Time Travel: 66

The historical science fiction adventure film, Timeline (2003), directed by Richard Donner, follows Professor Edward Johnston and his team as they lead an archaeological study of Castlegard village in Dordogne, France. The village was where Lady Claire, sister to Arnaut de Cervole, was executed in 1357. Her death played a crucial role in France’s victory over the English in the Hundred Years War. Alongside Johnston are Scottish archaeologist André Marek, students Kate Erickson, Josh Stern, François Dontelle, and his son Chris. During their excavation of a nearby monastery, they come across a sarcophagus containing ...

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) is a science fiction action film and the third installment in the Terminator franchise. It serves as a sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Following the destruction of Cyberdyne Systems ten years prior, John Connor has been living as a nomad, grieving his mother’s death. Despite initially believing that Skynet has been defeated, John still fears that the malevolent artificial intelligence is targeting him. In an attempt to change the future, Skynet sends back an advanced prototype Terminator called the T-X to kill John’s future allies. In response, the human resistance sends back a ...

The American film, The Time Machine (2002), is a loose adaptation of H. G. Wells’ 1895 novel and the 1960 film of the same name by David Duncan. Dr. Alexander Hartdegen, an inventor at Columbia University in New York, is driven to build a time machine after his fiancée Emma’s tragic death at the hands of a mugger. Despite his friend David’s interest in business, Alexander focuses on pure research. After successfully completing the machine in 1903, he travels back to 1899 to prevent her murder but is unable to change fate as she dies in another accident. ...

Planet of the Apes (2001) is an American science fiction adventure film directed by Tim Burton and written by William Broyles Jr., Lawrence Konner, and Mark Rosenthal. Serving as the sixth installment in the Planet of the Apes film series, it is loosely based on Pierre Boulle’s 1963 novel and also acts as a remake of the 1968 movie adaptation. In 2029, Leo Davidson works closely with trained apes on the United ...

Frequency (2000) is an American sci-fi thriller set in New York City. In 1969, during a gasoline tanker accident on a highway ramp, two workers become trapped in an underground electrical substation. Despite his commander’s orders, experienced firefighter Frank Sullivan goes down to rescue them. With the fuel level rising and damaged electronics sparking, Frank and a fellow firefighter manage to save the workers just before a massive explosion occurs. Back at home, Frank is greeted by his loving wife Julia and young son Johnny. Thirty years later, John Sullivan is now an NYPD detective living in the same house. His girlfriend Samantha breaks up with him, ...

Josef Rusnak’s science fiction neo-noir film, The Thirteenth Floor (1999), takes place in a futuristic version of Los Angeles. The main character, Douglas Hall, is the protégé and heir to Hannon Fuller’s multibillion-dollar computer enterprise. Fuller has just completed a revolutionary virtual reality simulation of 1937 Los Angeles, featuring lifelike computer-generated humans. However, when Fuller is murdered while testing the system, Hall becomes the prime suspect due to overwhelming evidence against him. As doubts about his own innocence begin to creep in, Hall must unravel the mystery behind ...

Star Trek VIII: First Contact (1996), an American science fiction film, marked Jonathan Frakes’ debut as a feature film director. In the distant future, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is plagued by memories of his previous encounter with the Borg – in which he was assimilated by them. When Starfleet warns him of a new Borg threat to Earth, Picard’s orders are to monitor the Neutral Zone for any signs of Romulan aggression. Starfleet fears that Picard’s past experiences may cloud his judgment in the upcoming battle. As the battle rages on and Starfleet suffers heavy losses, the Enterprise crew disregards ...

The Outer Limits (1995–2002), a revival of the classic television series that originally aired from 1963 to 1965, returned to viewers’ screens between 1995 and 2002. Like its predecessor, The Outer Limits presents an anthology of unique episodes, often with unexpected plot twists. While maintaining the anthology format, the remake also incorporated occasional recurring story arcs, which were then brought together in season-finale clip shows. This modern revival of the science fiction horror show explores aliens and frequently includes twist endings. In some cases, a storyline introduced in one episode will continue in a later installment.

The Langoliers (1995), a two-part horror miniseries, was both directed and written by Tom Holland. It is based on the novella by Stephen King from the book Four Past Midnight, which consists of four parts. During a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Boston, most of the passengers and crew disappear after flying through a strange light. Their personal belongings are all that remain. The remaining passengers were asleep during the event and include pilot Brian Engle, deadheading on the flight, an enigmatic Englishman named Nick, schoolteacher Laurel Stevenson, tool ...

Directed by Terry Gilliam, 12 Monkeys (1995) is an American science fiction thriller film that depicts a world devastated by a deadly virus. The survivors are forced to live underground while rumors circulate about the Army of the Twelve Monkeys being responsible for the outbreak. In 2035, James Cole is chosen from among the prisoners living in an underground compound beneath Philadelphia to travel back in time and locate the original virus. He agrees to do so in exchange for a reduced sentence. However, he is troubled by recurring dreams involving a foot chase and shooting at an airport. When he finally arrives in ...

Groundhog Day (1993), an American rom-com directed by Harold Ramis with a screenplay by him and Danny Rubin, follows television weatherman Phil Connors as he covers the Groundhog Day celebrations in Punxsutawney. Despite his negative attitude towards the assignment and the small town and its inhabitants, Phil is joined by producer Rita Hanson and cameraman Larry. The next day, February 2nd, Phil wakes up to Sonny & Cher’s ‘I Got You Babe’ on the radio at Cherry Street Inn. He gives a lackluster report on Punxsutawney Phil and the festivities before ...

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) is a science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, who also co-wrote the script with William Wisher. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic Earth of 2029, where a vicious battle rages between Skynet, an evil artificial intelligence, and the human resistance. In a desperate move, Skynet sends back an advanced liquid metal Terminator known as the T-1000 to eliminate resistance leader John Connor in his childhood. To save him, the resistance sends back a reprogrammed T-800 Terminator covered in synthetic flesh. In 1995 Los ...

The animated television series, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures (1990–1991), is a spin-off of the 1989 film by the same name. It continues the story of Bill and Ted, two teenage musicians who are approached by Rufus, a man from the future. Rufus enlists their help in graduating high school so they can start a band that will inspire future generations. Throughout the series, they journey through different time periods to ensure that history remains intact. The show’s first season was produced by Hanna-Barbera and aired on CBS, with Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin, and Bernie Casey reprising their roles from the film.

Stephen Herek directed the American science fiction comedy film, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989). The screenplay was written by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon. In the year 2688, humanity lives in a perfect society thanks to the influence of William ‘Bill’ S. Preston, Esq., and Ted ‘Theodore’ Logan, known as the Two Great Ones. Rufus is selected by leaders to time-travel back to San Dimas, California in 1988 using a phone booth-shaped machine. His mission is to ensure that two ...

Created by Donald P. Bellisario, Quantum Leap (1989–1993) is an American science fiction television series that debuted on NBC in 1989 and concluded after five seasons in 1993. Starring Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett, a physicist who unintentionally travels through time during experiments, the show follows his involuntary displacement into the bodies of others to fix historical errors. Along for the journey is Admiral Al Calavicci, played by Dean Stockwell, who appears to Sam as a cigar-smoking hologram and helps him form ...

Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), an American fantasy comedy-drama directed by Francis Ford Coppola, follows the story of Peggy Sue Bodell. She attends her 25-year high school reunion in 1985, accompanied by her daughter Beth instead of her high-school sweetheart and husband, Charlie. They married soon after graduation when Peggy Sue became pregnant but have since separated due to Charlie’s infidelity. At the reunion, she reconnects with her old high school friends Maddy and Carol while ignoring Charlie’s unexpected arrival. The emcee then announces the reunion’s “king and queen”: Richard ...

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), an American science fiction film, is the fourth installment in the Star Trek franchise based on the TV series. In 2286, a massive cylindrical probe moves through space and emits an indecipherable signal that disables all passing ships. Upon reaching Earth, it manipulates the power grid and creates catastrophic planetary storms that block out the sun. As a result, Starfleet Command issues a distress call and advises against approaching Earth. Meanwhile, on Vulcan, the former officers of USS Enterprise are living in exile with Spock, who is still recovering from his resurrection. To face trial for their actions, they use a ...

Directed by James Cameron, The Terminator (1984) is an American science fiction action film. It features Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular character, a cybernetic assassin sent back in time from 2029 to kill Sarah Connor. A cyborg disguised as a human male, this Terminator was programmed to carry out its mission of hunting and eliminating a woman named Sarah Connor in Los Angeles. Alongside the Terminator’s arrival, a human soldier known as Kyle Reese also appears with the intention of stopping it. In their pursuit, they both acquire ammunition and clothing ...

Time After Time (1979) is an American sci-fi movie written and directed by Nicholas Meyer. Set in 1893 London, it follows H.G. Wells as he showcases his time machine to skeptical guests at a dinner party. He explains its inner workings, including a ‘non-return key’ that locks the traveler’s destination and a ‘vaporizing equalizer’ that maintains equilibrium between the traveler and the machine. Suddenly, police constables interrupt the event, searching for notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper. Upon finding blood-stained gloves belonging to ...

The American science fiction film, Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973), was directed by J. Lee Thompson with a screenplay by John William Corrington and Joyce Hooper Corrington, based on a story by Paul Dehn. It is told as a flashback to the early 21st century, with a wraparound sequence narrated by the orangutan Lawgiver in ‘North America – 2670 A.D.’. This sequel follows chimpanzee Caesar, who is faced with the aftermath of a global nuclear war that has ...