It seems to be the thing we all think will fix the world, or at least our own lives. Time travel is the thing discussed most often in the sci-fi geek argument; if you could live in anytime, if you could witness any event, or if you could change any event. Not to mention endless discussions about whether the future is set in stone or not is there more to fate than we make? Here are my top five time travel movies.

5. Running Against Time. This film stars Robert hays as a time traveler trying to save his brother from dying in Viet Nam. How does he do this? By trying to stop the Kennedy assassination, duh. Of course in standard time traveler form he then becomes the primary suspect so his friend, Catherine Hicks, goes back to try to stop him and presto she is now part of the hit team that assassinated the president. This was a made for TV movie and I love both time travel and attempting to unravel the Kennedy assignation so this one was probably just for me.

4. Back to the Future. I know I know it is low on the list, but when you look ahead I hope you will agree. I mean I love this film I saw it several times in the theater. For those who do not know the story focusses on young Marty McFly traveling back to 1955 and has accidently prevented his parents from meeting and falling in love. He must fix his time machine and reunite his parents and save Doc Brown, the inventor of the time machine as well as Marty’s friend, played expertly by Christopher Lloyd. It really is a feel good movie we get to laugh at all the changes between the 1950’s and the 1980’s, and now we get to laugh at the 1980’s form our perspective here in the future. If you have not seen this check it out; if you have seen this then it’s time to watch it again, you know I am right.

3. Timeline. Timeline centers on a group of archaeologists that are sent back in time France in the 1400’s. It is probably the most realistic portrayal of how we will stumble on to time travel. A single point in time somehow linked to ours, or at least our machine. The travelers are there in order to save the leader of their expedition who went missing and left them a note to find 1600 years later while working on the dig in the modern era. Of course as they travel through history they make an impression on the pas, one that they were already speculating on in the future at the dig site. It is cute and action filled and worth the viewing if you have not already seen it.

2. 12 Monkeys. This movie is simple and fun. Bruce Willis is sent to the past in and attempt to stop a deadly virus from being released and destroying humanity as we know it. We see several time lines crossing and intersecting here. Bruce Willis was only a child when the event occurred and therefore has memories of what was happening as he travels backwards through time .he ends up spending time in a mental institution where he meets Brad Pitt’s character, a crazy idealist who seeks to change the world. As the timelines unravel and intertwine it does get a little confusing but is definitely worth many viewings. The story is simple and layered well.

1. Butterfly Effect. This is probably the best time travel movie ever written. Ashton Kutcher discovers he can travel through time in his own life and do it at will. He starts off simple; he tries to stop his friend’s dad from molesting her. This of course had some serious side effects for his friend so back he goes. Each time he accomplishes what he set out to do but another piece falls apart. Over and over he tries to fix the world and every string he pulls his world unravels a little more. He finally discovers, as with any good time travel film, the only solution. This film is amazing and hard to watch at places but for the right reasons. Again if you have not seen it see it, and if you have seen it, it might be time again.

Those are my top five time travel films. Did I miss yours? Let me know in the comments. Also do not forget to vote for your favorite.