Actors Who Are Obsessed With Time Travel

Time travel is a consistently popular topic in movies, and some actors have become famous for starring in time travel stories. They frequently appear in multiple films and series exploring this idea, often dealing with tricky concepts like paradoxes and the wish to alter past events. This list focuses on male actors who are well-known for their work in this particular area of science fiction.

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox rose to international fame playing Marty McFly in the ‘Back to the Future’ movies. He played a teenager who unexpectedly travels back in time and has to make sure his parents meet and fall in love. Over the course of three films, he journeyed through different eras, including the Old West and a future version of his town. Because of his work in these films, he’s become the most recognizable face associated with time travel in Hollywood, and he often attends fan events to talk about how much the movies have meant to people.

Christopher Lloyd

Christopher Lloyd is famous for playing Doctor Emmett Brown, the brilliant scientist who created time travel in the Back to the Future movies. He spent years bringing the character to life, not only in the three films but also in related events and appearances. His lively and memorable performance set the standard for how many people picture a ‘mad scientist.’ He continues to be an important part of science fiction movie history.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves became well-known for playing Ted Logan in the ‘Bill & Ted’ movies, where he and his friend journeyed through time using a phone booth. He explored similar ideas about connections across time later in the romantic film ‘The Lake House’. Years after the first films, he returned to the role that made him famous for a third ‘Bill & Ted’ movie. Throughout his career, Reeves has frequently appeared in stories that play with time and reality, and he remains popular with fans of the genre thanks to his ability to take on diverse roles.

Alex Winter

Alex Winter is most famous for playing Bill S. Preston Esq. in the ‘Bill & Ted’ movies. He and Keanu Reeves starred as two friends who journeyed through history to finish a school assignment and protect the future. Winter has stayed very involved with the series over the years, even reprising his role in ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’ to show how his character has grown. His work in the films helped define the humorous side of time travel stories.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger is best known for his role in the ‘Terminator’ movies, which feature robots sent to different time periods. Over many years and several films, he’s played different versions of the same robot, the T-800. Schwarzenegger’s performance really popularized the idea of time travel causing paradoxes in action films. His iconic lines and strong presence have become strongly linked to the story of a future war between humans and machines. He’s been in almost every ‘Terminator’ movie made.

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis often appears in science fiction films that explore the complicated side of time travel. In ’12 Monkeys,’ he played a prisoner tasked with preventing a deadly plague, and in ‘Looper,’ he acted alongside a younger version of his own character. He consistently chooses roles where time travel isn’t a simple adventure, but a burden that takes a serious psychological toll on the main character. Both films have become highly regarded as classics of the science fiction genre.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt played a younger Bruce Willis in the time-travel movie ‘Looper,’ and he spent a lot of time learning Willis’s habits and movements to make the two characters feel connected. He also acted in ‘Inception,’ a film about how time works differently in dreams. Gordon-Levitt often chooses projects that make viewers think about time in new ways. Critics appreciate his commitment to both the physical and mental challenges of these roles.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal became well-known for his role in ‘Donnie Darko,’ a mind-bending film about alternate realities and time travel. He continued to explore similar themes in ‘Source Code,’ where his character repeatedly experienced the last moments before a train accident to identify the perpetrator. Gyllenhaal frequently chooses roles that involve intricate and layered timelines, and he excels at portraying the intense struggle of someone trying to change the past. He’s become a leading actor in thought-provoking science fiction films.

Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke gave a particularly impressive performance in the complex sci-fi film ‘Predestination,’ known for its tricky time-travel plot. He played an agent whose job was to prevent crimes by traveling to different points in time. Hawke frequently chooses independent films that delve into thought-provoking scientific concepts, and his roles in these films are often marked by emotional depth and surprising plot twists. He consistently looks for stories that challenge conventional filmmaking.

Domhnall Gleeson

I absolutely love Domhnall Gleeson in ‘About Time’. He played a guy who could literally revisit moments in his own life, and he used that ability not for grand adventures, but to really focus on his relationships – making his love life better and, more powerfully, getting extra time with his father. What I really appreciated was how real he made the whole time travel idea feel; it wasn’t about complicated science, it was about human connection. And while he’s become known for big franchises like the ‘Star Wars’ sequels, where he dealt with themes of history and legacy, for me, his performance in ‘About Time’ is still one of the most genuinely touching films I’ve seen.

Bill Murray

‘Groundhog Day,’ starring Bill Murray, brought the idea of a time loop to a wide audience. The film follows a grumpy weatherman who’s stuck repeating the same day over and over until he improves as a person. Though it’s a comedy, the movie also touches on serious themes like what it means to live forever and how people can change. Many consider Murray’s performance to be a career highlight, and the film has inspired numerous other stories using the same time-loop idea.

Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher surprised audiences with his dramatic role in ‘The Butterfly Effect,’ playing a man who could rewrite his history using his journals. He learned that even minor alterations to the past created huge and unforeseen problems in the present. The film showed Kutcher’s ability to play diverse characters, moving beyond his previous comedy work. It has since become a beloved cult film known for its thought-provoking and dark take on the idea of destiny.

David Tennant

David Tennant is famous for playing the Tenth Doctor in the popular show ‘Doctor Who’. For years, he played a time traveler zooming across time and space in the TARDIS. He came back to the role for several special episodes and even played a different version of the Doctor much later on. His performance was marked by a clear passion for history and a strong sense of protecting the timeline, making him a truly iconic figure in science fiction television.

Matt Smith

Matt Smith, known for taking on the role of the Eleventh Doctor after David Tennant, brought a playful and imaginative quality to the character. He also famously played a time machine itself in the film ‘Terminator Genisys’. Throughout his career, Smith has often appeared in stories involving time travel and the past. His television work has sparked the interest of many new fans in the idea of traveling through time, and he continues to be a popular figure in science fiction.

Peter Capaldi

Peter Capaldi was a longtime fan of science fiction before landing the role of the Twelfth Doctor in ‘Doctor Who’. He played the character with a thoughtful and serious style, and his episodes often explored complicated ideas about time and memory. Capaldi has frequently discussed how powerful it is for the Doctor to see stars being born and die. Many fans and critics appreciate his portrayal for its depth and emotional impact.

Christopher Eccleston

Christopher Eccleston is credited with bringing ‘Doctor Who’ back to television for a new generation. As the Ninth Doctor, he portrayed a character haunted by a devastating war known as the Time War, being the only survivor. Eccleston’s acting brought a realistic and emotional depth to the show’s science fiction concepts. Despite appearing for just one season, he significantly shaped the series and proved that time travel stories could thrive on twenty-first-century TV.

Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston plays the mischievous god Loki in a series centered around controlling the flow of time. His character works for a group that eliminates alternate realities to prevent time-related problems. Throughout the show, Hiddleston portrays many different versions of Loki, exploring the idea of whether people truly have free will or if their lives are predetermined, all on a grand, universal scale. The series has become a major part of today’s superhero landscape.

Robert Downey Jr.

In ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ Robert Downey Jr.’s character, Tony Stark, was key to the time travel story. He figured out how to use time travel technology, allowing the Avengers to go back in time. His performance powerfully showed the huge sacrifice he made to fix a terrible event. His character’s story ended with a final, impactful act that changed the course of the entire movie universe. Downey Jr. remains a central figure in the story of one of the most popular science fiction films of all time.

Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo has become well-known for playing characters involved in time travel, notably as Bruce Banner in ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ where he helped the team with a complex plan involving going back in time. He explained how time travel worked in the movie, both to the other characters and to viewers. Ruffalo also starred in ‘The Adam Project’ as a scientist who creates a way to travel through time. Many of his roles explore the difficult questions that arise when someone has the power to alter the past, and he frequently appears in big-budget films with time travel themes.

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange has the power to control time using a special stone. In ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ he famously looked at countless possible futures to find the one way to win. His movies also delve into the idea of multiple universes and how different timelines can connect. As a character, Doctor Strange protects the natural flow of time in his world, bringing a sense of magic and mystery to a typically science-focused genre.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds frequently plays with time travel in his movies, often for laughs and to playfully reference his own work. He famously starred in ‘The Adam Project’ as a time-traveling pilot meeting his younger self, and even used a time travel device in a ‘Deadpool 2’ post-credits scene to jokingly correct mistakes in the film. His movies typically combine exciting action with heartfelt stories about family, and he continues to be involved in science fiction projects as an actor and producer.

Josh Brolin

Josh Brolin is known for playing characters involved in time travel, such as the soldier Cable in ‘Deadpool 2’, where he worked to avoid a terrible future. He also played a younger version of Tommy Lee Jones in ‘Men in Black 3’. Brolin’s tough on-screen persona makes him a good fit for these kinds of stories, and he often portrays characters shaped by difficult experiences from the future. He frequently appears in big science fiction films.

Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman is well-known for roles involving time travel, notably in ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ where his character’s mind journeyed to the 1970s to protect humanity. He also played a 19th-century duke unexpectedly transported to present-day New York in the romantic film ‘Kate & Leopold’. Jackman skillfully portrays characters adjusting to completely different time periods, showcasing his range in both action-packed superhero movies and charming period romances. He’s become a familiar face in stories that explore themes of time and displacement.

James McAvoy

James McAvoy portrayed a young Professor Charles Xavier in ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’, where his character received a message from his older self, inspiring him to alter the future. McAvoy frequently appears in films that blend memory and reality, and his role in the ‘X-Men’ prequel series specifically examined how past experiences influence future leaders. He continues to be a prominent figure in science fiction cinema.

Michael Fassbender

Michael Fassbender is known for his roles in films like ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ where he played a young Magneto, and ‘Assassin’s Creed,’ which centers on a technology that lets people experience their ancestors’ memories. He frequently chooses roles that examine how past events shape current struggles. These films showcase his talent for portraying complicated characters with questionable morals. He’s built a strong career in historical and science fiction films.

Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart is well-known for his work in science fiction, especially as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in ‘Star Trek’. He’s appeared in time travel stories before, like ‘Star Trek: First Contact’ where he journeyed to the past to prevent an alien attack, and ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ as an older Professor Xavier. Recently, he revisited the role of Picard in a series centered around big changes to the timeline. His voice and commanding presence have made him a perfect fit for playing powerful characters in the sci-fi world.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana has explored time travel in science fiction films from multiple angles. He played a man with a condition that made him involuntarily jump through time in ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife,’ and the villain in the 2009 ‘Star Trek’ film, who traveled back in time to alter events. These roles often focus on themes of loss and the desire to control one’s destiny, and he’s known for bringing a lot of emotional depth to his science fiction characters.

Guy Pearce

Guy Pearce starred in the 2002 film ‘The Time Machine,’ which was based on H.G. Wells’ famous novel. He played an inventor who creates a time machine hoping to rescue his fiancée, but ends up traveling far into the future. He’s also known for his role in ‘Memento,’ a film that tells its story in a disorienting, non-linear way. Throughout his career, Pearce has often explored ideas about memory and time. He’s highly regarded for his work in films with complex and imaginative concepts.

Chris Pine

Chris Pine is known for starring in franchises that play with time. He famously took on the role of James T. Kirk in a ‘Star Trek’ movie that created a new timeline, letting him interpret the iconic character in a fresh way. He also starred in ‘Wonder Woman,’ where the character lives for centuries. Pine’s lively acting has been key to breathing new life into these established stories and allowing them to explore different possibilities.

Zachary Quinto

Zachary Quinto is well-known for playing Spock in the newer ‘Star Trek’ films, which take place in an alternate timeline caused by a time-related event. He had the interesting opportunity to act with the original Spock, allowing them to explore how their characters’ lives differed. Quinto also starred in the TV show ‘Heroes,’ known for its time travel storylines. Many of his roles feature intelligent characters who are focused on planning for what might happen next, making him a significant presence in modern science fiction.

William Shatner

William Shatner is well-known for his role in the iconic time travel film, ‘Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,’ and also appeared in ‘Star Trek Generations,’ where his character interacted with a future captain within a strange energy field. Over many years, he played a character who frequently faced time-related challenges while traveling through space. His work was highly influential in shaping how time travel was portrayed in science fiction for television and movie viewers in the 1990s and remains a cornerstone of the genre. He is considered a science fiction legend.

Chris Evans

In ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ Chris Evans captained the team’s journey to collect the Infinity Stones from different points in time. His character ultimately decided to remain in the past and live a complete life. This brought a heartwarming and fulfilling end to ten years of Marvel stories. Evans also played a key role in ‘Snowpiercer,’ a film about a never-ending cycle of life on a train after a catastrophic ice age. Throughout his work, Evans often portrays characters dedicated to creating a brighter future, no matter the setting.

Paul Rudd

As a huge Marvel fan, I always think about how crucial Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man was to ‘Endgame’. It was his character, Scott Lang, who first really opened our eyes to the Quantum Realm and the possibility of time travel. What I loved was how Rudd brought this lightheartedness and genuine curiosity to some seriously complex science. He’s become so central to how the MCU handles shrinking technology and messing with time! Honestly, his accidental jump five years into the future was the thing that kicked off the whole Endgame plot, and I’m excited to see where his story goes as the universe keeps expanding.

Scott Bakula

Scott Bakula is famous for his role as Sam Beckett in the popular TV show ‘Quantum Leap’. He played a scientist who traveled through time, inhabiting different people to correct errors in the past. Over five seasons, the show used time travel to explore a wide range of historical and social topics. Bakula later returned to science fiction as the captain of ‘Star Trek: Enterprise’. Throughout his career, a common theme in his work is a character striving to improve the world, one step at a time.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise tackled time travel in the movie ‘Edge of Tomorrow,’ where he starred as a soldier stuck repeating the same day during an alien attack. He did a lot of his own stunts, showing both the physical and emotional challenges of being caught in a time loop. The role demonstrated his talent for combining thrilling action with smart science fiction. Since then, critics have applauded him for injecting excitement into time travel stories.

Matthew McConaughey

As a huge movie fan, I was completely blown away by ‘Interstellar,’ especially Matthew McConaughey’s performance. The film really dives into the mind-bending idea of time moving differently depending on gravity – like, near a black hole, hours for him could be years for his family back home. He perfectly captured that heartbreaking feeling of being utterly alone, not just in space, but separated from everything you know by time itself. What’s amazing is how scientifically accurate it is about gravity and time. He played this father so powerfully, desperate to reconnect with his kids even across this impossible, cosmic distance. It’s a truly moving film.

Jared Leto

In the film ‘Mr. Nobody,’ Jared Leto plays the last naturally aging person in a world where everyone else lives forever. The movie shows his character remembering different versions of his life, each based on a different choice he made. Leto played the same man at all ages, from a young boy to an old man, and his performance touched on the idea that all of life’s paths have equal worth. Many consider this one of his most challenging and creative roles.

Will Smith

Will Smith is known for his roles in big-budget science fiction films. He starred in ‘Men in Black 3’, where he went back in time to the 1960s to rescue his partner and stop an alien attack. In ‘Gemini Man’, he battled a younger, cloned version of himself made using advanced technology. Smith frequently combines humor and action in movies that often involve time travel or futuristic concepts, solidifying his status as a leading actor in science fiction cinema.

Frank Grillo

In the action movie ‘Boss Level,’ Frank Grillo played a former special forces operative trapped in a time loop, forced to relive the same day over and over. Throughout the film, he worked to master new abilities and solve a mystery, all while constantly being hunted and killed by assassins. Grillo delivered a raw and energetic performance, bringing a unique edge to the familiar time loop concept. Critics highlighted his ability to blend dark comedy with genuine character development, and he’s become a familiar face in today’s independent science fiction scene.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

In the movie ‘Timecop,’ Jean-Claude Van Damme played a time travel agent whose job was to stop people from illegally altering the past. He used his fighting skills to battle criminals throughout history, all while trying to protect his own timeline. The film was a hit, combining action and science fiction, and helped launch a TV series. Van Damme is known as one of the first action heroes to explore time travel in his movies.

Malcolm McDowell

Malcolm McDowell is well-known for his roles in science fiction and fantasy, often playing characters fascinated by time. He famously portrayed H.G. Wells in ‘Time After Time’, traveling to modern-day San Francisco to hunt Jack the Ripper, and played the time-obsessed villain Tolian Soran in ‘Star Trek Generations’. McDowell’s captivating presence has made him a consistently busy and highly regarded actor throughout his career.

Rod Taylor

Rod Taylor starred as George in the 1960 film version of ‘The Time Machine’. He played a Victorian-era inventor who journeys to the far future to see how humans evolve. His performance was incredibly influential, shaping how time travel was depicted in movies for many years. His scenes with the Morlocks and Eloi are still remembered as a classic moment in film, and he’s considered a key figure in the history of science fiction.

Jim Caviezel

In the film ‘Frequency,’ Jim Caviezel plays a man who finds a way to talk to his late father through a radio, sending messages back in time. He uses this incredible connection to save his father’s life and crack a cold case that’s been unsolved for years. Caviezel’s performance beautifully captures the deep emotional connection between a father and son, even across time. What makes the film special is that it uses communication, not time travel, to connect the past and present. He gives a touching performance as a man trying to repair his family’s past.

Dennis Quaid

In the movie ‘Frequency,’ Dennis Quaid plays a father who starts receiving radio messages from his son, but the messages are coming from thirty years in the future. He uses these future instructions to avoid danger and try to alter his destiny. Quaid portrayed the firefighter with a believable and down-to-earth quality, effectively showing the challenges of working with someone across time. He’s become known for starring in films that combine heartwarming family stories with science fiction elements.

Adam DeVine

In the romantic comedy ‘When We First Met,’ Adam DeVine plays a guy who discovers a photo booth that lets him travel back in time to the night he first met the woman he likes. He keeps revisiting that night, hoping to change how things turned out, but his attempts always backfire. DeVine uses his comedic skills to show how trying to control the past can be a messy experience. The movie offers a funny and fresh spin on the familiar time loop idea, and demonstrates his knack for updating classic movie concepts.

Grant Gustin

Grant Gustin starred as The Flash on television for almost ten years. His character often used super speed to travel through time, altering his world’s history. Gustin’s portrayal focused on the serious repercussions and emotional impact of these changes, particularly when creating alternate realities called Flashpoints. He was a key part of a large television universe that frequently used time travel as a major plot device. His time on the show was one of the longest runs for any actor playing a time-traveling hero.

Brandon Routh

Brandon Routh is well-known for his science fiction roles, especially as Ray Palmer on ‘Legends of Tomorrow,’ where he journeyed through time. Before that, he famously played Superman in ‘Superman Returns,’ a character who doesn’t age. Throughout his career, Routh has become a seasoned actor in comic book adaptations, often portraying hopeful characters who use technology to safeguard the past and future. He’s a popular guest at fan conventions thanks to his work in television science fiction.

Arthur Darvill

Arthur Darvill is well-known for playing characters who frequently travel through time. He first gained recognition as Rory Williams on ‘Doctor Who,’ where he journeyed across the universe. He later starred as Rip Hunter, the captain of a time-traveling ship, in ‘Legends of Tomorrow.’ Throughout his career, Darvill has portrayed a variety of roles within these time travel stories, from a devoted friend to a leader with the weight of history on his shoulders. He’s become particularly linked with two of the biggest time travel series in recent years.

Tom Cavanagh

Tom Cavanagh was known for playing many different versions of Harrison Wells on ‘The Flash,’ often appearing as both a guide and a villain – the time-traveling Eobard Thawne. He skillfully showed how a person could be changed by different life choices and past events. His acting was central to the show’s complicated storylines about time travel and paradoxes, and he’s become a well-known face in the science fiction world on TV.

Stephen Amell

As a big fan of sci-fi, I’ve always appreciated Stephen Amell’s work. He’s fantastic as the ‘Arrow,’ but it’s more than that – he really anchored those huge crossover events with time travel and alternate worlds. Even in a movie like ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows,’ which dealt with a portal through time, he brought a sense of realism. What I’ve noticed is he’s consistently the relatable core in these wild, fantastical stories, especially when characters are forced to confront their future selves. It feels like his whole career has been about building these big, connected sci-fi universes, and he’s been a key part of making them work.

Tell us which of these time traveling actors is your personal favorite in the comments.

2026-02-13 22:51