Twenty-six years ago today, Doc Brown and Marty McFly traveled through time and arrived in 2015. While the Cubs may fall short of reaching the World Series and (fortunately) "Jaws 19" has yet to hit theaters, life today isn't as bleak as the movie predicted.
If you’re like me, you’re sick to death of hearing people harp all over social media about Back to the Future Day. If that’s the case, here are five other time-travel movies that can show you what we may (or may not) have to look forward to in the near future.
“Looper”
Rian Johnson’s stylish 2012 thriller stars Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the same person. In 2074, mobsters send their enemies into the past to have their “loops closed.” In other words, by killing them in the year 2044 they never make it to the future.
Joe (Gordon-Levitt) finds himself in a peculiar situation when the target sent from the future for him to assassinate turns out to be none other than himself. The film explores the butterfly effect and how all actions have an impact on our future. It seems as if you steer clear of hanging with the wrong crowd, you won’t have to worry about finding yourself on the wrong end of a Blunderbuss (the Looper’s weapon of choice) and having your loop closed.
“The Terminator”
Any list of time-travel films would be incomplete without “The Terminator.” The classic sci-fi action thriller is one of the best time-travel escapades of all time, even if after its groundbreaking sequels the franchise derailed into subpar garbage.
The film is especially relevant today given how crucial of a role technology has come to play in our lives. Hopefully we can find a way to distance ourselves from that in order to prevent Skynet from coming into power in 2029.
“Groundhog Day”
Though not your traditional time-travel movie, the Harold Ramis 1993 classic is bound to make any day better. Bill Murray gives one of his most iconic performances as Phil, a weatherman forced to live the same day on repeat.
While the film may not have any foreboding signs of what the future may hold, it certainly raises a fascinating question: What would you do if you had to live the same day over and over again?
“Edge of Tomorrow”
This Tom Cruise sci-fi epic features a story very much in the same vein as “Groundhog Day.” Set in the not too distant future, the film puts Cruise as a soldier on the forefront of a war against an alien race known as Mimics. He is forced to fight the same battle over and over again, waking up after he dies in the same place as before.
Soldiers find themselves placed in giant mecha-suits similar to those seen in “The Matrix.” Even if we don’t have a Mimic invasion to worry about, the idea of what military technology could be developed in the years to come is a fascinating one.
“Back to the Future”
Sure, today is all about celebrating Doc and Marty’s adventure in the sequel, but the original stands as not only a near perfect film, but the definitive time-travel movie. Take some time to go back and watch where the story began and revel in the fact that without the success of this film, Doc and Marty would never have made it to 2015.
There’s never a bad time to watch “Back to the Future,” and even though today celebrates the second installment in the series, sometimes watching the original is more important than blasting off to the future.
Related Links:
Downtown Phoenix hosts Time Travel Appreciation Day for 'Doctor Who' anniversary
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