Plot: In the 14th century a village seeking escape from the Black Death are guided by a boy’s vision to tunnel into an abandoned mine and emerge into 20th century New Zealand.

KBZ’s Take: This a very under-the-radar Time Travel film that gets better upon repeated viewings. On its surface, it’s a simple “Fish Out of Water” tale of 14^th century villagers suddenly appearing in the 20^th century world. However, if you view the film from the villagers’ perspective, some of the key moments (such as crossing a highway) take on a much deeper meaning. This isn’t an action-oriented time travel film, but if you’re looking for an original and unusual take on time travel, this is one of the better films of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3joYHx6

Plot: History professor Scott McKenzie makes an anachronistic discovery in a photograph from the Old West and he is soon joined by beautiful time-traveler Georgia in a time-skipping adventure to stop her colleague from the future from erasing her from existence.

KBZ’s Take: This was a TV movie with a limited budget that relied much more on its time travel concepts than visuals. Like most time travel films, there are some plot holes and its best to turn your mind off before watching. What you’ll find is an interesting time travel premise and film that the entire family can enjoy.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3hKsK1H

Plot: When Kirby inherits only one thing from his millionaire uncle: a pocket watch that can stop time. Only, the bad guys know that he has it, and will do anything to take it from him. But they don’t know that he’s found the girl of his dreams, and she’s got a sense of humor that, when combined with the watch, is devastating.

KBZ’s Take: There have been quite a few filmed adaptations of time travel-based novels, so it’s amazing that John D. MacDonald’s novel, The Girl, The Gold Watch & Everything, has only been made once in 1980 as a subpar TV Movie adaptation. Having read the novel the TV adaptation is based on, we can say the novel is quite superior to the filmed version. With that said, it’s a unique time travel tale involving a watch that can stop time. We’re listing the film here more for nostalgic reasons as anyone who grew up in the late 70’s / early 80’s likely saw this on TV and remembers the red screen overlay every time Kirby stopped time.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/k6hxmbvicfo

Plot: Yoshiyama Kazuko is in the 3rd grade of junior high. One day, she’s cleaning in the laboratory, she notices of the smell of lavender, and faints. Since then, she acquires a mysterious power to travel time.

KBZ’s Take: This is another filmed version of a very popular time travel novel – The Girl Who Leapt Through Time by Yasutaka Tsutsui. The novel has been adapted numerous times (with a popular anime version in 2006 and filmed version in 2010), but we feel this 1983 filmed version is the best of the lot. Though the novel and film are technically Time Loops, she does have the ability to jump back in time numerous days and the story does involve an additional time traveler from the future. As for the film, it’s more of a romance-themed time travel story and one of the better films exploring time travel and love.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/mhRcO6idnD4

Plot: Man wills himself back in time to be with a woman who he sees in a portrait.

KBZ’s Take: Written by Richard Matheson (and based on his 1975 novel, Bid Time Return), this film uses an unusual method of Time Travel – hypnosis. Though it’s more of a Period Piece Romance than Sci-fi, it’s an engaging film on its own merits. It’s a great story, it has an amazing score by John Barry (that you won’t be able to get out of your head), and it stars three great leads – Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and the always amazing Christopher Plummer. A forgotten gem of the early 80’s that shouldn’t be missed by fans of the subgenre. All we can say is that you’ll never look at a penny the same way again…

Additional Lists: Top Time Travel Films You Haven’t Seen #10, Top Films About Fate & Destiny You Haven’t Seen #5

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3vcKk1v

Plot: In 1943, a top-secret experiment aboard a Navy destroyer backfires and two sailors are propelled to 1984.

KBZ’s Take: This was a popular B-movie in the 1980’s and likely seen by older fans of the subgenre. It also contains “Fish Out of Water” themes and tropes as the sailors interact with a future time they’re not familiar with. From the time travel side, it does explore some interesting concepts such as the physical effects of a person from the past living in the future.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3YEHWhn

Plot: LA cop from 2247 is sent back in time to 1985 in the body of his ancestor to stop a cult-life figure who turns people into zombies.

KBZ’s Take: Trancers is a B-movie version of The Terminator except without Robots or Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, it’s a great B-film that ties together many subgenres – Time Travel, Film Noir, Zombies and Body Swaps. Though more science fiction focused, there are some humorous Body Swap situations with people transported back in time but not into the bodies they’re expecting. Be on the lookout for Helen Hunt in one of her earlier starring roles.

Additional Lists: Top Body Swap Films You Haven’t Seen #9

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3BT0n8p

Plot: Michael and Ellie break into a military junkyard to find a science project for Michael’s class and discover a strange glowing orb which absorbs electricity. When the orb begins to blend past, present, and future, it’s up to Michael and Ellie to stop the orb and save mankind.

KBZ’s Take: This film was a second-tier Teen & College Comedy film that came out during the wave of films from 1984 – 1985. Though it was overshadowed by the classic sci-fi film of the decade, Back to the Future (1985), My Science Project is a fun film and one of the better 80’s time travel films. Though the films follows typical teenage comedy tropes for the first half of the film, it’s when the time travel apparatus is activated where the real fun begins. Though most fans of the subgenre have likely seen this film, if you haven’t, it’s a fun film showing numerous time periods converging in the future (present time – 1985).

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3WiSNfw

Plot: 1980’s aircraft carrier is transported back in time to 1941 – just before the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor.

KBZ’s Take: This one of the best “What If?” films out there. What if a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier could prevent the bombing of Pearl Harbor? How would that change the current timeline for the individuals involved? It’s a great film with aviation war action balanced with philosophical questions on interfering with historical events. One of the best films of the subgenre.

Additional Lists: Top Alternate History Films You Haven’t Seen #3

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3PL2ReE

Plot: Unassuming catering salesmen Jim Ferguson falls through a time hole to 1917 where he saves the life of dashing Royal Flying Corps pilot James Biggles Bigglesworth after his photo recon mission is shot down. Before he can work out what has happened, Jim is zapped back to the 1980s.

KBZ’s Take: This is a film that needs to be viewed from the eyes of a 6–12-year-old kid to truly enjoy. If you go in expecting a serious take on time travel, you will likely be disappointed. However, if you time travel back to your younger self and the awe some movies brought to your younger eyes and mind, then this film will be an absolute blast.

The plot doesn’t make a lot of sense, there are numerous plot holes, the 80’s pop soundtrack dates the film, etc. Despite all those shortcomings, the film still delivers as a fun adventure film with the time travel elements providing some great World War I action as well as comedic situations. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://tubitv.com/movies/631893/biggles-adventures-in-time