time travel back to the 90s

What You Would Do If You Time Traveled To 1995

Our ‘90s-obsessed culture is finding all sorts of ways to transplant the ‘90s to the present day, from making sequels to shows like Full House to resurrecting inexplicably popular products like Crystal Pepsi . But what you do if you could actually time travel back to 1995 ? Would you relive your childhood? Would you make a few solid investments? Or would you spend the whole time worrying about how your unnatural presence in the ‘90s could alter the course of human history? (I’d be in that latter camp, having an existential crisis while everyone around me happily rollerbladed through life, totally unaware of the dangerous interloper in their midst, who could at any moment make the one wrong move that would topple civilization as we know it. Like, what if I travel back to 1995, and I go the movie theatre to see Hackers , and I accidentally sit in the seat that was supposed to be occupied by someone else, and that person therefore doesn’t meet his or her best friend, leading them inexorably down a path of loneliness and resentment, and then I go back to 2016 and that former angsty ninth grader at the movies has grown up to be a dictatorial tyrant who has transformed 2016 as we know it into a dystopian wasteland? Or, you know, whatever).

Ahem. Since this is, after all, a fantasy, and I don’t want to get too bogged down in the philosophical ramifications of a technology that has not actually been invented, I’m going to declare that in this hypothetical situation, time travel happens without any Star Trek -esque conundrums. In this case, if you want to go back to 1995 and eat Pop-Tarts Crunch in your parents’ basement, you can. If you want to run around participating in major historical events, that’s fine, too. Go wild — but here are a few things you might want to put on your list when you finally get that time machine working:

1. Be a contestant of Supermarket Sweep .

I am positive that I’m not the only ‘90s kid who thinks about her Supermarket Sweep strategy every time she goes into the grocery store. (I’d start by filling up the cart with hair products, batteries, and film. Why overload the cart with giant hams and turkeys?) So obviously if I could go back to 1995, the first thing I would do would be to play the game that lets me run around the grocery store, ripping stuff off the shelves.

(Sidenote: I’m assuming that if I’m living in a world in which time travel exists, then I somehow also have the means of making exceptional things happen, like being a contestant on Supermarket Sweep . And in this scenario, I’m an adult with a driver’s license and the means to do what I want — because why would I want to return to 1995, just so I could go back to being, in Tai’s immortal words, “a virgin who can’t drive”?)

2. Skip-It until you can’t Skip-It no mo.

I was obsessed with my hot pink Skip-It back in the day, so any time travel back to 1995 would require a Skip It marathon. (And then of course I’d take it back with me to 2016. Who needs Crossfit when you can Skip-It for exercise?)

3. Watch music videos on MTV.

Remember way back when, when MTV would feature many-hours-long music video marathons, with titles like “The 40 Greatest Rock Videos OF ALL TIME” and “The 50 Worst Songs Ever”? I know that nowadays we can just look up the videos we want to see on YouTube, but there’s something I miss about having to wait until after the commercial break to see if, indeed, Meatloaf’s Beauty and the Beast-themed “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” video is next on the countdown. (Did you know that that video was directed by Michael Bay ? I feel simultaneously like that fact is crazy but also that nothing has ever made more sense.)

4. Log onto AOL using your super cool screen name.

How exciting would it be to hear that unmistakable logging-on sound again? Of course this one would be followed in short order by

• Being extremely annoyed by how long it would take to actually get online.
• Realizing that none of your favorite websites exist yet.
• Being reminded of just how creepy people could be in AOL chat rooms.

5. Chow down on Dunkaroos and Squeezits, and relive the glory days from before you had ever heard the phrase “high fructose corn syrup.”

Ooooo, add in some Fruit By the Foot, too.

6. Sell your Beanie Babies.

Now your Beanie Babies sell for only a couple dollars a piece, but at the height of Beanie Baby mania, it was a different story. Take your Beanie Baby collection back with you to 1995, and you might actually be able to make a profit off of them.

7. Invest in Apple.

When you go back to 1995, you’ll invest a modest sum in Apple, a declining tech company, and zip back to 2016, at which time you will be a bajillionaire. Just don’t let it go to your head when you’re flying around in your gold-plated private jet.

8. Retrieve your powder pink hair crimper and take it back with you.

I know that they still make hair crimpers in 2016, but can today’s crimpers really beat the ones they made in the early ‘90s? I think not.

9. Warn your 12-year-old self not to get too invested in My So Called Life .

Remember how traumatized you were when the show ended after only one season in May 1995? Do your 1995 self a favor by warning against getting too attached to this amazing, but fleeting show — if it’ll help, comfort ‘90s-you with the knowledge that Angela and Jordan Catalano will go on to have long, fruitful careers.

10. Lie on the floor of your old bedroom listening to Jagged Little Pill on blast.

Sure, you’re not nearly as angsty now as you were when you were an adolescent, but sometimes you wish you could go back to the days when you could count on Alanis to sing it all out for you.

11. Go see some kickass concerts.

We’ve already established that in this time-traveling fantasy world, you also magically have the means to make cool things happen, right? So why not rock out to some amazing live music that, let’s be honest, you were probably too young to see when you were in 1995 the first time around? Grab your lighter and head out to cheer for your favorite act; David Bowie, Garbage, Morrissey, Alanis Morissette, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis, and Prince were all touring that year. And since you already have the time machine warmed up and ready to go, why not also head down to 1993 and hit up Michael Jackson’s epic Super Bowl performance?

12. Tell your 1995 self that, yes, seventh grade is the Absolute Worst, but things will get better.

I can’t speak for you, but I know that, no matter how nostalgic I get for the ‘90s, I would never actually want to return adolescence, a life stage that is probably the pits no matter which decade you’re in. Being a grown up isn’t easy, but it sure beats the seventh grade.

Images: Giphy (11)

Will We Ever Be Able to Time Travel Into the Past?

Forward or back—which will it be?

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

You likely don’t realize it, but when you’re done reading this article, you will have traveled perhaps 90 seconds into the future. The truth is that it is easier, theoretically speaking, to travel forward in time than it is to travel backward, and that’s partly because we’re all moving forward in time naturally.

The possibility of time travel stems from Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity, which, loosely speaking, describes the relationship between space and time. An outgrowth is something known as “time dilation,” which suggests that time can move at different rates for different observers—and therefore at different rates in different places. This theory is borne out by the (rather freaky) fact that clocks on the space shuttle—whether internal clocks or atomic clocks placed aboard for experimental purposes—run more slowly than reference clocks on Earth. In this sense, astronauts on extended missions may already be considered time travelers, as they arrive home very slightly later than the elapsed time measured on their own instruments would suggest. Moreover, “Time beats faster on the moon than on Earth, and time beats slower on Jupiter,” says celebrated physicist Michio Kaku of the City College of New York. “So if you were to simply camp out on the moon or Jupiter, you’d be going backward and forward in time. Now, of course, these are for fractions of a second.”

A more useful implication of time dilation is the fact that the closer to the speed of light you’re moving, the slower your internal clock will be ticking relative to time on Earth. “If you reach 99 percent of the speed of light and spend like a year moving at that speed—around the solar system, say—and then come back to Earth, you will find that the Earth has moved on, 100 to 200 years into the future,” says Dr. Ulvi Yurtsever, coauthor of a seminal paper on time travel. So, in theory, if we could improve propulsion systems enough, we could skip ahead centuries. But we still couldn’t move backward.

Indeed, backward time travel, while theoretically possible, is far trickier and would involve black holes and “tunable wormholes” and more energy than a kindergarten class on a sugar binge. “You can write down solutions of the equations,” says Clifford V. Johnson, a professor of theoretical physics at USC, “and those equations tell you two things: how you twist up space and time, and what matter you need to do that. And every time you get those weird twists in space and time that look like a time machine, the matter and energy you need to do that is in a form that may not exist in this universe. So that’s just a fancy way of saying that the jury is out.”

So from a technical standpoint, it seems far more likely that we’d move forward in time first. But how about from an ethical one? “Scientists and physicists may say ‘You know what, it’s much safer for us to go to the future, because if it’s possible to alter the past and therefore have that reverberate into the present—create a paradox—that’s pretty dangerous,’ ” says Bob Gale, who has spent some time thinking about this stuff, given that he cowrote the 1985 time-travel blockbuster Back to the Future. “So they would say ‘Well, to preserve the sanctity of the space-time continuum, we better go into the future, because that provides the least amount of risk.’ ”

So there you have it: 25th century, here we come.

Do you have unusual questions about how things work and why stuff happens? This is the place to ask them. Don’t be afraid. Nobody will laugh at you here. Email ­[email protected].

Want more Popular Mechanics? Get Instant Access!

.css-cuqpxl:before{padding-right:0.3125rem;content:'//';display:inline;} Science .css-xtujxj:before{padding-left:0.3125rem;content:'//';display:inline;}

Billiards With Memory Creates Intricate Patterns

‘Unprecedented’ Ancient Structure Found in France

The Overlooked, Powerful Role of Inorganic Carbon

The Moon Could Solve the Mystery of Stonehenge

Scientist Says AI Could Kill Us in About 200 Years

The CIA’s Secret Plan to Turn Psychics Into Spies

Pyrite Isn’t Looking So Foolish in the Lithium Age

Experts Confirm the Existence of Wigner Crystals

Is This the Real Iceberg That Sank the Titanic?

Cloud Brightening May Be Our White Knight

Can Frozen Cells Save the Northern White Rhino?

Ninety Days In The 90s

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU COULD TIME TRAVEL—BACK TO THE ’90s?

Go see Nirvana’s first gig? Buy some Amazon stock? Hit Lollapalooza?  That all sounds great, but Darby has other things on her mind. 

Darby Derrex is not—repeat not—experiencing an early midlife crisis. (Or is she?) She’s failed on Wall Street and failed in her relationships. And once she returns to Chicago to take over her uncle’s record store, she decides she really needs a “do-over.”  Little does Darby know a time machine rumbles under her feet. 

Chicago, 1996 : Grunge and indie rock top the charts. Concertgoers crowdsurf at Lollapalooza. Bands like Smashing Pumpkins rescue our ears from Celine Dion and hair metal. And it’s the year Darby left behind her music critic job—along with her true love, Lina. 

Once Darby gets back to the 90s, she tries to fix simple things. She’s having a blast, and that’s part of the problem. Plus, she has 90 days to return or stay back in time forever. Both options are tempting, but Darby has to face the music.  

Ninety Days In The 90s: A Rock N Roll Time Travel Story

'Felicity’s Time-Travel Twist Is Better Than You Remember

This is a J.J. Abrams show, so maybe we shouldn't be too surprised Keri Russell ended up traveling through time.

The Big Picture

• Felicity remains a significant part of popular culture, even years after its original airing, with its relatable characters and realistic storylines.
• The show's creative plot twists, including a black-and-white episode and Felicity time traveling back to her college years, kept viewers engaged and intrigued.
• Despite its fantasy elements, Felicity resonated with audiences as an aspirational portrayal of the college experience, prompting viewers to question and reflect on their own lives.

It comes as no surprise that The WB’s college drama Felicity remains as present in popular culture now as it was when it first debuted. Despite only airing for four seasons, the show's impact has been as far-reaching as it was captivating. Even Modern Family ’s Phil Dunphy ( Ty Burrell ) admitted that if he could time travel back to the '90s , he would tell Felicity Porter ( Keri Russell ) not to cut her hair. Indeed, Felicity quickly became ingrained in our cultural consciousness during its first season in 1998, following a recent high-school graduate as she decides on a whim to change all of her college plans to follow a boy from high school she barely knew , Ben Covington ( Scott Speedman ), to New York City.

From a critical point of view, it was less about a girl blindly following a cute boy who spoke to her once across the country for no reason (although it was a little bit of that, and I would have totally done the same for 1998 Scott Speedman) and more that his comment written in her yearbook unlocked an urge for her to finally become someone else other than who she’s been . Or, as the theme song from the series’ final two seasons put it, a new version of you. “I came here because of Ben, but I’m staying because of me.” That’s what sold the series beyond the wide-eyed ingénue with the dreamy gold curls with two irresistibly charming guys suddenly fawning over her set against the backdrop of a just pre-9/11 Manhattan.

A young girl, fresh out of high school, follows her high school crush to college to be near him.

'Felicity' Had Several Creative Plot Twists

Sadly, Felicity didn’t always maintain the promise of its inaugural season, which in a way felt like an allegory for the college experience and/or young adult life , where nothing feels certain and everything can go wrong. Or it was merely representative of a writer’s room that didn’t exactly know where they wanted the storyline to go at any given moment. That’s most likely how we ended up with a Twilight Zone -inspired episode shot entirely in black-and-white, Eddie Cahill playing a homicidal drug dealer, and most infamously, Felicity cutting off all her curls for the sake of a change at the beginning of the second season.

Second in line to the main character’s haircut as the most hated plot twist (if you can even justify a haircut as such) on Felicity was the way in which the creators chose to end the series after its fourth season in 2002. At the time, the series was marketed in the form of American college years; therefore, it only made sense that Felicity would conclude after “Senior Year.” It also would have been cancelled anyway thanks to a gradual decrease in quality, but that’s neither here nor there. What is here is that, after a well-deserved and mostly satisfying conclusion to the series’ storyline in the season’s 17th episode, its remaining six episodes were dedicated to another creative turn: Felicity travels back in time .

Did Felicity Really Travel Back in Time?

On paper, it sounds ludicrous. Despite its one questionable experimentation with a sci-fi fantasy , Felicity did not fall into that genre. It was a dreamy ‘90s teen drama with an acceptable if not a bit excessive amount of yearning and emotion. So did Felicity Porter really time travel at the end of her final season? Turns out she did: A year after their graduation, Felicity discovers Ben has been cheating on her. Back in New York for Noel’s ( Scott Foley ) wedding, she wonders what life would have looked like if she’d chosen Noel over Ben. Thus, her friend Meghan (Amanda Foreman) puts a spell on her that effectively sends her back to the beginning of Season 4, having just slept with Noel on a rooftop .

Keri Russell Tells Us About Her Messy Character in 'The Diplomat,' Complicated Relationships, and the Absurdity of Politics

What follows is a dilemma of the highest post-graduate regard: Does she just go with it and repeat her senior year dating Noel so that everything will one day work out? Before she can answer that question, she begins to realize that just the action of traveling back in time begins to mess with the order of events as she knows it. So when she tells Noel and Ben that she has time traveled from the future, she ends up in a psych ward — until she predicts something to Ben, and he realizes she has to be telling the truth . Then Noel winds up killed in a fire that he and Felicity escaped earlier in the year. In order for the nightmare to end, she must visit the man who wrote the spell that Meghan performed so that he can reverse it. In order to do that, she must recount her entire college history to him, with the help of keepsakes from different life events.

What started as a last attempt to make a dying show’s storytelling interesting for a few more episodes ends up being one of the most creative plot twists I've ever watched on television . Felicity ’s series finale, which follows the character as she tells the spell’s creator the story of her college years, serves as an effective reminder to all the things that the series got right: young, relatable characters in realistic (for the most part) storylines. I’m personally convinced that the three-way chemistry between Russell, Speedman, and Foley was what kept Felicity alive .

Was 'Felicity' Actually a Fantasy Series?

Although the series was technically not a fantasy, it also kind of was: I watched it for the first time during my own turbulent college years, attempting to manifest something out of its magical premise for myself. I can’t help but believe that was the basis of Felicity ’s appeal, as an aspirational portrayal of the American college experience that could have only existed on The WB between 1998 and 2002. Instead of merely ending the series with Ben and Felicity graduating, going on to the same grad school, and living happily ever after, show creators J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves dared to ask, “But what if this happened instead?” It’s a question all of us in that stage of life have asked ourselves from one time or another, in one situation or another.

It’s also easy to understand the controversy that surrounded Felicity’s time travel , given that those ambitious last six episodes would have aired from one week to the next, and not consumed all in one afternoon on a binge under a blanket in a moment of my own post-university depression. What would have read as bonkers in 2002 might have had a different landing in the streaming age, without having to wait a week in between explanations. It just contributes to the case for reviving the genre of WB series like Felicity for a new generation, maybe in the form of a PG-13 version of Euphoria . One way or another, stories like Felicity’s matter , no matter how overemotional or privileged, and it’s time to start finding new ways to tell them.

Felicity is available to watch on Hulu in the U.S.

Watch on Hulu

Time Travel In Pop Culture: The Evolution Of Time Travel In Film And Tv

Time travel has captured our imaginations for centuries, and it's no surprise that pop culture has embraced the concept with open arms. From classic films like "Back to the Future" to modern blockbusters like "Avengers: Endgame," time travel has been a staple in film and TV for decades. As avid fans of both pop culture and science fiction, we can't help but be fascinated by the evolution of time travel in media.

In this article, we'll take a deep dive into the history of time travel in pop culture, examining how it's evolved over the years. We'll explore early depictions of time travel in black-and-white films and cheesy sci-fi flicks from the 80s and 90s, all the way up to present-day blockbusters featuring big-name actors and stunning visual effects. We'll also touch on how TV shows have incorporated time travel into their storylines, creating complex narratives that keep viewers hooked week after week. So grab your flux capacitor and hop into our DeLorean – we're about to go on a journey through time!

Early Depictions of Time Travel in Pop Culture

Time travel in the 80s and 90s, modern blockbusters and time travel, "interstellar", "doctor strange", "avengers: endgame", tv shows and time travel, "doctor who", "quantum leap", "stranger things", time travel in pop culture today, frequently asked questions, how does the concept of time travel differ in various cultures around the world, are there any scientific theories or research that support the possibility of time travel, how has the portrayal of time travel in pop culture affected our understanding and interest in science, what are some lesser-known examples of time travel in pop culture that have had a significant impact, how have advancements in technology and special effects influenced the way time travel is depicted in modern film and tv.

Back in the day, when people first started messing around with the idea of jumping through time, they had some pretty wild and wacky ways of doing it. Classic examples include H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine," where a man builds a device to travel through time, and Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass," where Alice steps through a mirror into an alternate reality. These early works set the stage for future depictions of time travel in pop culture.

These classic examples have influenced countless works since their creation. They introduced concepts such as parallel universes and the butterfly effect, which later became staples in time travel storytelling. The idea of altering one small event in history having major consequences on the present has been explored extensively in literature and film alike. As technology advanced, so did our ability to depict these ideas on screen, leading to more complex narratives about time travel.

You were transported to a world of neon lights and synthesized music, where time was a mere suggestion and the past could be rewritten with a push of a button. Welcome to the era of the 80s and 90s, where time travel in pop culture took on a new life. This period saw an explosion of alternate realities and iconic time machines that have since become legendary.

• The DeLorean from Back to the Future became an instant icon, with its sleek design and futuristic modifications that allowed it to travel through time.
• Quantum Leap introduced us to Dr. Sam Beckett, who found himself jumping into different bodies in different times as he attempted to right wrongs in history.
• Timecop explored the concept of protecting history by using time travel as a means of law enforcement.

This era also brought about more complex storylines that dealt with the consequences of altering timelines, such as in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Groundhog Day. Overall, these films and TV shows paved the way for future iterations of time travel stories that would continue to captivate audiences for decades to come.

As we move into modern blockbusters and time travel, we can see how these early depictions set the stage for what was yet to come.

When it comes to modern blockbusters, time travel is a popular trope that has been explored in various ways. One of the most notable examples is 'Interstellar', where time travel is used to explore the concept of relativity and its effects on human relationships. Another example is 'Doctor Strange', which uses time manipulation as a tool for saving the world from destruction. And of course, there's 'Avengers: Endgame', where time travel plays a crucial role in undoing past events and defeating Thanos.

In 'Interstellar', we're taken on a mind-bending journey through space and time, exploring the complexities of love, sacrifice, and the human condition. The film's portrayal of time travel is unique in that it incorporates real scientific concepts like relativity and gravitational time dilation. The science behind 'Interstellar' was heavily researched by physicist Kip Thorne, who even wrote a book about his experiences working on the film. This attention to detail adds a level of authenticity to the time travel aspect of the story.

The impact of 'Interstellar' on time travel in pop culture cannot be ignored. It showed that it's possible to tell an emotionally charged story while still incorporating complex scientific concepts. It also paved the way for more realistic depictions of time travel in popular media. Without 'Interstellar', we may not have seen other recent sci-fi films like 'Arrival' or TV shows like 'Dark' which also incorporate science-based theories into their storytelling. Speaking of which, let's now move onto our next subtopic: Doctor Strange and its approach to time manipulation.

The Marvel film 'Doctor Strange' introduces a new dimension to the superhero genre by delving into the mystical arts and showcasing mind-bending visual effects. One of the key themes explored in this film is time travel, which plays an important role in shaping the narrative arc of the movie. Here are three ways that 'Doctor Strange' utilizes time travel to create a unique viewing experience:

• Time Loops: In order to defeat his enemy, Doctor Strange uses time loops to repeatedly live through a battle until he finds a way to win. This creates a sense of urgency and tension as viewers watch him struggle to find a way out of the loop.
• The Mirror Dimension: Doctor Strange also uses time manipulation in conjunction with the Mirror Dimension, which allows him to manipulate space and time simultaneously. This leads to some truly stunning visuals as reality itself warps and bends around him.
• Rewinding Time: Finally, 'Doctor Strange' features moments where characters literally rewind time in order to correct past mistakes or undo catastrophic events. This power proves essential in saving lives and ultimately defeating their foe.

Overall, 'Doctor Strange' has had an undeniable impact on how we view time travel within pop culture. Its innovative use of this theme has paved the way for other films and TV shows that explore similar ideas.

As we'll see in our discussion of 'Avengers: Endgame', this film builds upon many of these same concepts while taking them even further.

Now that we've discussed the role of time travel in Doctor Strange, let's jump to one of the biggest blockbusters of 2019: Avengers: Endgame. The movie revolves around a team of Marvel superheroes who embark on a mission to undo the catastrophic damage inflicted by Thanos in Infinity War. To do so, they use time travel mechanics to revisit past events and retrieve the Infinity Stones.

Endgame's portrayal of time travel differs from Doctor Strange's in many ways. While Doctor Strange uses mystical powers to manipulate time, Endgame employs scientific principles such as quantum mechanics to explain its version of time travel. This lends an air of realism to the movie's plot and makes it more accessible for audiences who may not be familiar with fantasy-based narratives.

However, what sets Endgame apart from other movies featuring time travel is how it explores the impact of this concept on characters' relationships. As our heroes revisit their pasts and interact with loved ones who have since passed away, they confront feelings of regret, nostalgia, and loss. These emotional arcs are interwoven into the film's grandiose action set pieces and give depth and complexity to its characters. By doing so, Endgame proves that even amidst all its superhero spectacle, it remains grounded in exploring human experiences.

And just like how Endgame served as a culmination point for Marvel Cinematic Universe films up until that point, some television shows have also incorporated different forms or methods or versions of traveling through time into their storylines.

We can't discuss time travel on TV without mentioning 'Doctor Who', the long-running British series that has been exploring the concept for over 50 years. The show's titular character, the Doctor, travels through time and space in a police box called the TARDIS, encountering various historical events and alien races along the way. Another classic time-traveling show is 'Quantum Leap', which follows Sam Beckett as he jumps into different people's bodies throughout history to fix past mistakes and ultimately find his way back home. More recently, we have seen time travel play a significant role in Netflix's hit series 'Stranger Things' as characters navigate parallel dimensions and timelines to save their friend from a monstrous creature. These shows offer unique perspectives on the idea of traveling through time and continue to captivate audiences with new twists on this age-old concept.

You're transported through time and space with the iconic Doctor, experiencing adventures that span galaxies and centuries. Doctor Who has been a beloved staple in pop culture for over 50 years, captivating audiences with its unique take on time travel. Here are four reasons why this show is so significant:

The impact of Doctor Who on time travel narratives: Doctor Who was one of the first TV shows to explore the concept of traveling through time, paving the way for other popular sci-fi franchises like Back to the Future and The Terminator.

The cultural significance of the TARDIS: The TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space) is not just a spaceship, but an iconic symbol in pop culture. Its blue exterior and vast interior have become synonymous with Doctor Who and its legacy.

Fan loyalty: With over 50 years worth of content, Doctor Who has amassed a dedicated fanbase known as Whovians who have kept the show alive through multiple regenerations.

Innovation in storytelling: Throughout its many seasons, Doctor Who has constantly pushed boundaries when it comes to storytelling, incorporating various genres such as horror and comedy while exploring complex themes like morality and identity.

As we move onto the next subtopic about Quantum Leap, we can see how this show also played a role in shaping our understanding of time travel narratives.

Get ready to be blown away by the mind-bending journey that is Quantum Leap, a show that will make you question everything you thought you knew about reality. In this sci-fi television series, Dr. Sam Beckett (played by Scott Bakula) travels through time within his own lifetime, leaping into the bodies of different people in various moments in history. The catch? He never knows where or when he'll end up next.

The science behind Quantum Leap is based on the theory of quantum mechanics, which posits that particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously until they are observed and then collapse into a single state. In this show, Sam's consciousness "leaps" into the body of someone in the past and must fulfill a specific task before leaping again to another time and place. This unique concept opens up philosophical implications about identity and free will, as Sam grapples with the consequences of his actions while inhabiting other people's bodies.

As we delve deeper into the world of time travel in pop culture, it's impossible not to mention Stranger Things - a show that has captivated audiences with its blend of horror, sci-fi, and nostalgia.

If you're a fan of sci-fi, horror, and the '80s, then Stranger Things is an absolute must-watch. This Netflix original series takes us back to the small town of Hawkins, Indiana in 1983 where we follow a group of friends as they uncover government conspiracies and supernatural forces. One of the most intriguing elements in the show is the concept of The Upside Down - a parallel universe that exists alongside our own but is filled with darkness and danger. As the characters navigate this alternate dimension, it becomes clear that time and space are not what they seem.

While Stranger Things doesn't explicitly deal with time travel, Eleven's powers provide an interesting aspect to explore. Through her psychic abilities, she can access memories from both past and present, allowing her to see events unfold even when she's not physically there. Additionally, her connection to The Upside Down blurs the lines between different timelines and creates a sense of temporal disorientation. Overall, Stranger Things offers a unique perspective on how time and reality can be manipulated in science fiction storytelling.

As pop culture continues to evolve, so does our fascination with exploring time travel concepts through various mediums like film and television.

You might be thinking, "I don't really keep up with all the latest trends in entertainment," but even if that's the case, you've probably noticed how often movies and shows these days use some kind of unconventional storytelling device to keep audiences on their toes. Time travel is one such device that has become increasingly popular in recent years. From sci-fi epics like Interstellar and Tenet to comedic romps like Palm Springs and About Time, time travel has become a staple of pop culture.

But why is time travel so captivating? Perhaps it's because it allows us to explore different timelines and possibilities, or maybe it's because we're fascinated by the idea of changing our past or future. Whatever the reason may be, time travel raises important questions about society and ethics. What are the consequences of altering history? Is it ethical to change events for personal gain? As we continue to see more examples of time travel in pop culture, these questions will only become more relevant and thought-provoking.

Cultural variations in the concept of time travel are fascinating to explore. Time travel tropes, as they appear in different cultures around the world, can reveal a lot about how people from different backgrounds view time and history. For instance, in Japanese culture, there is a strong emphasis on honoring one's ancestors and maintaining traditions. This is reflected in their approach to time travel narratives, which often involve characters going back to specific moments in the past to rectify wrongs committed by their forebears. In contrast, Western cultures tend to focus more on individualism and personal growth. As such, many Western time travel stories feature protagonists traveling through time as a means of improving themselves or preventing disasters that directly affect them. By examining these cultural variations, we can gain insights into how our relationship with time shapes our values and beliefs.

Parallel universes and time dilation are two scientific theories that have been proposed to support the possibility of time travel. These concepts suggest that alternate realities exist, where time may move differently than it does in our own universe. The theory of time dilation proposes that time can be stretched or compressed depending on an observer's speed and proximity to gravity. However, while these ideas provide a basis for understanding the concept of time travel, there is currently no concrete evidence to support their validity. As such, the idea of traveling through time remains purely speculative in the realm of science.

When it comes to time travel, there are ethical implications and a cultural fascination that extend far beyond the realm of science. Our pop culture's portrayal of time travel has undoubtedly shaped our understanding and interest in this topic. The ability to go back in time or jump into the future is not only intriguing but also raises important questions about causality, free will, and morality. Whether we're watching Marty McFly hop into a DeLorean or the Time Lords battling Daleks, these stories have captured our imaginations and inspired us to explore what could be possible if we could manipulate time itself. While time travel may still remain firmly in the realm of fiction, it's clear that our fascination with this concept continues to influence how we think about science and its potential impact on our lives.

When it comes to time travel in pop culture, many people think of popular and well-known examples like Back to the Future or Doctor Who. However, there are also lesser-known examples that have made a significant impact on the genre. One such example is the concept of alternate realities, where characters experience different versions of their own lives based on different choices they make. This idea has been explored in shows like Fringe and movies like The Butterfly Effect. Another interesting example is the idea of time loops, where characters are trapped in a never-ending cycle of repeating events. This concept has been utilized in films like Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow. These lesser-known examples may not be as mainstream as some other time travel stories, but they offer unique perspectives on the concept and have contributed to its evolution in pop culture.

Have you ever wondered how advancements in technology and special effects have impacted the way time travel is depicted on screen? As we delve deeper into this topic, it becomes increasingly clear that filmmakers are faced with a delicate balance between creating an engaging story and avoiding potentially confusing time travel paradoxes. Additionally, there are ethical implications to be considered when portraying time travel. For example, what if someone were to go back in time and change a significant event - would they be altering history for the better or worse? These questions require careful consideration from both writers and viewers alike, as the consequences of time travel can have far-reaching effects.

As we wrap up our journey through time travel in pop culture, it's clear that this concept has come a long way since its early depictions. From H.G. Wells' The Time Machine to modern-day blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame, the evolution of time travel is a reflection of our own fascination with the unknown and desire to explore what lies beyond our current reality.

One metaphor that comes to mind when thinking about time travel in pop culture is a rollercoaster ride. Just like how a rollercoaster takes us on twists and turns, ups and downs, so too does time travel in film and TV. We never know where we'll end up or what new obstacles we'll face along the way, but it's the thrill of the journey that keeps us coming back for more.

But as much fun as it is to watch characters navigate alternate timelines and paradoxes on screen, let's not forget that time travel remains firmly rooted in fiction. While technology continues to advance and scientists explore theories of wormholes and black holes, we have yet to discover a way to truly manipulate time itself. So for now, let's continue enjoying these imaginative stories as they take us on wild rides through the past, present, and future.

20 Best Time-Travel Shows Ranked

If you could travel back and forth through time, where would you go? What would you do? Who would you talk to? Even better, if you were writing a book, making a movie, or working on a television show about time travel, what would you include? The best TV shows about time travel all feature characters who visit other eras for various compelling (or even life-threatening) reasons. Maybe it's to prevent a coming apocalypse, maybe it's just to save one person's life — but as many of these shows teach, small changes can have big effects, and many of these characters learn that their time-traveling can change the world.  

Now, there are some great time travel-adjacent shows that don't quite fit this list. A fun romp like "Early Edition," for example, utilizes a time-traveling newspaper and potentially a time-traveling cat, but doesn't in and of itself feature a lot of time travel. Likewise, something like "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" is rooted in a time travel premise, but stays mostly in one time. With all that said, here's a look at our choices for the 20 best time travel shows on TV.

Save the cheerleader, save the world. That's what future Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka) tells present-day Hiro when he appears to him from the future, and that's what establishes "Heroes" as way more than just a superhero show.

The NBC series follows a group of regular people who develop special powers, not unlike mutants in the "X-Men" series, after a mysterious worldwide eclipse. Each character gains their own individual abilities. Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere) develops the ability to heal from any injury. Senator Nathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar) gains the ability to fly, while his brother Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) can temporarily absorb others' powers. Still, few of these characters have cooler abilities than Hiro, who can influence the space-time continuum. This means he can teleport, slow down time — and, of course, time travel.   

Understandably, Hiro's power set becomes a serious asset throughout the series, and his path to perfect his abilities is one of "Heroes'" strongest story arcs. The first few times he travels through time don't go as planned, and throughout the series, things can get in the way of him ending up where he wants to go or when he wants to be. While Hiro's time-traveling is just one part of the larger story, it's definitely one of the show's highlights – especially since Oka is so darn charming as the character.

19. 11.22.63

One of the best Stephen King TV series out there, the eight-episode "11.22.63" follows a man named Jake Epping (James Franco). He's a relatively normal guy who receives a chance to change history when his friend Al (Chris Cooper) tells him he's found a way to travel back in time. Al tells Jake that the portal he's discovered goes back to the year 1960 and that he's been working on a plan to stop the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Al's age and advancing cancer diagnosis prevent him from following through on the plan, however, and he asks Jake to take over for him. Jake agrees, but soon his quest is met with pushback from a mysterious source. As it turns out, the past doesn't want to be changed, and every step Jake takes toward preventing JFK's assassination leads to more cracks in the timeline. 

A charming and exciting time travel drama, "11.22.63" is a well-executed, twisty tale that only ranks so low on this list because it's in such great company. If you're looking for a quick, self-contained time travel miniseries that revolves around one of modern America's most notable events, this show is well worth a watch. 

When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crash lands on a deserted island, wacky and scary things start happening to the survivors. ABC's "Lost" deals with flashbacks, flash-forwards, mysterious groups that already have a presence on the island, a black smoke monster — and, as it turns out, an ancient battle between good and evil. One of the great appointment television shows before streaming broke through, "Lost" had fans talking about it and theorizing about its mysteries on a weekly basis.

The sci-fi drama captivated viewers for six seasons, and though time travel is referenced throughout the entire series run, it plays the biggest role in Season 4. As the island itself leaps from place to place and from time to time, the main group of characters jumps with it, encountering previous versions of themselves and island events that occurred in the past, and suffering from the effects of temporal displacement. The most beloved episode dealing with time travel is undoubtedly "The Constant," in which fan-favorite Desmond Hume (Henry Ian Cusick) figures out a way to stop his consciousness from jumping through time by finding his constant — his true love, Penny (Sonya Walger).

Of course, "Lost" is not just a time travel show, and famously covers such a wide variety of mysteries and sci-fi concepts that viewers might find it hard to keep up. As such, it ends up with this relatively low ranking. 

Like "Lost", "Fringe" is considered one of the most binge-worthy sci-fi shows of all time  but the fact that it isn't exclusively about time travel means it lands near the tail end of this particular list. The ABC show revolves around a science-fiction conglomerate that dabbles with interdimensional travel, wormholes, and alternate realities. Anna Torv stars as FBI Agent Olivia Dunham, who heads up the bureau's Fringe Division. With the help of "mad scientist" Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), his estranged son Peter (Joshua Jackson), and their lab assistant Astrid Farnsworth (Jakisa Nicole), Dunham explores cases involving fringe science — be they about time travel, mind control, experiments gone wrong or any other strange and obscure criminal activity.

Time travel is more of a looming presence early in "Fringe," particularly present in the character of the Observer (Michael Cerveris), a bald, pale, genetically advanced human from the future. While Season 1 and Season 2 deal with the battle between two dimensions and realities, time travel really becomes an element in Season 3. Seasons 4 and 5 then deal with alternate timelines and the Observers that infiltrate the world from the future, intent on wiping out humanity. As you might expect, things can get a bit confusing, but the show sure is fun.

16. The Umbrella Academy

You have to respect a show that's so high-concept that time travel doesn't even get top billing. "The Umbrella Academy" boasts mysterious events, family drama, dance numbers, a talking chimpanzee, some of the cleverest superpowers in superhero shows, and a robot mom — and that's just scratching the surface. Based on "The Umbrella Academy" comics created by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance fame, the Netflix show is a saga that exploits everything from the butterfly effect to the grandfather paradox for emotional and comedic impact.

The central Hargreeves family consists of a group of kids all born on the same day, adopted by the same eccentric billionaire (Colm Feore). He has trained them to protect the world with their various superpowers, but they aren't particularly great at it, and their strict upbringing has left them with a wide array of issues and deep rifts between them. The dysfunctional bunch starts out fairly estranged, but slowly bonds to save humanity from an apocalyptic event ... only to cause another potential apocalyptic event by sprinkling themselves across time.

In between the tears in the space-time continuum, "The Umbrella Academy" is ultimately an ensemble story about found (and re-found) family, as well as a truly unique superhero show where personal failure and the side-effects of costumed crimefighter life play a huge role. However, since Season 1 largely approaches time travel through Number Five (Aidan Gallagher) and the Temps Aeternalis agency, and much of Season 3 focuses on a present-day alternate reality, only the 1960s-themed Season 2 goes truly all in on the concept of sending all main characters to a different era. 

15. Sliders

"Sliders" is a 1990s sci-fi adventure series that features Jerry O'Connell and friends getting lost across the multiverse. O'Connell ("Stand By Me") plays boy genius Quinn Mallory, inventor of the Timer — a device that lets him and his friends "slide" through a wormhole vortex into different versions of Earth. The thing about wormhole vortexes, though, is that they like to misbehave, meaning Quinn and his buds never know where they're headed next on their adventures. This makes their quest to get back home to their own Earth a tricky one.

"Sliders" starts off fun and strong, and is at its best when having bonkers fun — like when Rembrandt (Cleavant Derricks) discovers a world where he could have been Elvis-level famous — and when it's exploring real-world issues in a high-concept dimension, like when the crew visits an Earth that treats men worse than women. Even if you've seen it before, it's definitely worth a re-watch, because "Sliders" is one  TV show that's better than you remember.

14. Continuum

On "Continuum," Kiera Cameron (Rachel Nichols) is a Protector – think futuristic government agent from even more futuristic equipment — from the year 2077. She gets transported to the year 2012 along with a group of murderous terrorists, forcing Kiera to remain in the past as she chases them down. Fortunately, her gadgets and knowledge of the past soon come in handy and she finds loyal allies. Unfortunately, her enemies also know their history and plan on altering it for their own gain. 

"Continuum" milks the premise for all it's worth, while avoiding the pitfall of becoming a run-in-the-mill procedural with an unchanging status quo. While Kiera does handle her share of case-of-the-week story arcs, they're often connected to the group she pursues, and she never lets go of her primary target of stopping the terrorists. In order to avoid disrupting the timeline, she also has to go to great lengths to avoid revealing that either she or her targets are time travelers — and when their actions inevitably end up changing the future, she has to deal with the consequences. 

13. Timeless

If ever there was a time travel show that was canceled too soon, it's Eric Kripke and Shawn Ryan's "Timeless." The NBC sci-fi series stars Abigail Spencer as the historian Lucy, Matt Lanter as the soldier Wyatt, and Malcolm Barrett as Rufus, a scientist who makes up a team trying to prevent a mysterious organization from altering the courses of history through time travel. They're up againsts Garcia Flynn (Goran Višnjić), who travels throughout history intending to influence major events like the Hindenburg disaster. However, the team soon realizes that the villain they thought they were fighting is much larger and infiltrates the historical timeline in ways they never imagined. 

Instead of focusing on the usual historical suspects, "Timeless" often highlights forgotten people of color, women, and lesser-known historical figures, giving them their due and celebrating their contributions to society. This element of the show can be seen in the way Rufus, for instance, is reluctant to join the team because he knows how Black people are treated in the eras they visit. 

Despite its intriguing concept, the show was canceled after Season 1, but fans caused such an uproar that NBC reversed the decision of canceling "Timeless"  and renewed it for another season. After Season 2, NBC pulled the plug once more, and again, the fans cried foul. In a kind of compromise, NBC greenlit a special two-hour series finale that ties up loose ends and gives much-needed closure to the story. 

12. 12 Monkeys

The "12 Monkeys" SyFy series is based on the 1995 film of the same name that stars Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt — though the series makes a fair few changes to stretch the plot into a four-season sci-fi drama. The series stars Aaron Sanford as James Cole, a scavenger from the year 2024 who's tasked with traveling to 2015 in order to stop the release of a biological weapon. In the movie, James is helped by a psychologist named Kathryn Railly played by Madeleine Stowe, but here, he befriends a virologist named Dr. Cassandra "Cassie" Railly (Amanda Schull). Pitt's character, Jeffrey Goines, is also gender-swapped here, with Emily Hampshire playing Jennifer Goines.

Like the movie, the series deals with the Cassandra Complex, the idea that we have a hard time believing concerns about the future, no matter how likely and provable they are. It also deals with circular time and the idea that past events can be affected by future ones. If those aspects of the film lift your time travel antennae, the four-season show dives even deeper.

11. Paper Girls

"Paper Girls" is a brilliant time travel show that was canceled way ahead of its time. Based on the comics by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, this Amazon series tells the story of a group of 1990s tween girls who get attacked by futuristic invaders. They manage to escape into the future, where one of the girls, Erin (Riley Lai Nelet ), meets her adult self (Ali Wong).

The show dispenses with grandfather paradox hand-wringing and instead uses the concept of the girls confronting their past and future selves, to brutally honest and hilarious effect. Young Erin is horrified to find out how much of herself she's abandoned by the time she turns into Old Erin, and refuses to let life work out that way. It motivates Erin to want to return to her home time even more — this kid has a clock to beat. However, there are two sides to the coin, and Old Erin is also able to care for her young self in ways she never felt able to when she was younger. It's a beautiful and potent visual metaphor that other characters also make good on. 

All in all, "Paper Girls" is a feast for the eyes as much as its ensemble cast is a feast for the soul. Plus, Jason Mantzoukas playfully chewing scenery as the ominous Grand Father? This show could have lasted until the end of time — or at least until Season 2.

10. Timewasters

"Timewasters" is a time travel comedy about a Black British jazz band that accidentally time-slips back to 1920s London, among other timelines. The quartet stumbles into an earlier time perod via a disgusting elevator that, yes, doubles as a time machine. Once the crew shows up in the past, they're treated like freaks, but they gain some measure of success as musicians. While the crew eventually tries to return to the present, they also have a "Back to the Future" moment when they seemingly get stuck in the 1950s.

"Timewasters" is full of funny jokes and great music, and it's a groundbreaking show in a number of ways. "People like us never get to time travel — it's what white people do, like skiing or brunch," creator Daniel Lawrence Taylor told the Royal Television Society . "For me, race is so important." Taylor also stars in "Timewasters," along with Kadiff Kirwan ("Slow Horses"), Adelayo Adedayo ("Some Girls"), and Samson Kayo ("Our Flag Means Death"). The show is also an excellent destination if you're into spotting a variety of British actors and comedians ... including Joseph Quinn, who went on to rise to fame as Eddie Munson on "Stranger Things."

9. Outlander

Based on the series of novels by Diana Gabaldon, Starz's "Outlander" follows the story of a World War II nurse named Claire (Caitriona Balfe) who finds herself thrown back in time after visiting a circle of mysterious Druid stones. She arrives in 18th Century Scotland and, after being taken in by a band of gruff Scots, she marries the dashing young Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) in order to avoid being taken prisoner by her real husband's (Tobias Menzies) apparent evil ancestor, Black Jack Randall (Menzies). Claire lives through a time of great upheaval in Scotland when tensions with British control are rising and history-making battles loom in the near future. Despite being initially reluctant to stay, she and Jamie fall deeply in love, and their romance remains the backbone of the series.

The entire "Outlander" timeline  takes some time to explain, what with several 20th-century characters taking the trip to the 18th century and the show covering versions of notable real-world historical events. Without further spoilers, all there is to say is that if you enjoy time travel shows that lean heavily toward historical drama, "Outlander" is where it's at. Also, if you view Tobias Menzies as an incorrigible dweeb due to his performance as Edmure Tully on "Game of Thrones," his monstrous "Outlander" villain is guaranteed to erase that image.

8. Quantum Leap

"Quantum Leap" stars Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett, a physicist who invents a way to travel through time. When the corporation funding his project threatens to shut it down, Sam uses himself as a guinea pig to test out the method. He finds himself thrown back in time, but in another person's body. The only other entity aware of his 'leap" is a hologram of his colleague and best friend, Admiral Al Calavicci (Dean Stockwell). Al tells Sam that he must correct things that went wrong in the past before being allowed to leap back to his own time and body, and can only use the resources of the project's supercomputer, Ziggy.

With Sam leaping back and forth into different bodies at different times, the show uses a variant of the traditional procedural set up. New characters turn up to guest star and Sam gets to save the day, have a fling, and learn something new before leaping to the next destination, which just might be home one of these days.  

The series ran on NBC from 1989 to 1993, but its combination of time travel and case-of-the-week antics has proved enduring enough that "Quantum Leap" even gets a shout-out in "Avengers: Endgame." Despite being over three decades old, it remains a cool time travel series worth checking out.

7. The 4400

In the opening scenes of "The 4400," an enormous ball of light drops 4,400 people at the foot of Mount Rainier in Washington. They soon realize that they were all taken from some other point in time and deposited into the year 2004, unaged and without any memories of where they'd been. At first, everyone assumes that these people have been abducted by aliens. However, it soon turns out that the truth is far more time travel-related.

The returned people soon start developing "Heroes"-style powers that range from telekinesis to telepathy and super-strength, which people from the future have entrusted with to prevent various catastrophic events that they want to avoid in their timeline. Unfortunately, the 2004 government considers the powered folks a threat, and inhibits their powers with a neurological drug. 

The stories that unfold from this setup are exactly as complex and entertaining as you'd imagine, with various members of the titular group treating their powers in different ways and society having a hard time dealing with them. Unfortunately, "The 4400" ended abruptly after four seasons on a somewhat ambiguous note, but even so, it's a fun show to revisit.

6. Travelers

In Netflix's "Travelers," time-traveling operatives from a post-apocalyptic future are tasked with preventing certain events that have led to the downfall of society in their own present day of 2018. The travelers' consciousness takes over a person in the desired time who's just about to die, and the operative then lives out the rest of that person's days though with the mission in mind ... and a strict set of rules they must follow. Apart from a list of ways they're not allowed to interact with the past, they're also strictly forbidden from communicating with other known travelers outside their team, save for special circumstances dictated by the Director, who communicates by temporarily taking over children. 

It's a unique and complex premise, and the way the travelers scope out potential targets for takeover and learn to live as them is as timely as it comes — they use social media, GPS locations, and other readily available online information for their time-travel tricks. This adds a layer of present-day dread to the show's fascinating take on time travel. 

Loki Laufeyson (Tom Hiddleston) meets his match when he comes up against the Time Variance Authority in one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most ambitious Disney+ shows, "Loki." The TVA is so dedicated to maintaining a particular sacred timeline that they purge all alternate realities where someone made a choice they deem wrong, which might not always make sense, but precision isn't the point here. It's the idea of playfulness versus control. 

The Loki we see here is an alternate-timeline variant of the one the audiences are familiar with, and thus starts the show in full "The Avengers" villain mode before life — and time — starts grinding him down. Working with TVA agent Mobius M. Mobius (Owen Wilson), he starts redeeming himself by tracking down an apparently evil version of himself, Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) ... and ultimately tackling the biggest challenges time can offer.  

The God of Mischief's surprisingly human path of reckoning is the heart of a show that's deliciously stylish, silly, and sometimes scary. "Loki" takes a cops-and-robbers crime caper into time travel territory and explores hefty themes with a light touch, from mindless compliance to self-serving overseers to criminalizing anyone deemed different. "Loki" isn't just a time travel show — it's a show about everything time can offer and more, with characters dancing between eras as you might step from room to room. Also, it has Alligator Loki, who's objectively the best Loki of all. 

If "Loki" is too light-hearted for you, Netflix's "Dark" might be your jam ... provided you can make sense of its incredibly convoluted time travel storyline. Four families weave a tangled web of time travel in this German-language psychological thriller about missing kids, a rotten town, and how almost all of our secrets come out in time. In other words, it's a good time travel show, but it's definitely not a feel-good time travel show. 

"Dark" follows its many characters over the course of their lifetimes and, at one point, has three timelines going at once. Part of the intrigue and challenge of watching the show is trying to understand how (and when) each timeline threads into the other. If you decide to watch it, it's best to have an evidence board and plenty of red yarn ready to chart the relationships and betrayals the town of Winden sees over the years.

While "Dark" is as much a show about human connection and how frayed it can become as it is about time travel, it's also the MVP of using as many time travel paradoxes as possible during its three-season run. "Dark" is also an innovator in the field of wormhole placement. Wormholes are already not to be trusted, but a wormhole underneath a nuclear power plant? No, thank you.

3. Beforeigners

What happens when a bunch of Viking-era warriors, 19th-century figures, and Stone Age people pop up in modern-day Oslo? "Beforeigners" attempts to answer that question while navigating twisty murder mysteries with such efficiency that the Norwegian series may be best described as "crime travel." Adding to the intrigue is the way it focuses more on the present-day relationship between the time refugees and their modern counterparts than on how they showed up in the first place.

"Beforeigners" centers around the odd-couple partnership between hardened police detective Lars Haaland (Nicolai Cleve Broch) and eager new Viking police recruit Alfhildr Enginnsdóttir (Krista Kosonen), who investigate things like the murder of a Stone Age victim and even look into crimes with possible ties to Jack the Ripper.

The metaphor of time migration is an apt one for immigration, and this sci-fi show explores tricky real-life issues with plenty of scope. Creators Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin got their start in comedy writing, and their commitment to the bit is evident in the show, including the language used. "Early on, I contacted researchers, professors who helped us. We also constructed the language that Stone Age people spoke, and even with the language from the 19th century: We worked on it to make it sound right," Bjørnstad told Variety . "Why not invest in language, which is such a big part of a person's identity?"

2. Russian Doll

"Russian Doll" could be pitched as "Natasha Lyonne's 'Groundhog Day,'" but that still wouldn't hint at half of the show's charm and emotion. This Netflix offering is a mind-bending time loop dramedy that's a stylish and surreal exploration of life, death, and all the trauma in between. Season 1 of "Russian Doll" features Nadia (Lyonne) stuck reliving her 36th birthday until she inevitably dies and resets back to her friend's bathroom. Later in the season, she discovers a fellow time traveler (Charlie Barnett). They quickly realize that the way out of their dead ends and into a new life is through helping each other.

Season 2 takes some departures from the recursive reality set up in the first season, bending viewers' minds even more thoroughly. "Russian Doll" goes deep, but keeps a sense of humor even as it twists the knife in its characters' hearts — and their timelines. The show keeps audiences just oriented enough by linking its time loops to recognizable spaces and sound cues. You will never look at the subway the same way again, and you will probably never get Harry Nilsson's "Gotta Get Up" out of your head.

1. Doctor Who

Really, could any other show top a list like this?  The untold history of "Doctor Who"  goes all the way back to 1963, when the show premiered on the BBC. The series follows the adventures of a Time Lord who calls themselves the Doctor — an alien being from the planet Gallifrey who travels through space and time on a craft called the TARDIS, which is charmingly disguised as an old-fashioned British police call box and is famously bigger on the inside.  Every Doctor has their own companions  – humans who follow the Doctor throughout space and time, helping people, battling new and recurring villains, and dealing with the assorted wibbly-wobbly stuff on the Doctor's timeline .

The original series ran from 1963 through 1989 and established the neat trick of recasting the Doctor every few years or so, thanks to the premise that the character has multiple lives and can reincarnate himself into different physical bodies. The modern series was revived in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, and talented actors like David Tennant (twice), Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whitaker, and Ncuti Gatwa have followed in his footsteps. Even without the fact that no other show has time travel quite as integrated into its very premise as "Doctor Who," the show's sheer longevity and cultural impact are more than enough to make it the king of the time travel hill. 

KnowYourMeme

25 Nostalgic Finds To Take You Back To The '90s

Posted: March 28, 2024 | Last updated: March 28, 2024

Nostalgia is a weird feeling. It's one of those feelings that can't quite be explained, and it's sort of bittersweet. Nostalgia is like remembering another time, maybe a happier time, but knowing that those times are gone and cannot be revisited. Things have changed, some for the worst, some for the better, but the memories will last forever.

While nostalgia can be different for everyone, and there are certain fond memories from everyone's childhood, there are some big things that are pretty universally understood as being nostalgic. '90s nostalgia and early 2000s nostalgia are pretty widely felt. That time was a huge turning point in technology and media, with all the games that were coming out, the colors and commercials and toys, and anyone who was a kid at the time remembers it all too clearly. These times were crucial to the development of technology today too. So many of these brands are still around, just newer and bigger. Here are 25 nostalgic moments from Reddit's /r/Nostalgia that will take everyone on a trip back in time.

Bead Critters

Like our content? Follow us for more.

Handheld Baseball

Mornings in the 80s

Taylor Swifts Country Era

Quizno's Subs

The Original Mortal Kombat, 1995

Fruit of the Loom with the Cornucopia

McDonald's Play Place from 1994

The Tom Green Show, 1999

The Star Wars Craze, 1999

Taco Bell in the Early 2000s

This Iconic Show

These Books

When Cars Had DVD Players

When Walmart Was 24-Hours

This School Planner

The Simplicity of MS Paint

Phones with Keyboards

Those Prices

Phone Charms

The Best Day in Gym

The Pokedex

Read the original article on Know Your Meme.

More for You

Trump Blames Biden For Strong Dollar—As US Currency Reaches New High Against Japanese Yen

2 navy helicopters were seen colliding in midair during a military parade rehearsal, killing 10 people

The 19 most hated movie and TV characters ever, ranked

If You See Black Residue on Your Cast-Iron Skillet, This Is What It Means

Vivek Ramaswamy May, Like Donald Trump, Soon Be in a Courtroom

Common Foods That Are Illegal to Grow in Your Backyard

18 Funny Examples of ‘If It’s Stupid and It Works, It’s Not Stupid’

Scientists discover gigantic 'structure' under the surface of the Moon

10 most ‘overpriced’ tourist attractions in the world – and three are in the US

Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years

Michael Jordan taking notice of young NBA star

The One Thing You Should Never Do With Sprouted Onions

I moved my family from California to Austin, Texas, and regretted it. Here are 10 things to consider before making an expensive mistake.

Our Handyman Explains How Often You Should Lubricate Your Garage Door Springs

The Social Security COLA Countdown Is On: Here's How Much Your Increase Will Likely Be as Things Stand Right Now

Ghosts of the USA: The Most Haunted Places in America

U.S. Speaks Out About 'Mass Grave' Found in Gaza

It’s not that Trump beat Clinton. It’s all the other stuff.

LeBron James rips NBA replay center in expletive rant after Nuggets top Lakers with buzzer-beater

20 extremely long movies that are extremely good

• Copy from this list
• Report this list

Time travel tv shows

• Movies or TV
• IMDb Rating
• In Theaters
• Release Year

1. Timeless (2016–2018)

TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

An unlikely trio travels through time to battle unknown criminals and protect history as we know it.

Stars: Abigail Spencer , Matt Lanter , Malcolm Barrett , Paterson Joseph

Votes: 47,075

2. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016–2022)

TV-14 | 42 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

Time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter must recruit a ragtag team of heroes and villains to help prevent an apocalypse that could impact not only Earth, but all of time.

Stars: Caity Lotz , Amy Louise Pemberton , Dominic Purcell , Nick Zano

Votes: 110,011

3. Doctor Who (2005–2022)

TV-PG | 45 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi

The further adventures in time and space of the alien adventurer known as the Doctor and his companions from planet Earth.

Stars: Jodie Whittaker , Peter Capaldi , Pearl Mackie , Matt Smith

Votes: 246,395

4. Continuum (I) (2012–2015)

TV-14 | 45 min | Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

A detective from the year 2077 finds herself trapped in present-day Vancouver and searching for ruthless criminals from the future.

Stars: Rachel Nichols , Victor Webster , Erik Knudsen , Stephen Lobo

Votes: 63,518

5. Time After Time (2017)

TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Sci-Fi

The adventures of young H.G. Wells and his time machine.

Stars: Freddie Stroma , Josh Bowman , Will Chase , Genesis Rodriguez

Votes: 3,977

6. Travelers (2016–2018)

TV-MA | 45 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

Hundreds of years from now, surviving humans discover how to send consciousness back through time, into people of the 21st century, while attempting to change the path of humanity.

Stars: Eric McCormack , MacKenzie Porter , Nesta Cooper , Jared Abrahamson

Votes: 64,330

7. Tru Calling (2003–2005)

TV-14 | 43 min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery

A university graduate working in the city morgue is able to repeat the same day over again to prevent murders or other disasters.

Stars: Eliza Dushku , Shawn Reaves , Zach Galifianakis , A.J. Cook

Votes: 17,261

8. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008–2009)

TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Drama, Fantasy

Set after the events in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Sarah Connor and her son, John, try to stay under-the-radar from the government, as they plot to destroy the computer network, Skynet, in hopes of preventing Armageddon.

Stars: Lena Headey , Thomas Dekker , Summer Glau , Richard T. Jones

Votes: 62,812

9. Outlander (2014– )

TV-MA | 60 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Claire Beauchamp Randall, a nurse in World War II, mysteriously goes back in time to Scotland in 1743. There, she meets a dashing Highland warrior and gets drawn into an epic rebellion.

Stars: Caitríona Balfe , Sam Heughan , Sophie Skelton , Richard Rankin

Votes: 178,947

10. 12 Monkeys (2015–2018)

TV-14 | 42 min | Adventure, Drama, Mystery

Follows the journey of a time traveler from the post-apocalyptic future who appears in present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will nearly destroy the human race.

Stars: Aaron Stanford , Amanda Schull , Noah Bean , Barbara Sukowa

Votes: 48,681

11. 11.22.63 (2016)

TV-MA | 60 min | Drama, Mystery, Romance

Jake Epping, a teacher, gets a chance to travel back in time to avert the death of John F. Kennedy. However, history's aversion to alteration and his love for the era and a woman endanger him.

Stars: James Franco , Sarah Gadon , George MacKay , Chris Cooper

Votes: 99,200

12. Doctor Who (1963–1989)

TV-PG | 25 min | Adventure, Drama, Family

The adventures in time and space of the Doctor, a Time Lord who changes appearance and personality by regenerating when near death, and is joined by companions in battles against aliens and other megalomaniacs.

Stars: William Hartnell , Patrick Troughton , Jon Pertwee , Tom Baker

Votes: 39,507

13. Quantum Leap (1989–1993)

TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

During an experiment into time travel, a scientist finds himself trapped in the past, "leaping" into the lives of different people, sorting out their problems and changing history in hopes of getting back to his own life in the present.

Stars: Scott Bakula , Dean Stockwell , Deborah Pratt , Dennis Wolfberg

Votes: 36,449

14. Terra Nova (2011)

TV-14 | 46 min | Adventure, Drama, Mystery

Centers on the Shannons, an ordinary family from 2149 when the planet is dying, who are transported back 85 million years to prehistoric Earth where they join Terra Nova, a colony of humans with a second chance to build a civilization.

Stars: Jason O'Mara , Shelley Conn , Christine Adams , Allison Miller

Votes: 86,047

15. Frequency (2016–2017)

TV-MA | 42 min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery

A police detective in 2016 discovers that she is able to communicate with her father via a ham radio, despite the fact that he died in 1996.

Stars: Peyton List , Riley Smith , Devin Kelley , Mekhi Phifer

Votes: 14,375

16. Primeval (2007–2011)

When strange anomalies start to appear all over England, Professor Cutter and his team must track down and capture all sorts of dangerous prehistoric creatures from Earth's distant past and near future.

Stars: Andrew Lee Potts , Hannah Spearritt , Ben Miller , Juliet Aubrey

Votes: 15,432

17. Life on Mars (2006–2007)

TV-14 | 959 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

After a near-fatal car accident, smart, savvy, sharp-suited detective Sam is mysteriously transported back to 1973. Confused by his new surroundings, Sam tries to return to the present, but the police force of long ago needs his help.

Stars: John Simm , Philip Glenister , Liz White , Dean Andrews

Votes: 32,339

18. Flashforward (2009–2010)

TV-14 | 42 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

A special task force in the FBI investigates after every person on Earth simultaneously blacks out and awakens with a short vision of their future.

Stars: Courtney B. Vance , Joseph Fiennes , Jack Davenport , Zachary Knighton

Votes: 62,084

19. Being Erica (2009–2011)

TV-14 | 45 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

"Therapist" Dr. Tom - who is constantly spouting famous and not so famous historical quotes - is Erica Strange's savior and worst enemy.

Stars: Erin Karpluk , Reagan Pasternak , Michael Riley , Kathleen Laskey

Votes: 10,200

20. The Crossing (2018)

TV-PG | 42 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi

Refugees from a war-torn country 180 years in the future start showing up in the present to seek asylum in an American town.

Stars: Steve Zahn , Natalie Martinez , Tommy Bastow , Rob Campbell

Votes: 10,183

21. Alcatraz (2012)

TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama

In 1963, all the prisoners and guards mysteriously disappear from Alcatraz. In the present day, they resurface and a secret agency are tasked with re-capturing them.

Stars: Sarah Jones , Jorge Garcia , Jonny Coyne , Parminder Nagra

Votes: 40,277

22. Phil of the Future (2004–2006)

TV-G | 25 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family

A family from 2121 is stuck in 2004, trying desperately to fit in.

Stars: Raviv Ullman , Amy Bruckner , Craig Anton , Lise Simms

Votes: 7,983

23. Ashes to Ashes (2008–2010)

TV-MA | 1,320 min | Crime, Drama, Fantasy

After being shot in 2008 while investigating DCI Sam Tyler, DI Alex Drake wakes up in 1981.

Stars: Philip Glenister , Keeley Hawes , Dean Andrews , Marshall Lancaster

Votes: 11,059

24. Goodnight Sweetheart (1993–2016)

Not Rated | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

British sitcom in which an unhappily married man discovers he can time travel back to 1940s war-torn London where he masquerades as an MI5 agent and part-time songwriter whilst courting the local barmaid.

Stars: Nicholas Lyndhurst , Victor McGuire , Christopher Ettridge , Elizabeth Carling

Votes: 3,333

25. The Time Tunnel (1966–1967)

TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Two scientists with a secret time travel project find themselves trapped in the time stream and appearing in notable periods of history.

Stars: James Darren , Robert Colbert , Whit Bissell , John Zaremba

Votes: 4,227

26. Making History (2017)

21 min | Adventure, Comedy, History

Making History follows three friends from two different centuries as they try to balance the thrill of time travel with the mundane concerns of their present-day lives.

Stars: Adam Pally , Leighton Meester , Yassir Lester , John Gemberling

Votes: 2,611

27. Life on Mars (2008–2009)

TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

A present day car accident mysteriously sends a detective back to the 1970s.

Stars: Jason O'Mara , Michael Imperioli , Gretchen Mol , Jonathan Murphy

Votes: 10,723

28. Primeval: New World (2012–2013)

Canadian spin-off of Primeval (2007). A new team of scientists from the Cross Photonics company in Vancouver track down dangerous creatures emerging through anomalies in time.

Stars: Niall Matter , Sara Canning , Danny Rahim , Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe

Votes: 4,864

29. Seven Days (1998–2001)

42 min | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

An ex-CIA is the point man for a government organization dedicated to time traveling to correct errors that occurred in the previous week.

Stars: Jonathan LaPaglia , Don Franklin , Justina Vail , Nick Searcy

Votes: 3,947

30. New Amsterdam (2008)

TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi

A New York homicide detective is cursed with immortality.

Stars: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Zuleikha Robinson , Alexie Gilmore , Stephen McKinley Henderson

Votes: 7,433

31. Voyagers! (1982–1983)

TV-G | 60 min | Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi

A member of a league of time travelers and a boy travel through time repairing errors in world history.

Stars: Jon-Erik Hexum , Meeno Peluce , David Cadiente , Stephen Liska

Votes: 1,752

32. It's About Time (1966–1967)

30 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi

Two astronauts traveling faster than light go back in time to prehistoric Earth. Unable to return, they make friends with the "natives".

Stars: Frank Aletter , Jack Mullaney , Imogene Coca , Joe E. Ross

33. Journeyman (2007)

45 min | Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi

A San Francisco journalist mysteriously travels to the past and alters the path of people's lives. When his travels reunite him with his long-lost fiancée Livia, life with his present-day wife gets very interesting.

Stars: Kevin McKidd , Gretchen Egolf , Moon Bloodgood , Reed Diamond

Votes: 9,617

34. Time Traveling Bong (2016)

TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi

Centers on two cousins who discover a time-traveling bong and ride high as they blaze through time.

Stars: Ilana Glazer , Paul W. Downs , Kevin Heffernan , Jerry G. Angelo

Votes: 1,717

35. Strange Days at Blake Holsey High (2002–2006)

TV-Y7 | 30 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family

When Josie Trent is sent to the private prep school, she comes face-to-face with paranormal things that cannot be explained. But with the help of her friends and one science teacher, maybe surviving school won't be that hard.

Stars: Emma Taylor-Isherwood , Shadia Simmons , Michael Seater , Noah Reid

Votes: 1,486

36. Odyssey 5 (2002–2004)

After witnessing the sudden implosion of Earth from orbit, a group of five Odyssey astronauts is sent five years back in time by an alien force to find the cause and prevent the disaster. A vast conspiracy stands in their way.

Stars: Peter Weller , Sebastian Roché , Christopher Gorham , Leslie Silva

Votes: 3,159

37. Time Trax (1993–1994)

60 min | Action, Adventure, Crime

A cop from the future is sent back to contemporary times to track down fugitives hiding in the past.

Stars: Dale Midkiff , Elizabeth Alexander , Peter Donat , Malcolm Cork

Votes: 1,544

38. Twice in a Lifetime (1999–2001)

TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Fantasy, History

Prematurely deceased people are given the opportunity to correct something that went wrong in their lives and thus change them for the better.

Stars: Al Waxman , Gordie Brown , Paul Popowich , Kim Schraner

39. 5ive Days to Midnight (2004)

210 min | Action, Drama, Mystery

When college professor J.T. Neumeyer discovers a police file that outlines the details of his murder - which is to take place five days in the future - he wastes no time trying to save his own life.

Stars: Timothy Hutton , Randy Quaid , Kari Matchett , Hamish Linklater

Votes: 2,809

40. The Girl from Tomorrow (1991–1992)

23 min | Adventure, Drama, Family

In the year 3000, Alana is kidnapped by evil Silverthorn, after a time travel experiment goes wrong. He takes Alana to the year 1990. With the help of Jenny Kelly and family, Alana must find Silverthorn before the time capsule leaves.

Stars: Katharine Cullen , Melissa Marshall , James Findlay , Andrew Clarke

Votes: 1,311

41. Startling by Each Step (2011– )

TV-14 | 46 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance

After a car accident plunges a woman into the dreamy Chinese past that gave the whole life in the Beijing imperial palace after that she returns to her life in the modern world.

Stars: Kei Gambit , ShiShi Liu , Nicky Wu , Kevin Cheng

42. Nine: Nine Time Travels (2013)

52 min | Fantasy, Mystery, Romance

A TV anchorman discovers that a mysterious bundle of incense has the power to send him back in time, where he has the opportunity to alter the past.

Stars: Lee Jin-wook , Jo Yun-hie , Jeon No-min , Hie-ryeong Kim

43. Mirror Mirror (2018– )

A "diversity expert" is given a career opportunity when she is hired to clean up a major corporation rife with sexual harassment. However, she soon finds herself struggling to avoid being ... See full summary  »

Stars: Jennifer Betit Yen , Timothy J. Scanlin Jr. , Stephen Lin , Joe Tex

44. Dr. Jin (2012)

TV-Y | 65 min | Fantasy

A surgeon treats a mysterious patient who has a human-shaped tumor in his head, only to discover himself time-travelling to the year 1861.

Stars: Song Seung-heon , Park Min-Young , Lee Beom-su , Jae-Joong Kim

45. Captain Z-Ro (1955–1956)

30 min | Sci-Fi

From his secret laboratory, Captain Z-Ro and his associates use their time machine, the ZX-99, to learn from the past and plan for the future.

Stars: Roy Steffens , Bruce Haynes , Jack Cahill , Richard Glyer

46. Love Through a Millennium (2015)

Fantasy, Romance

A rich party boy from 2016 switches body with a legendary chef from 1936. He may have to spend the next 80 years finding a way back to his time period.

Stars: Yizi Yi , Im Jin-Ah , Shuang Zheng , Boran Jing

48. Palace (2011– )

Drama, Romance

Modern woman travels back in time to Chinese Imperial court. Drama ensues.

Stars: Kei Gambit , Toby Jialin Ding , Mi Yang , Shaofeng Feng

49. Back to Sherwood (1999– )

25 min | Adventure, Fantasy

The adventures of a teen descendent of Robin Hood who regularly travels back in time to help in the fight against her ancestor's enemies.

Stars: Alexa Devine , Aimée Castle , Larry Day , Angela Galuppo

50. Dark (2017–2020)

TV-MA | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

A family saga with a supernatural twist, set in a German town where the disappearance of two young children exposes the relationships among four families.

Stars: Louis Hofmann , Karoline Eichhorn , Lisa Vicari , Maja Schöne

Votes: 443,538

51. The Umbrella Academy (2019–2024)

TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

A family of former child heroes, now grown apart, must reunite to continue to protect the world.

Stars: Aidan Gallagher , Elliot Page , Tom Hopper , David Castañeda

Votes: 275,032

52. Future Man (2017–2020)

TV-MA | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

Josh Futturman, a janitor by day and a gamer by night, is recruited by mysterious visitors to travel through time to prevent the extinction of humanity.

Stars: Josh Hutcherson , Eliza Coupe , Derek Wilson , Haley Joel Osment

Votes: 28,673

53. Legion (2017–2019)

TV-MA | 1,316 min | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

David Haller is a troubled young man diagnosed as schizophrenic, but after a strange encounter he discovers special powers that will change his life forever.

Stars: Dan Stevens , Rachel Keller , Aubrey Plaza , Bill Irwin

Votes: 97,155

54. Krypton (2018–2019)

TV-14 | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

The untold story of Superman's grandfather as he fights for justice on his home planet.

Stars: Cameron Cuffe , Georgina Campbell , Shaun Sipos , Ann Ogbomo

Votes: 17,686

55. The Signal (2014)

PG-13 | 97 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

On a road trip, Nic and two friends are drawn to an isolated area by a computer genius. When everything suddenly goes dark, Nic regains consciousness - only to find himself in a waking nightmare.

Director: William Eubank | Stars: Brenton Thwaites , Olivia Cooke , Beau Knapp , Laurence Fishburne

Votes: 69,252 | Gross: $0.60M

56. Fringe (2008–2013)

TV-14 | 46 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

An F.B.I. agent is forced to work with an institutionalized scientist and his son in order to rationalize a brewing storm of unexplained phenomena.

Stars: Anna Torv , Joshua Jackson , John Noble , Jasika Nicole

Votes: 257,378

List Activity

Tell your friends, other lists by ravenmcbain.

Recently Viewed

Time Travel Back to the 90s at Kansas City’s Newest Bar

The good old days of the ’90s are making a comeback with a new concept from Screenland Armour—a basement bar called Rewind Video and Retro Dive.

Located in Screenland Armour’s basement, the new dive bar takes you back to those weekend nights of perusing your local video store for the latest blockbuster.

At Rewind Video and Retro Dive you’ll find retro stylings, such as box TVs, original gaming consoles, ’90s-inspired cocktails like Adult Capri Suns, and an operational video rental store. Patrons can rent film titles from a curated library of nearly 1,800 VHS tapes, DVDs, Blu-rays, and UHD.

“You’re probably asking, ‘Why open a video store now?’ But younger generations are bringing back everything analog, from 35mm cameras to cassettes,” says Adam Roberts, a co-owner and operator of Screenland Armour Theatre and Rewind Video. “We think there are a lot of people who—for the first time or as a nostalgic trip—will appreciate the experience of browsing a physical wall of films, rather than the mindless scroll of streaming. Also, the collection will never stop growing, so you’re likely to find a hidden gem you didn’t know existed every time you visit.”

Starting June 23, Rewind Video and Retro Dive is open from Thursdays to Saturdays from 5 p.m. to midnight. To access the bar, you’ll need to go behind the Screenland Armour building (406 Armour Road) and enter through the white glass door marked by a VHS logo.

Comments are closed

This Weekend IN Kansas City: October 19-22

Catching Air: New Documentary Shines a Light on Air Guitar Community

25 Iconic & Best Books From The ’90s

This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

Travel back in time with the most iconic and best books from the ’90s – sure to spark your 1990s nostalgia. What a decade!

Whether you were born in the ’90s or have seen relics such as Furby, Tamagotchis, endless episodes of Friends , beanie babies, and images of Blockbuster, you know the 1990s was an iconic decade.

Along with a revival in Lisa Frank notebooks and Pogs, the decade brought some incredible ’90s books, many of which were made into equally – if not, more so – famous movies.

So, what are the best books of the 1990s to read for the first time or to re-read and spark that nostalgia? Who were the top authors of the time?

Below, find top 1990s books in all genres, including cult classics, tales of dark academia, thrillers, and controversial memoirs. Let’s get started!

*Please note that while all of these books were published in the 1990s, many of the book covers and links are for newer editions.

Read across time with the best books from every decade .

Grab your favorite ’90s books :

• Audible Plus : From Amazon, listen to Amazon Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks. They add new titles every week.
• Book of the Month : Get the month’s hottest new and upcoming titles from Book of the Month. You might snag an early release or debut author. Along with selecting a book a month, find terrific add-ons, both trendy and lesser-known titles.
• Amazon Prime Video – Stream thousands of ad-free movies and TV series on demand with Prime Video.
• Express VPN – Using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) allows you to view movies worldwide – and they help keep your information safe. Our writers couldn’t have such diverse film reviews without using a VPN.

Table of Contents

25 Books From The ’90s

1. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (1990)

Before it was better known as a Stephen Spielberg film, Jurassic Park was one of the most iconic books from the ’90s – and one that’s set in Costa Rica .

You know the story: dinosaur DNA found in insects is used to clone long-extinct terrifying monsters, to be showcased to the public in a tropical park.

A few workplace health-and-safety incidents have the investors spooked, so the billionaire founder brings in consultants to put new failsafes in place.

This is a crash-course cautionary tale about genetic engineering, and absolutely worth a read (even if you think you already “know” the story).

Explore even more great books made into movies , and see what other movies took place in Costa Rica . Read Jurassic Park : Amazon | Goodreads

2. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992)

The Secret History is not only an iconic dark academia novel ; it’s also one of the best books of the 1990s.

Donna Tartt’s debut novel was an instant best-seller when it was first published in 1992, and it’s still going gangbusters three decades later.

It’s a story of intrigue, privilege, and murder, set in a small (but elite) liberal arts college in Vermont.

The fascinating and compelling cast of characters is a close-knit group of classics students, led by the enigmatic but charming professor Julian Morrow.

They’re academically gifted and socially isolated. It all comes to a tragic head when one of them is murdered. Read The Secret History : Amazon | Goodreads

3. Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh (1993)

If you are looking for novels set in Edinburgh that teach you about its darker underbelly, this book recommendation might just be for you.

Irvine Welsh is a big literary name now, but in the early ‘90s, he was completely unknown.

Trainspotting , his debut novel, was released in 1993, and its impact still reverberates through to the present day.

It is styled as a series of short stories about the lives of heroin users, and those who exist in their orbit. It’s dark, gritty, and nihilistic – everything a book needs to achieve cult status.

Of all the ‘90s books nominated for Booker Prizes, this is the only one that has the distinction of being disqualified for “offending the sensibilities of two judges.”

Find even more great books on Scotland – life, history, and culture – to read before traveling there. Read Trainspotting : Amazon | Goodreads

4. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (1996)

Bridget Jones’s Diary is to books from the ‘90s as Pride And Prejudice is to books from the 1800s.

This contemporary adaptation places the protagonist – every bit as lovable as Austen’s Lizzie Bennet – in ‘90s London, caught between a dignified, awkward man and a roguish, handsome one.

Originally published as a series of columns in The Daily Telegraph , the novel has gone on to sell millions of copies worldwide and spawned two sequels, as well as a major film franchise starring Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth (the O.G. Mr. Darcy himself).

Read more about the British rom-com film adaptation here – along with finding even more great British romance movies to watch. Read Bridget Jones’s Diary : Amazon | Goodreads

5. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (1996)

Sure, if your date has Fight Club on their bookshelves, some might consider it a red flag – but Chuck Palahniuk’s most famous novel is still undoubtedly one of the most significant ‘90s books.

Palahniuk was inspired by his co-workers’ reaction when he showed up to work one day battered and bruised.

He first wrote Fight Club as a short story but worked on expanding the story into a novel after his first full-length manuscript ( Invisible Monsters ) was roundly rejected by publishers and agents.

Fight Club has since become a symbol of both toxic masculinity and the changing role of men in society. Read Fight Club : Amazon | Goodreads

6. The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (1997)

The God Of Small Things was one of the best books of the ‘90s – so good, in fact, that the author Arundhati Roy didn’t write another one for twenty years.

It’s a family drama about fraternal twins whose lives are torn apart by the Keralan “Love Laws” of the 1960s.

As the title suggests, Roy focuses on the small things – supposedly insignificant objects and moments – that shape the lives of people.

Roy drew upon her own Syrian Christian and Hindu lineage, her parent’s divorce, and other aspects of her own life to draw a rich and masterful portrait, for which she was awarded the Booker Prize in the year of its release.

Explore more books set in India . Read The God Of Small Things : Amazon | Goodreads

7. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (1993)

The Virgin Suicides is not only one of the most haunting 1990s books; it also launched two remarkable creative careers.

First, it was the debut novel of Jeffrey Eugenides, a uniquely talented writer who crafts the most fascinating and complex characters of contemporary literature.

Then, in 1999, Sofia Coppola made her directorial debut with the film adaptation starring Kirsten Dunst.

Despite the dark and triggering content (the doomed Libson sisters, each of whom dies by suicide before the book’s end), it’s an intriguing story of a suburban nightmare that continues to fascinate and devastate readers around the world. Read The Virgin Suicides : Amazon | Goodreads

8. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt (1996)

Few ‘90s books are as acclaimed – or as controversial – as Angela’s Ashes , Frank McCourt’s memoir of his Irish-American childhood.

McCourt was awarded a Pulitzer Prize, a National Book Critics Circle award, and the Boeke Prize, as well as being elected the Irish American Of The Year following its release.

However, he was also subject to strenuous public criticism for allegedly fabricating or exaggerating his impoverished upbringing.

His mother famously walked out of a dramatic performance by McCourt and his brother, saying it was “all a pack of lies.”

McCourt has since admitted that Angela’s Ashes is “a memoir, not an exact history,” but its disputed veracity seems to have made no dent in its enduring popularity.

Explore more of the best books about Ireland . Read Angela’s Ashes : Amazon | Goodreads

9. The Journalist and the Murderer by Janet Malcolm (1990)

A book about journalistic ethics doesn’t sound like a likely candidate for the best books of the ‘90s, but Janet Malcolm was such an incredible writing talent that she made it work.

The Journalist And The Murderer is her interrogation of the professional (and personal) choices of journalist Joe McGinnis in writing his 1983 true crime book Fatal Vision .

McGinnis famously ingratiated himself with the (now convicted) murderer, former Special Forces captain Dr. Jeffrey R. MacDonald, and inserted himself into the legal defense case in order to gain access.

Murderinos must read this ever-timely account of the ethical considerations at the heart of this non-fiction sub-genre. Read The Journalist and the Murderer : Amazon | Goodreads

10. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (1991)

Outlander – originally published as Cross Stitch in 1991 – was voted the second most-loved book of all time by Americans in the PBS Great American Read, second only to To Kill A Mockingbird .

Surely, that alone makes it one of the best books of the 1990s.

If that’s not enough to convince you, consider that it has sold over 25 million copies around the world, and along with its sequels, it is one of the best-selling book series of all time.

Gabaldon blends genres–historical fiction, fantasy, adventure, and romance–in a gripping story that runs across two timelines.

If you enjoy Outlander , read even more novels featuring time travel . Read Outlander : Amazon | Goodreads | More

11. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis (1991)

When you picture Manhattan at the end of the 20th century, what comes to mind?

If your first thought is of yuppie greed – investment bankers, supermodels, and stock market jockeys – then American Psycho will definitely blow your mind.

One of the most controversial ‘90s books, later popularised by the movie adaptation starring Christian Bale as the titular psycho Patrick Bateman, it depicts a gruesome and violent underbelly of that particular microcosm of ‘90s culture.

This serial killer book is still banned in many parts of the world, because of its graphic violence (including horrific sexualized violence), with some places even going so far as to shrink-wrap it for sale.

Explore even more novels set in New York City & State . Read American Psycho : Amazon | Goodreads

12. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (1999)

We tend to think of young adult books as a more recent phenomenon, but one of the best books of the ‘90s is a quintessential YA drama: The Perks Of Being A Wallflower .

It’s also a great LGBTQ+ book for teens .

What’s more, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower can be enjoyed by teens and adult-adults alike, as a piercing coming-of-age novel about repressed trauma and the bonds of adolescent friendship.

Styled as a series of letters from the protagonist Charlie, addressed to his anonymous (possibly imaginary) “friend,” it depicts the struggle of growing up when you’re not sure you can necessarily trust your own mind, let alone the people around you.

Explore even more friendship novels . Read The Perks Of Being A Wallflower : Amazon | Goodreads

13. A Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (1996)

If everything you know about the Song Of Ice And Fire series comes from the HBO TV show, then you need to strap in, because A Game Of Thrones was one of the best books of the 1990s.

The doorstop fantasy novel – the first in the still-ongoing series – has it all. Politics, romance, adventure, drama, fantasy world maps , and dragons: what more could you ask for?

Even readers who don’t normally go for high fantasy will find something in here to love.

Three main storylines unfold simultaneously, and the book gives readers deeper insight into the perspectives of each of the major players than the show ever did.

The complexity of Martin’s world is second to none. Read A Game Of Thrones : Amazon | Goodreads

14. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (1998)

If “stranger in a strange land” stories are your jam, you need to check out The Poisonwood Bible , one of the most breathtaking ‘90s books.

The family at the heart of the story, the Prices, are missionaries, and they abruptly shift from their home in Georgia to the remote village of Kilanga in the Belgian Congo.

The patriarch of the family is a Southern Baptist minister racked with guilt, a fascinating character in his own right.

However, the way the story unfolds through the perspectives of the women in his family – his wife and daughters – is what makes this a truly masterful novel.

Check out even more well-known 50 States books . Read The Poisonwood Bible : Amazon | Goodreads

15. Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (1999)

Art buffs know Girl With A Pearl Earring as the Johannes Vermeer oil painting (circa 1665, the Dutch Golden Age).

Tracy Chevalier took her inspiration from the painting to write her novel of the same name, one of the best historical fiction books from the ‘90s.

She has said that the girl’s “ambiguous look” led her to wonder about the story behind it.

In Chevalier’s version of events, the titular girl is Griet, a teenager forced to take employment in Vermeer’s home as a maid.

Despite her low status, the master painter recognises her unique eye for art, and she unintentionally becomes his muse. Read Girl With A Pearl Earring : Amazon | Goodreads

16. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer (1996)

There are plenty of ‘90s books about going on adventures and seeing new parts of the world, but if you’re looking for a more realistic take, you need to pick up Into The Wild .

As a journalist and one of our favorite travel writers , Jon Krakauer took a particular interest in the story of Chris McCandless, a middle-class suburban boy who gave up his comfortable, privileged life (not to mention his college fund!) to hike into the Alaskan wilderness where he met his tragic end.

Krakauer expanded his original 9,000 word article into this non-fiction book, which went on to become an international bestseller.

If you love hiking books , you should also check out Into Thin Air (1997), Krakauer’s account of his experience in the 1996 Mount Everest disaster.

Both books are fantastic books to gift dad on Father’s Day . Read Into The Wild : Amazon | Goodreads

17. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami (1997)

Translated into English by Jay Rubin

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is one of the best books from the ‘90s a few times over.

It was originally published in three volumes, in Murakami’s native Japanese: Book of the Thieving Magpie (泥棒かささぎ編, Dorobō kasasagi hen ), Book of the Prophesying Bird (予言する鳥編, Yogen suru tori hen ), and Book of the Bird-Catcher Man (鳥刺し男編, Torisashi otoko hen ), in 1994-95.

Then, the first “official” English translation was released as a single volume in 1997.

It’s the story of an exceedingly average and passive Japanese man, whose mundane domestic life turns into an adventure when he begins to search for his missing cat.

Explore even more of the best Japanese books . Read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle : Amazon | Goodreads

18. Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond (1997)

Some non-fiction books are so penetrating and tell us so much about the world we live in, that they become instant classics and continue to be read decades later (even after some of the information they contain has aged out of accuracy).

That’s definitely the case for Guns, Germs, and Steel , one of the best books of the ‘90s.

Jared Diamond’s transdisciplinary non-fiction book endeavors to explain why some civilizations dominate while others fade away, or are conquered.

This book will completely change the way you understand the positive feedback loops that we take for granted in history. Read Guns, Germs, and Steel : Amazon | Goodreads

19. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom (1997)

When sports columnist Mitch Albom decides on a whim to visit his old sociology professor one Tuesday, he does not realize the experience will be life-changing and inspire one of the most moving books from the ‘90s.

In Tuesdays With Morrie , Albom’s memoir, he describes the fourteen visits he has with Morrie Schwartz –once a week, every Tuesday – as Morrie succumbs to Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Alongside extracts from Schwartz’s lectures and other supplementary material, Albom generously shares the lessons Morrie teaches him about living, dying, and everything in between.

Their story reached even more people when it was adapted to film in 1999.

Travel to MA with even more books set there . Read Tuesdays With Morrie : Amazon | Goodreads

20. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje (1992)

Four very different people – a man with severe burns, a Canadian Army nurse, a thief, and a Sikh sapper –find themselves brought together at an Italian villa during the Second World War.

Through multiple timelines and narrators, The English Patient incrementally reveals the burned man’s memories of events prior to his injuries, alternating with the events at the villa.

Bibliophiles and history buffs will delight in the motifs and symbolism, such as the burned man’s only possession: a copy of The Histories that miraculously survives.

This is one of the most enduring books from the ‘90s; not only did it receive the 1992 Booker Prize, but it was also awarded the Golden Booker in 2018.

Check out these books on WW2 . Or, read more books about and set in Italy . Read The English Patient : Amazon | Goodreads

21. The Hours by Michael Cunningham (1998)

Rather than being a straight adaptation, The Hours weaves the story of Mrs. Dalloway into its plot, looking at the impact of Virginia Woolf’s 1925 novel on three generations of women.

Clarissa lives in the present day and throws a party for her best friend, who is dying of AIDS.

Mrs. Brown is a suburban housewife in 1949, planning an intimate birthday celebration for her husband while reading Mrs. Dalloway for the first time.

And then there’s Virginia Woolf herself, working on her novel while contending with her mental illness.

This is one of the best books of the 1990s, and certainly one of the most ingenious.

If you enjoy The Hours , explore more kick-butt women for historical fiction lovers . Read The Hours : Amazon | Goodreads

22. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (1996)

Both true crime fans and historical fiction lovers will enjoy Alias Grace .

Margaret Atwood has been a prolific author and poet for decades now, but this is definitely the best of her books from the ‘90s.

Atwood based the story on the real-life murders of Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery in 1843.

In the book (and in history), Kinnear’s servant James McDermott was hanged for the crime, while his other servant, Grace Marks, was sentenced to life in prison.

Through fictionalized conversations between Grace and her psychiatrist, Atwood explores what it means to be an underprivileged woman in 19th century Canada, and what might drive one to murder. Read Alias Grace : Amazon | Goodreads

23. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (1995)

Of course, you’re more familiar with the 1998 film adaptation of the same name, but Practical Magic is one of the most underrated 1990s books, a hidden gem of the decade.

Gillian and Sally are sisters and inherit the poor reputation that women of their Massachusetts family have endured for decades.

They’re desperate to escape the rumors and suspicion – that their elderly aunts seem to encourage and delight in – but whether they run away or try to marry into respectability, their family ties keep pulling taut.

This is a wonderful, magical story for anyone in the mood for witchy books . Read Practical Magic : Amazon | Goodreads

24. About A Boy by Nick Hornby (1998)

Will Freeman is, by anyone’s standards, living the dream.

He lives a comfortable life on the royalties of a successful Christmas pop song he wrote back in the ‘90s, which leaves him free to pursue his passions (listening to records and sleeping with women).

When he has the ingenious idea to invent a fake son, in order to “connect” with women in a single mum’s group, he doesn’t foresee Fiona and her son, Marcus, changing his life – but they do.

About A Boy is one of the most heartwarming ‘90s books you’ll read, perfect for fans of British rom-coms that don’t sugarcoat the dark sides of life.

Travel to London with these books . Read About A Boy : Amazon | Goodreads

25. The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler (1998)

Even though it’s mostly used as a punchline now, the episodic play The Vagina Monologues is actually one of the best books of the 1990s if you give it a chance.

It explores all of the subjects that are still headline news and viral thinkpiece catnip today: sex, body image, reproductive rights, periods, sex work, assault and harassment, intersectionality…

What’s more, through productions of the play and the establishment of the V-Day Movement, Ensler has raised over $100 million to end gender-based violence and support victims.

Whether you read it on the page or see it on the stage, this is one of the ‘90s books that will pierce your heart and stay with you for years. Read The Vagina Monologues : Amazon | Goodreads

Save These ’90s Books For Later:

Grab the best books of the ’90s here :

What are the best books of the 1990s?

If you were born or lived through the ’90s, what are your favorite memories, inventions, and mementos?

What do you wish survived past the decade, and what 1990s trends do you hope never come back?

Lastly, which 1990s books do you love? Let us know in the comments!

This reading list is also a part of our 2022 Uncorked Reading Challenge .

You May Also Enjoy:

Novels For Time Travel Lovers Top Books From The 1980s Best ’70s Books 1960s Books Bestselling Books In The ’50s

Sheree Strange

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The 32 Best TV Shows About Time Travel

Time traveling is a popular topic when it comes to all types of entertainment from books to films. But in recent years time travel has also become a popular theme in TV.

So let’s take a look at this list of the best time traveling TV shows and find out how each of them handles time travel and all the history that comes with it.

Doctor Who, BBC One (1963 – 1989, 2005 – present)

When it comes to time traveling and TV, probably the most notable name in this niche is Doctor Who  because this time travel series has been around for 39 seasons and is still going strong.

Hailing from British television channel BBC One, Doctor Who tells the tale of the Time Lord aka The Doctor, and his companions as they travel to different times and try to prevent evil forces from changing history and hurting innocent lives.

Once the Time Lord gets hurt beyond healing, he can transform into a new body and continue saving the world. Hence why at this point 13 (soon to be 14) different actors have played The Doctor.

Doctor Who is not only a huge part of the fabric of British popular culture but by now this time travel show has found its way into the hearts of many people all over the world.

It has inspired many spin-offs in the form of TV shows, comic books, movies, novels, you name it. But more than that, by now it has become an industry standard both when it comes to science-fiction television series and shows about time travel.

No wonder that Doctor Who continues to be successful after countless actor changes and plot twists.

Where to watch Doctor Who:

Timeless, nbc (2016 – 2018).

Another time travel TV series that has already become a cult classic and is adored by fans all over the world is NBC’s Timeless . And despite the turmoil that this show has gone through, it still is time traveling at its best.

Starring Malcolm Barrett, Matt Lanter, and Abigail Spencer as Rufus, Wyatt, and Lucy, Timeless  details the trio traveling to different times in an effort to stop their adversaries from rewriting history.

But as it later turns out, the conspiracy goes deeper than them just changing history. Since the people who our trio is chasing are traveling through time to take down a dangerous and all-powerful organization. The same one that helped build the time machine that Rufus, Wyatt, and Lucy are using.

And although Timeless went on for just two seasons (and a two-hour wrap-up movie), you should still check out the show because it’s not only entertaining but will make you think and want to know more about the events that each episode is exploring.

Where to watch Timeless:

Dc’s legends of tomorrow, the cw (2016 – present).

If you are a fan of superhero TV shows, then you will probably have heard about DC’s Legends of Tomorrow . It is a show that is a huge part of The CW’s Arrowverse. And has crossed over with shows like Arrow , The Flash , and Supergirl multiple times now.

And even if you don’t like the rest of the superhero series but do enjoy a good old time travel TV show, then I suggest you still give Legends of Tomorrow a watch.

The plot of this show is based around a team of superheroes that are traveling through time in their time machine christened the Waverider to prevent different catastrophes from happening. Both ones made by others and those created by the team’s previous adventures.

At the forefront, there are well-known DC heroes like Rip Hunter, Firestorm, The Atom, Kid Flash, Steel, and Vixen. Joined by some original characters like Caity Lotz’s White Canary among others.

One of the defining characteristics of Legends of Tomorrow is how fun it is. Because adjectives like unapologetic, witty, and entertaining are frequently used to describe this time travel series.

However, more than that, it adds an interesting layer to the whole Arrowverse universe. And above all, it is just a hoot to watch.

Where to watch Legends of Tomorrow:

12 monkeys, syfy (2015 – 2018).

Then there also is SyFy’s 12 Monkeys , which is a little darker take on time traveling. One that comes with mystery, drama, and apocalyptic stakes. But that doesn’t lessen how good this time travel TV series is.

Split between two timelines, 12 Monkeys centers on Aaron Stanford’s James Cole, who is tasked to travel back in time and stop the distribution of a virus that has the ability to end the human race as we know it.

In Cole’s real timeline, the year is 2043 and people are struggling to survive because of the terrible mutations caused by the virus. So Cole travels back to 2015 to find virologist Cassie Railly, played by Amanda Schull, that can help him stop the release of the virus and the organization that is behind it called The Army of the 12 Monkeys.

If you think about it, the post-apocalyptic setting and time travel really do go hand in hand. Because if you can go back in time to stop history from being changed, why not go back to change it if it prevents something terrible from happening?

And that is what this show explores. Beautifully combining elements of mystery, drama, and science fiction, to form a great TV show.

Where to watch 12 Monkeys:

Outlander, starz (2014 – present).

Want another show that mixes time travel with historical events and does it flawlessly? Then you should put Outlander on your must-watch TV show list!

The show starts in the 1940s when a combat nurse Claire Randall visits Inverness, Scotland as part of her second honeymoon with her husband Frank. Claire accidentally happens upon the standing stones at Craigh na Dun which transport her back in time to 1743.

To return to her own time she first has to survive 18th-century Scotland. And she does so by joining a group of rebel Highlanders from Clan MacKenzie and marrying one of the Highlanders, Jamie Fraser. But eventually, she falls in love with her new husband and aids the clan in evading British redcoats that are pursuing them.

Over the five seasons of Outlander that are currently out (with the sixth coming soon), we see Claire jump back and forth between the 20th and 18th centuries and her two families as she faces two pregnancies, wars, and much more. But eventually, Claire finds her way back to Jamie.

Where to watch Outlander:

Travelers, showcase (2016 – 2018).

Then we have Travelers , a joint venture between Netflix and Canada’s Showcase that will tick all of your time travel TV show boxes.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world , this show depicts the adventures of travelers – operatives who go back in time to prevent the collapse of society.

These travelers are transferred into the bodies of our current-day humans, who otherwise would die, to blend in with twenty-first-century people. And with the help of their artificial intelligence boss from the future, travelers carry out missions in order to stop many catastrophic events from happening.

Travelers is a great mix of sci-fi and drama, featuring a great cast and spine-tingling storylines. So if you love all that and love a good time-travel series, then look no further than Travelers .

Where to watch Travelers:

Dark, netflix (2017 – 2020).

Netflix’s first German original series was the science fiction series Dark , which mixes in some mystery drama with sci-fi: time travel, the apocalypse, wormholes, and parallel worlds.

Dark takes place in Winden, a fictional German town, and begins in 2019 after children begin to disappear from the town. As the show progresses, however, timelines jump drastically between as early as 1921 to as late as 2053.

As four families in Winden investigate the disappearances to reunite with their lost loved ones, they discover a wormhole beneath the local powerplant that allows them to travel between timelines, thus uncovering a generations-long conspiracy involving the town and their families.

Where to watch Dark:

The umbrella academy, netflix (2019 – present).

Netflix brings another to the list with The Umbrella Academy .

On October 1, 1989, 43 infants were suddenly born from unsuspecting women despite them not even being pregnant the day before.

7 of them were raised together as the Hargreeve siblings and trained in their respective abilities until their relationship became strained as teenagers and they drifted apart.

Now, as adults, they’re brought back together by the death of their adoptive father – and the threat of the end of the world, of course.

They’re forced to travel back in time but end up in different times and places, and must find each other again to stop the nuclear apocalypse.

Where to watch The Umbrella Academy:

Seven days, upn (1998 – 2001).

We know that the National Security Agency has its share of secrets, but what if one of those secrets was a time-traveling machine?

In UPN’s Seven Days , the plot centers on one such device made from alien technology found at Roswell.

The Chronosphere, as it’s called, can only be used in times when national security is at risk – the limited capacity of the device allows for just one human to go back in time by seven days in order to avert disasters.

Thus, when the White House is attacked, the NSA employs former Navy SEAL and CIA operative Frank Parker to go back and prevent it from happening.

Where to watch Seven Days:

Loki, disney+ (2021 – present).

Yes, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the greatest gifts to the cinema of our time. Now, the MCU has expanded even further into the television medium and we’ve got a few series to accompany it!

One of those is Loki , which of course, centers on the God of Thunder’s mischievous adopted brother.

After the events in Avengers: Endgame , particularly his stealing of the Tesseract, Loki inadvertently creates another timeline that began in 2012, making him a “time variant” version of himself.

When confronted by the authorities, Loki is given two choices: face punishment and cease to exist, or travel through time to fix his own mess and the threat that has emerged.

Where to watch Loki:

Making history, fox (2017).

The thing about traveling back in time is, you have to be very careful that your actions in the past won’t affect the future (which is essentially your actual present).

Most of the time, that’s something you wouldn’t know until you go back to your time. In Making History , however, Dan Chambers travels back in time to right before the American Revolution and sets off a series of events that seriously mess up the future.

Being able to constantly travel between time periods, Dan recruits the help of history professor Chis Parrish to travel with him and ensure that the American Revolution still takes place.

Where to watch Making History:

Quantum leap, nbc (1989 – 1993).

The title of NBC’s sci-fi comedy-drama Quantum Leap is also the name of the time travel machine that accidentally sends its creator, physicist Dr. Sam Beckett, back into the past.

Now, he’s stuck – and not as himself, either!

Sam discovers that he jumped into the body of a stranger and because he’s still himself, doesn’t know all the details of his current identity.

With the help of his friend Al, who appears as a hologram only he can see, he must fix something that went wrong so he can jump in time again and eventually get back to his own body.

Where to watch Quantum Leap:

Quantum leap, nbc (2022 – present).

Speaking of Quantum Leap , in 2022 NBC revived the 1989 series into a more modern take on the cult classic.

In this new Quantum Leap , thirty years have passed since Dr. Sam Beckett vanished into the Quantum Leap accelerator, and the Quantum Leap project was put to rest.

Now the project is restarted with a new team, who tries to puzzle together the mysteries behind Beckett and his time-traveling machine.

So, we follow Ben Song, the lead physicist of the Quantum Leap time travel project, who gets lost in the past after leaping back in time.

As he tries to return to the present he is helped by his fiancée Addison Augustine, who appears to him as a hologram during each leap, and the team back in the present time.

Where to watch Quantum Leap reboot:

The way home, hallmark channel (2023 – present).

Among the newest time travel shows on this list is Hallmark’s The Way Home which has already been renewed for a second season.

The Way Home follows three generations of Landry women who learn that they can time travel after discovering a magic pond on their family’s farm in Port Haven.

When Kat and her daughter Alice return to Port Haven and are forced to move in with Alice’s estranged mother Del, the three women use time travel to uncover their family history, including what really happened to Kat’s little brother Jacob and whether they can prevent his disappearance.

Where to watch The Way Home:

Russian doll, netflix (2019 – 2022).

Netflix’s Russian Doll deviates from the traditional time travel theme of a willing traveler in one specific timeline because Russian Doll’s protagonist Nadia Vulvokov not only has absolutely no choice or control over her so-called time traveling, but hers is also a time loop.

She wakes up every day having to relive the day of her 36th birthday party in New York City; every time, she dies and comes back to the exact same moment.

Every time, Nadia scrambles to figure out what happens to her and tries to prevent her death, leading her to find Alan, a man who is experiencing the same time loop.

Where to watch Russian Doll:

Undone, prime video (2019 – present).

Undone may be an animated series, but it certainly isn’t geared toward younger audiences; though there is a touch of comedy, the series leans more towards the psychological drama genre and “explores the elastic nature of reality”.

The series follows Alma Winograd-Diaz right after she gets into a near-fatal car accident.

Right before the crash, she has a strange vision of her dead father, and right after it, she finds that she now has the ability to manipulate and move through time.

Using this newfound power, she travels between time periods to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding her father’s death.

Where to watch Undone:

Voyagers, nbc (1982 – 1983).

Premiering back in the early 1980s, NBC’s Voyagers! Is set in a world where time travel already exists.

In fact, there’s already a secret society in place that trains its members, called Voyagers, to go back in time and make sure that historical events happen exactly the way they’re supposed to – otherwise it could affect the present in unexpected ways.

One such Voyager is Phineas Bogg, although he isn’t exactly the best at the job.

During an accidental trip to 1982, he meets the young Jeffrey Jones and ends up bringing him along on one of his missions.

Having lost his Guidebook, Phineas now needs to rely on the extremely smart Jeffrey to get history right.

Where to watch Voyagers!:

Fringe, fox (2008 – 2013).

Fox’s Fringe is a series that was well into the science fiction genre, with parallel universes, supernatural abilities, biotechnology, doomsday predictions, and of course, time travel.

The title is taken from fringe science, which is a branch that deals with scientific theories riddled with skepticism or even having been disproven already.

In Fringe , Special Agent Olivia Dunham is assigned to oversee the FBI ’s Fringe Division, which is run by Peter Bishop and his father Walter.

Together, the team uses both fringe science and Olivia’s knowledge in investigative techniques to explore the unexplained.

In the process, they discover a larger mystery involving parallel universes and alternate timelines .

Where to watch Fringe:

Time after time, abc (2017).

ABC’s Time After Time is based on the novel of the same name written by Kevin Williamson in 1979.

In addition to that, each episode takes its title from a line in Cyndi Lauper’s song, which was inspired by the film (and subsequently, the same book!).

In Time After Time , we are taken to H.G. Wells’ home in 1893.

During a dinner party, he reveals his time machine – right before his guest John Stevenson is arrested for actually being Jack the Ripper .

John escapes through the time machine and Wells follows him straight into the present: 2017. Thus begins a cat-and-mouse game as John attempts to gain control of the machine.

Where to watch Time After Time:

11.22.63, hulu (2016).

When you have anything with Stephen King involved, you know it’s going to be great.

Hulu’s eight-episode miniseries 11.22.63 is based on King’s novel 11/22/63 and is a science fiction thriller like no other.

Starring James Franco in the lead role, 11.22.63 follows Jake Epping, an English teacher from Maine .

His best friend Al reveals a time travel machine and asks him to take over the mission he’s been working on: to travel to the 60s and prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Will Jake be successful in changing a past that simply refuses to be changed?

Where to watch 11.22.63:

The 4400, usa network/sky one (2004 – 2007).

The 4400 is yet another slightly different take on the idea of time travel, in that there has been just one (fairly significant) shift forward in time, to the present.

Beginning in 1946, individuals who were easily overlooked or marginalized by society slowly began disappearing through beams of green light.

Now, all 4400 of them (hence the title) have been returned to the present day – without having aged a day and in some cases, even manifesting supernatural abilities like telekinesis, healing, and telepathy.

Tom Baldwin and Diana Skouris are assigned to investigate the phenomenon and find out why the 4400 have returned.

NOTE: For a fresher take on the show, you can also check out the reboot of the original series which is currently airing on The CW.

Where to watch The 4400:

Somewhere between, abc (2017).

When tragedy strikes our lives, we always wish there was something we could’ve done to prevent it.

In ABC’s Somewhere Between we meet Laura Price, a successful news producer with a great career, a loving husband who’s a district attorney, and a beautiful daughter named Serena.

However, her life changes when the serial killer she is helping the cops to catch kills Serena.

Distraught with grief , Laura attempts to complete suicide but is unsuccessful, instead waking up having time-traveled to a week before Serena’s death.

She teams up with Nico, a former SFPD detective who experienced the same reset and wants to find the real killer to change his brother’s fate as well.

Where to watch Somewhere Between:

Terra nova, fox (2011).

Terra Nova takes its viewers to both extremes of the time-traveling timeline.

The present-day is 2149, where overpopulation has threatened to deplete the Earth’s resources.

In an attempt to save Earth and mankind, scientists have found a way to travel back in time, sending groups of humans back to the Cretaceous Period to set up colonies.

Terra Nova focuses primarily on Elisabeth and Jim Shannon, and their three children, who have joined the 10th pilgrimage to Terra Nova.

They offer their expertise as a trauma surgeon and former narcotics detective and help those in charge with stopping those whose intentions go against the greater good.

Where to watch Terra Nova:

Frequency, the cw (2016 – 2017).

One concept in time travel is known as “the butterfly effect”, wherein one small change in time may have great effects elsewhere.

Frequency demonstrates this concept perfectly.

Raimy Sullivan is an NYPD detective who, after a strange weather phenomenon, discovers that she can communicate with her dead father through his old ham radio.

Believing he was a corrupt cop, she learns the truth and warns him of his murder, thus saving his life.

However, this has profound effects on the future – Raimy’s present.

Now, they must work together across time to save her father and preserve the present.

Where to watch Frequency:

Life on mars, bbc one (2006).

In many of the shows on the list so far, the protagonists experience a time loop that’s triggered at the point of their death.

It’s no different for Sam Tyler, the main character in the British series Life on Mars .

Sam is a Detective Chief Inspector with the Greater Manchester Police, but one day he accidentally gets hit by a car.

When he awakens, he’s in 1973 and working at one rank lower than he was: Detective Inspector.

The selling point of Life on Mars , however, is that we’re left unsure if Sam’s predicament is due to his actual death, a comatose, or time travel.

Where to watch Life on Mars:

Always a witch, netflix (2019 – 2020).

Always A Witch (or Siempre Bruja in its original Spanish title) is a Colombian series that is set in both present-day Colombia and the 17th century .

The series follows Carmen Eguiliuz, a young 19-year-old witch who, after committing the crime of falling in love with a white man in 1646 colonial Colombia, is scheduled to be burned at the stake.

She gets a chance to escape to a new life when the mysterious wizard Aldemar makes a deal with her: he will save the man she loves if she travels into the future to find the woman who can break his curse.

Where to watch Always a Witch:

Beforeigners, hbo (2019 – present).

HBO’s Beforeigners is a Norwegian sci-fi crime drama series and the first Norwegian original from HBO Europe.

The title is a clever play on words centered on the general plot: a group of “foreigners” has suddenly shown up at a neighborhood in Oslo, and they are all from “before” times, or several different time periods in history.

Whether from the Viking period , the Stone Age, or the more recent 19th century , each of these ‘Beforeigners’ tries to integrate in modern-day Norwegian society.

One of them even partners with a detective to investigate first a murdered Stone Age woman, then a series of murderers tied to Jack the Ripper.

Where to watch Beforeigners:

Alice, sbs tv (2020).

Alice was a South Korean sci-fi series that aired in late 2020.

In the lead-up to the main plot, the show’s background is explained to its viewers.

Set in 2050, time travel is monitored by an agency called Alice, which sends its clients to the past to help find closure with deceased loved ones.

Alice one day sends two agents to 1992 in order to find the Book of Prophecy, but one of them disappears with the book and her unborn child.

In 2020, the child becomes a detective and in his investigation into his mother’s death in 2010, discovers the existence of Alice and time travel.

Where to watch Alice:

Live up to your name, tvn (2017).

Yet another South Korean time travel series , Live Up to Your Name initially takes its viewers some 400 years into the past, right in the middle of the Joseon dynasty.

There we meet Heo Im, a doctor of traditional Korean medicine who also specializes in acupuncture.

On one of his treatments of the king’s migraines, he made a mistake and was charged with treason.

Chased by the king’s soldiers, he’s shot with an arrow and presumed dead when he falls into the river – except he ends up waking up in present-day Seoul instead, where he meets cardiothoracic surgeon Choi Yeon-kyung.

Where to watch Live Up to Your Name:

My only love song, netflix (2017).

Our third South Korean series is Netflix’s My Only Love Song , which aired in 2017.

We start off in modern-day Korea where we meet Soo-jung, a talented and top-level actress.

However, it seems that the fame may have gotten to her head as she’s arrogant, and believes fame and money make the world go round.

When things don’t go her way on her new show, she winds up in a time-traveling van that takes her to the 6th century.

There, she meets a man much like herself in terms of arrogance, but his hidden soft spot and generosity towards the poor changes her perspective on her own life and self.

Where to watch My Only Love Song:

Signal, tvn (2016).

Signal is based on the 2000 American film Frequency , but another thing that sets this South Korean series apart from others is that the cases investigated in the series are also based on real-life crimes in the country.

Signal follows a cold case profiler from 2015 and a detective from 1989 simultaneously; they discover they’re able to communicate with each other through an old walkie-talkie.

Using this unique ability to provide much-needed foresight in investigations, they team up to both solve and in some cases, even prevent these horrific crimes.

Where to watch Signal:

Rooftop prince, sbs (2012).

Last but not least, South Korea brings its last time-traveling series to the table with Rooftop Prince , a comedy-drama filled with intrigue, mixed identities, and possible reincarnations.

Crown Prince Lee Gak from the Joseon dynasty accidentally time travels to 2012 with three others from his entourage, and their lives are thrown into a whirlwind.

He crosses paths with Se-na, who looks exactly like his recently deceased wife.

In the hopes of getting answers about his wife’s mysterious drowning, he assumes the identity of another man who he also looks exactly like and attempts to marry Se-na in this timeline as well.

Where to watch Rooftop Prince:

11 comments.

Tomorrow people cw

You forgot The Time Tunnel, an Irwin Allen sci-fi show (Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost In Space, Land of The Giants), all classic 60s sci-fi

Journeyman should also be on this list. It was only half a season on NBC but it wraps up to a satisfying conclusion.

Fantastic acting and interesting characters.

Glad someone else watched Journeyman. I thought I’d was a great spiritual successor to Quantum Leap.

Journeyman is one of the good shows u can watch but qunatum leap i watched and didnt like

Where is The Time Tunnel?????

Another show for your list is “Being Erica” (CBC, 2009-2011). Excellent writing, and very unique.

i was looking for this comment. such an underrated show

I concur. This was definitely a great one. It certainly provides a lot of food for thought.

Some of the information in the Doctor Who one is wrong. It started in 1963, it was only revived in 2005 (you put 2006), and it’s been going for 39 seasons, as of June 2022

Thanks for letting me know! I updated the article accordingly.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.