The more Nyles and Sarah repeat some terrible decisions because they can do so due to the time loop, the more they realize that it’s not the way to live their lives. They learn a lot about themselves and each other while developing their relationship. On top of the romance, this script is incredibly fresh and funny, making Palm Springs one of the best films of 2020. The movies on this list that I’ve curated are like Palm Springs, and all deal with some time travel or time-loop. And, of course, some rom-coms are thrown in for good measure.
Groundhog Day (1993)
Harold Ramis directed this classic with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. This is still considered the best time-loop film, but Palm Springs could give it a run for its money. A narcissistic, self-centered weatherman finds himself in a time loop on Groundhog Day, and the day keeps repeating until he gets it right.
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
This is a raunchy version of the time travel story, but it’s still one of the funniest. A malfunctioning time machine at a ski resort takes a man back to 1986 with his two friends and nephew, where they must relive the fateful night and. not change anything to ensure his nephew is born. John Cusack, Rob Coddry, Craig Robinson, and Clark Duke round out the cast for this great comedy.
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Since Palm Springs is also a rom-com, some romantic comedies must be on this list. Out of the most recent studio rom-coms that made a splash at the box office, Crazy Rich Asians is definitely up there. This rom-com is based on a global bestseller and follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family.
About Time (2013)
Rachel McAdams is no stranger to rom-coms, and that’s why this is the first one on the list. At the age of 21, Tim discovers that he can travel in time and change what has happened in his life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend is not as easy as you might think.
The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009)
McAdams and Eric Bana had wonderful chemistry in this film adaptation. A Chicago librarian has a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel, creating complications in his marriage. This beautiful love story travels through time and space, proving that their love is timeless and they will always find each other no matter what.
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Tom Cruise went from a critically acclaimed actor working with some prominent directors to a massive action star because of his turn as Ethan Hunt.
But Edge of Tomorrow proves to be an incredible time-loop action film that unfortunately flew under the radar. A soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies. It sounds like a video game because he respawns every other frame but learns more information each time.
When We First Met (2018)
Noah meets Avery at a Halloween party and falls in love but gets friend-zoned. Three years later, she’s engaged to someone else. Noah returns to a time machine to fix things. It’s a sweet rom-com starring Robbie Amell, Alexandra Daddario, and Adam Devine.
Click (2006)
Even though Adam Sandler is known for his screwball comedies, some of his films pull at the heartstrings. In Click, a workaholic architect finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices.
This film teaches everyone that they need to slow down and appreciate their lives because the people around them won’t be there forever.
Back to the Future (1985)
Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis could not have known at the time just how big this movie would have gotten. It defined the 1980s and made Michael J. Fox a star. Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd).
There are plenty of iconic moments, and it is the best time travel movie.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
There had to be an Andy Samberg movie on the list, and this one is his most underrated. Samberg spoofs the music industry with the rest of his Lonely Islands family. When it becomes clear that his solo album is a failure, a former boy band member does everything in his power to maintain his celebrity status.
