Movies

$40M Sci-Fi Comedy That Broke Every Rule of Time Travel is Now on Prime

$40M Sci-Fi Comedy That Broke Every Rule of Time Travel is Now on Prime
Image credit: Orion Pictures

Keanu Reeves broke the matrix back in 1989.

Summary

  • Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure was released in 1989 and is about two high school students who get caught up in time travel.
  • Even in 2024, the movie is still relevant thanks to its excellent humor and ironic take on time travel.
  • It is currently available to stream on Prime and Max.

From H.G. Wells' The Time Machine to the second season of Loki, the human imagination has repeatedly attempted to grasp the phenomenon of time and time travel. As a result, since at least the 19th century, we've had written and unwritten rules about how time flows in fiction, including how to interact with it to avoid paradoxes. But what if a couple of high school students decided to disregard all this quaint nonsense and use time travel to pass a history exam?

Then... nothing happens, except for a successful history project and a utopian cult seven centuries later. Such are the adventures of the famous and probably most ridiculous duo of two goofy high school students, Bill and Ted, played by the legendary Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves.

The first film featuring Bill and Ted, released in 1989, satirized the concept of time travel in a witty and incredibly humorous way, providing one of the best comedies of its time. Given the duo's cult status and Reeves' unparalleled popularity, we recommend revisiting this wonderful sci-fi movie, especially since it's now available for streaming on Prime Video.

Is the Movie Worth Watching in 2024?

Even in 2024, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure holds up by today's standards. Yes, George Carlin's misanthropic and cynical humor is not for everyone, but the late stand-up comedian as Rufus is an excellent complement and contrast to the bogus duo of Winter and Reeves.

The Gen Z and maybe even Gen A, however, should appreciate Bill and Ted for their dumb but good-natured outlook on life, their stoner-like persona, and their absolute frivolity that defies the laws of space and time.

Besides, few would refuse to see a movie starring Keanu Reeves, one of the most recognizable and beloved figures in pop culture. And no, Bill and Ted will not turn out to be bad role models for today's teens: after all, at the end of the first movie, they provided one of the most creative projects for a history class!

Where and How to Watch the Classic Comedy Starring Keanu Reeves?

Thankfully, the first installment of the dorkiest sci-fi movie series is available for both streaming and rental/purchase on most major platforms.

Prime — The movie has recently been made available on Prime Video! Except that streaming will also require combining it with a Max subscription. A Prime subscription costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, or $7.49 per month or $6.99 per month for students and members of the EBT, Medicaid, and SNAP programs. A subscription to Max will be $9.99 per month. Also, you can get by with just the latter at first, as Amazon offers a 30-day free trial.

Max — You can also watch the movie right on Max. The cost starts at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, but this is an ad-free option. The ad-free plan is $15.99 per month or $149.99 per year. There's also an advanced ad-free plan for $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year that upgrades video quality to 4K.

Rent — Of course, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is also available for rent on most major platforms, including both Prime and Apple TV, Vudu, Microsoft, YouTube, DirecTV and more. The lowest price for HD quality is $3.89 on Prime Video. However, the movie can be purchased in 4K starting at $3.99 on Apple TV and Vudu.

Buy — The movie is also permanently available for purchase. The lowest price on Microsoft, $12.99, although the aforementioned Apple TV and Vudu offer it in 4K for $14.99.