(DML Top 20 Lists - Sci-fi Time Travel Films ranked)

Honorable Mention

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Director: Matthew Vaughn, rated PG-13

His past. Our future.

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKlellen, Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, Nicholas Hoult, Anna Panquin, Elliot Page, Peter Dinklage, Evan Peters

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"What if, whatever we do can't be changed? What if Raven will kill Trask anyway? What if that is who she is?" – Hank McCoy

Why watch this? This time travel film is a brilliant chance to get the old and new casts together one time.

Plot Summary: In a bleak future where mutants face extinction from relentless Sentinel robots, the X-Men devise a plan to send Wolverine back in time. His mission is to prevent a pivotal event in 1973 that sparks the Sentinel program and a war that decimates both mutants and the humans who help them. To succeed, Wolverine must unite the younger Professor X and Magneto, convince Raven Darkhölme (aka the shape-shifting Mystique) to alter her actions, and ultimately change the course of history to secure a future where mutants and humans can coexist.

Dad's Preview: The massive strength of this film is the combination of the original X-Men line-up and their younger counterparts. It's fun and really interesting to watch the plot enfold. I sure wanted to see Rebecca Romijn as Mystique one more time, but it was not to be. But, hey, we got Jennifer Lawrence instead.

Marvel Ent. Group, The Donner's Co.,
Bad Hat Harry Prod., Dune Ent., Ingenious Film
Partners; 20th Century Fox

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #20 Top

Contact (1997), Director: Robert Zemeckis, rated PG

A message from deep space. Who will be the first to go? A journey to the heart of the universe.

Starring: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Jena Malone, David Morse, Geoffrey Blake, William Fichtner, Timothy McNeil

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"The universe is a pretty big place. It's bigger than anything anyone has ever dreamed of before. So if it's just us... seems like an awful waste of space. Right?" - Ellie Arrowway

Why watch this? This is a very creative envisioning of how first contact might occur.

Plot Summary: Dr. Ellie Arroway, a passionate SETI scientist, searches for extraterrestrial intelligence by listening to radio signals from space. After years of searching, she discovers a powerful signal from the star Vega that contains instructions for building a mysterious machine. Despite facing skepticism and political obstacles, Ellie is chosen to potentially make humanity's first contact with alien life.

Dad's Preview: This film is attempts to address humanity's many "alien" questions, without overly exposing the film creator's motives. Foster, once again, gives a master class on vulnerable strength. It really takes its time to make the contact we want, from the first blip heard on a space microphone to the construction of a massive inter-dimensional device. Viewers will have their thoughts provoked and their minds blown.

South Side Amusement Co.; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #19 Top

Looper (2012), Director: Rian Johnson, rated R for language, strong violence, some sexuality/nudity

Hunted by Your Future. Haunted by Your Past.

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Piper Perabo, Jeff Daniels, Pierce Gagnon, Qing Xu, Tracie Thomas, Frank Brennan, Garrett Dillahunt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"So when these criminal organizations in the future need someone gone, they use specialized assassins in our present called "loopers." And so, my employers in the future nab the target, they zap him back to me - their looper. He appears, hands tied and head sacked, and I do the necessaries. Collect my silver. " - Joe

Why watch this? ... this is a time-traveling, mind-game thriller with lots of savvy and quality components.

Plot Summary: In 2074, time-travel works, but it's outlawed, and only used by the mob, as a method of body disposal. The "target" is bound and gagged, time-zapped to the past where they are immediately murdered and disposed of by a "looper" who is paid in silver bars. If a looper survives to 2074, they are captured and sent back to "close the loop" with payment in gold bars, thus ending the contract. Joe gets his final looper, but accidentally lets him(self) go. This creates big problems for the mob, not to mention time-travel issues.

Dad's Preview: These time jumping films are always interesting if you can keep things straight, and this film is complicated, for sure. However, Rian Johnson's keen direction keeps us on track. It's a nice twist to thrown in Emily Blunt as the mother of a child with special powers who somehow will play into the plot by the film's end.

FilmDistrict, Endgame Ent., DMG Ent., Ram
Bergman Prod.; TriStar Pictures

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #18 Top

About Time (2013), Director: Richard Curtis, rated R for adult themes

A new funny film about love. With a bit of time travel.

Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan, Richard Cordery, Joshua McGuire, Tom Hollander, Margot Robbie, Will Merrick, Vanessa Kirby, Tom Hughes

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Lesson Number One: All the time traveling in the world can't make someone love you." - Tim

Why watch this? This delightful British romantic comedy has a message about how we spend time.

Plot Summary: Our protagonist is the awkward Tim, who just can't figure out the opposite sex. Then his father, on this 21st birthday, drops the bomb that the men in his family can travel back in time. What!? Astonished, Tim immediately tests this assertion, and well, Dad was right. The rest of this rom-com delves into several love-based situations enhanced by Tim's unique ability. Say the wrong thing at a dinner party? No problem - just hide in a closet, travel back in time, and redo it.

Dad's Preview: British romantic comedies are familiar ground for director Richard Curtis, who gave us the delightful Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) and Love Actually (2003). This time-warping treasure is simple, sweet, and thought-provoking. I kept waiting for something bad to occur, as is the case in nearly all time-travel films, but not here, thankfully. You'll laugh and cry as Tim figures out what to do, and NOT DO, with his unique gift. Gleeson and McAdams are adorable, and Bill Nighy, as usual, steals every scene he's in.

Brandywine Prod.; 20th Century Fox

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #17 Top

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Director: Alfonso Cuarón, rated PG

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emily Watson, Rubert Grint, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Well, Well, Lupin. Out for a little walk... in the moonlight are we?" - Professor Snape

Why watch this? This film notably changed in tone from the first two. It's more grown-up.

Plot Summary: In their third year at Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, and Hermione learn that a dangerous prisoner named Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban, a wizarding prison guarded by the terrifying Dementors. It is widely believed that Black, a supposed follower of Lord Voldemort, intends to harm Harry, causing a heightened sense of danger throughout the wizarding world and Hogwarts itself. As the year progresses, Harry and his friends unravel a complex web of events surrounding Black's imprisonment and the true nature of the threat he poses, ultimately revealing a story of betrayal.

Dad's Preview: There is so much that works in the third installment. Alfonso Cuarón, an Academy Award-winning director, takes things in a darker, more moody direction. The lead actors feel more at home in their roles. And it's always a good idea to add Gary Oldman to a cast. Where the first two films are bright, the third gets scary as an escaped manic appears to be hunting Harry. The ghastly, black dementors are circling Hogwarts, and also have a thing for Mr. Potter. All this feels like the stage is being readied for the return of the evil Lord Voldemort.

Heyday Films, 1492 Pictures;
Warner Bros. Pictures

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #16 Top

Army of Darkness (1992), Director: Sam Raimi, rated R for violence, gore, language

Trapped in time. Surrounded by evil. Low on gas

Starring: Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert, Richard Grove, Patricia Tallman, Timothy Patrick, Michael Earl, Bridget Fonda

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Well hello Mister Fancy-pants. Well, I've got news for you pal, you ain't leadin' but two things, right now: Jack and shit... and Jack just left town." - Ash

Why watch this? Where the first two films just stayed in one place, this one goes someplace very interesting - the Middle Ages!

Plot Summary: Ash Williams is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D. To return to his own time, he must retrieve the Necronomicon, a book of evil, and battle an army of the dead it has unleashed. Ash must lead medieval knights against skeletal forces and use his modern ingenuity to defeat the supernatural threat.

Dad's Preview: This is the third film in the famed "Evil Dead" series by director Sam Raimi. In my opinion, this is the best. It takes the horror aspect of the first two films and turns it on its head. Ash is transported to the Middle Ages and there encounters an unspeakable evil, all caused by the Book of the Dead. With a shotgun in one hand and a chainsaw strapped on the other, Ash revels in this newfound land where a gun can make you a god. "Shop smart, shop S-Mart!"

Dino De Laurentiis Comm., Renaissance Pics,
Introvision Int.; Universal Pictures

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #15 Top

Galaxy Quest (1999), Director: Dean Parisot, rated PG

The show has been cancelled... But the adventure has only begun.

Starring: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, Daryl Mitchell, Enrico Colantoni, Missi Pyle, Jed Rees, Justin Long

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Never give up. Never surrender!" - Commander Taggart

Why watch this? ... it's a parody of Star Trek's campiness, and it has a heart of its own.

Plot Summary: The alumni cast of a canceled space opera television series, known for their roles on the spaceship NSEA Protector, find themselves stuck attending conventions and making other trivial appearances. However, their mundane lives are disrupted when they are approached by an alien race, the Thermians, who, having watched the old show, believe it to be real historical documents. The Thermians enlist the cast's help in battling a formidable reptilian warlord, forcing the actors to navigate a genuine interstellar conflict while pretending to be the heroes they once played.

Dad's Preview: An all-star cast makes this Trek parody a laugh-a-minute. I was pleasantly surprised by the comedic chops displayed by Allen and Weaver. Alan Rickman also slays it as the Spock-like alien character (who just happens to have a British accent). However, the big surprise for me wa Sam Rockwell, as red-shirted Crew Member #6, who is convinced he's going to die, because all red-shirts get killed in the TV episodes. He steals every scene!

Gran Via Productions; DreamWorks Pictures

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #14 Top

Interstellar (2014), Director: Christopher Nolan, rated PG-13

The end of Earth will not be the end of us.

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Mackenkzie Foy, Ellen Burstyn, John Liethgow

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"We used to look up at the sky and wonder at our place in the stars. Now we just look down, and worry about our place in the dirt." - Cooper

Why watch this? What will we do when our planet can no longer sustain humanity?

Plot Summary: In a dystopian future where Earth faces extinction due to environmental disaster and widespread crop blights, former pilot Cooper must leave his family behind to embark on a perilous space mission. Along with a team of researchers, he travels through a wormhole near Saturn in search of a new home for humanity. The crew faces difficult choices and the extreme effects of time dilation as they explore potentially habitable planets in a distant galaxy.

Dad's Preview: This story follows NASA pilot Cooper who must travel through space (and time) to find a new world for Earth's population. This worm-hole spanning epic is packed with action and danger, but it is also grounded, thanks to some personal moments. The lead actors are real professionals, namely McConaughey, Hathaway and Chastain. The end will warm your heart and perhaps give you a little more hope about the future of the human race.

Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures,
Syncopy Inc., Lynda Obst Prod.; Paramount Pics

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #13 Top

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, rated R for some language, adult themes, violence

A Film from Daniels

Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Tallie Medel, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., Biff Wiff, Sunita Mani, Brian Le

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Every rejection, every disappointment has led you here to this moment." - Waymond Wang

Why watch this? There are mind-trip films - then there is this chaotic eye-candy.

Plot Summary: This mind-bending story centers on Evelyn Wang, a laundromat owner who feels her life has been filled with missed opportunities and regrets. During a stressful IRS audit, she discovers, with help from her husband, the existence of the multi-verse. To her amazement, she can access the memories, skills, and experiences of her alternative selves across countless universes. Evelyn is tasked with using these newfound abilities to fight against a powerful being threatening to destroy the multiverse, while also navigating complex family relationships, particularly with her daughter, Joy.

Dad's Preview: I read about this film, and purchased the Blu-ray disc before seeing it. I was THAT sure a) it would be great, and b) I would love it. Both were correct. It's unlike any film I have ever seen, anywhere, anytime. It was nominated for 11 Oscars, winning 7 including Best Picture, Director, Actress (Yeoh), Supporting Actor (Quan), Supporting Actress (Curtis), Original Screenplay and Editing. It is one hell of a mind-trip.

IAC Films, Gozie AGBO, Year of the Rat,
Ley Line Ent.; A24

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #12 Top

Somewhere in Time (1980), Director: Jeannot Szwarc, rated PG

Someday in the past he will find her...

Starring: Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, Christopher Plummer, Teresa Wright, Bill Erwin, George Voskovec, Susan French, William H. Macy

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Do you actually believe that I have nurtured her, cared for her, molded, taught, developed her, for all these years merely to groom a wife?!" – William Robinson

Why watch this? ... it's the first romance I actually liked. Now, I cry every time I see it.

Plot Summary: A playwright named Richard Collier who becomes infatuated with a photograph of a beautiful actress named Elise McKenna, taken in 1912. Driven by an intense desire to meet her, he uses self-hypnosis to travel back in time to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. There, he encounters Elise, but her strict manager seeks to prevent any potential romance, fearing it could damage her career.

Dad's Preview: This romance film stands out because of its creative premise: a man becomes infatuated with an old photo of a beautiful actress from 1912. Using hypnosis, he travels back in time to meet her. Once he returns, can he return and reconnect with his long, lost love? Is this only in his mind? There's incredible chemistry between Seymour and Reeve, and the film's musical score is hauntingly memorable.

Rastar; Universal Pictures

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #11 Top

Your Name (2016), Director: Makoto Shinkai, rated PG-13

Experience Japan's #1 film of 2016, from visionary director Makoto Shinkai.

Starring: (the English voice talents of:) Michael Sinterniklaas, Stephanie Sheh, Kyle Hebert, Cassandra Lee Morris, Ben Pronsky, Ray Chase, Laura Post, Glynis Ellis, Catie Harvey, Scott Williams, Michelle Ruff, Katy Vaughn

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"What should I do? Would I annoy him? Would it be awkward? Or maybe he'd be a bit glad to see me?" - Mitshuha, regarding a chance encounter with Taki

Why watch this? More attention needs to be paid to anime films, including this masterpiece.

Plot Summary: The story follows a high school girl in rural Japan and a high school boy in Tokyo who begin to mysteriously swap bodies. They learn about each other's lives and build a connection by leaving notes and messages. When the body-swapping suddenly stops, the boy goes on a quest to find the girl, only to discover a heartbreaking truth about their connection.

Dad's Preview: This intelligent, completely entertaining sci-fi film covers a lot, makes you think, and knows what it is: an impossible love story. It's plot is hard to explain, and that is why it works so well. The viewer is asked to fill in the blanks, based on an incomplete set of facts. It eventually gets where it's going, but is is like savoring a great slice of cheesecake one fork at a time. The part-CGI-part-traditional animation is truly eye-popping. The soundtrack is catchy in a kind of 90's vibe. However, it's the creative story that drives this spanning epic about two longing souls who somehow cosmically connect, and are forced to battle inner and outer obstacles to be together.

CoMix Wave Films; Toho

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #10 Top

Edge of Tomorrow (2014), Director: Doug Liman, rated PG-13 for language, sci-fi violence

LIVE DIE REPEAT

Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, Noah Taylor, Jonas Armstrong, Tony Way, Noah Taylor

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Find me when you wake up." - Rita Vrataski

Why watch this? The film's premise will blow you away. That and Emily Blunt.

Plot Summary: In a future where Earth faces an alien invasion, a reluctant military public relations officer, Major William Cage, is thrust into a combat scenario. After dying in the ensuing battle, he finds himself in a time loop, repeatedly reliving the same day and being killed over and over. He seeks out a formidable Special Forces warrior, Sgt. Rita Vrataski. Together they must utilize the time loop to learn, adapt, and ultimately find a way to defeat the overwhelming extraterrestrial threat.

Dad's Preview: The hard-working Tom Cruise has done his share of sci-fi thrillers. Thanks to a creative story, excellent CGI effects and a stellar cast, this intense, time-jumping alien-infested fare is really a blast. You will have to re-watch it a few times to see what you missed. Cruise impresses, but Emily Blount caught me off guard - she oils up the muscles and makes a pretty good action hero herself! Bill Paxton, who portrays Master Sgt. Farell - and is one of my favorite actors and he's superb. Sadly, he would pass away three years later in 2017.

Village Roadshow Pics, RatPac Ent., 3 Arts Ent.,
Vis Productions; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #9 Top

Time After Time (1979), Director: Nicholas Meyer, rated PG

A chase through time -- to catch Jack the Ripper!

Starring: Malcolm McDowell, David Warner, Mary Steenburgen, Charles Cioffi, Patti D'Arbanville, Kent Williams, Joseph Maher, Corey Feldman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"We don't belong here? On the contrary, Herbert. I belong here completely and utterly. I'm home."- Jack the Ripper, on being transported to New York City, 1979

Why watch this? As a fan of The Time Machine (1960), this takes things one more horrifying step.

Plot Summary: English writer H.G. Wells, having invented a functional time machine, finds himself chasing notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper through time. Jack has escaped to the year 1979 in Wells' own creation. Upon arriving in a future he did not anticipate, Wells encounters a woman named Amy Robbins and enlists her help in his pursuit of the infamous murderer, now turned loose in San Francisco.

Dad's Preview: I love the concept of time-travel, so this film caught my eye. In this creative spin, H.G. Wells' fictional machine is hijacked by none other than the infamous Jack the Ripper! The London butcher uses it to travel to current time. Wells, of course, pursues him, feeling responsible. This hidden treasure is intelligent and packed with suspense. Kudos to great performances by the three leads. This compelling crime-drama is a must-see for sci-fi buffs and time-travel enthusiasts.

Orion Pictures; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #8 Top

Avengers: End Game (2019), Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo, rated PG-13 for super-hero violence

Avenge the fallen.

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I think you look great, Cap. As far as I'm concerned, that's America's ass." - Scott Lang

Why watch this? The perfect ending for the MCU's Phase Three.

Plot Summary: After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the remaining Avengers must find a way to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe. With the help of allies and a potential new method, they embark on a crucial mission to undo the chaos caused by the Mad Titan. This final stand will determine the fate of the universe and conclude a long-running story arc.

Dad's Preview: I can't say enough about this film, and those that preceded it. This amazing conclusion may be remembered as the last great Marvel Studio film. Our defeated heroes discover a way to reverse the damage done by Thanos. However, it only requires a little time travel. No problem! Back in time they venture to find the Infinity stones and restart our universe. But can humanity and their allies stop the legions of Thanos a second time? The ending will blow you away! Frankly, I am not sure where how another super-hero film top this one - it will appear as wasted effort compared to this.

Marvel Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pics

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #7 Top

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Director: Leonard Nimoy, rated PG

Star Date 1986. How on Earth can they save the future?

Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Catherine Hicks, DeForest Kelley, and the rest of the Enterprise crew.

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"They like you very much, but they are not the hell your whales." - Spock

Why watch this? This is the second best of the original crew's films... and there's whales.

Plot Summary: An alien probe threatens Earth by emitting destructive signals, leading Admiral Kirk and his crew to discover its communication is tied to extinct humpback whales. To save their future, they must travel back in time to 1986 San Francisco to retrieve a pair of these whales.

Dad's Preview: After Wrath of Kahn, expectations were very high. Star Trek III (1984) was good, not great. Thankfully, Lenoard Nimoy kept the directorial reins and gave us this wonderful film. Mostly set in 1985 Earth, there are many great moments where the futuristic crew has to acclimate to Earth of their past. The heart of the film is their quest to find two humpback whales and bring them forward in time to save the earth's future from its destructive nature. This film is beloved by Trekkies and regular folk alike. It's perfect.

Harve Bennett; Paramount Pictures

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #6 Top

Superman: The Movie (1978), Director: Richard Donner, rated PG

You'll believe a man can fly.

Starring: Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando, Ned Beatty, Glen Ford, Valerie Perrine

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"There's a strong streak of good in you, Superman. But then nobody's perfect... almost nobody." – Lex Luthor

Why watch this? It's like Superman walked out of a comic book and onto the screen.

Plot Summary: Born on the doomed planet Krypton, infant Kal-El is sent to Earth by his scientist father, Jor-El, and is discovered and raised by the kind Kents. As an adult, Clark Kent moves to Metropolis, taking a job as a reporter while secretly using his superhuman abilities to fight crime as Superman. This brings him into conflict with criminal mastermind Lex Luthor, who hatches a scheme that threatens the lives of many and challenges the burgeoning hero.

Dad's Preview: This was the first serious full-length feature film about a super-hero. It's success created a new market for this type of movie. The special effects budget was sizable and it shows. Reeves literally is Clark Kent and Superman; as was Margo Kidder as spunky reporter, Lois Lane. Somehow they wisely snagged Hackman for Lex Luthor. The rest is history. The film is light and cheeky, even innocent, which audiences loved at that time. To this day, it remains one of my super-hero favorites.

Dovemead Ltd., International Film Prod.; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #5a Top

The Terminator (1984), Director: James Cameron, rated R for language, brief nudity, violence

The thing that won't die, in the nightmare that won't end.

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, Paul Winfield, Lance Henriksen, Earl Boen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Listen, and understand! That terminator is out there! It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear! And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead!" – Kyle Reese

Why watch this? ... it's a sci-fi action flick that features Mr. Universe as a relentless cyborg.

Plot Summary: In a future ravaged by a war between humans and intelligent machines, a cyborg assassin is sent back in time to 1984 Los Angeles to kill a woman named Sarah Connor. A soldier, Reece, from the future is also sent back to protect Sarah, as she is destined to give birth to the leader of the human resistance.

Dad's Preview: This is the futuristic juggernaut that started the Terminator franchise. It is ground-breaking and intense, a staple of Cameron's direction. In the future machines become sentient. In the battle to wipe out humans, the machines calculate they cannot win. Their solution is to send a robot, called a Terminator, back in time to exterminate Sarah Connor, the mother of the man who will lead humanity to victory. The human resistance learns of the plot and also sends a time traveler - a man, Reese, charged with keeping Sarah safe by stopping the Terminator at all costs. Is your mind blown yet?

Hemdale, Pacific Western Prod., Euro Film
Funding, Cinema '84; Orion Pictures

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #5b Top

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Director: James Cameron, rated R for language, sci-fi violence

Same Make. Same Model. New Mission.

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, Edward Furlong, Joe Morton, Earl Boen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"It is in your nature to destroy yourselves." The T-800 Terminator

Why watch this? Cameron delivers an incredible sequel using ground-breaking effects, a buffed-up Linda Hamilton, and a flipped narrative.

Plot Summary: A reprogrammed cyborg is sent back in time to protect a young John Connor from an advanced, shape-shifting Terminator designed to eliminate him. John and his mother Sarah join forces with the protector to prevent the coming nuclear apocalypse by destroying the technology that creates Skynet. Together, they must combat the relentless new threat while fighting to change the future and ensure human survival.

Dad's Preview: This sequel is bigger and bolder than the original. Still desperate to win the battle, the future's machines send another Terminator - this one more lethal and advanced than the original. Humankind sends back a T-800 Terminator (similar to the original film's cyborg), only it has been re-programmed to protect Sarah and John at all costs. This has all the cool ass elements of the original film, yet it's characters are more fully explored, and it's message is more poignant. Linda Hamilton flexes (literally) her acting muscles and newcomer Edward Furlong shines her son, the young John Connor.

Carolco Pics, Pacific Western Prod., Lightstorm
Ent., Le Studio Canal+; Tri-Star Pictures

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #4 Top

Time Bandits (1981), Director: Terry Gilliam, rated PG

... they didn't make history, they stole it!

Starring: John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Ian Holm, Katherine Helmond, Michael Palin, David Warner

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"God is not interested in technology... He's obsessed with making the grass grow and getting rainbows right. Look at what he spends his time on: Forty-three species of parrot! Nipples for men!" - Evil

Why watch this? It's a fantasy comedy. Plus most of the Monty Python players have roles!

Plot Summary: Kevin, a young boy fascinated by history, is unexpectedly drawn into a fantastical adventure through time when a group of thieving dwarfs escape into his bedroom through a time portal. The dwarfs, former employees of the Supreme Being, have stolen a map detailing all of the time holes, which they use to jump through different eras to steal treasures. Pursued by both the Supreme Being and the powerful Evil Genius, Kevin joins the dwarfs on their journey, encountering various historical figures along the way.

Dad's Preview: Written and directed by the creative mind of Monty Pythoner Terry Gilliam, this magical journey takes us to many places in both history and fantasy, each populated by a cast of quirky characters. You will wonder, "Did this film's creator do some mushrooms?!" We witness Napoleon's madness, an Ogre with a backache, and heck, even Sean Connery battles a towering Minotaur! David Warner is excellent as the personification of evil. It's witty, imaginative fun for the whole family.

HandMade Films; HandMade Films Dist. Ltd.

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #3 Top

Groundhog Day (2005), Director: Harold Ramis, rated PG

He's having the worst day of his life... over, and over...

Starring: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brian Doyle-Murray, Marita Geraghty, Angela Paton, Rick Overton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl. We ate lobster and drank pina coladas. At sunset we made love like sea otters. That was a pretty good day. Why couldn't I get that day over and over and over?" – Phil Connors

Why watch this? Put Bill Murray in any situation and he'll make it funny.

Plot Summary: Phil Connors, a cynical TV weatherman, travels to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities. After a blizzard strands him in the small town, he wakes up the next morning to discover that it is February 2nd all over again. Phil is caught in a mysterious time loop, forcing him to relive the same day repeatedly, and he's the only one aware of the phenomenon. He attempts various methods to escape his predicament, eventually leading him to explore the possibilities and consequences within this looping reality.

Dad's Preview: A modern fairy tale of sorts about a self-centered man who is forced to re-live one day, Groundhog day, over and over. It is a great premise for a comedy, especially in the hands of veteran actor-director Harold Ramis and his buddy, comedian Bill Murray. The film delivers great performances, and plenty of really funny moments as Murray approaches each repeated day a little different than the day before. At first, it's kinda fun, but eventually it starts to drive him nuts. This experience might also help him learn what is really important in life.

Trevor Albert, Harold Ramis; Columbia Pics

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #2 Top

The Time Machine (1960), Director: George Pal, rated G

You Will Orbit into the Fantastic Future!

Starring: Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, Sebastian Cabot, Whit Bissell, Tom Helmore, Doris Lloyd, Paul Frees

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"George... I speak to you as a friend – more as a brother... if that machine can do what you say it can, destroy it. Destroy it, George, before it destroys you!" – David Filby

Why watch this? It's a thought-provoking rendition of H. G. Wells' classic novel.

Plot Summary: Set in Victorian England, the film follows an inventor who builds a machine to travel through time. His journey takes him into a distant future where humanity has split into two distinct groups: the peaceful, surface-dwelling Eloi and the monstrous, subterranean Morlocks. He becomes entangled in their struggle and works to understand the secrets behind their existence and the decline of mankind.

Dad's Quick Review: The concept of traveling through time is a fantasy of which most of us have dreamt. It's also ideal fodder for science fiction. What makes this story so mind-boggling is the glance we see of our future. We all expect that mankind will reach a peaceful nirvana, but there is an equal likelihood of something far darker. This film, though made in 1960, showcases from ground-breaking special effects and make-up. Its influence can be seen in subsequent films such as Planet of the Apes (1968) and Logan's Run (1976). The goal of these cautionary tales is to show us humans that what we do now may impact our planet's future.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Galaxy Films;
Loew's Ltd.

Top 20 Sci-fi Time Travel Films #1 Top

Back to the Future (1985), Director: Robert Zemeckis, rated PG

He was never in time for his classes... He wasn't in time for dinner...
Then one day he wasn't in his time at all.

Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, Tom Wilson, Claudia Wells, Marc McClure, James Tolkan

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I guess you guys aren't ready for that, yet. But your kids are gonna love it." - Marty McFly, after lighting up the prom with some guitar licks by Eddie Van Halen

Why watch this? When Marty meets his parents, back in the 1950's, the fun really begins.

Plot Summary: Marty McFly is a teenager who travels back to 1955 using a time machine built by his friend, the eccentric scientist Doc Brown. He accidentally prevents his parents from meeting and falling in love, putting his own future existence at risk. Marty must ensure his parents get together and find a way to return to his own time.

Dad's Preview: This now iconic film's success hinged on properly casting the lead. Wisely, director Zemeckis replaced Eric Stoltz with quick-witted Michael J. Fox from TV's Family Ties. The rest is film history. It's a time-jumping adventure that keeps the viewers guessing as altering actions in the past might impact the future. Think about it - what would you change if you could travel back in time to meet your parents in high school? No way that doesn't get a little weird.

Amblin Entertainment; Universal Pictures