Plot: A time traveler visits the past in a bid to prevent the Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam War, but his effort to change the course of history goes horribly wrong when he finds himself arrested for the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald instead.

KBZ’s Take: This film has a similar plot to the TV mini-series 11.22.63 (2016) where a man travels back in time to prevent JFK’s assassination. While the TV mini-series deals with the time traveler becoming attached to the time period he traveled to, Running Against Time is more about the paradoxes time travel creates. There are multiple scenarios that play out in the film leading back to a question if time itself can be altered and if events are changed, what are the future ramifications. It’s a decent film and recommended for fans of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: N/A

Plot: A Southern California kid named Calvin Fuller is magically transported to the medieval kingdom of Camelot through a crack in the ground caused by an earthquake. Once there, he learns he was summoned by the wizard Merlin, who needs Calvin to save Camelot. Using dazzling modern inventions, can Calvin help King Arthur retain his crown and thwart the evil Lord Belasco?

KBZ’s Take: Loosely based on the Mark Twain novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, this film was lambasted by critics but received much higher marks from moviegoers. While it’s not a film that will receive any academy awards anytime soon, it is a good family film to introduce younger kids to Time Travel concepts and aspects of King Arthur’s tale.

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

Plot: A psychiatrist makes multiple trips through time to save a woman that was murdered by her brutal husband.

KBZ’s Take: This film could technically be classified as a Time Loop film, but we personally feel it’s strictly more Time Travel. Karen (the protagonist) goes back in time multiple times at increasing time intervals. Where the film gets interesting is how it escalates the outcome of the now present time traveler trying to alter current events. It’s a low budget film but one where the time travel concepts are worth watching for.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3YRCqs0

Plot: A time-travel experiment in which a robot probe is sent from the year 2073 to the year 1973 goes terribly wrong thrusting one of the project scientists, into a plague ravaged alternate timeline whose war weary inhabitants are locked in a constant battle with killer robots from the future.

KBZ’s Take: We’ll start off by saying this isn’t a great film – it’s actually pretty bad. It’s also a shameless rip-off of Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). However, because we love all films about Time Travel, we did want to highlight this film so fans of the subgenre can be aware of it and watch it. There are some interesting concepts in the film and the robot designs are very well done for the likely limited budget the film had to operate with.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/4Adt_vSJa8c

Plot: Godefroy de Papincourt, Count of Montmirail (Jean Reno), is a 12th-century Gallic knight who finds himself transported to 1993, along with his dim servant, Jacquouille la Fripouille (Christian Clavier), when a wizard’s spell goes awry. Startled and perplexed by modern technology, Godefroy and Jacquouille run amok, destroying cars and causing chaos until they meet Beatrice de Montmirail (Valérie Lemercier), an aristocratic descendant of the nobleman, who may be able to help them get back to 1123.

KBZ’s Take: This French Fish Out of Water Time Travel Comedy not only had a sequel with The Visitors II: The Corridors of Time (1998) but also a U.S. remake with Just Visiting (2001). While the U.S. remake is entertaining (and John Hughes helped with the remake as a writer), the original film is by far the best of all three films. Jean Reno as Godefroy is very funny in this film as the somewhat clueless Count, and his servant Jacquouille provides much of the slapstick comedy. Even if you don’t typically watch World Cinema Comedy films because you don’t think you’ll ‘get’ the humor, with this film you will. It’s very funny and shouldn’t be missed by fans of the Time Travel or Fish Out of Water film subgenres.

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

Plot: Before they can complete renovations on their new inn, a father and daughter are visited by a woman seeking immediate lodging for her strange group of travelers.

KBZ’s Take: This film also goes by the title Grand Tour: Disaster in Time. Directed by David Twohy (The Arrival (1996) and Pitch Black (2000)), Timescape is one of the more novel films of the Time Travel film subgenre. The film focuses on Time Travelers from the future who visit disasters in the past. And if Time Travel did exist in the future, ‘disaster tourism’ would likely be a plausible outcome of it. The film is highly recommended for fans of the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/l-lbb-eyIHo

Plot: Time-traveling bounty hunters find a doomed race-car driver in the past and bring him to 2009 New York, where his mind will be replaced with that of a terminally ill billionaire.

KBZ’s Take: We’re ranking this film higher than it should probably be mostly due to it’s Time Travel concept. It has some fun elements in the film like “Bonejackers” who are the time traveling bounty hunters and “Freejacks” who are the bounties from the past turned fugitives in the future. The film had a troubled production and the A-list cast of the time (Anthony Hopkins, Emilio Estevez, Renee Russo, etc.) has mostly disowned the film. However, it’s a fun film if you can turn your mind off before viewing and not think too much about the numerous plot holes.

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

Plot: The ultimate weapon, claimed to be safe for mankind, produces global side-effects including time slides and disappearances. The scientist behind the project and his car are zapped from the year 2031 to 1817 in Switzerland where he meets Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Mary Shelley and others.

KBZ’s Take: This is a film we had to re-watch recently for this article as our initial impressions (from a 1990 viewing) weren’t very favorable. On the second viewing, we actually enjoyed the film quite a bit more – especially the Time Travel concepts. While the film does feature the Frankenstein legend as a major part of its narrative, the Time Travel elements in the film should have been marketed better because they make the film more interesting. Our suggestion is to go into this film focusing on the Time Travel aspects and you’ll likely enjoy the film much more than if you go in expecting a classic Frankenstein film.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/wFBg51wRAsM

Plot: An officer for a security agency that regulates time travel, must fend for his life against a shady politician who has a tie to his past.

KBZ’s Take: This is probably the most well-known Time Travel film on our 1990’s list, but like other lists, we wanted to include it for younger subgenre fans who might not be aware of the film. While it’s one of the better “Muscles from Brussels” Van Damme films, the film works because it focuses on the Time Travel aspects of the film versus the normal Van Damme martial arts action. While the plot can get confusing at times, it still features many classic Time Travel themes and paradoxes. For fans of the subgenre, it’s definitely one of the must-see Time Travel films.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3YSOWY0

Plot: An out-of-work actor stumbles upon a way to go back in time to try to win back his ex-girlfriend.

KBZ’s Take:  A hidden gem of a romantic comedy that utilizes Time Travel as a mechanism to not tempt fate. This isn’t a typical Hollywood romantic comedy as you’ll be rooting for different characters throughout the film. This film has a great story with excellent acting by Lena Headey, Penélope Cruz, Mark Strong and Douglas Henshall. A great compromise movie for a date night movie if you’re a Sci-fi / Time Travel fan but your significant other wants to watch a Romance.

Additional Lists: Top Films About Time Travel You Haven’t Seen #6

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