Top Ten Time Travel Movies

Posted on April 22, 2026 by erictaveren

Today’s category: Time Travel. The genre where the rules are made up, the paradoxes are everywhere, and the emotional damage is always worse because you know it could have been different.

I love time travel stories. Too many of my stories ideas revolve around time travel. They tend to raise the same question over and over: if you could go back and change something, would you? And more importantly, should you? Some of these movies lean into action, some into romance, and some into existential dread. All of them leave you thinking.

As always, these are not ranked.

About Time
Palm Springs
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Edge of Tomorrow
Extinct
Back to the Future
Interstellar
Looper
Safety Not Guaranteed
Déjà Vu

Here are some brief bits of rationale:

About Time

Already talked about this in romance, but it belongs here too. This movie is less about the function of time travel and more about how we choose to live our lives. It’s funny, heartbreaking, and one of the most meaningful movies I’ve ever seen. If you don’t tear up at least once, I assume you are a robot.

Palm Springs

This movie came out at the exact right time. When the pandemic hit there was something relatable about being stuck somewhere with no escape. It’s not just a loop, it’s life. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti are fantastic, and the movie balances absurdity with genuine emotional growth.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

One of the greatest action movies ever made and a fantastic time travel story. The emotional core between John and the Terminator still works decades later and the liquidator is one of the most terrifying bad guys ever. Relentless assault? No thanks.

Edge of Tomorrow

Another loop movie, but this one leans into action and growth. Watching Tom Cruise slowly go from incompetent to unstoppable is incredibly satisfying. Also, Emily Blunt is a legend in this movie. I mean, she always is, but particularly here.

Extinct

This is probably the one most people haven’t seen, but I really enjoyed it. The blend of humor, heart, and the twist on time travel kept me hooked. I don’t think I can emphasize the humor enough. There aren’t a ton of comedy time travel movies, and this one fills that hole. I like it better than Bill and Ted.

Back to the Future

A classic for a reason. It’s fun, tight, and endlessly rewatchable. It put Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd on the map and put a weird twist on the whole Oedipus thing. Also, the theme made it ridiculously epic.

Interstellar

This is time travel as cosmic heartbreak. It’s big, ambitious, and emotionally devastating. The father-daughter relationship carries the movie, and the science makes it feel grounded enough that your brain goes, “Well… maybe?” Did it make perfect sense? No. Did it swing big enough to not matter? Yup.

Looper

Dark, gritty, and full of tough choices. I love how this movie focuses less on rules and more on consequences. It also has one of the most memorable sequences involving time travel I’ve ever seen.

Safety Not Guaranteed

I remember watching the trailer when it first came out and thinking, “what the hell is this?” It’s small, weird, and charming. This movie feels like it exists in its own space. It’s about hope, loneliness, and the idea that maybe—just maybe—there’s something bigger out there.

Déjà Vu

A thriller wrapped in a time travel story. It’s tense, emotional, and surprisingly clever. Also, Denzel Washington elevates everything he touches, because, you know, it’s Denzel.

What time travel movies would you add? Which ones did I miss? And which timeline are you currently living in where your favorite didn’t make the list? Let me know. I’m always ready to debate these with the confidence of someone who has absolutely tried to diagram time travel logic on a whiteboard and confused himself halfway through.

Top Ten Animated Movies

Posted on April 19, 2026 by erictaveren

Today’s category: Animated. A genre that people still occasionally dismiss as “for kids,” which is wild because some of the most emotionally devastating, visually creative, and flat-out hilarious movies ever made live here.

Animation is also one of the purest forms of storytelling. If you can imagine it, you can put it on screen. There are no limits except budget, time, and how much sleep the animators are willing to sacrifice. These movies shaped my sense of humor, my sense of wonder, and probably a good chunk of my personality. They also give me plenty of random break-into-song fodder. Which I do.

As always, these are not ranked.

Tangled
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
My Neighbor Totoro
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
The Emperor’s New Groove
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Kubo and the Two Strings
Onward
A Goofy Movie
Moana

Here are some brief bits of rationale:

Tangled

This is my favorite modern Disney movie. The humor lands, the romance is earned, and the characters feel real in a way that sneaks up on you. Also, the music is amazing. I’ve Got a Dream, I See the Light, When Will My Life Begin and Mother Knows Best? Hard to beat that. Plus, Maximus is one of the most entertaining animal companions ever.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

This one deserved better when it came out. It’s adventurous, different, and feels like a sci-fi fantasy hybrid in the best way. It also has one of the coolest visual styles Disney has ever done. I also appreciate how every character acts logically according to their own code, be it bad, good, or neutral. The characters are characters, not caricatures.

My Neighbor Totoro

This was my first introduction to Miyazaki. I won’t say anime, even though it’s Japanese animation. To me there’s a style different that is a clear separation. Totoro shows us there doesn’t need to be epic stakes. The stakes are epic for the kids, and that’s who they should be epic for. Side note: I still have my giant Totoro and Catbus plushies from when I was a kid.

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

I never watched the show. I know some of the main jokes only because of memes. That doesn’t matter. This movie stands on its own, says what it wants to say, and does so in the most hilarious, raunchy, and musical way possible. I’m pretty sure I can still sing along with all the songs word for word. Oh. BARBARA STREISAND!

The Emperor’s New Groove

Perfect comedy. Every line lands. Every character is iconic. The pacing is absurdly tight. If I’d missed the DIsney logo at the beginning, I wouldn’t have thought it them. It’s just too witty and funny. And Kronk. Need I say more?

The Nightmare Before Christmas

A Halloween movie? A Christmas movie? Both. The stop-motion animation is gorgeous, the songs are unforgettable, and it manages to be spooky and heartfelt at the same time. I probably watched this once a week back in freshman year and both at Halloween and Christmas still.

Kubo and the Two Strings

Speaking of stop-motion, I didn’t realize this was as first. I remember thinking, dang, the CGI on this is super neat. That how fluid it is. Visually stunning and emotionally powerful. The storytelling, the themes of memory and family, and the sheer artistry of the animation make this one unforgettable.

Onward

This one got overshadowed, but it shouldn’t have. As someone who loves fantasy and father stories, this movie hits right in the emotional gut. The ending is one of the most quietly powerful things Pixar has done. Ugly crying powerful. Also, it feels like a D&D campaign, which automatically earns bonus points.

A Goofy Movie

This is a cult classic for a reason. It captures that awkward, complicated parent-child relationship in a way that feels real, while also giving us songs that still live in my head decades later. I still love singing After Today while doing all the voices.

Moana

Deciding on a tenth pick was hard. There were a ton of options. I opted for the one that was most fun to sing along with. It has adventure, heart, incredible music, and one of the strongest protagonists Disney has ever written.

What animated movies would you add? Which ones did I leave off that you’ll never forgive me for? Let me know. I’m always ready to defend my choices with the energy of someone who absolutely watches cartoons on purpose.

Top Ten Fantasy Movies

Posted on April 15, 2026 by erictaveren

Today’s category: Fantasy. Possibly my favorite genre across all media. The stakes are usually world-ending, and the stories live on metaphor and cultural commentary.

Fantasy has always been my comfort zone. Books, movies, games, D&D, Magic: The Gathering… if there are dragons, magic, or morally questionable wizards, I’m in. This is also the genre that probably shaped my writing the most. Somewhere in my brain, a dark elf detective is constantly making poor life choices because I grew up on this stuff.

As always, these aren’t ranked. They’re just the ones that stuck with me.

Prepare for swords, spells, and at least one extremely questionable comedy.

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Pan’s Labyrinth
Your Highness
Reign of Fire
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
The Brothers Grimm
Willow
DragonHeart
Enchanted

Here are some brief bits of rationale:

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

I already talked about this in adaptations, but it deserves to be here too. This movie reignited mainstream fantasy in a way we’re still benefiting from. It’s cozy, it’s epic, and it perfectly captures the feeling of leaving home for the first time. Of all the movies I’m waiting for my kid to be old enough to watch, this might be at the top of the list.

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

One of the most satisfying endings in movie history. It somehow balances massive battles with deeply personal moments. And yes, it has a lot of endings. That was a criticism I had after my first watch. But there’s just so much going on. Give me the endings. I’ve invested eight hours (extended editions) already. I want closure and it gives me closure. Also, the “you bow to no one” line? Chokes me up every time.

Pan’s Labyrinth

This is fantasy as art. Dark, beautiful, terrifying, and layered. It’s a fairy tale that refuses to be comforting. The creatures, the symbolism, the emotional weight—it’s unforgettable. There are two movies I’ve seen a the theatre where I was literally on the edge of my seat. This is one. Utterly fantastic.

Your Highness

I will defend this movie forever. Is it ridiculous? Yes. Is it immature? Absolutely. Did I laugh harder than I expected? Also yes. It’s a perfect parody of fantasy tropes, and sometimes you just need a movie that knows exactly how dumb it is. It probably didn’t hurt that at the time of release I had huge crushes on both Natalie and Zooey.

Reign of Fire

Dragons versus modern military. That’s the pitch. That’s the movie. And it works. Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey being absolutely unhinged, and a world that feels gritty and lived in. This is one of those movies I will stop and watch anytime it’s on. This is a dragon movie that works.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

After all the bad D&D movies that preceded this, I didn’t want to get my hopes up. But holy crap did it deliver. It’s funny, heartfelt, and feels like an actual D&D campaign. The tone, the party dynamics, the chaos—it all lands. Also, it captures the spirit of collaborative storytelling, which is probably why I loved it so much.

The Brothers Grimm

Weird. Very weird. But I love the idea of folklore coming to life and the blurred line between tricksters and heroes. It feels like a story someone would tell by candlelight in a tavern while the storm rages outside. Also, there were so many times I forgot it was Matt Damon and Heath Ledger. They weren’t famous actors, they were the Brothers Grimm.

Willow

Pure adventure. This movie is messy and charming and full of heart. I also had the benefit of watching it for the first time at such a young age that I didn’t know any of the actors. Now when I watch it, I don’t see Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer. I see Willow and Madmartigan.

DragonHeart

If you grew up in the 90s, this movie has a special place in your heart. Sean Connery as a dragon. A friendship story. A surprisingly emotional ending. And a good reminder that David Thewlis is rarely to be trusted.

Enchanted

This movie is so much smarter than it gets credit for. It’s a loving parody of Disney while also being a genuinely sweet romance. It’s funny, self-aware, and Amy Adams is perfect. And if you don’t have a perpetual crush on James Marsden, there’s something wrong with you. Plus, it proves that fantasy can exist in the real world without losing its magic.

What fantasy movies would you add? Which ones did I miss? And more importantly, which ones will you never forgive me for including? Let me know. I’m always ready to defend my choices like a wizard with too many spell slots and not enough common sense.

Top Ten Adaptations

Posted on April 12, 2026 by erictaveren

We continue our journey through my ever-growing pile of movie lists. Today’s category: Adaptations. Books to movies. The eternal battlefield. The place where readers go to be disappointed and filmmakers go to be judged.

The book is often better. Almost always. But sometimes the movie does something different. Sometimes it captures the spirit instead of the details. And sometimes it pulls off the impossible and actually improves on the source material.

I’m not trying to do a comparison here of book versus movie. They’re inherently different and comparable enjoyment is, like most things super subjective. The goal here is simply to find movies based on books and base my judgment on the quality of the movie.

These are the ones that worked best for me.

Fellowship of the Ring
The Green Mile
Jurassic Park
Misery
Fight Club
Life of Pi
The Three Musketeers
12 Years a Slave
Contact
I, Robot

Honorable Mention: Cloud Atlas

Here are some brief bits of rationale:

Fellowship of the Ring

This is the gold standard. The very first movie that came to mind for adaptation. Massive world, massive cast, massive expectations, and somehow Peter Jackson pulled it off. As much as I love the book, I love the movie more (in no small part because they skipped Bombadil). Also, the music alone deserves its own category/award/statue/anything and everything. Bridge of Khazad-dum.

The Green Mile

Stephen King adaptations are wildly inconsistent. For every masterpiece there are… other things. But this one captures the heart of the story perfectly. The performances, the pacing, the emotion—it all works. Tom Hanks is always amazing, but Michael Clarke Duncan… that big man tenderness is was makes the emotion work. It’s long, but it earns every minute.

Jurassic Park

The book is darker. The movie is more wonder-filled. Both are incredible. This is one of the best examples of understanding the medium. Spielberg knew exactly what to change and why. Crichton is one of my favorite authors, and this has the best bits of Crichton working with one of the best creators of cinema. That final T-Rex roar… iconic.

Misery

Another King win. This movie is proof that you don’t need explosions or giant monsters to create tension. Just two people, one room, and Kathy Bates being absolutely terrifying. Just looking at that sledgehammer on the cover gives me shivers.

Fight Club

One of the few adaptations where people regularly argue the movie might be better. It’s sharp, weird, uncomfortable, and incredibly rewatchable. I think this was my first real exposure to Edward Norton and with very few exceptions he simply makes everything better. I almost didn’t include this, mainly because I’m not supposed to talk about it. :)

Life of Pi

This one feels almost unfilmable on the page. The fact that it works visually is a miracle. It’s beautiful, philosophical, and somehow makes you emotionally invested in a boy and a tiger on a boat. I’m not a religious person, but this movie makes religion seem real. It’s hard to appreciate the metaphor.

The Three Musketeers (1993)

Is this the most faithful adaptation? No. Is it the most fun? Yes. The cast is ridiculous in the best way. The sword fights, the humor, the energy—it feels like a story being told around a campfire or your grandpa talking about that walleye he tried to catch for ten years. It almost makes me feel good about Charlie Sheen.

12 Years a Slave

Here it is again, on another list. And rightfully so. Another powerful and necessary adaptation. It’s one thing to read history. It’s another to see it brought to life. I can’t say enough good things about it. The restraint in the filmmaking makes the brutality hit even harder.

Contact

This one might be controversial, but I love it. I watched it at a young age and was blown away by the concepts. And that’s what it’s supposed to do. It’s thoughtful, emotional, and asks big questions about science, faith, and humanity. The book goes deeper into the science, but the movie finds the emotional core.

I, Robot

Very loosely based on Asimov, which usually makes book fans grumpy. But adaptions don’t always have to be 100% faithful. That would arguably make the movie bad. I, Robot is fun, it’s thoughtful, and it introduces big ideas about AI and ethics in a very accessible way. And Alan Tudyk was the perfect Sonny.

Honorable Mention: Cloud Atlas

This movie is on the list because it’s based on my favorite book. Does it work perfectly? No. Does it capture the fun ideas and the interconnectivity of the book? Yes. Are some of the accents and performances forced? Definitely. But I’ll still watch it whenever it’s on.

What adaptations would you add? Which ones did Hollywood completely ruin for you? I’m always ready to debate with the passion of someone who has absolutely said “the book was better” at least once a week for most of my life.

Top Ten Drama Movies

Posted on April 7, 2026 by erictaveren

I’m back with another list. Turns out when you start making movie lists, it’s very hard to stop. I’m pretty sure this is how addiction starts. I didn’t realize how carried away I’d get doing these. They’re all done, but no one needs that much in their face at once. No one.

Today’s genre: Drama. Probably my least favorite genre after horror. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like any of them. I had a period from the end of high school through mid-college where I watched a bunch (which is probably indicative based on the years most of these came out), but lately I’ve avoided them. The world is serious enough right now. Levity is appreciated.

Here you go.

Forrest Gump
Inside Man
American History X
Dead Poet’s Society
Good Will Hunting
Training Day
A Beautiful Mind
The Prestige
12 Years a Slave
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Here are some brief bits of rationale:

Forrest Gump

I don’t know how many times I’ve had an idea about connecting many different events and then am like, oh, that’s Forrest Gump. There are so many quotable lines, which doesn’t happen too often outside the comedy genre. Between Bubba and Lieutenant Dan and Jenny and, of course, Forrest, there are more perfect characters than should exist in a single movie.

Inside Man

One of the smartest heist movies ever made, and one that somehow still feels grounded. I went into this thinking Spike Lee. This was not typical Spike Lee. It’s a different kind of brilliant. Clive Owen is cool, Denzel is cooler, and the layers in this movie reward every rewatch. Also, I love a story where the win condition isn’t what you think it is.

American History X

This is just… heavy. I think why it resonated so much was that it was one of the first movies I watched that seemed like it could be real. Like there was a way to capture the hate that exists outside of documentaries. I only watched it once. I don’t know that I can ever watch it again.

Dead Poet’s Society

Robin Williams brought life and energy to everything he did, but this was something special, even for him. Maybe it was the latent teacher in me, but the way he connected and inspired the kids… it was what all those “inspiring teacher” movies wanted to be. None could ever hold a candle to this.

Good Will Hunting

“It’s not your fault.” That’s it. That’s the rationale. This movie is about intelligence, trauma, friendship, and the terrifying vulnerability of letting someone actually know you. Robin is back, Matt and Ben are showing the world who they are, and Minnie makes everything that much more watchable. How do you like them apples?

Training Day

Denzel Washington is terrifying in this. The slow realization of what’s happening over the course of the day is brilliant. It’s a masterclass in tension and character, and one of those performances that makes you forget you’re watching an actor. He might be the actor who shows up the most across these lists.

A Beautiful Mind

I watched this in high school. I’d gotten it in my head I was going to be a legit movie buff and decided to watch all the award darlings that year. I think it was the first non-animated movie I’d seen in the theater. Blew my freaking mind. Ed Harris is a special kind of creepy, and Russell Crowe made me believe in magical floating numbers.

The Prestige

This movie is about obsession, sacrifice, and the cost of greatness. It’s one of the most perfectly structured films I’ve ever seen. You think you know what’s happening and then you’re wrong. Repeatedly. Every time you watch it, you see something new. One of those movies that makes you stop what you’re doing and watch it whenever it happens to be on.

12 Years a Slave

I first saw Chiwetel Ejiofor in Serenity (on a different list) and shortly thereafter in Inside Man (on this list), and then Children of Men (definitely on a list). I knew he was special. Then came this. The brutality is the point. McQueen forces you to confront a reality that is often softened or skipped over. It’s not entertainment. It’s remembrance.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

This might be the most hopeful movie on this list. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone, choosing adventure, and realizing your life can be bigger than your fears. I watched the original with Jimmy Stewart when I was a kid, and was expecting that. This was so much more. Also, the soundtrack alone could convince me to quit my job and travel the world. (I will not do this. I like summers off too much.)

Any movies you’d swap in? Any you can’t believe I left out? Let me know. I’m always happy to defend my choices with the stubborn confidence of someone who has thought about movies far too much.