Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of The Adam Project, we’re counting down our favorite time travel movies! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
Being a teenager can be an isolating experience all in itself without having the notion of impending doom looming over one’s head. Donnie Darko is a drama/mystery/sci-fi film written and directed by Richard Kelly. During one of Donnie’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) many sleepwalking episodes, he is given some alarming news by his new imaginary bunny costumed friend Frank — that the world will be ending in just under a month. The film does an excellent job of capturing the late ‘80s, post-Reagan era American suburbs with its setting, soundtrack and dialog. Where the film really excels is showing the loneliness and isolation that Donnie feels; he is a character that challenges the norm within his small town. He is able to see the shades of gray despite those around him trying to devolve life’s experiences into binary statements. He is described as troubled by most, but he really just comes off as more thoughtful than those around him and thinks deeper about existence as a whole. The time travel aspects of this film are uniquely done with minimal, but effective visual effects. To get a better grasp of the rules of said time travel, it is suggested to pick up the director’s cut of this film. Even when dealing with such heavy subject matter, the film still finds time to sneak in some clever and funny moments for some much needed levity. Donnie Darko is an unconventional time travel film that may take additional viewings to truly appreciate its vision. (Joe Vargas)
A Japanese animated film, Mirai’s claim to fame is the fact that it wasn’t produced by the iconic Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, but director Mamuro Hosada’s Studio Chizu. Its nomination in 2018 made it the first Japanese animated film to be put up for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars that was not a product of Ghibli’s. It follows a young boy (Kun) who comes across a magical garden in the family’s home which enables him to travel through time and meet his relatives. Guiding him on this trip is an older version of his baby sister, Mirai. The film’s title doubles not only as the baby’s name, but the word for future, too. This was my introduction to Hosada as a director, who also directed the recently released Belle. As both writer and director, much of how well this film works has to be a credit to him. The story is unique, and it’s brought to life with some creatively animated sequences. What really stands out about Mirai is the charm. The entire 98 minutes is just bursting with it. It’s hard not to smile pretty much all the way through. (Jake Bourgeois)
Crossover event movies are more and more popular, especially with comic book movies. When the X-Men decided to do a crossover movie with the older franchise and the newer franchise with one of the greatest modern X-Men comic book stories, X-Men: Days of Future Past, I WAS IN. It was amazing to see most of the original cast back, particularly Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, and Ian McKellan’s Magneto. To see Wolverine interact with heavy hitters in the new franchise was a treat. James McAvoy’s second go-around as a damaged and defeated Professor X in the past was heartbreaking to watch. McAvoy goes out of his way to showcase just how far off the deep end Professor X goes after the events of X-Men: First Class. In addition to McAvoy, Michael Fassbender’s Magneto (arguably the role that is on-par, if not slightly better than the original performance) continues to showcase why he’s the most interesting character in the X-Men universe. You empathize with him even if you don’t agree with his tactics. The performances alone plus the stakes the time travel has (to undo a terrible future for all mutants) is what makes X-Men: Days of Future Past one of the best time travel movies of all time. Plus, who wasn’t in awe of that Quicksilver “Time In A Bottle” scene at the Pentagon? Go ahead, I’ll wait. (Mike Hilty)
Time travel movies on average can either be made or broken with the way that time travel is implemented. For every Back to the Future, which gets it mostly right, you get a Terminator Genisys, which gets it so wrong your head starts to hurt just thinking about how those time traveling robots were always covering up their damn tracks! Every now and then, though, you get a movie where the time travel is a little wonky and falls apart almost immediately, given a modicum of thought, but is just so compelling and entertaining that you don’t care. For me, that movie is Rian Johnson’s Looper. As soon as I shut down the part of my brain that tries to make sense of the time travel element, I have such a blast watching Looper. It has a great story that takes place in a world that feels so completely lived in and thought out. This is a movie I could see a cinematic universe spawning from because it’s so rich with ideas. It is my belief that Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers an outstanding performance simply because he manages to make me forget that I’m watching him perform with the most baffling make-up/CGI decisions put to film. Looper is also a testament to Emily Blunt’s brilliance, as I always forget she doesn’t show up until an hour into the movie, yet it is her inclusion that I always think of first when I reflect on the story. This movie will live or die based on how likely you can ignore the time travel paradoxes that happen throughout, but if you give it a chance, I think you will agree that this might be the best time travel movie with the worst time travel. (Nick Ferro)
A subtle and beautiful take on time travel, Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris features a more grounded look at the concept. It’s told through the perspective of Gil (Owen Wilson), a man stuck in a loveless relationship who, like me, is in love with the Roaring ‘20s. The time travel here is fixed – Gil can only travel to and from the 1920s in a single night, and making the most of it is key. This is a sandbox I would absolutely love to play in, and so Midnight in Paris was, in a way, wish fulfillment. This was my first Allen film, and what a movie to start with. The romanticism of Paris and the 1920s combined with the incredibly well-shot atmosphere and tight storytelling make for a wonderful film about living in the moment, appreciating where you are, and loving the time you have. Midnight in Paris is a modern classic, enhanced by its stunning cast (including Tom Hiddleston, Corey Stoll, Adrien Brody, Kathy Bates as famous figures from the past) and message that resonates for us all. (Rowan Wood)
“So Back to the Future was a bunch of bullshit?” After the cataclysmic events of Infinity War, the world is ravaged, half of the population is gone, and the remaining Avengers don’t have anything to fight for. They’re broken and separated, but when they find out there’s a sliver of hope, they jump for the opportunity. With the help of Tony Stark, the team goes back in time, retrieves the stones, and brings everyone back. It’s not an easy feat, trying to understand the Quantum Realm and time travel (turning Scott Lang to a baby at one point). Losing one of the stones to a familiar villain (hello Loki) creates alternate realities, the loss of an old friend, and the return of past Thanos. When past Thanos finds out what the heroes are doing, thanks to future Nebula, he tries to kill their chance for another shot. It’s time for assembling the returning Avengers versus the past Thanos to keep the titan from getting his hands on the gauntlet to reverse again. The fight is one for the ages as there isn’t one like it. We’re rooting for Earth’s mightiest heroes to come out on top and finally aim for the head. It’s a bittersweet ending as past Thanos and his army are wiped from the universe, thanks to Iron Man. Everything’s going back to normal, and everyone has to live through their loss, grief and finding ways to move on. The band isn’t getting back together, but it’s okay. The original Avengers can finally rest. The new kids will take over. (Chantal Ashford)
Everyone was so impressed with Hans Zimmer’s use of a ticking clock across the entire score for Dunkirk, but you know who did it first?! That’s right — Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban did. During the film’s third act, we experience not one, but two time travel instances, whereby Harry and (his much more intelligent counterpart) Hermione travel back in time to save a magical creature and a godfather. In that third act, there’s a very clever use of sound, where a ticking can subtly be heard throughout. It’s elements like these is why this is arguably the best of the Harry Potter films; director Alfonso Cuaron creates a reimagined world of the wizarding school that starts to illustrate the personalities and the realities of our heroes in the most realistic way possible. Enticing, exciting, thrilling, and highly rewatchable, if you haven’t yet seen this installment – you honestly have no excuse! (Alice-Ginevra Micheli)
It’s hard to live up to a legacy. Star Trek has been around in some form or another since 1966, giving us a lot to build upon. But after five television shows and 10 films, the franchise took on new life as it rebooted everything, while still cherishing everything that had come before it. Star Trek, released in 2009, perfectly executed a time travel story that created a divergent split timeline leaving all of the classic stories intact while allowing for a whole new world of new adventures. Though the trademark lens flare of director J.J. Abrams can be a bit much at times, the brilliant score by Michael Giacchino, mind blowing special effects, and smart script solidified this as an instant success. The movie also boasts some of the best ensemble casting and performances you’ll ever see with talents like Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, the great Leonard Nimoy, and so many more. Star Trek is charming, witty, and endlessly entertaining. It’s a high recommendation not just for fans of Star Trek, but any fans of time travel films, sci-fi films, or even action films in general. (Heath Lynch)
If you could, would you change the past? Bruce Willis’ James Cole is a prisoner, but is given one great opportunity to change his fortunes: go to the past, find the source of a world changing virus, and DON’T change things. Terry Gilliam brings the crazy future and past to life in this mind-bending and reality morphing science fiction classic, 12 Monkeys. But when Cole makes his way back, he is a bit… unhinged. Willis gives one of his most raw, emotionally charged performances in his career, but he is outdone by the truly manic and chaotic might of Brad Pitt. Great performances, a compelling narrative full of mystery and twists, and an odd and unnerving romance fill out the meat of Gilliam’s masterwork. You will never mistake this for another director’s film, nor will there ever be a world quite like the ravaged one on display in 12 Monkeys. (Shane Conto)
Every time I watch Terminator 2, I find myself wondering if this could be the single most thrilling experience ever put to film. Nowadays, people like to rag on James Cameron for his obsessive need to one-up his own technological accomplishments or his relentless commitment to the Avatar sequels, but there is no denying that the man is an absolutely phenomenal filmmaker. Terminator 2 contains some of the most jaw-dropping action set pieces you will ever see, but it sets itself apart from other action thrillers of its kind through its unexpected humor and heart. The film perfectly delivers the action and science-fiction spectacle promised by its premise, while providing you with no less than three expertly developed and emotionally nuanced characters, and one of the greatest villains of all time with Robert Patrick’s T-1000. A one-paragraph entry could not possibly capture the technical mastery on display, nor could it adequately convey the sheer delight I experience when watching this film. There are very few movies I would call perfect, but Terminator 2 is one of them. (Foster Harlfinger)
EDITORS NOTE: Yes, we realize Back To The Future should have been on this list. It is an error on our end through the film claiming process that has not had any significant effect up until now. We’ve started conversations on how to correct this and will make sure we give these lists the acclaim they deserve.
Back to the Future Part II
In terms of best sequels of all time, Back to the Future Part II is high on that list. The previous movie sets up the basis for this sequel. There is trouble in the future and only Doc and Marty can save the day. This movie continues the story of Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), who must travel to the future to save Marty’s future kids, and along the way Marty, as always, gets into some trouble. Robert Zemeckis ramps up this sequel to 88 miles per hour and takes us to 2015, a world with wondrous futuristic technology, some we actually got and a lot we are still wishing we could have. Alan Silvestri’s score is phenomenal and is just as iconic as ever. The special effects still hold up and look good after over 30 years and is a high recommendation to anyone if you love Back to the Future and if you love time travel movies. (Austen Terry)
About Time
On a list that is truly filled with exceptional films, About Time was the first movie featuring time travel that popped into my head, and for a really simple reason really. It’s not only a fantastic film; it also happens to possibly be my favorite movie of all time. Directed by romantic film legend Richard Curtis, About Time follows Tim (Domhnall Gleeson in a wonderful early role) as he navigates his young adult life. But he has one distinct difference from those around him: he can travel in time. I think the reason why the movie stood out to me upon initial watch, and stuck ever since, is largely due to the unique relationship the film creates between Tim and his time travel ability. His use of the power matures as he matures and understands what makes the ability so incredible. Instead of using the ability in a bombastic sort of way like we often see in other films, here we see it used in an everyday setting. It’s used in such a way to allow Tim to experience multiple perspectives and to learn and grow. And by the end of the film, his understanding of how to use the power has been fully realized. It’s a beautiful interpretation of the concept. Time travel aside, the film also features Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, and a whole host of other talents that just make the movie heartfelt, hilarious, and memorable. It beautifully captures love and loss in such a way that I have rarely seen in film. I cannot recommend this movie more. (Nashua Doll)
Deadpool 2
Would I normally think of Deadpool 2 as a time travel movie? No. But that’s because I’ve had the wrong perspective for the last couple of years. Think of it this way: we believe the movie is about Deadpool. Change the angle. It’s actually about Cable. The time-hopping mercenary with a big silver arm and a voice that sounds very similar to a particularly evil space grape is the real protagonist here. He goes back in time with the intent of killing the man responsible for his family’s demise. In the end he helps save a troubled young man from becoming an absolute monster. That’s a great arc if I’ve ever seen one. Plus we get a deep cast with the likes of Josh Brolin, Ryan Reynolds, and Zazie Beetz. Mix that in with a killer soundtrack and some timeline-altering decisions by Deadpool in the credits, and we’ve got ourselves a reasonable time travel movie. Plus Cable makes a nice crack to the Merc with a Mouth about how our generation “f***ed this planet into a coma.” Because what’s a movie nowadays if we don’t get a reminder of the terrible things that we’ve done to our world? It’s not the time travel movie we need. But it’s the one our messed up society deserves. (Sorry, I’m still in a Batman mood after the new Caped Crusader release last week.) (Samuel Nichols)
Predestination
In my opinion, there are three kinds of movies about time travel. There are movies where time travel is used as a plot point to restore some great failing, there are movies where time travel is used as part of the setting to tell a story that requires its concept, and there are movies where time travel is used to try to get your brain in such a jumble that you can’t even really be sure that what you’re watching makes any sense at all. Predestination is a film that teeters between the latter two, with its plot being a much more interesting version of something like TimeCop, but its execution leaning towards an enormous amount of reveals and plot twists and metaphysical concepts. It’s one of those films that defies explanation, especially since it really needs to be seen blind to be at its most effective. Suffice it to say that if you enjoy sci-fi for its ability to make you scratch yourself behind the head, going “whaaaat?”, Predestination should be on your watchlist. (Chris Bakker)
Last Night in Soho
Okay, let’s get something out of the way first — Last NIght in Soho, as brilliant as it might be is definitely not your traditional time travel movie, as the film itself plays a bit fast and loose with the concept. Yes, you can argue our main heroine isn’t time traveling and she only has dreams or visions that transport her back into the ‘60s. Sure, but how do you explain the scars and injuries…? But that is yet another layer of brilliance I admired about Edgar Wright’s direction. He sets rules just loose enough for them to make some resemblance of sense, but ultimately, he isn’t interested in answering that question, so he moves on. Because Last Night in Soho isn’t about time traveling per se; it’s more about looking back through nostalgia-colored glasses, just for him to shatter the glasses of your face quickly. It’s a great response to “everything used to be so much better when I was growing up” crowd. It rallies against fetishizing a decade or, generally, the past without looking at it critically (“I was SO born into a wrong decade/century” people, I am looking at you), and yet providing a great platform for two superb, young actresses — Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy. As you can (hopefully) tell, I love this movie and I can’t wait to rewatch it. Because as with any other films made by Edgar Wright, I am sure I’ve missed a lot of tiny details scattered throughout it. By the way, this might also be one of the few films I’d recommend for you to watch a trailer for, as it gives you just enough information for you to get excited about the film, but you will still be surprised once you see it. (Luke Burian)
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Zack Snyder’s Justice League may not be the first movie that comes to mind when you think of time travel movies, but one of the film’s emotional cores comes from the Flash (Ezra Miller) tampering with time to save the rest of the Justice League, as well as prove to himself, and eventually his father, the things that he is capable of. This moment is not only the most visually arresting of the entire film, but it is also the crux on which the entire arc rests. With Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman each appearing in their own smaller films, Flash finally gets a chance to shine in this DCEU, and he takes that chance and runs with it. There are a lot of things I love about this film, but the arc of this character and what he can do is right in the middle of all of it. (Robert Bouffard)
Army of Darkness
When I was looking at the list of possibilities for the BEC and saw that Army of Darkness was on the list, I had only one thought: groovy. Now, if you were to open the dictionary and look up the definition of camp, next to it would just be to see the entire Evil Dead franchise, because this movie is like it’s brethren: over-the-top insane and downright hilarious for it. It’s a technique hard to nail down, but the makers of this movie, Bruce Campbell specifically, have managed to speak it as if it were their first language. It’s over the top in all the right ways, downright hilarious, and filled with some great one-liners that I will be putting into my lexicon the first chance I get. It may not be a truly epic movie, but you cannot not have a truly phenomenal time watching this one. (Joseph Davis)
Primer
The internet has debated hard over this movie since it’s release. If you are looking for an easy watch, something you can switch off to, then Primer is not for you. I can’t explain enough how you really need to be alert when you see this, as it is probably one of the most complex thought experiments put to film. Within a group of entrepreneurs, two of them develop a device that enables them to travel back in time a few hours. Keeping it a secret from their colleagues (and everyone else) they enter the device, and thus the endless looping begins. With two in the past and two in the present, they aim to manipulate the stock market by having their future selves know what happened in the day’s trading. Primer is a fantastic indie film and deserves your attention, but beware you will probably be doing some homework afterwards to understand what you just saw. (Adam Ritchie)
Flight of the Navigator
It’s strange to think that Flight of the Navigator is a Disney film because there is such a dark and slightly creepy tone that you don’t expect from that studio. To put you in the shoes of the main character, David (Joey Cramer), imagine being a 12-year-old walking home to find strangers living in your house, and with no idea where your own family is. That’s already a frightening thought, but it becomes all the more so when you discover you’ve been missing for eight years and everyone you knew is now much older than you remember them; everyone… except you! That’s the next turn the story takes as they try to work out why David is still the same age. Then in the second half, things take a much more kid-friendly turn with David making an escape, discovering the alien ship that apparently abducted him and flying it around. Everything about the ship and the AI controlling it, named Max (Paul Reubens), is just SO COOL, and the CGI effects are pretty good for 1986. The second half doesn’t have much in the way of a story. It felt like just a fun ride (literally) in an alien ship with Max as comic relief. The darker, scarier tone of the first half and the fun of the second half mesh well overall. (John Tillyard)
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
For my money, there exists no greater moment of pure, impassioned joy in cinema than when Ludwig van Beethoven is introduced to an electric keyboard at a San Dimas, California mall in 1989. His laughter and expression of amazement perfectly illustrates how I feel every time I watch Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. That scene that finds the admired German composer completely out of his element is indicative of a film that has the most fun with the concept of time travel. That isn’t to say there aren’t stakes in the narrative. Should the stars of the movie, Bill S. Preston Esquire and “Ted” Theodore Logan, fail to pass their history class, Ted’s father will make good on his promise to ship Ted to an Alaskan military school, effectively ending Bill and Ted’s fledgling garage band, Wyld Stallyns, irreparably altering the future history of humanity’s utopian society built on the foundation of their music. Have you ever read a more delightfully absurd springboard for a time travel adventure of excellent proportions? Tasked with making sure that their final history report is something really special, Bill and Ted are gifted an iconic phone booth time machine that they use to embark on a journey through the circuits of history to collect historical figures to aid in their final academic presentation. Starring Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Napoleon, Billy The Kid, Joan of Arc, Sigmund Freud, Beethoven, Genghis Khan, Abraham Lincoln, Socrates, and George Carlin, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure is the story of two great gentlemen, dedicated to a proposition which was true in the time of our Founding Fathers, just as it is true today: Be excellent to each other, and… PARTY ON, DUDES! (Jonathan Fedee)
Also See: Déjà vu, Safety Not Guaranteed, Planet of the Apes, Superman: The Movie
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