The Rules of Time Travel

An Inverse special issue. New stories added daily, May 5-13, 2022.

A collage of characters from various time travel movies
The Rules of Time Travel
Back to the Future screenwriter says time travel has become “too convenient”

Co-writer Bob Gale explores Back To The Future’s massive influence on the time-travel genre.

by Marah Eakin

The Rules of Time Travel is an Inverse special issue exploring the evolution of science fiction's most imaginative sub-genre. From Marty McFly to Avengers: Endgame.

The Rules of Time Travel

In 'The Time Traveler's Wife,' Steven Moffat comes full circle

The 'Doctor Who' and 'Sherlock' showrunner takes a victory lap with his new project, 'The Time Traveler's Wife.'

by Dais Johnston
The Rules of Time Travel
Scientists rank the 8 best movie time machines of all time

We quizzed physicists and engineers about the best movie and TV time machines.

by Becca Caddy

Time Jump

The Rules of Time Travel

3 years ago, Watchmen used time travel to explore the sinister cycles of racism

The HBO adaptation of the iconic graphic novel examines generational trauma via time alteration.

The Rules of Time Travel

5 years ago, Happy Death Day did one revolutionary thing no time-travel movie had done before

This slasher cuts a little bit deeper.

The Rules of Time Travel

6 years later, the most underrated time travel game deserves a sequel

Time is Power.

The Rules of Time Travel

13 years later, the most cerebral time-travel game ever made still holds up

A deadly mind game.

The Rules of Time Travel

20 years ago, H.G. Wells’ great-grandson reimagined a time travel classic

For The Time Machine’s 20th anniversary, Simon Wells gets candid about remaking an iconic sci-fi adventure.

The Rules of Time Travel

33 years ago, Keanu Reeves made the smartest time-travel movie ever — and also the dumbest

An unlikely duo leads one of the most thought-provoking takes on time travel.

Coherence’s James Ward Byrkit plots his next indie science-fiction sensation

Following a successful Kickstarter, the filmmaker is making Shatter Belt one episode at a time.

by Isaac Feldberg
The Rules of Time Travel
5 video games that changed time travel forever

The ultimate power fantasy.

by Jen Glennon
Image credit: Nintendo / Square Enix. Composite by Max Fleishman
The Rules of Time Travel

How Wil Wheaton became Star Trek’s own “Time Lord”

By Ryan Britt

The Star Trek icon and friend to geeks everywhere reflects on his time-traveling role.

The Rules of Time Travel

The best sci-fi thriller on Netflix reveals a provocative spin on time travel

By Tara Yarlagadda

Can you really kill your future self? Experts explain.

The Rules of Time Travel

10 best time travel movies ever, ranked

Science

Real-life time travel hinges on this one controversial scientific theory

The Rules of Time Travel
Outer Range’s “truly epic” finale is more than just time-travel twists

For creator Brian Watkins, his sci-fi western was always just about the people.

by Ryan Britt
The Rules of Time Travel
Lightyear might be the most realistic time-travel movie ever made — here’s why

Pixar’s newest movie is a futuristic throwback that’s equal parts cutting-edge science and nostalgia.

by Dais Johnston

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The Rules of Time Travel

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The Rules of Time Travel

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The Rules of Time Travel

You need to watch this genre-warping time-loop anime on HBO Max

The Rules of Time Travel

You need to watch the most ingenious time-travel thriller on HBO Max ASAP

The Rules of Time Travel

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The Rules of Time Travel

You have to watch the most underrated time travel show on Hulu ASAP

The Rules of Time Travel

You need to stream the most overlooked time-travel movie ASAP

The Rules of Time Travel
How Time Traveler's Wife became TV’s most intimate time-travel show

The team behind The Time Traveler’s Wife share what makes the HBO sci-fi drama so personal.

by Dais Johnston
The Rules of Time Travel
How Chinese and Korean Dramas invented a new time-travel approach

Transmigration dramas put a new spin on time travel.

by Taiwo Balogun
SBS

Go Deeper

Interview

Outer Range star Tamara Podemski explains her cliffhanger ending and Season 2 hopes

By Jeff Spry

Tamara Podemski shares new details about Sheriff Joy’s motivations.

Time Lord

The new Doctor Who is a historic first for the sci-fi series

By Ryan Britt

Ncuti Gatwa has been handed the keys to the TARDIS for Season 14 of the long-running series.

Link to the Past

'BotW 2' voice actor accidentally teases a wild spoiler about Link's fate

By Robin Bea
Cowboys and Time Travel

Outer Range does time travel better than Back to the Future for one brilliant reason

By Ryan Britt

What happens when you don’t have a time machine?

Wild Trekkie Fan Theory

Star Trek: Picard just permanently changed the timeline and there’s no going back

By Ryan Britt

How many different Borg Queens are alive in 2024?

Spacetime Rant

Outer Range is like if Stranger Things was western. Except that it’s so much more

By Ryan Britt

Here's why the Upside Down isn't like Josh Brolin's giant hole in spacetime.

Regeneration

Jodie Whittaker’s 'Doctor Who' replacement will be revealed before her final episode

By Ryan Britt

The era of the 13th Doctor is almost over. Here's what to expect.

Last Call

You need to watch the best indie time-travel thriller before it leaves Netflix this week

By Dais Johnston

This 2017 movie combines real-time travel theory with a classic horror movie formula to make a thrilling cross-genre hit. Here's why you need to watch 'Time Trap' before it leaves Netflix.

The Inverse Review

'Russian Doll' Season 2 review: Netflix’s best time travel series returns with a twist

By Dais Johnston

Netflix's mind-bending series jumps its already sky-high bar with a intergenerational sci-fi story.

Last Call

You need to watch the most underrated time travel movie before it leaves Netflix next week

By Dais Johnston

This adorable time travel dramedy uses the sci-fi subgenre in a new and inventive way, slowly building to huge consequences all the while. Watch 'About Time' on Netflix while you still can.

Inverse Game Reviews

23 years later, Square Enix's riskiest sequel still has goofy charm to spare

By Jen Glennon

Inverse score: 7/10

The ASAP Awards

You need to watch the most disorienting time travel movie for free online ASAP

By Craig Morris

A humanizing and disorienting time travel adventure, this classic redefines what it means to be a hero.

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15 years ago, one Disney sci-fi movie changed time travel forever

By Dais Johnston

Keep going forward.

The ASAP Awards

You need to watch the most original time travel movie on Netflix ASAP

By Subrina Wood

Smart time travel with a sharp message, this sci-fi flick is worth watching and ruminating on.

The ASAP Awards

You need to watch the best time-travel thriller on Netflix ASAP

By Danny Souza

A time-travel movie that works because it tells you to ignore the technicalities and focus on its beating heart.

The Inverse Review

The Adam Project review: Or, why I just can’t stand Ryan Reynolds

By Jake Kleinman

Netflix's latest sci-fi movie seems crafted to please pretty much everyone. So why did I hate it?