Given its popularity, you’ve probably seen Groundhog Day, or are at least familiar with its premise. The classic 1993 movie stars Bill Murray as Phil Connors, a surly weatherman sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities in the tiny town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Phil (who openly despises his co-workers, the festival, the town, and everyone in it) sees his situation move from mildly inconvenient to existentially horrifying once he starts waking up back at the start of the same day, every day, apparently forever, with the time loop affecting no one but him.

Groundhog Day was a huge critical success and has earned itself a revered status as a ground-breaking cultural milestone. As such, it’s no surprise that many other films over the years have borrowed the basic concept of a character (or characters) experiencing a repetitive time loop, and used that to explore various themes and ideas. And for any fans of time loop fiction out there, that’s just as well. There are only so many times you can re-watch Groundhog Day before you start feeling a bit like you’re stuck there yourself – thankfully, there are more than a few must-see movies about time loops where the day repeats itself.

20 ‘Naked’ (2017)

Directed by Michael Tiddes

One of the many zany and chaotic comedy movies starring Marlon Wayans, Naked sees Wayans as Rob Anderson, a man who just had a wild night out the day before his wedding with his best man. However, on the morning of his wedding, he mysteriously finds himself waking up fully naked in an elevator, and as if this wasn’t embarrassing enough, he also ends up in a time loop, forced to relive this embarrassing morning over and over.

Wayans’s style of wild, over-the-top humor lends itself perfectly to a time loop premise, allowing him to fully explore a wide variety of chaotic possibilities and consequences of the time loop. However, what makes Naked easily one of Wayans’ best comedic efforts in recent memory is the genuine emotion that he brings to the table through his relationship with Regina King‘s character, Megan. There is a good reason that time loop comedies always tackle the concepts of love and that no matter how many times someone lives through something, the power of love stays strong forever.

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19 ‘The Incredible Shrinking Wknd’ (2019)

Directed by Jon Mikel Caballero

A time loop story with a vital twist; every time the loop repeats, it gets shorter by an hour. What happens when the loop reaches its last hour, then? That’s what Alba (Iria del Río) is worried about. Having set off to a holiday cottage with a group of friends to celebrate her 30th birthday, it soon becomes clear that Alba – who is unemployed, drinks heavily, and still lives with her father – is experiencing something of an arrested development compared to her peers. The time loop might be her opportunity for salvation, but it could also be precisely the opposite.

Unlike most binge-worthy time loop movies, this entry doesn’t involve many – indeed, hardly any – actions within the loop that act as signposts or checkpoints for the looping protagonist(s) to adapt and react to. Instead, the substance of The incredible shrinking wknd is far more psychological and introspective, deriving from Alba’s different approaches to interacting with her friends and boyfriend. All of them are progressing with their lives in various ways, whilst Alba is robbed of the opportunity to grow at all – she is stuck in a rut, in the most literal way possible. This movie is both tense and thought-provoking thanks to the realism with which it approaches the subject matter.

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18 ‘When We First Met’ (2018)

Directed by Ari Sandel

A classic romantic comedy with a time loop twist, When We First Met follows the story of Noah (Adam Devine), a man still recounting the memories of the perfect first night that he spent with Avery, the girl of his dreams. However, over the next three years, Noah would find himself in the friend zone, having to wonder to himself exactly what went wrong. Noah soon gets an unexpected second chance at love, however, when he gets a chance to travel back in time and alter that perfect first night and his fate, no matter how many attempts it takes.

While the premise may seem strangely offputting at first, what makes When We First Met such a commendable and thrilling rom-com experience is the genuinely great lead performance from Devine. Devine weaves together comedic hijinks and heartfelt emotion seamlessly in a methodology that works perfectly not just for a romantic comedy, but for the time loop premise as a whole. It’s all brought together by a deeply compelling message about the sacrifices made in the name of love, as well as focusing on the present instead of harboring on the past. – Robert Lee

17 ‘Christmas Every Day’ (1996)

Directed by Larry Peerce

A nostalgic treat for those who remember it fondly and an unconventional Christmas movie for the whole family, Christmas Every Day is centered on the egotistical 13-year-old Billy Jackson (Erik von Detten). The teen is forced to relive the same holiday day every single day until he embraces the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Every Day takes audiences through Billy’s misadventures as he repeatedly finds new ways to face the school’s bully and deal with his annoying relatives. Over time, though, Billy learns a thing or two about the holiday season and what makes it truly special. It’s a family-friendly time loop movie that would be fascinating to rewatch today, despite some of its parts admittedly being dated.

Christmas Every Day is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase in the U.S.

16 ‘Before I Fall’ (2017)

Directed by Ry Russo-Young

Based on the eponymous 2010 novel by Lauren Oliver, Before I Fall is a combination of the sci-fi and teen drama genres that results in a moving film. It tells the story of the popular teenager Samantha Kingston (Zoey Deutch), whose seemingly perfect life changes in a flash after she dies in a car crash. The twist? She wakes up having to relive that day of the crash again and again.

Before I Fall depicts Samantha’s increasingly stressful experiences as she learns more about those closest to her and what she has been taking for granted. Over a single day, the film manages to untangle numerous storylines – though not all of them work – to create a worthwhile viewing experience.

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15 ‘Repeaters’ (2010)

Directed by Carl Bessai

Bringing the time loop concept to a high-stakes crime thriller, Repeaters follows a trio of friends who find themselves in an endless time loop, living the same day over and over. They quickly come to realize the lack of consequences for their actions, with their time in the time loop devolving into one filled with wild drinking, crimes, and an array of other things they couldn’t do before. However, when one friend takes things a bit too far and begins murdering other people, as well as each other, they are forced to reflect and think about the ramifications of their actions in the loop.

While many time loop movies are relatively simplistic or charming in their depictions of what goes on during the premise, Repeaters is one of the few films that delve into a depraved, chaotic reality of the situation. It makes for one of the unique time loop movie experiences to see a crew of characters slowly lose more and more of their psyche, as their identities are stripped away by the pain of the loop and the removal of consequences. Especially for those who are looking for a darker spin on the classic time loop formula, Repeaters will deliver in spades. – Robert Lee

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14 ‘The Map of Tiny Perfect Things’ (2021)

Directed by Ian Samuels

Mark (Kyle Allen) is a 17-year-old boy who has been living in a time loop for quite a while and has taken advantage of his foreknowledge to choreograph his day to achieve Ferris Bueller levels of cool. Everything changes when he meets a girl named Margaret (Kathryn Newton), who is also experiencing the time loop. Together, they create a catalog of “tiny perfect things” – beautiful moments from everyday life that are usually fleeting, but they can return to infinitely.

What makes this movie interesting is that it rejects the basic premise upon which every other time loop movie rests; why would you want to leave the loop? If the future is riddled with death, uncertainty, and global warming, wouldn’t you want to stay where you know the good times are? The Map of Tiny Perfect Things is a movie that blends sci-fi and romance and tackles these questions and more with a playful and endearing tone that makes it a charming take on the classic time loop story.

13 ‘The Endless’ (2017)

Directed by Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson

The Endless follows brothers Aaron and Justin Smith, who are still dealing with the mental toll of having been a part of a dangerous cult for the majority of their lives. While they have managed to flee from the cult, something compels the brothers to return to the cult years later, where the duo finds a terrifying discovery about the unexpected truths behind the cult. Despite nearly a decade having passed since they first left, questions about the passage of time are brought into question when the old member of the cult appears to have not aged a day.

While not inherently focused on time loops themselves, the concept plays just a piece in the major puzzle which is the wild and horrifying psychological horror that is The Endless. The film weaves together its tale of refuge, cult ideologies, and humanities attempts to explain the unexplainable in a highly unique and effective way for the horror genre. While many time loop horror movies have been released over the years, few are as dynamic and expressive about the dread and unending torture of the premise as The Endless. – Robert Lee

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12 ‘Happy Death Day’ (2017)

Directed by Christopher Landon

Waking up to find yourself trapped in the same day over and over is already pretty bad, but for that day to be one where you’ve got a hangover is just terrible. When you throw a mysterious masked killer who’s ruthlessly intent on murdering you into the mix, then you’ve got the makings of a rather bad personal situation – but a pretty fantastic time loop movie.

Happy Death Day uses time loop conventions to tell what is basically a whodunnit with the victim doubling as their own detective. And this particular victim has her work cut out for her; Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) is a spoiled, bratty sorority girl, and though all she has to do to end her loop is figure out her killer’s identity, narrowing down the list of people with a motive is not going to be an easy task. The movie follows Tree’s attempts to dodge her vicious attacker, and maybe even right some past wrongs, as a conveyor belt of traumatic black-comedy murders are inflicted on her again, and again, and again.

11 ‘Two Distant Strangers’ (2020)

Directed by Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe

Two Distant Strangers is a satirical short movie that depicts the deaths of Black individuals at the hands of the police. Carter (Joey Badass), a young Black man, is just trying to return home to his dog after a one-night stand. However, his journey is repeatedly frustrated by an aggressive White police officer (Andrew Howard), who finds endless reasons to kill Carter and start the cycle all over again.

Whether Carter remains in the apartment or leaves, whether he is polite to the officer or avoids him entirely, the end result is always the same. Two Distant Strangers uses the time loop device to harrowing effect as a means of exploring the anxieties felt by many Black individuals; that regardless of one’s own actions, racial injustice is inevitable. The film carries a consistently defiant tone, making it an inspiring, hopeful piece that approaches its dark content with optimism.

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10 ‘Boss Level’ (2020)

Directed by Joe Carnahan

In director Joe Carnahan‘s Boss Level, Atlanta-based retired Delta Force soldier Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo) is stuck in a time loop where multiple assassins attempt to kill him throughout the repetitive days. He memorizes each one and inches closer to whoever is responsible for his situation, and eventually uncovers a thing or two about his own life in the process.

Boss Level mixes epic fight sequences with genuinely compelling character development for its protagonist, who soon learns something about family and fatherhood as he fights for his life in each iteration. The 2020 sci-fi action film is also pure fun, with its over-the-top moments sure to keep action fans happy.

9 ‘Triangle’ (2009)

Directed by Christopher Smith

A criminally underrated movie from the 2010s and one of the most unique time loop films fans will ever see, Triangle is a fantastic psychological horror movie starring Melissa George as Jess. Jess leaves her son to go on a boating trip with her friends, which soon turns disastrous when a storm wrecks their vessel. The horrors only truly start when they board a creepy ship that seems to appear out of nowhere.

It’s impossible to discuss the time loop aspect of the film without spoiling it completely. It’s a terrific time-loop horror movie that’s best seen knowing as little as possible about the messed-up twists Jess and her friends experience as they explore the ship. Viewers can expect a wild breathtaking ride and a truly shocking revelation by the end of it.

8 ‘Timecrimes’ (2007)

Directed by Nacho Vigalondo

Timecrimes (Spanish: Los cronocrímenes) is a Spanish sci-fi thriller directed by Nacho Vigalondo (who also appears in the movie as the scientist who advises the main character). It depicts Héctor (Karra Elejalde), a man who initially spies on a woman in the woods, but is soon stuck in a causal time loop where he goes against the existence of his other selves.

Despite the protagonist’s journey of merely a few hours before the present, the stakes feel high in Timecrimes, as the loop becomes more and more complicated. The time travel movie mixes in some horror elements, making it the ideal pick for fans of the genre.

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7 ‘The Girl Who Leapt Through Time’ (2006)

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a popular anime movie that follows Makoto Konno (voiced by Riisa Naka) as she discovers a startling ability to travel through time, which she soon uses carelessly. Makoto uses her new skill to fix her own small problems, with the time loop element becoming obvious when she relives her school days over and over in an attempt to get them right. Of course, she soon learns there are consequences to every action.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time mixes science fiction and romance to create a surprisingly profound storyline that highlights the importance of the tiniest choices. Plus, the entire movie is a visual treat, as despite being released in the 2000s, its aesthetic has held up incredibly well and is comparable to more recent anime films.

6 ‘Looper’ (2012)

Directed by Rian Johnson

An overlooked sci-fi drama that deserved more, director Rian Johnson‘s Looper is set in a version of the present where a mob from the future sends victims back to the past so they can be executed by contract killers. These killers, known as “loopers,” also eventually have to terminate future versions of themselves to signal the end of the contract and to tie up any loose ends. When Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) comes face to face with his latest victim and it turns out to be his future self (played by Bruce Willis), he reluctantly hears out what he has to say.

Focusing more on the paradoxes and consequences of a time loop, Looper veers away from the typical repetition-of-the-same-day trope often seen in the niche. Instead, it highlights the way the characters’ decisions as “loopers” can create and break cycles in the future and affect several people’s fates.

5 ‘Palm Springs’ (2020)

Directed by Max Barbakow

Palm Springs brings viewers a time loop set throughout a wedding (taking place, funnily enough, in Palm Springs, California), where hedonistic guest Nyles (Andy Samberg) is living his life to the fullest. God knows how long Nyles has been stuck in his loop – probably years, possibly decades, and certainly long enough to forget what his job is. But the good news is that, so long as he has a drink in his hand, he doesn’t really care, either. That is until the sister of the bride Sarah (Cristin Milioti) falls into the time loop, and Nyles must explain the perils and pitfalls of time loop life to someone with a rather different philosophical outlook to his own.

Not only does Palm Springs build on the legacy of Groundhog Day, but it smartly subverts some of the original’s premises to keep things interesting. This loop doesn’t reset at a specific time – only when Nyles or Sarah lose consciousness, which could be days after waking if you have enough caffeine. It also straight-up mocks Groundhog Day’s emphasis on altruism as a tool for escaping the loop, instead zeroing in on the idea that absolutely nothing you do there matters, and forcing our protagonists to deal with those philosophical implications. It’s a fantastic movie that explores the weighty topics of both human connection and the General Theory of Relativity without once letting up on the laughter.

4 ‘Source Code’ (2011)

Directed by Duncan Jones

U.S. Army Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) awakens on a train with no understanding of how he got there, being spoken to by a woman he doesn’t know (Michelle Monaghan), and, upon looking in the mirror, seeing a face he doesn’t recognize. And then his train explodes. He awakens in a small capsule where he is informed via a video screen that he is taking part in a delicate military operation; his consciousness is to be repeatedly placed within the memory of the final 8 minutes of another man’s life until he collects enough clues to uncover the identity of the terrorist responsible for the train’s detonation. Talk about a rough first day.

So long as viewers can get past the almost comically generic excuse for quite how the time loop functions (with plenty of technobabble about quantum physics), Source Code has plenty to offer. Starring Gyllenhaal at his best, Source Code confounds audience expectations by allowing the protagonist to step outside their loop and assess their situation – and with the distinct impression that all is not as it seems both within the loop and without, this movie is a unique and riveting entry into the time loop genre.

3 ‘About Time’ (2013)

Directed by Richard Curtis

While initially setting itself up to be a classic time-loop romantic comedy, About Time eventually proves itself to be much more than it lets one, as a deeply powerful and heartwarming story of the inevitable. The film follows the story of Tim (Domhnall Gleeson), who after an underwhelming New Year party, is told by his father that all the men in their family can travel through time. Tim decides to use this newfound power of his to change his life for the better, finally getting a girlfriend who he can fall in love with, but it doesn’t take long before he realizes the difficulties of his power.

There certainly is humor that comes from the baseline premise that is touted in the film, with Tim repeatedly attempting and failing to get the girl of his dreams in an array of awkward, repeated failures. However, anyone who has seen About Time would be quick to tell you that the greatest aspects of the film are not from this classic time loop humor, but how it uses time loops as an entry point for its powerful messages of acceptance, second chances, and the fluidity of life. This has helped the film amass a massive following of fans, as it is widely considered one of the best romantic comedies of the 2010s, as well as easily one of the best time loop movies. – Robert Lee

2 ’12:01pm’ (1990)

Directed by Jonathan Heap

Most people stuck in a time loop at least get the privilege of an entire day to experience. Poor old Myron Castleman (Kurtwood Smith), though, only gets 59 minutes. Beginning every loop standing in the middle of the road on his lunch break, Myron seems to have no option but to wander depressed and isolated around the city. Luckily, he spots a news report from a scientist who predicted the very ‘time bounce’ he is suffering and decides to try and track him down.

12:01pm is a short movie, but it manages to pack an awful lot of both humor and despair into half an hour, with a well-crafted universe full of small details fastidiously pieced together. As the same inane conversations and observations rattle past Myron endlessly, the audience feels a keen sense of the dreadful horrors of being trapped within just one hour for eternity.

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1 ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ (2014)

Directed by Doug Liman

When the Earth is invaded by a race of aliens known as the Mimics, Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) develops the ability to re-awaken at the start of his day whenever he is killed. With the alien threat seemingly impossible to defeat, Cage teams up with cynical soldier Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt) in the hopes of using his new power to win the war.

Edge of Tomorrow‘s story consciously evokes a video game; the protagonists get somewhere, get killed, learn from their mistakes, and get a little bit further before getting killed again. This set-up makes plenty of room for both action and comedy, imbuing the time loop plot with a potent sense of high-octane fun and adventure.

NEXT: The Best Time Travel Movies Ever Made, Ranked