for me to put it down, maybe because for once he actually gives a wholesome and well rounded performance that I can't help but admire. It tells the story of a young lad who can travel back in time and change small things about his life, these of course spiral out of control and soon his life is a disturbing mess. I want to hate that plot, there's nothing particularly clever about it but I just found myself really intrigued by this concept, the film is far from perfect but I was engaged until the very end.

Why this happened is still a mystery, there's no sense of genre throughout the whole thing, the film has a technical quality that rivals crap and it's dumbed down like a children's book, but yet it somehow still manages to keep its charm and inevitably impresses me. I find it sort of a better made 'Final Destination' and I think that's mainly why I enjoy it so much.

#4 Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)   (8/10)

This is in my opinion the better of the two Bill & Ted films, their first adventure was 'excellent' and this one is probably even better. The whimsical storyline in this one is that an evil tyrant in the future creates clones of Bill and Ted so to try and kill them. I will admit that I do enjoy a good light hearted plot, and this film gets the perfect balance between being totally ridiculous but not so much that it becomes stupid, there are many scenes that really will make you chuckle. This ability to make the viewer laugh comes from the original and well crafted jokes that are used and expertly applied in what is an entertaining film from start to finish.

But what tops it all off for me is the amazing soundtrack that comes with it, I can't think of any film like it that has a soundtrack this good. It features big hits from huge names such as 'Megadeth' and 'Kiss' and this is capped off with 'God Gave Rock & Roll To You' which is a brilliant song and fits this film perfectly. This is just some good fun topped off with an element of murder, an excellent combination.

#3 Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)   (9/10)

This might be the most awesome film out there, and the movie fanboy inside of me gets an erection just thinking about it. The film follows Arnold Schwarzenegger as he hunts down a new improved Terminator that is attempting to kill Sarah Connor and her son. That is already an awesome plot, and this is only improved by the screen presence of Schwarzenegger and just how bad ass the new villain is, the T1000. The T1000 must go down as one of the best villains in the history of cinema, mainly because of how fucking awesome he is, but also because of the fight scene at the end. I really can't think of a better action sequence than the climax in this, it really must be seen to be believed, and it is only improved by the amazing work that has been put into visuals, it looks and feels stunning.

But this is different to the usual action blockbuster, this one actually has an intelligent and thought through plot to back up the visual effects, this time explosions actually happen for a reason and this results in Arnie not being some super soldier anymore and actually has to outwit the opponent, this means that for once we get a film that is exciting from start to finish. The mature plot means that we actually get a high paced thriller that doesn't bore the viewer and we end up with an epic hero versus villain battle that lives long in the memory. Schwarzenegger and Cameron are just a recipe for success, and this might be the most intense film of all time.

#2 Back to The Future (1985)   (9/10)

You may be surprised as to why this doesn't take the top spot, after all it is the most time travel orientated film on the list, to everyone this is the epitome of time travel. It tells the story of a young Marty McFly who travels back in time to meet his parents, but then mistakenly becomes his mother's lover. That plot instantly makes this a classic film, it's such a great idea for a storyline and it really is executed brilliantly. But this film isn't all originality, it has a fantastic mix of comedy and action shots that never leave you feeling disappointed, it just feels like the classic 1980's film, and that really isn't such bad thing.

It also has an excellent soundtrack. Huey Lewis absolutely owns this film and the music fits the genre to perfection to create what is an iconic soundtrack. In fact 'iconic' is the word I would use to describe the whole film, just everything from the DeLorean to the character development is absolutely timeless. It's just a charming classic that can be considered one of the all time greats, it's just impossible to hate. 

#1 Planet of The Apes (1968)   (9/10)

Probably not what you were expecting, but this film uses time travel in an original and very clever way, and in doing so makes it a much more effective component than the other films on this list. It just has a much more intelligent and well worked plot than the others on this list. The story is that a group of astronauts crash land on a planet which is inhabited by a dominant species of sentient apes. Of course this inevitably leads to one of the greatest climaxes in the history of cinema, all through the power of time travel. That is why I ranked this number one, time travel may be used extensively in the others but it has nowhere near as greater effect as it does in this film, here time travel is given a much more significant role and it creates an epic experience.

The rest of the film, whilst not perfect, must at least be considered a classic. The apes become intriguing villains, and their chemistry with protagonist Charlton Heston is legendary. In fact Heston really carries this film, he takes yet another film that was originally only a 'good' and promotes it into the 'great' category, with his usual outstanding performance. The rest of the film is everything I like, a very well paced and mature plot that sticks to the genre at all times, but nothing can really beat that amazing climax.