5 time travel movies that will take you on the best trip of your life

Do you ever wish you could go back in time and change the past? Time travel has fascinated mankind for centuries now and the movies based on them engross us with plotlines that go back and forward. Watching the characters either right their wrongs or make matters worse when messing with time, truly makes us think. Whether good or bad, these films have made us believe that anything and everything is possible, at least in theory. 

Below are some of the best films about time travel. You can either watch it in the present or in the future.  

Back to the Future (1985)

Let’s begin with the most-iconic time travel franchise ever made. What could possibly go wrong when a teen and a scientist travel back 30 years using a time machine? A lot we’d say. Marty (Michael J. Fox) is accidentally sent into the past by Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and he has to not only get back to the future but also play matchmaker to his to-be parents so that he isn’t wiped out of existence. This set the tone for two more Back to the Future movies (part 2 released in 1989 and part 3 in 1990) as well as the inspiration for every single movie based on time travel that followed. 

The Terminator (1984)

We’ve got robots, time travel, and an Arnold Schwarzenegger unleashing hell in an all-time classic action movie. This film truly had everything going for itself. As far as the plot goes, this was about a robot (Schwarzenegger) sent back in time to kill the mother (Linda Hamilton) of humankind’s future saviour. The only thing standing in his way is a kid named Kyle (Michael Biehn). What follows is an intriguing tale of cat and mouse featuring action sequences from the 80s that will bring you to the edge of your seat. No prizes for guessing that The Terminator packs a punch and how even today. 

Primer (2004)

It’s a fascinating movie on time travel, but one that definitely needs a second viewing to get a thorough understanding of the events that took place. Nothing is simplified here leaving it all to the audience to comprehend what exactly is going on. The film revolves around the lives of two engineers who find out that they can travel through time and decide to make the most of it by betting on the stock market. But their plan goes kaput as greed and deception take over with events resulting in a lot of double-crossing and alternate timelines. You might have to make a flowchart of what’s exactly happening here, but trust us, it’s well worth your time. 

12 Monkeys (1995)

If you want a fast-paced watch, all about time travel, which gives you ample food for thought at the end, the freaky and fun 12 Monkeys was made just for you. Brad Pitt plays a patient from a mental institute while Bruce Willis plays a prisoner from the future who is sent back in time to find out the origins of a deadly virus that has ravaged the Earth. While he questions the events that unfold around him, he must find a way to escape where he’s been put as well as win the race against time. 

About Time (2013)

Far from the action and stunts, here’s a movie on time travel that’s all about emotions. On his 21st birthday, Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) learns from his father James (Bill Nighy) that the men in their family have the ability to travel back in time (though only to moments they have lived before). He looks to change his past, improve his life, and also win the girl of his dreams. It’s best to keep tissues handy for this one as the film teaches us how precious a gift time is.