10 Best Movies About Time Machines

If time machines really exist, what would you want to do? Would you try to change things in the past, meet people who are no longer alive, or fix a problem from when you were younger? But remember, if you do these things, are you ready to face the results in the future?

These ideas are often shown in movies with a similar story. In these movies, we get to see complicated things like paradoxes, loops in time, and different versions of reality because of time machines. Take a look at the list of these movies and tell us which ones you enjoy!

1. Project Almanac

The main character, David Raskin (Jonny Weston), is a high school student who really wants to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However, he can't afford the expensive tuition. Feeling down, David's friends invite him to have fun. During this time, they come up with the idea of building a time machine.

David gets this idea from his late scientist father's unfinished plan to create a time machine. He decides to finish what his father started and successfully builds a time machine. This machine has the power to open a pathway through time. Excited, they start using it without considering the consequences.

2. Déjà Vu

After a terrorist attack claims over 500 lives on a ferry traveling the Mississippi River, the incident becomes a focal point of attention for various groups, including the ATF law enforcement agency. In order to uncover the identity of the culprit, the ATF takes an extraordinary step by developing a time machine.

This time-travel device, called Snow White, allows an agent to go back in time to a point four days prior to the tragedy. Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington), a dedicated agent, volunteers for this mission. He takes on the task of using the time machine to track down the perpetrator and prevent the impending terrorist attack.

3. Source Code

Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a military pilot who unexpectedly finds himself on a train bound for Chicago. As he becomes more aware of his situation, he discovers that his mission is to uncover the person responsible for bombing the train. Interestingly, every time he fails, he's sent back 8 minutes before the explosion occurs.

During one iteration, Colter comes to the realization that he's actually inside a time machine, and the body he's occupying doesn't belong to him; it's the body of a deceased passenger named Sean. With this newfound understanding, Colter is determined to use his remaining moments to identify the bomber and prevent the train explosion.

4. The Adam Project

Adam (Ryan Reynolds) is a pilot who uses a time machine to journey from 2050 to 2018 in order to rescue his wife, who vanished due to a time-travel event. However, instead of reaching 2018, he unexpectedly lands in 2022 and is injured. Coincidentally, a younger version of himself from 2022 crosses paths with him.

After sharing their stories, the two Adams decide to collaborate. They join forces to confront the ruthless future leader, Sorian (Catherine Keener). Despite facing challenges along the way, their determination pays off. Ultimately, they manage to overcome obstacles and return to their respective time periods, successfully achieving their goals.

5. See You Yesterday

C.J. Walker (Eden Duncan-Smith) and Sebastian (Danté Crichlow) are close friends who are working on a science project for school. While their classmates opt for simpler projects, the two of them take on the challenge of creating a time machine. Through numerous experiments, they eventually succeed in making the machine functional.

With the time machine ready, C.J. and Sebastian begin using it for various purposes. They engage in activities like seeking revenge against C.J.'s ex-partner and preventing the murder of C.J.'s older brother. However, their actions have unintended consequences that ripple through different events. Their choices lead to a series of unfortunate outcomes for which both of them bear responsibility.

6. Time Freak

Stillman (Asa Butterfield) is a physicist who is in a relationship with Debbie (Sophie Turner). Everything in Stillman's life seems alright until Debbie breaks up with him. Struggling to come to terms with the situation, Stillman teams up with his close friend Evan (Skyler Gisondo) to create a time machine.

They intend to use the time machine to revisit crucial moments from their relationship with Debbie, hoping to fix the breakup. Regrettably, Stillman's expectations do not align with reality. The attempts to change the past don't go as planned, leading Stillman to eventually come to terms with accepting the events that were meant to unfold.

7. The Tomorrow War

Dan Foster (Chris Pratt) is a former US Army Special Forces officer who currently works as a biology teacher. His life takes an unexpected turn when a team of soldiers appears from the year 2051, conveying a dire message that Earth will be under attack by destructive aliens in 2048.

In response, the government initiates a military draft, and Foster volunteers to join the program. After proving his skills, he becomes part of a mission that involves using a time-travel device known as JumpLink to confront the alien threat. Foster and his fellow soldiers race against time to engage in battle with the aliens and protect humanity's future.

8. Edge of Tomorrow

Earth faces a grave threat from a ruthless alien attack that overwhelms the world's military forces. As time passes, the number of soldiers dwindles, and anyone capable of combat is pressed into service against the aliens. Among them is Major William Cage (Tom Cruise).

Despite being an officer who has never experienced combat, Cage is abruptly assigned to a mission deemed suicidal. Tragically, he dies without even engaging in battle. However, Cage's fate takes an extraordinary turn when he awakens and discovers he's trapped in a time loop.

This peculiar situation forces him to relive the same events on the battlefield repeatedly, gradually becoming more skilled at combatting the aliens. Does Cage ultimately manage to defeat the alien threat?

9. Captain Nova

In the year 2050, Captain Nova (Anniek Pheifer) serves as a military pilot in a world grappling with environmental issues. Driven by the urgency of the situation, Captain Nova is determined to forewarn humanity about the impending environmental crisis many decades in advance.

Using a time machine, Captain Nova embarks on a journey back to the past. However, a miscalculation causes a significant jump in time, leading Captain Nova to become a teenager with a voice that's challenging for most people to hear. Nonetheless, he remains steadfast in his quest to fulfill his mission and ensure a better future for Earth by the time 2050 arrives.

10. Hot Tub Time Machine

In the year 2010, four close friends – Adam (John Cusack), Lou (Rob Corddry), Craig (Craig Robinson), and Jacob (Clark Duke) – find themselves struggling to come to terms with growing up. Despite their age, they continue to live carefree lives, acting more like teenagers and causing frustration for those around them. They seem stuck and unable to move forward.

During a get-together at a ski resort, the group decides to unwind by having a soak in a hot tub while enjoying some drinks. After getting drunk and falling asleep, they wake up to a shocking realization: they've been transported back to the year 1986. Seizing this unexpected opportunity, the friends embark on a journey to reshape their past, aiming for a brighter and more promising future.

That's a lineup of movies about time machines that you might find interesting to watch. If you have some free time, make sure to check out these cool movies mentioned above.