5 Most Mind-Blowing Time Travel Movies, Ranked
These sci-fi stories each present a rather unique take on the time travel concept, along with some compelling storytelling.
The subject of time travel is a tricky one, so it is quite a difficult task to give it a fresh spin without getting caught up in contradictions.
While some of the movies took a more lighthearted approach, like the Back to the Future trilogy, others turned into a complete mess, like almost all of the Terminator movies after the second installment.
These five movies, however, managed to present a unique take on the subject and deliver a compelling story in the process.
5. Edge of Tomorrow ( 2014)
This big screen adaptation of the Japanese novel All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka combines two unlikely concepts: a time loop and an alien invasion.
After getting stuck reliving a single day, Major William Cage, portrayed by Tom Cruise, must find a way to defeat aliens who have the ability to manipulate time itself in their favor.
4. Donnie Darko (2001)
This strange story begins with teenager Donnie Darko, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, learning about the imminent end of the world from a guy in a creepy rabbit costume named Frank.
And it only gets weirder as the plot unravels, creating a story of parallel timelines with a menacing undercurrent throughout the movie.
3. Source Code (2011)
Jake Gyllenhaal is back on our list with this unique take on the time-loop concept. He portrays U.S. Army pilot Captain Colter, who must find the person responsible for a terrorist attack by reliving the moments before the explosion.
With only eight minutes at his disposal, he must play an intense game of cat and mouse to complete the mission.
2. 12 Monkeys (1995)
This gritty story starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt follows a prisoner named James Cole (Willis) who is sent back in time from 2035 to prevent a deadly virus from killing 99% of humanity.
With a great character arc and solid performances, especially from Pitt, whose portrayal of a mentally ill man is quite different from his other work, it is definitely worth your time.
1. Predestination (2014)
The most mind-blowing movie on our list, this adaptation of the short story All You Zombies by Robert A. Heinlein cleverly uses a certain time paradox to create a complex and compelling story.
Starring Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook, the plot follows a time-traveling agent in pursuit of an elusive terrorist.
Further details would only spoil the movie's many plot twists, so we encourage you to give it a try if you haven't already.