September 17, 2020 – This list came about from recently watching Dark season 3, and currently bingeing the 12 Monkeys TV series. If you’re into sci-fi, this is a fun genre. This isn’t an exhaustive list. I know there are more possible candidates, but these are the ones I find most intriguing.
A trippy sci-fi tale that begins with a missing child. Fresh, clever, and haunting. If you like solving puzzles, you’ll like this show. One of Netflix’s most popular shows.
Creators: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese
Cast: Oliver Masucci, Karoline Eichhorn, Jördis Triebel
Language: German
IMDb: 8.8
Where: Netflix
When I first watched this show, I gave up on it. But then I read some positive reviews and gave it another try, going in with low expectations. I was surprised. A few episodes were slow, but I liked the overall arc of the show, and its great twists. It has plot points that are different from the movie. It’s also much broader in scope and has a more serious tone. A bingeworthy show for most sci-fi fans, if you’re in the mood for it.
Creators: Travis Fickett, Terry Matalas
Cast: Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull, Kirk Acevedo, Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa
IMDb: 7.7
Where: Hulu, iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
Bruce Willis plays the time traveler, and Brad Pitt plays the nutjob he meets in the past. But it’s Madeline Stowe, as psychiatrist Kathryn Railly, who’s the standout. Terry Gilliam directs, with less zaniness than usual.
Director: Terry Gilliam
Cast: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt
IMDb: 8.0
Where: HBO, DirecTV, iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
I don’t want to say too much here, for fear of giving anything away. This is a creepy, low-budget, sci-fi gem from Spain. Goya Award for Best New Director in 2007.
Director: Nacho Vigalondo
Cast: Karra Elejalde, Candela Fernández, Bárbara Goenaga
Original title: Los Cronocrímenes
Language: Spanish
IMDb: 7.2
Where: Hoopla, Vudu, Shudder, Amazon On Demand, Google Play
Difficult to explain, trippy sci-fi tale. Ethan Hawke is a time travelling agent who jumps time to prevent a major bomb attack in New York City. Along the way he meets some strange characters that affect his life. You may have to watch this more than once to understand it.
Directors: The Spierig Brothers
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor
IMDb: 7.5
Where: Crackle, iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
One of many collaborations between Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott. An ATF agent goes back in time to prevent a bombing.
Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Jim Caviezel
IMDb: 7.0
Where: DirecTV, Sling, iTunes, Amazon On Demand
Emily Blunt did some heavy training to get in shape for this one. She and Cruise fight aliens. But Cruise’s character keeps reliving the same day over and over. So this is more of a time loop movie than a time travel movie.
Director: Doug Liman
Cast: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson
IMDb: 7.9
Where: Amazon Prime
A decent movie from Rian Johnson before he and others messed up Star Wars. The story involves contract killers who travel through time to make their kills.
Creator: Rian Johnson
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt
IMDb: 7.4
Where: Starz, iTunes, Amazon On Demand, Vudu
Like the 12 Monkeys series, this show is for sci-fi fans looking for a show to binge. Time travelers go to the past to save humanity. Good but not great.
Creator: Brad Wright
Cast: Eric McCormack, MacKenzie Porter, Nesta Cooper
IMDb: 8.1
Where: Netflix
I caught this while hunting for something to watch on Amazon Prime. If I remember correctly, this one is sort of violent, and has a similar trippiness to Timecrimes.
Director: Christopher Smith
Cast: Melissa George, Joshua McIvor, Jack Taylor
IMDb: 6.9
Where: Amazon Prime, iTunes, Amazon On Demand