Forget 'Groundhog Day': 5 Best Sci-Fi Movies About Time Loops, Ranked by IMDb
Prepare to experience the same thing over and over again, but in a new way each time.
Groundhog Day is widely considered the gold standard for time-loop movies – a cozy, philosophical comedy that never gets old.
However, if you dig deeper, you'll find that the time-loop subgenre is far more diverse and darker than you might think.
5. 'The Endless', 2017
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
The plot of The Endless revolves around two brothers, Justin and Aaron, who return to an isolated, largely harmless, sectarian commune. Both brothers were devoted adherents of the commune in their youth.
There, they discover that the members of the "family" are stuck in a time loop due to a mysterious entity.
Despite its rather obvious finale, The Endless maintains suspense until the very end, offering viewers a captivating journey to unravel the commune's terrifying secrets alongside two charismatic brothers.
4. 'Primer', 2004
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
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Director Shane Carruth is a genius who is only known in select circles. His debut film, Primer, shot on a shoestring budget, offers a stunning synergy of realistic physics and pure fantasy.
The plot centers on two aspiring inventors who discover the possibility of time travel by accident. Unfortunately, this barbaric violation of the laws of physics has serious consequences.
3. 'Triangle', 2009
IMDb Score: 6.9/10
Triangle is a mashup of slasher, horror, and maternal drama. It follows a group of shipwrecked friends who find salvation aboard an abandoned cruise ship, only to discover that it is haunted.
There, a masked killer awaits, using a time loop to spread violence endlessly.
Writer and director Christopher Smith was inspired by the ancient Greek myth of Sisyphus, who was condemned to repeatedly roll a boulder to the top of a hill, only to watch it roll back down.
2. 'Timecrimes', 2007
IMDb Score: 7.1/10
In the Spanish sci-fi thriller Timecrimes, a young man moves to a new neighborhood where strange things immediately begin to happen. Driven by curiosity, he finds himself in the woods, where he is attacked by a mysterious stranger wrapped in bandages.
In his attempt to escape his pursuer, he ends up in a research facility, unwittingly triggering a time loop that traps him in a cycle of repetition.
1. 'Palm Springs', 2020
IMDb Score: 7.4/10
In Palm Springs, the concept of a time loop is used to twist classic romantic comedy tropes.
On her sister's wedding day, bridesmaid Sarah finds herself trapped in a time loop. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that another guest at the wedding, the charming Nyles, has been in a similar situation for a considerable amount of time.
In an attempt to escape the time loop, the two characters fall in love. However, while Sarah truly wants her life back, Nyles may just be trying to be her accomplice.
