One of Netflix’s biggest movies of the year has finally arrived in the form ofThe Adam Project. Starring Ryan Reynolds as a time-traveling man who is forced to work with his younger self and his father to try and save the future, the Netflix original film is a loving homage to the sci-fi blockbusters of the 1980s and should offer enough action, humor, and heart to satisfy any genre lovers who decide to check it out.
Odds are,The Adam Projectwill also put its viewers in the mood to seek out other sci-fi flicks like it. Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of five great time travel movies that offer many of the same sci-fi pleasures asThe Adam Project, all of which just so happen to be available to stream right now.
Flight of the Navigator (1986)
Where to stream:Disney+
Flight of the Navigatorfollows David Freeman (Joey Cramer), a young boy who gets knocked out after falling into a ravine only to wake up and discover that eight years have passed while he was unconscious. As he and the adults in his life try to uncover the truth of what has happened to him, David gradually comes to realize that his blackout may have something to do with an alien spaceship that has recently crash-landed on Earth.
WhereFlight of the Navigatorgoes from there is best left unspoiled. While the film doesn’t quite boast the same cutting-edge effects thatThe Adam Projectdoes, it more than makes up for that with its lighthearted tone and imaginative, childlike sense of wonder. It’s a film that feels deeply tied toThe Adam Project, and both movies offer many of the same family-friendly sci-fi thrills.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)
Where to stream:Netflix
Based on characters fromTheAdventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends,Mr. Peabody & Shermanfollows an intelligent, anthropomorphic dog named Hector J. Peabody (voiced by Ty Burrell) and his adopted human son, Sherman (voiced by Max Charles), as they embark on an adventure through time. Over the course of their journey, the duo crosses paths with a number of notable historical figures, including Leonardo da Vinci (voiced by Stanley Tucci) and King Tut (voiced by Zach Callison).
Boasting a tight 92-minute runtime,Mr. Peabody & Shermanis an endlessly entertaining and surprisingly clever sci-fi adventure film, one that’s elevated by its playful animation style and the hilarious voice performances given by its core cast members. Much likeThe Adam Project, it’s a charming and fun sci-fi comedy that’s suitable for the whole family.
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Inspired by a Marvel Comics storyline of the same name,X-Men: Days of Future Pastis a time-traveling superhero epic that manages to successfully bring together cast members from both Fox’s early 2000s X-Men movies and 2011’sX-Men: First Class. Set in a timeline where both humans and mutants have begun to live in fear of powerful robots known as Sentinels, the film follows Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) as he is sent back in time to try and prevent the future from turning into the apocalyptic dystopia he’s seen it become.
The film is narratively complex and surprisingly ambitious, but part of what makes watchingX-Men: Days of Future Pastsuch an exciting experience is seeing how well it pulls off even its biggest creative risks. It even features a moment when one character comes face-to-face with his future self, which makes it a perfect companion piece to a film likeThe Adam Project.
See You Yesterday (2019)
Produced by Spike Lee,See You Yesterdayfollows a science prodigy named C.J. Walker (Eden Duncan-Smith) whose life is turned upside down by the wrongful killing of her brother (Brian “Stro” Bradley) by a police officer. Intent on undoing the tragedy, C.J. and one of her friend (Dante Crichlow) use a pair of homemade time machines to travel into the past to try to prevent her brother’s death from ever happening.
One of Netflix’s most unique and underrated original movies,See You Yesterdayis a much smaller film thanThe Adam Project, but that doesn’t stop it from reaching for the same emotions. In fact, the film manages to achieve the same wondrous feeling thatThe Adam Projectdoes while also delivering some timely and insightful political and social commentary.
Looper (2012)
One of the most unique sci-fi films of the 2010s,Looperfocuses on Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a hitman who works for a futuristic crime syndicate that routinely sends its enemies back in time so they can be killed and disposed of quietly. Things go sideways when Joe fails to kill an older version of himself (played by Bruce Willis) who gets sent back in time by his bosses.
The film is a stylish, inventive, and unpredictable time travel thriller. Similar toThe Adam Project,Looperrevolves around one person’s fateful meeting with their older self, but it takes that plot point and uses it to tell a much darker, edgier story than viewers might expect. The film takes its characters on a surprisingly emotional and introspective journey, one that culminates in a confrontation that’ll keep you on your toes for the entirety ofLooper’s twisty final 10 minutes.
