Wanna go back in time? Live through these time travel movies
Everyone thought that 2021 was going to save us all from the hell of 2020. Well, we’re two weeks into this new year and things are not faring much better. At the moment, it seems folks are bingeing movies based on time travel as a means of escapism. We get it. We really do.
The concept of time travel is actually something that Hollywood has explored extensively. For decades movies made about this very issue have done really well at the box office and remain film favorites among viewers. Additionally, time travel films span a whole variety of genres from comedy all the way through to suspense and drama.
With so many options to choose from, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite time travel movies of all time. Come with us as we journey through this collection of great films!
Back to the Future I, II & III
Is there anyone alive on planet earth that has not seen this iconic movie franchise? We sure hope not! The first Back to the Future film was the highest-grossing film of 1985. Starring Michael J. Fox as the wayward teen Marty McFly, and the legendary Christopher Lloyd as the mad scientist Doc, Back to the Future catapults Marty & Doc back in time to 1955.
They get caught up in all kinds of drama, that if they don’t get out of, they could erase their futures entirely.
Without a doubt, Back to the Future II is the best of all the three films. In this film, we see the pair shoot into the future to the year 2015. It’s definitely the futuristic themes captured here that make this film so great. The flying cars, the hoverboards, and the well-designed sets are a delight to watch.
Time Traveler’s Wife
Released in 2009, The Time Traveler’s Wife stars Eric Bana & Rachel McAdams. Based on the wildly successful novel by Audrey Niffenegger, this story follows Henry (Eric Bana), a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to spontaneously travel through time as he tries to build a relationship with a lovely lady called Claire (Rachel McAdams).
While she eventually does become his wife, their relationship is not without complications caused by Henry’s random time-traveling problem. This one has it all: romance, angst, laughter, and lots & lots of tears.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Directed by Stephen Herek, this film was an absolute smash hit. Starring Keanu Reeves & Alex Winter, in 1989, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure made $40 million at the box office. It follows a couple of airhead teenagers, Bill (Alex Winter) & Ted (Keanu Reeves) as they travel through time to collect historical figures for a class project.
Reeves & Winter were praised highly for their work on this film. Critics felt their goofy & playful natures made excellent comedic entertainment. The actors returned to their characters in 1991 for Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, and again more recently in 2020 for Bill & Ted Face The Music, which has yet to be released.
The Terminator
This is another one we’re pretty sure everyone has seen, but it definitely earned its place on this list. Released in 1984 and directed by the legendary James Cameron, The Terminator was another time-traveling smash hit. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, he plays a cyborg that is sent back in time from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton).
The film was so popular it has now become quite an epic franchise. There are currently six films in total, as well as several other media adaptations, including an episodic television release.
The Lake House
Released in 2006, The Lake House stars Keanu Reeves & Sandra Bullock in this heart wrenching romantic drama. Dr. Kate Forster (Sandra Bullock) occupies a Lake House in 2004. Architect Alex Wyler (Keanu Reeves) occupied the same house two years prior. In a weird twist of time traveling fate, the pair are able to send letters to each other through the house’s mailbox, and so their relationship begins.
This film made a lot of money. By October of 2006, The Lake House had grossed $114,830,111.
Idiocracy
Considered a science fiction comedy, Idiocracy was released in 2006 and directed by Mike Judge. Starring Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard & Luke Wilson, Idiocracy is the story of an American soldier who participates in a classified military hibernation experiment. Accidentally, the soldier is frozen for way too long and wakes up 500 years in the future.
Although it’s a comedy, Idiocracy is clearly a comment on the decline of the human race in both intellectual & humanitarian aspects. It was well-received worldwide and critics felt it was an accurate commentary on the future of American society.
