15. Doctor Strange (2016)
Doctor Strangeis the origin story of Dr. Stephen Strange, a self-absorbed neurosurgeon who seeks out the Mystic Arts for healing… and in the process becomes a sorcerer.
Doctor Strange is an unusual character to include in the MCU, but Benedict Cumberbatch makes him work—so much so that Strange becomes a prominent presence in future MCU movies.
WhileDoctor Strangeisn’t a full time loop movie, there’s one iconic sequence that fits the bill, so we’re including it on the tail end of this list. Even so, the way the film plays with time will satisfy whatever time loop itch you’re trying to scratch!
Related:The Best Multiverse Movies That’ll Twist Your Mind
14. The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)
The Map of Tiny Perfect Thingsexplores the romantic side of time loops. Based on a short story by Lev Grossman, it follows a teenager named Mark (played by Kyle Allen) who’s stuck in a time loop with another teen named Margaret (played by Kathryn Newton).
Seeing her staunch unwillingness to break the loop, they both work together to create a map to navigate their journey.
WhileThe Map of Tiny Perfect Thingsleans very much on other time loop movies, the main leads have a unique charm and lovable chemistry that makes their journey rewarding up to its poignant ending.
Related:The Best Young Adulthood Movies About Teens Coming of Age
13. The Fare (2018)
As if taxi drivers don’t already follow the same routes all over, what if a taxi driver was also stuck in a loop with the same passenger?
The Fareexplores this possibility, centering on taxi driver Harris (played by Gino Anthony Pesi) who goes through a time loop when he resets the odometer and repeatedly picks up the same passenger.
At the beginning of the film, Harris hears of “time-traveling aliens” on the radio but he’s left unfazed. What he isn’t prepared for is aTwilight Zoneof a night in which he has to recall past loops and care for his passenger. Haunting yet stirring,The Fareis a thrill ride.
Related:The Best Movies About Alien Abductions, Ranked
12. The Final Girls (2015)
Slasher films and tropes are given a glorious homage inThe Final Girls. This comedy horror follows teenager Max (played by Taissa Farmiga) who discovers that her mother once starred in a slasher film calledCamp Bloodbath.
Due to unusual circumstances, she and her friends end up in that film, forcing them to learn about the movie all over in order to escape it.
Bloody good with its homages, parallels, and references to all the greatest slasher movie hits,The Final Girlsknows its roots and lavishes in its excesses. There isn’t a bone of cynicism for fans as the characters hilariously recall the basics of the slasher subgenre.
Related:The Best Horror Movie Final Girls of All Time, Ranked
11. The Infinite Man (2014)
Everything goes wrong when a scientist inadvertently creates a time loop and traps his girlfriend in it.
The Infinite Manfollows a man named Dean (played by Josh McConville) who wants the most idyllic and romantic weekend for his lover Lana (played by Hannah Marshall), only to end up contending with her ex-boyfriend while trying to save her from disaster.
Mixing sci-fi with the tension of a romantic thriller,The Infinite Mantakes advantage of its one location and basic setup to deliver an effective high-concept story.
At its center is a flawed yet stirring romance that isn’t afraid to ask daring questions, and the entire execution is reminiscent of Hitchcock.
Related:Why Are Sci-Fi Movies So Popular in Modern Cinema?
10. Maanaadu (2021)
Here we have another genre mashup, except this time we have a time loop concept embedded within a political thriller.
Maanaaduis a Tamil-language action film about a non-resident man named Abdul who’s shot by police deputy Dhanushkodi—and ends up reliving the same day over and over again, forced to outwit the deputy during a public conference.
Director Venkat Prabhu knows his influences, from the framework ofGroundhog Dayto theRashomon-like plot device ofVantage Point. It all seeps through in every frame.
And yet, Prabhu uses all of these elements to speak about themes like Islamophobia, police brutality, and class divide. That makesMaanaadutruly unforgettable and resonating up to its very end.
Related:The Best Political Drama Movies of All Time, Ranked
9. Triangle (2009)
A vacation gone wrong is an obvious setup for a horror film—but the 2009 thriller-horrorTriangleputs an interesting twist on it.
The movie is centered on a group of friends who are stranded at sea when their boat capsizes. They’re saved by a mysterious ocean liner that passes by, but they soon discover that the ship they boarded is not at all what it seems.
While the concept itself isn’t exactly fresh,Triangledelivers effective scares and thrills—and there are quite a many of them.
More importantly, the time loop mechanic is used cleverly, making it an underrated sci-fi horror-thriller you don’t want to miss.
Related:The Best Movies Featuring the Bermuda Triangle, Ranked
8. Boss Level (2020)
Boss Levelcenters on Roy Pulver (played by Frank Grillo), a retired officer who’s trapped in an endless time loop and repeatedly killed by a cast of assassins who are tasked with ending his life.
Every misstep leads to death, but with every retry, Roy finds fresh ways to beat his enemies, including Colonel Ventor (played by Mel Gibson).
Time loops mesh well with action movies, which can make a film feel very much like a video game. Veteran director of action movies Joe Carnahan embraces the concept and creatively finds more interesting action sequences with every loop.
Likewise, Frank Grillo gives a career-best performance in this testosterone-filled action flick with more brains than you’d expect.
Related:The Best Movies About Assassins and Hitmen, Ranked
7. Happy Death Day (2017)
Happy Death Dayis a slasher-horror film about college student Tree (played by Jessica Rothe), who’s killed on her birthday and repeats that same day over and over.
Every time she goes through the routine, Tree gets one step closer to finding out who her killer is—and escaping the time loop.
Happy Death Dayis a fusion of genres: it’s not just a slasher, but also a dark comedy with elements of romance.
The time loop mechanic shines here, and Jessica Rothe as Tree is so compelling that she makes every trope work to her benefit.
Related:The Best Modern Horror Comedy Movies Since 2000, Ranked
6. Palm Springs (2020)
Palm Springsis one of the best movies of the past few years. This unconventional romantic comedy stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as two strangers who cross paths at a wedding in Palm Springs—and inadvertently become trapped in a time loop.
TheGroundhog Dayinspirations are obvious in this movie, but it feels fresh with how the time loop mechanic is used as a source of dark humor, cathartic change, and character development.
Both Samberg and Milioti bring tons of fun and chemistry to their roles, makingPalm Springsone of the most enjoyable in the genre.
Related:The Best Movies About Summertime, Ranked
5. Source Code (2011)
The 2011 thriller movieSource Codeis one of the most iconic time loop films of the century. It centers on an Army Captain (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) who wakes up on a train, in another person’s body, and tasked with locating a bomb before it explodes in 8 minutes.
When he inevitably fails, he wakes up in a dark chamber where he’s debriefed and reevaluated—then sent back in to try again, over and over again until he can figure out who the bomber is.
The time loop mechanic is more than just a gimmick. It serves as a mind-bending puzzle for the characters and the audience, making every iteration a thrilling and unpredictable sequence. If you haven’t seen it yet, don’t miss this underrated gem!
Related:The Best Body Swap Movies of All Time, Ranked
4. Predestination (2014)
If you’re looking for a true mind-bending time loop movie, there’s none better thanPredestination.
Predestinationis a drama-thriller about a time-traveling agent (played by Ethan Hawke) who’s tasked to catch a criminal he once crossed paths with—the only criminal to evade him. Chasing her down leads to a complex cerebral journey that transcends space and time.
It’s hard to describe this phenomenal sci-fi movie without spoiling specifics, but rest assured that it’s a rewarding experience. All you need to know is that it makes brilliant use of the “causal loop” (also known as a “temporal paradox”).
Related:The Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time
3. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
Don’t overlook anime movies in your search for time loop movies.The Girl Who Leapt Through Timeis a loose follow-up to the 1967 Yasutaka Tsutsui novel, but it can be watched standalone.
The film centers on a young girl named Makoto Konno, who gains the ability to “time leap” and uses it to solve her problems.
The animation is beautiful and elevates the slice-of-life moments and nostalgic side. As for Makoto, her character is worth journeying with.
Anime fans will love this feature film—and even if you don’t normally watch anime, you should still give this one a chance.
Related:The Saddest Anime Movies That Actually Made Us Cry
2. The Endless (2017)
The sci-fi drama-horrorThe Endlessfocuses on two brothers—Justin and Aaron—who were once part of a cult at Camp Arcadia.
Even though they escaped the cult when they were young, they one day receive a mysterious videotape in the mail that was sent by the cult. They return to Camp Arcadia to find answers, but when they rejoin the group, they’re greeted by a haunting truth.
Fans ofTwin PeaksorThe Twilight Zonewill likeThe Endlessfor its dreamlike imagery, eerie atmosphere, and cosmic horror. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead give their best as both leads and directors—not to mention the film’s mysterious use of time loops.
Related:The Best Time Travel Movies of All Time, Ranked
1. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Action movie star Tom Cruise puts in a performance that exceeds expectation inEdge of Tomorrow, a sci-fi movie that takes the concept ofGroundhog Dayand runs in a totally different direction, all while playing with action movie tropes to deliver something great.
The movie follows an inexperienced US Army Major who’s sent off to fight an alien invasion in Europe—only to die, wake up, and realize he’s stuck in a time loop on the day of the battle.
While the action is thrilling, the story’s execution is the real clincher, and it’s all held up by Tom Cruise’s charm and Emily Blunt’s subversive performance. It’s way better than your average sci-fi action flick!
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