Time Loops are often a natural mechanism for comedies as most people can relate to scenarios where time repeats and there’s no consequences to your actions. In previous articles on Time Loop Films we looked at the 20 Best Time Loop Films, some lesser-known hidden gems of the subgenre and even reviewed some of the most obscure films of people repeating the same day over and over again.
In this article, we’re going to look at some of the best Time Loop Comedies from the subgenre. Obviously, Groundhog Day (1993) will be included as it’s #2 on our list of the absolute best films involving time loops and one of the funniest comedies of all time. But the subgenre also has a variety of other comedies from Christmas-themed time loops to romantic comedies where multiple people are experiencing the same time loop together.
As for the Christmas-themed Time Loop Films, these are mostly all comedies and we had a community request to list all the films involving time loops on Christmas Eve or the Christmas holiday. They include Christmas Every Day (1996), 12 Dates of Christmas (2011), Christmas All Over Again (2016), Christmas… Again? (2021) and Lacy’s Christmas Do-Over (2021). We will likely do a future article listing all Time Travel Films or Time Loop Films set during Christmas but for now, you can check out some of the funniest films involving time loops below.
Our complete list of Time Loop Films features over 49+ films from 1993 – 2023 and if you don’t see a film on our list, it is likely in other film collections such as our complete list of all Time Travel Films, Multiverse Films, Alternate History Films and Films About Contemporary & Urban Fantasy. We’re always releasing new articles about Time Travel and Time Loop films, so subscribe to our newsletter to get updated as we release future articles and add the latest films to our collections.
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Here is our list of the Best Time Loop Comedies:
Plot: 12-year-old Rowena makes a wish and unexpectedly finds herself reliving Christmas Day over and over again.
KBZ’s Take: This Disney film can be boiled down to Groundhog Day (1993) but for kids. It also has some Slapstick Comedy similar to Home Alone (1990).
If you’re an adult, you’re probably not going to enjoy the film unless you’re watching it with your kids. Most of the film is predictable (especially if you’ve seen other films in the subgenre) and it takes a while to get going, but once the time loop starts, it’s all fun and games for Rowena (Scarlett Estevez) that your kids should enjoy.
Additional Lists: The Ultimate List of Christmas Comedies #20
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: In an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend on Christmas Eve, Kate ends up ruining her blind date with Miles, a handsome guy she’s been set up with. In a strange twist of fate, Kate is given the chance to re-live Christmas Eve twelve times.
KBZ’s Take: There’s multiple Christmas-themed Time Loop Comedies that we outlined above and in our #7 pick on this list (and which also happens to be the best holiday-themed subgenre film). 12 Dates of Christmas sits squarely within the middle tier as it repurposes quite a few elements from Groundhog Day (1993) for an above-average Romantic Comedy.
It’s a G-rated film that most of the family can enjoy together and will likely end up in your yearly rotation of Christmas-themed films.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#8
Naked
Plot: Following a wild night out with his Best Man, Rob Anderson wakes up to find himself naked in an elevator on the morning of his wedding day and is forced to relive the morning over and over again.
KBZ’s Take: With the title alone, you wouldn’t be wrong in thinking this film would fall within the Raunchy Comedy & Sex Comedy subgenre. However, though the film is centered around a man waking up naked (repeatedly in public view), the comedy is on the tamer side and TV-14 rated. Naked relies much more on Slapstick Comedy vs. raunchiness (unlike a very raunchy time loop comedy from our list).
As for the comedy itself, it’s somewhat predictable if you’ve seen most of the films within this subgenre. Marlon Wayans and Regina Hall carry the film and their chemistry together makes the film work. It’s not the funniest time loop comedy, but it does feature some unexpected hilarious moments from common situations found in other subgenre films.
Where to Stream / Buy: Netflix
Plot: Kevin writes jingles for a living, is divorced and a terrible dad. When he ruins Christmas Day by attacking Santa, Jesus and Mary, the universe takes revenge by forcing him to relive the same day over again until he learns to be a good person.
KBZ’s Take: If Groundhog Day (1993) was set during Christmas and featured Jay Mohr instead of Bill Murray in the lead role, you would have this film. We’re not saying it’s as good as Bill Murray’s classic subgenre film, but it does have some funny time loop moments.
Of all the Time Loop films set during Christmas including Christmas Every Day (1996), 12 Dates of Christmas (2011), Christmas All Over Again (2016), Christmas… Again? (2021) and Lacy’s Christmas Do-Over (2021) we would recommend this film for some sci-fi-themed Christmas comedy the entire family can enjoy.
Additional Lists: More Time Loop Films You Haven’t Seen #9
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#6
Premature
Plot: On the most important day of his young life, a high school senior is forced to relive his failed attempt at losing his virginity over and over again, until he gets it right.
KBZ’s Take: Various film subgenres have used the time loop mechanism from Psychological Horror in Triangle (2009) to Alien Invasions in Edge of Tomorrow (2014) to Romantic Comedy in Groundhog Day (1993). It was only a matter of time until the Raunchy Comedy subgenre used the foundation of a time loop for a horny and sex-crazed teenager. And Premature is that film…
The film uses many of the common time loop elements established from Groundhog Day with the raunchiness you would find from American Pie (1999). Some of the comedy works and some of it doesn’t. It’s a predictable film but when it does hit on some of the raunchy comedy situations, it’s some of the funniest you’ll find in any time loop film.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: The story of two teenagers trapped in an endless time loop who set out to find all the tiny things that make that one day perfect.
KBZ’s Take: It’s refreshing when a film comes along that reinvents a subgenre’s overused and stale film tropes and revitalizes the subgenre in the process. Along with some more recent time loop efforts such as Palm Springs (2020) and Boss Level (2021), the Map of Tiny Perfect Things shows that there’s still aspects of the Time Loop Film subgenre left to explore.
Like Palm Springs, this film features two people caught in the same time loop and the success of the film is dependent on the chemistry between the leads. And that’s where The Map of Tiny Perfect Things shines with the relationship between Kathryn Newton and Kyle Allen. It’s one of the better relationships developed within a time loop where you develop an emotional connection with both characters.
It’s a great film with equal amounts of sci-fi, comedy and romance that makes it perfect for date night.
Additional Lists: More Time Loop Films You Haven’t Seen #3, Best Time Loop Films #16
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#4
Boss Level
Plot: A retired special forces officer is trapped in a never-ending time loop on the day of his death.
KBZ’s Take: Remember that video game you played over and over again to finally beat the Boss? Well that’s this film and it’s NUTS! Enough cannot be said as to how fun this movie is with its tongue-in-cheek humor and exhilarating action.
The non-stop action pieces are similar in style to Director Joe Carnahan’s Smokin’ Aces (2006) so you’ll know what you’re in for if you’ve seen his previous effort. Though it’s a very recent release, it’s already cemented itself as a classic film of the subgenre.
Additional Lists: Best Time Loop Films #7, Top Time Loop Films You Haven’t Seen #9
Where to Stream / Buy: Hulu
#3
Palm Springs
Plot: Two wedding guests get caught in a time loop.
KBZ’s Take: Similar to Groundhog Day (1993), Palm Springs shows the comedic aspects of what people would do if trapped in a loop reliving the same day repeatedly. Though it uses familiar comedy-based Time Loop Film tropes, it expands on them by featuring two people (and their different perspectives) within the same time loop.
The film also has some very funny sequences as Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) try various methods of ‘death’ trying to escape the loop. But, at its core, it’s a film about romance that works based on the chemistry between Samberg and Milioti.
If there’s one film that could be deemed the spiritual successor to Groundhog Day, Palm Springs is it. And it’s a film we highly recommend for both fans of this subgenre and if you’re looking for one of the better Romantic Comedies out there.
Additional Lists: Best Time Loop Films #9, Top Time Loop Films You Haven’t Seen #7
Where to Stream / Buy: Hulu
Plot: College student dies at the hands of a masked killer…only to wake up that same day to be killed again.
KBZ’s Take: We couldn’t have all Romantic Comedies on our list and this is one of the best Horror Comedies involving a time loop that’s equal parts hilarious and horrifying.
Happy Death Day follows in the footsteps of Time After Time (1979) and Back to the Future (1985) as one of the best written Time Travel Films foreshadowing events throughout the film. Part Teen & College Comedy Film and part Slasher Film, Happy Death Day brings refreshing nuance to Time Loop Films (which has already established overused and tried tropes).
Highly recommended film along with its sequel, Happy Death Day 2U (2019), which explores Multiverse Theory within Time Loops.
Additional Lists: Best Time Loop Films #4, Top Time Loop Films You Haven’t Seen #3
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: A narcissistic TV weatherman, along with his attractive-but-distant producer, and his mawkish cameraman, is sent to report on Groundhog Day in the small town of Punxsutawney, where he finds himself repeating the same day over and over.
KBZ’s Take: Groundhog Day is often ranked as the best film in the subgenre and there are many supporting reasons for its top rank. It’s one of the first films that explored time loop concepts and debuted them in a mainstream Hollywood film. It’s also a very funny film that developed most Time Loop Film tropes that have been used by almost every other subgenre film after it.
Groundhog Day is a classic film but has one minor fault – the time loop is never explained. It’s inferred that Phil Connors (Bill Murray) has to learn to be a better person to escape the loop, but those rules are never fully explained. However, because Groundhog Day is more fantasy than sci-fi, it justifiably gets a pass on its time loop origins and will always be one of the top (and funniest) films of the subgenre.
Additional Lists: Best Time Loop Films #2
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
