Plot: A 30-year-old spends a wild weekend in Palm Springs and wakes up to find she has magically transformed into her 70-year-old self.

KBZ’s Take: This is one of the more unique takes on Body Swap themes with a woman wishing she was older. The wish is granted and typical ‘being old sucks’ tropes begin. Much of the comedy in this film falls flat though there are a few comedic scenes worth watching for.

The film is much more interesting when it explores the themes of old age and being comfortable with yourself – regardless of age. We only recommend this film for fans and completists of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/43cXStz

Plot: Christmas is anything but ordinary when three bickering siblings from a newly blended household cannot see eye to eye. The youngest one, while completing his annual science project, accidentally calls upon the spirit of Christmas. They wake up to find themselves having switched bodies, unable to change back until they learn to spend the holidays together as a loving family.

KBZ’s Take: This is one of the lower budget films of the subgenre and some of the acting is suspect throughout the film. While it does have some feel good Christmas messaging, it relies on overused Body Swap film tropes and themes. It’s another film we can only recommend for fans and completists of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Kh35Id

Plot: A bullied teen, Cassandra Evans, prays that Katie Sharp, the queen bee of social media, would know what it’s like to walk a day in her shoes; she gets what she asked for when she switches bodies with Katie.

KBZ’s Take: Teenage bullies are a natural fit for Body Swap themes and aren’t often explored enough within the subgenre. Switched is a low budget Body Swap film that does focus on the problem of teenage bullying (and reversed roles) through a Body Swap.

There isn’t much comedy in this film and most of the Body Swap situations are dramatic in nature. This is a Christian film though the Christian themes aren’t overbearing (if you’re concerned about religious messaging in a film). The film’s core messaging is about the struggles of teenagers in the social media age, the demands of their parents and peers and why bullying sometimes isn’t the answer. Another film we only recommend for fans and completists of the subgenre.

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

Plot: Struggling singer Audrey and wealthy record executive Julia magically switch bodies during the holidays and learn valuable lessons about family, love, and Christmas cheer.

KBZ’s Take: This TV Movie is another low budget film of the subgenre and has many predictable Body Swap situations. However, where the film shines is through the performances of Jackie Seiden (Audrey) and Ashley Wood (Julia).

At first, you might think the lead actresses are too similar to play Body Swapped roles, but as the film progresses, they both get stronger as their ‘other’ personality. It’s not one of the best films of the subgenre, but it’s a decent Body Swap film to watch with the family during the holiday season.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3ZVHeM1

Plot: Lily, an uptight businesswoman and Philippe, a larger-than-life French mushroom tripping gigolo are 8 months pregnant. Their therapist recommends a nature getaway at a remote cabin. Their little weekend trip turns into a hilarious adventure when Philippe stumbles upon a magic box that swaps out their souls. Lily and Philippe are tasked with riddle after riddle not only to get their own bodies back but to also get a better understanding of their opposite and what they have to offer as parents.

KBZ’s Take: A relatively new film of the subgenre, Swap Me, Baby is smaller in scale with a focus on the two leads – Kimberly Leemans (Lily) and Falk Hentschel (Phillipe). They help carry the film especially when the body swap magic occurs and they take on their respective partner’s personalities.

Though some of the comedy in the film falls flat, it does have a few laugh out loud moments during some original gender swap scenes that haven’t been done in previous Body Swap Films. Recommended film for fans of the subgenre.

Additional Lists: More Body Swap Films You Haven’t Seen #10

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

Plot: Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with their adult superhero alter egos. When a vengeful trio of ancient gods arrives on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Shazam and his allies get thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of the world.

KBZ’s Take: This sequel to one of the best films of the subgenre, unfortunately does not live up to the original. While the original film had some hilarious Body Swap situations, Fury of the Gods is much more of an action-packed special effects extravaganza. But because of this focus on the action, the film loses touch with what made the original film work so well – Billy Batson’s awkward embrace of adulthood and superpowers.

The film is not bad by any means and always had a challenge living up to its predecessor. However, don’t go into this film expecting the hilarious Body Swap comedy of the original.

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

Plot: On Christmas Day, a popular actor switches lives with his manager. Suddenly, he wakes up to a family he doesn’t know while his manager is now one of the most popular actors in cinema.

KBZ’s Take: For our Body Swap collection, we have a more expansive view of Body Swap and Body Switch films that also includes fantasy-based ‘What If?’ films. An example of this type of film is The Family Man (2000) where Nicolas Cage is transported to an alternate life where he has married his college sweetheart, has kids and doesn’t have his high-powered investment career any longer. Some people might argue that this isn’t a true Body Swap film, but we believe these types of films incorporate enough Body Swap themes to be considered part of the subgenre.

The South Korean film, Switch, is like The Family Man but with an added twist – Jo Yoon hasn’t only woken up to an alternate life (like in The Family Man) but his manager has now replaced him as one of the most popular actors in South Korea. The film hits on many of the same beats as The Family Man and has some very funny Body Swap-like film sequences.

Switch is one of the better recent films of the subgenre and also one of our new favorite holiday films. Highly recommended for fans of the subgenre and holiday-themed family films.

Where to Stream / Buy: N/A

Plot: A father and daughter swap bodies and have to learn to live each other’s lives.

KBZ’s Take: Of all the different themes of Body Swap films involving age or gender swaps, this is the first film we can recall that features an older Father and younger teen daughter swap. There’s a lot that could go wrong (or come off as tacky) when dealing with a swap of this nature but Daddy Issues handles this in a family-friendly manner.

The Vietnamese film has a surprising dramatic core to the film – the continued grieving of Hai (the father) and Chau (the daughter) after the loss of her mother.  The film establishes this loss as the foundation for the Body Swap situations that occur that are both comedic and heartfelt. It’s one of the rare subgenre films where the role reversals take on a deeper effect as the film progresses.

While country-specific or cultural comedy sometimes doesn’t translate well for international audiences,  Daddy Issues has many Body Swap sequences that are very funny and universal. There’s two specific situations that are some of the funniest of the subgenre involving the father trying to perform ballet (in his daughter’s body) and the daughter (as her father) being seduced by the father’s very friendly co-worker.

We were surprised at how well this film balanced both dramatic and comedic themes and it’s a film that shouldn’t be missed by fans of the subgenre. Highly recommended.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/6PeWV58-Ehk

Plot: A serial killer swaps bodies with a 17-year-old girl.

KBZ’s Take: If you enjoyed Christopher Landon’s Happy Death Day (2017) and Happy Death Day 2U (2019), then you’ll also enjoy this film (if not more). Similar to how Happy Death Day created a unique experience by meshing together the Time Loop and Slasher Film subgenres, Freaky molds the Serial Killer and Body Swap subgenres into a hilarious yet often suspenseful creation. Highly recommended film to see especially for Vince Vaughn’s many hilarious physical moments as the ‘teen girl’.

Additional Lists: The Best Films of the Body Swap Film Subgenre #4

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3OS7B1M

Plot: A man loses his memory and wakes up in a new body every twelve hours.

KBZ’s Take: Most films in the Body Swap subgenre are comedic by nature. This is not one of those films. This is the rare outlier within the subgenre that foregoes comedy for Dark Fantasy, Mystery and some very violent Action. If John Wick (2014) involved Body Swaps, you would have Spiritwalker.

This South Korean film involves a man who swaps into another body every 12 hours with multiple people seemingly trying to kill him (and his new identity). How and why he continues to transfers into new bodies is the film’s mystery that is slowly revealed between some very violent and action-packed sequences.

This is a very good film that could have been a classic if not for a somewhat muddled second act. However, the first and third acts of the film are some of the best action sequences you’ll find and reminiscent of films like John Wick (2014) and The Man from Nowhere (2010). If you’re looking for more thrilling Body Swap themes coupled with mystery and ultraviolence, then look no further than Spiritwalker.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3UmzW2P