15 films that get time travel right. A Rare Case Without Broken Logic (16 Photos)
Time Travel. How many times have we dreamed of going back in time to correct a mistake, or peering into the future out of pure curiosity? Cinema offers such an opportunity, and the editors of Collider have compiled a selection of the most beloved films in the subgenre. And it is this adaptation that I present to you today.
Let's take a look at 15 of the best films that truly broke time, stories that still inspire debate and admiration. 
Primer (2004)
Most movies on this topic try not to overwhelm you with the science. But not "Primer." Imagine: two engineers in a garage accidentally build a time machine. And director Shane Carruth, himself a former mathematician and engineer, decided to keep things simple. 
He made a film that works and feels like a real puzzle. Fans still draw complex diagrams and graphs to figure out all the time loops and paradoxes in the plot. This is perhaps the most demanding and scientifically intricate film on our list.
The Terminator (1984)
This list would be incomplete without it. James Cameron's action film is an absolute classic that launched a franchise. The first film is much more grounded and dark than its famous sequel, but it's still a joy to watch today. What makes it so powerful? 
The original idea, the charismatic Linda Hamilton, who transforms from an ordinary waitress into a warrior, and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger. He proved to everyone that he's not just a mountain of muscles, but also an actor capable of creating a frightening and memorable character. The influence of "The Terminator" on cinema is enormous, and that's a fact.
About Time (2013)
Get ready, this is about to get very touching. "About Time" is the most heartfelt film in this list. Director Richard Curtis, the director of "Love Actually," uses a fantastical concept to explore the most ordinary things: life, death, and regret. 
The protagonist can travel through time, but he doesn't save the world. He's trying to build an ideal relationship and live a happy life. However, the plot isn't so much about romance as it is about an incredibly warm and honest family bond. A film that will make you smile and maybe even shed a tear.
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Some say the second part is worse than the first, but that's not true. Director Robert Zemeckis didn't just make a sequel; he achieved the near-impossible: he doubled the complexity. First, we're shown a hilarious future with hoverboards and self-lacing sneakers. 
Then the plot returns us to the events of the first film, but forces us to look at them from a completely different perspective. Marty McFly must fix the future while desperately trying to avoid colliding with his past self. It's a complex screenplay trick that only a truly daring director could pull off.
Idiocracy (2006)
A film that began as a caustic satire and turned into a frighteningly accurate prophecy. Director Mike Judge truly seems to have peered into the future. The plot is simple: an ordinary guy takes part in a military experiment, is frozen for hundreds of years, and wakes up in a world of triumphant idiocy. 
Society has degenerated to the point of insanity, and now he's the smartest man on the planet. The comedic precision with which Judge portrays humanity's dumbing down makes "Idiocracy" eternally relevant. And yes, some of the jokes were much closer to reality than we would have liked.
Looper (2012)
"What would you do if you had to kill your younger self?" Director Rian Johnson built his sci-fi thriller on this pressing question – a story with a powerful moral dilemma that haunts the audience until the very end. 
Johnson brilliantly mixes dynamic scenes with complex ethical questions, forcing the viewer to think along with the characters. A great example of how a fantasy plot can be built entirely on the psychology of the characters.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Yes, this is the best film in the entire franchise (you can argue). And one of the best time travel stories. Director Alfonso Cuarón completely changed the visual style and approach to storytelling, and this can only benefit the series. 
The film has become darker and more mature. The cinematography, the musical themes subtly hinting at time shifts, and the mechanics of the Time-Turner itself—all create a unique atmosphere of wonder and hidden danger. Pure cinematic magic.
Star Trek (2009)
How to reboot a legendary franchise with a huge history without offending existing fans and attracting new ones? J.J. Abrams found a brilliant solution: time travel. A villain from the future alters the past, creating an entirely new timeline. 
This made it possible to show young Kirk and Spock without erasing the original canon. The film turned out to be an incredibly vibrant and captivating adventure that still holds up well years later. One of those rare blockbusters that you want to watch again and again.
12 Monkeys (1995)
Terry Gilliam is a director with a truly unique vision. His "12 Monkeys" is a dark, strange, and slightly bonkers take on time travel. Bruce Willis plays a prisoner from a post-apocalyptic future. He's sent back in time to find the source of a deadly virus that has wiped out humanity. 
Brad Pitt delivers one of the best performances of his career, playing an eccentric mental hospital patient. The film leaves a difficult but unforgettable impression. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely a masterpiece.
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
It's the perfect genre cocktail. Take action star Tom Cruise. Add a strong and charismatic heroine played by Emily Blunt. Season it all with the talent of screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie and the directorial ambition of Doug Liman. The result? "Edge of Tomorrow." The film takes the concept of "Groundhog Day" and cranks it up to the max in an alien invasion setting. 
Each "replay" of the day feels fresh and tense. And the real secret is that Cruise's character starts out as an outright coward, and we witness his painful transformation into a hero. A rare example of a smart and wildly entertaining blockbuster.
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
A mix of sci-fi and teen comedy about two slackers. It sounds dubious, but somehow it works. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter play two friends who fail a history report. A visitor from the future arrives to their aid and gifts them a time machine so they can meet historical figures in person. 
The film is incredibly silly, but it's made with such genuine love for its characters that it's impossible not to fall in love. Lots of great jokes and George Carlin's iconic performance.
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Technically, this is also a time travel film, although audiences don't realize that until the very end. An astronaut played by Charlton Heston thought he'd landed on a distant planet where a civilization of apes had enslaved humans. But a shocking ending changes everything. 
He finds himself not in another world, but in Earth's distant future. The film is full of poignant social subtext and boasts one of the best soundtracks in cinema history. But it's the final twist, one of the most famous endings in history, that makes it an absolute classic.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
James Cameron doesn't make run-of-the-mill sequels. "Judgment Day" is a film on a completely different scale than the first "Terminator." It features elements of comedy, family drama, and even a story about Sarah Connor's post-traumatic stress disorder. 
The film turns the original concept on its head: now the cyborg assassin becomes a protector. Almost everything is perfect: from the revolutionary special effects to the deep story.
Groundhog Day (1993)
Bill Murray and director Harold Ramis are said to have clashed constantly on set. Murray wanted more philosophy and drama, Ramis wanted more comedy. It was at the intersection of these two approaches that this masterpiece was born. The film is hilariously funny, yet surprisingly profound and sad. 
He's not afraid to talk about the loneliness and despair of a person stuck in an endless repetition of the same day. It's a timeless classic, without any "buts."
Back to the Future (1985)
But nothing compares to Back to the Future. Director Robert Zemeckis took a simple, relatable idea: we'll never truly know what our parents were like when we were our age. And from that, he crafted a grand, witty, and gripping story. Considering all the production difficulties (like replacing the lead actor mid-shoot), it's a miracle the film turned out so perfectly. 
Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson—the cast is impeccable. This is a funny, original, and inventive film that speaks to universal themes.
