One day, as you are waking up, you hear an impossibly loud argument coming from your neighbor’s house. Odd. You woke up to the same sound yesterday. It isn’t completely out of the ordinary because your neighbors frequently fight, so you think nothing of it at first. As you start walking to work, a man trips and cracks his tooth on the sidewalk in front of you. This truly astounds you, as the same thing also happened yesterday to seemingly the same man. You are plagued with feelings of deja vu throughout the day, but attribute it to weird dreams or simply coincidence. You go to bed early in the hope that you’ll feel less strange tomorrow.
The first thing you hear the next morning is your neighbors arguing. You desperately grab your phone to check the date. It’s the same date as it was yesterday. You are living the same day over and over again.
Situations like these have become increasingly popular premises for Hollywood in recent years. It isn’t hard to see why, considering there are so many avenues to explore with a time loop plot device. Why is the time loop happening? Are there any consequences to being stuck in the time loop? How long does the time loop last and can you escape from it? How would you spend your day during a time loop?
After more than a year living in a pandemic, which often felt like I was stuck in a time loop, I wanted to rank my four favorite movies that feature this narrative. These films set the standard for future films involving a time loop by demonstrating the limitless potential of this plot device. Each film creates its own unique, separate rules for time loops, allowing the concept to feel fresh, engaging, and never repetitive. These films also blend various elements of different genres such as science fiction, comedy, romance, action, and even horror to create something that any viewer can enjoy.
4. Palm Springs
Palm Springs (2020) is about two strangers, Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti), who get trapped in a time loop while attending a wedding in Palm Springs. The two form a close bond while learning about their situation and trying to escape the time loop.
At first glance, Palm Springs might seem like it doesn’t employ the most creative use of a time loop. However, the decision to have two people experience the time loop simultaneously, instead of only one person, is a subtle yet brilliant expansion of the concept. I loved seeing how two very different characters responded and dealt with the terrifying prospect of never getting to move on with their lives. Furthermore, it allowed for more complex character development, as the two main characters grew and learned alongside one another, as opposed to one character always being in the dark.
Much of the film depends on the performances and the dynamic between Nyles and Sarah, and Samberg and Milioti do not disappoint. Samberg demonstrates his normal strength as a comedic actor that I’ve come to expect after Saturday Night Live and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. However, Samberg balances his typical brand of humor with a more sarcastic, defeatist performance, which is perfectly on-brand for Nyles. Milioti, who I was unfamiliar with before this film (but who viewers may recognize from How I Met Your Mother), is superb and equally as good as Samberg. Milioti has a more challenging, juicy role as Sarah, someone who is battling demons apart from the time loop. I was amazed by Milioti’s ability to make me laugh but also cringe and pity her character. Samberg and Milioti have excellent chemistry, making all the scenes with them together an absolute delight. Each conversation and interaction between both characters feels appropriate and realistic given their predicament. In addition, J.K. Simmons gives a great performance as Roy, another man stuck in the time loop. Known for his more dramatic roles in films such as Whiplash (2014), Simmons defies all expectations and steals several scenes with his hilarious delivery and over-the-top rage.
The film’s action sequences are well executed and a sight to behold. It was a blast getting to see Sarah’s various, fruitless attempts at escaping the time loop and I was pleasantly surprised by how unique and clever her methods were. The scenes where Roy hunted Nyles were among the best in the film and did a great job of containing both scares and laughter.
3. Edge of Tomorrow
Edge of Tomorrow (2014) follows a major named William Gage (Tom Cruise) as he attempts to prevent a group of aliens known as “Mimics” from invading the world. When Gage is killed by a Mimic and drenched in its blood, he unintentionally develops the ability to live the same day over again. Gage teams up with war hero Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt) to learn how to use his newfound ability to win the war against the Mimics.
As a high-budget, fast-paced action film, Edge of Tomorrow stands in contrast to most films featuring a time loop. Whereas Palm Springs opts for more of a slow burn, Edge of Tomorrow uses its time loop to continually throw its audience headfirst into the action. It is endlessly fun to watch the same spectacular battle against the aliens play out in different ways, and I loved seeing how Gage became better at fighting throughout multiple time loops.
Edge of Tomorrow is helmed by a solid performance on behalf of Tom Cruise. Although I will admit that I am not the greatest Tom Cruise fan, he is well-suited to the movie. Cruise shines during the action sequences and gives his otherwise obnoxious, selfish character some depth. Emily Blunt gives a phenomenal performance as Sergeant Vrataski and continues to prove her infinite range and talent as an actress. Blunt more than keeps up with Cruise during the action sequences and is effortlessly slick and charming. In addition, the banter and dynamic between Cruise and Blunt are shockingly good, and I found myself seriously invested in their mission to defeat the Mimics.
The real draw of Edge of Tomorrow, however, is its breathtaking visual effects and special effects. As I mentioned before, the battle scenes are gorgeous and never fail to be engaging even when the movie has to return to them again because Gage has to repeat the day. The Mimics are among the coolest, creepiest looking aliens I have ever seen on film and their design was super effective at heightening the tension and suspense during different scenes. I also loved the battle suits various characters wore throughout the film and thought they looked like a cool, modern update of Ripley’s Power Loader from Aliens (1986).
2. Happy Death Day
Happy Death Day (2017) follows a college student named Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) as she is murdered on the night of her birthday and starts to relive the day multiple times. Each time Tree relives her birthday she is hunted and ultimately killed by the same person wearing a baby mask. To escape the time loop and survive, Tree must investigate who wants her dead and put a stop to their plans.
Happy Death Day combines elements of horror, mystery, and comedy to create one of the weirdest, most entertaining films imaginable. The successful merging of genres is largely thanks to the time loop plot device, which heightens aspects of each genre throughout the film. The audience is more tense than normal because they are constantly anticipating an attack from the killer during every time loop. Tree discovering something new during each time loop as she investigates her killer is a unique and clever take on the mystery-solving genre. Although I feel that the identity of the killer is fairly obvious, it’s still highly enjoyable to watch Tree solve the mystery herself and stalk different people who may have motives to kill her. Lastly, in spite of its serious mystery and horror elements, Happy Death Day is incredibly funny. I love the way the film pokes fun at campus culture and its crazy plot.
This film wouldn’t be the same without Jessica Rothe, who single-handedly carries every moment and gives a fantastic all-around performance. Rothe’s ability to imbue Tree with personality and depth makes Tree’s transformation from an awful person at the start of the film to a daring, selfless heroine at the end of the film feel believable. Rothe easily keeps up with the script as it somersaults between different emotional beats, appearing loud and abrasive in one scene as Tree argues with a sorority sister, and despondent in another as Tree meets with her father. I also appreciated Israel Broussard’s portrayal of the nerdy Carter Davis. Broussard’s performance is amusing without being overly distracting or annoying.
I feel that Happy Death Day is criminally underrated and deserves more respect as a film. There is so much to enjoy, especially compared to other slasher films. The scenes where Tree is murdered are some of the best slasher sequences of all time, and I am still stunned by the single shot of Tree being bludgeoned on the head with a bat and then waking up.
1. Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day (1993) is about a weatherman named Phil Connors (Bill Murray) who gets stuck in a time loop while staying in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to report on Groundhog Day. Phil is forced to live February 2nd, Groundhog Day, over and over again, and in doing so he develops new skills, learns about the people who live in Punxsutawney, and grows closer to his show producer, Rita Hansen (Andie MacDowell).
Groundhog Day is often considered the definitive time loop movie—the first film to truly introduce the concept into pop culture. The film is so influential that I had to resist the urge to refer to time loops as the “Groundhog Day Effect” while writing this list. Truthfully, there isn’t much about Groundhog Day that I can praise that hasn’t already been praised before. Groundhog Day is a wonderfully inventive, heartfelt film that still holds up today and is a joy for anyone to watch. While some aspects and ideas of Groundhog Day may seem a little basic by modern standards, I can appreciate the film for executing this bizarre concept first. The film feels original and revels in its absurdity. Watching Phil Connors learn to play the piano or unsuccessfully try to woo Rita over the course of several time loops never fails to make me smile. Groundhog Day also doesn’t spend any time explaining why the time loop phenomenon occurs, compared to films like Palm Springs or Edge of Tomorrow. The film just accepts that the audience wants to have a good time and doesn’t need to be bogged down by exposition or science fiction mumbo jumbo.
Hollywood legend Bill Murray is iconic, of course, as Phil Connors. Like many other lead actors in time loop films, Murray is required to pull off the difficult balancing act of making his character both easy to root for and occasionally reprehensible. Murray does so successfully while also adding his signature comedic talent throughout the film. His performance is supplemented by Andie MacDowell in prime form as Rita Hansen, a good-natured producer for the impossible Phil Connors. MacDowell can be sweet and tender without becoming a pushover, making Connors and Rita’s eventual romance feel deserved. Rather than simply flattering her, Connors has to learn to appreciate her as a whole.
If you have to watch one movie on this list, I would recommend that it be Groundhog Day. There is simply no time loop movie as iconic or enjoyable to watch again.
What did you think of my top four movies involving time loops? Do you think another movie should have been included? Let me know what similar movies or television shows you enjoy in the comments below, and don’t forget to recommend them to your friends on BingeRoom!
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