10 Great Time-Travel Movies That Really Need a Sequel

Time travel narratives, as movie enthusiasts have found repeatedly, can often be intricate and challenging to follow. However, their potential for creative exploration is vast, making them enduring elements in science fiction and horror genres. Classic and cherished films, such as The Terminator and Back to the Future, revolve around time travel and parallel timelines. Even holiday favorites like It’s a Wonderful Life and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol incorporate elements of time travel, which may not be immediately apparent during the festive season. More recently, time travel and the Multiverse have been significant plotlines in popular movies and series from DC Comics and Marvel.

Over time, various movies have shed light on the complications surrounding time travel in stories. Diving too profoundly or intricately into its mechanics often leads to confusion. For instance, “Looper” circumvented this by mostly disregarding it and providing reasons for doing so. Other films strive to maintain a sense of realism, adhering to current scientific principles and hypotheses regarding its potential future application. However, a caveat always applies: results may differ based on individual interpretation.

For many years, numerous films have depicted time-traveling realms, implying potential sequels, although none have actually been produced. Compared to other franchises, a new Back to the Future installment seems less likely. These movies often call for revisitation, particularly from today’s perspective.

As we move forward, let’s explore ten time-travel films that certainly deserve a sequel to continue their stories. Along the journey, we’ll share our thoughts and insights about these captivating cinematic journeys through time.

12 Monkeys

Drawing inspiration from the entertaining French short film, “La Jetee,” director Terry Gilliam reimagines the time-travel theme in a post-apocalyptic setting devastated by a human-created virus in the movie “12 Monkeys.” In this story, Bruce Willis portrays James Cole, an imprisoned and virus-surviving resident who lives underground following the virus outbreak in 1996. Fast forward to 2035, Cole embarks on a journey into the devastated world and is subsequently chosen for time travel missions to aid scientists in creating a cure during his era.

Although the movie was later transformed into a TV series on SyFy, Gilliam’s film depicts a universe where Cole perishes in the past and encounters his own demise. A potential follow-up could center around another individual being dispatched to a different temporal juncture for the scientist’s future objectives. Alternatively, there could be a spin-off focusing on Cole’s early life, intersecting with the beginning of the initial film and forming a loop. The primary aim of any sequel would likely revolve around exploring what transpires in the future world, making it a compelling addition to the list.

Edge of Tomorrow

The movie appears to conclude on an optimistic note, as Tom Cruise triumphs against the alien menace and breaks the time loops. Subsequently, he finds himself aboard a helicopter from the day prior to the D-Day invasion, where he reunites with Emily Blunt. A brief scene mirrors their first encounter, and the film concludes with Cruise flashing a smile.

A follow-up to “Edge of Tomorrow” has been under development since around 2015; however, conflicts with Tom Cruise’s schedule have delayed any concrete plans. Both Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise are expected to reprise their roles, which became a possibility when Cruise agreed to an exclusive contract with Warner Bros. in January 2024. This deal has brought the “Edge of Tomorrow” sequel back into focus after years of uncertainty.

Primer

Shane Carruth’s 2004 movie, “Primer,” is known for its heavy use of technical jargon. This independent film tells the story of two engineers who discover a theory about time travel. After constructing a device using electromagnetism to temporarily reduce an object’s weight, they create what’s called a causal loop between point A and point B. While some ideas from this film reappear in “Tenet” with more spectacular action sequences, neither movie claims to offer actual proof that time travel is possible.

Although Primer appears to be a standalone movie with a conclusive ending, the character Aaron (played by Carruth) constructing a massive time-travel device leaves room for potential development if given enough time. The story raises questions about where this invention might lead – is time travel now common knowledge? Is it still legal or has it become a criminal act? This could serve as a transition from the creation of the time machine to exploring the societal impacts of time travel becoming accessible to people.

Palm Springs

Adam Samberg and Cristin Milloti make a charming duo in this entertaining time-loop comedy, which appears to have potential for multiple sequels based on its concept alone. Although the Hulu comedy functions well as a standalone film, it only sets up a post-credit sequence featuring J.K. Simmons’ Roy discovering that Samberg’s Nyles has broken free from the time loop. This suggests that Roy might still be stuck in the time loop according to the viewer’s assumption.

Roy might serve as a pivotal figure in a sequel, acting as an intermediary who clarifies the circumstances for a fresh cast who have been caught in a time loop. The films “Groundhog Day” and “Palm Springs” demonstrate that this narrative approach can be highly effective. It’s engaging not only because it adds new dimensions to the time loop, but also because it presents exciting avenues for further exploration. Both movies are undeniably charming, which is a significant factor in their appeal and marketability.

Timecop

As a die-hard film enthusiast, I can’t help but feel that the iconic ’90s action flick, Jean-Claude Van Damme’s “Timecop,” is ripe for a sequel even after all these years. The reason? There’s simply an abundance of intriguing storylines yet to be explored through its time-travel themes.

Much like in “The Terminator,” characters from the future find themselves meddling with past events. However, unlike Sarah Conner and her tangled web of paradoxes, “Timecop” delicately navigates this complex concept until the climax, when a time paradox ultimately thwarts Ron Silver’s sinister scheme. But imagine the captivating narratives that could unfold if we delved deeper into the intricacies of manipulating time and its consequences!

As a cinephile eagerly yearning for a thrilling journey through time, I wholeheartedly believe that if given the necessary resources and meticulous craftsmanship, a Timecop sequel featuring a cameo by Jean-Claude Van Damme could very well become a reality. By infusing this classic franchise with a fresh, imaginative approach to time travel, we could witness an exhilarating continuation that rivals the original masterpiece.

In such a revival, every plot would undeniably be entangled in a tense race against time, as alterations in the past have profound consequences for the future. To keep audiences on their toes, let’s traverse to breathtaking locales and weave a captivating narrative that will not only honor the legacy of Timecop but also leave viewers spellbound. So here’s to hoping for an action-packed, globetrotting sequel that truly stands the test of time!

Tenet

Christopher Nolan clarified that the time-travel aspects portrayed in “Tenet” aren’t grounded in reality, although they are presented in a manner reminiscent of “Primer”. However, when the main character steps into the time machine and encounters his reverse self, the concept strays from realism.

In contrast to previous suggestions, I’d prefer a Tenet sequel that doesn’t leave plot threads hanging. Instead, it would stem from a sense of mastery over Tenet’s time-travel mechanics. The initial movie has enough background for a standalone release, and its fanbase is expanding. Let’s delve into another story set in this universe, not just a rehash of the first. Essentially, imagine James Bond venturing into time travel.

Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes

A potential continuation of “Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes” might strive to transform it into a feature-length movie rather than a compact 71-minute production made on a budget of 3 million Japanese yen. This increased funding would allow for an expansion of the storyline beyond the confines of the main character’s café, delving deeper into the intricate time paradoxes, the time enforcement agents, and providing a more comprehensive account of their origins.

Despite some challenges, the original film remains a beloved choice among viewers on social media for its unique approach to time travel and clever handling of complex ideas like time paradoxes. While it keeps the time travel mechanics relatively straightforward, it delves into intricate concepts. The visual aspect could be further developed, particularly with the introduction of concepts from the first movie. The Droste effect is masterfully applied in the film’s universe, but there’s room for more exploration. Sequels can be challenging to produce, and this one might face the greatest hurdles, but it certainly merits the attention it receives.

Army of Darkness

In contrast to Ash vs Evil Dead, which served as a continuation of the Evil Dead trilogy, including Army of Darkness, there were legal constraints that prevented any direct references to the movie during season one. However, these issues were resolved in subsequent episodes. Nevertheless, some enthusiasts continue to yearn for an authentic sequel to Army of Darkness, one that adheres to its original ending and finds Ash awakening in a post-apocalyptic London after overindulging on the potion and sleeping excessively. Despite Bruce Campbell’s comical fake beard, Universal Pictures deemed this conclusion too grim, instead choosing to go with the ending where Ash goes back to S-Mart and battles a surviving Deadite using one of the store’s high-quality rifles.

Before the creation of Ash vs Evil Dead, there was a proposal for a sequel to Army of Darkness featuring both Ash and Jane Levy’s Mia Allen. This idea emerged following the release of Fede Alvarez’s gruesome sequel/reboot in 2013. One might wonder if this potential sequel would have been as violent and intense as the reboot. Unfortunately, it appears this project will remain unrealized. However, another film featuring Jane Levy (Evil Dead Rise) has hit theaters, leaving fans eager for more. Upcoming is Evil Dead Burn, set to release in the fall; however, it seems it won’t feature any cast members from previous installments. Nonetheless, we’ll be keeping a close eye on it!

Interstellar

In a unique twist on time travel, the acclaimed movie Interstellar is eagerly anticipated for a sequel to commence production. Following his successful mission and being transported back to our solar system by enigmatic forces that created the wormhole, Cooper and his crew ventured into another galaxy with a dozen prospective new homes for humanity. Upon returning to our solar system from the black hole Tesseract, Cooper was joyfully reunited with his daughter on a space station before she passed away from old age. However, she did leave behind a hint for a sequel, where Cooper journeys back through the wormhole to find Brand, played by Anne Hathaway, on the habitable planet preparing for a human colony.

If viewers who found the Tesseract’s ending satisfying are open to it, they would also welcome further action set on another planet and the challenges of establishing a new colony from scratch.

The Final Countdown

Lastly, let me mention a delightful film from 1980 titled ‘USS Nimitz’ that featured Kirk Douglas in the role of the commanding officer. This naval vessel, in an unusual twist, finds itself transported back in time, specifically to the day preceding the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Upon encountering an anomalous electrical storm, they soon discover that they have jumped back to December 6, 1941 – the eve of the infamous sneak attack on Pearl Harbor.

In a potential new installment, a contemporary vessel might be propelled through time once more – perhaps a nuclear submerged in the North Atlantic, or another daunting historical scenario. Imagine instead that the mist envelops an inland location, covering an entire military base or clandestine operation center entirely.

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2025-08-10 18:51