Looping Around To More Movies
Looper takes a time-loop concept and absolutely runs with it, spinning that concept into a cleverly written plot about an assassination conducted by our protagonist’s older self no less.
If you’ve finished streaming this one and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks.
Of course for all the movies we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 movies to check out when you’ve finished watching Looper.
Primer
Where do you start with Primer? Trying to understand and explain Primer is difficult without giving key parts of the plot away. However, the basic premise here revolves around four friends who have each built a device.
Primer is intentionally confusing with the way it’s edited and that will almost certainly frustrate people. It’s definitely one of the more polarizing time travel movies and it definitely won’t be for everyone.
Given the movie was shot on a budget of under $10,000 though, this is a pretty impressive venture and if you’re up for something a bit different then this is worth checking out.
Timecrimes
Timecrimes is a real sleeper hit and a compelling time loop movie that’s worth checking out if you’re looking for a decent Indie flick.
The plot line centers on a man who accidentally gets into a time machine and travels back in time nearly an hour. From here, the movie explores all the usual shenanigans one would expect with a plot line like this.
Timecrimes explores time travel in a pretty interesting way but unlike Primer, does so in a more simplistic way. It won’t be for everyone, and a lack of character growth does hold this one back. However, as an Indie, Timecrimes definitely has some great moments.
Source Code
Suspenseful and mind-bending, Source Code adds its own unique spin on a time-loop concept and cranks up the tension to extreme levels.
The story revolves around army captain Colter Stevens, who finds himself working on a special program where his consciousness can be inserted into another human being. However, there’s a catch – it will only allow a person to stay for 8 minutes at a time.
That morning, a bomb blast explodes a commuter train outside Chicago, prompting the team to uncover what happened.
In order to do so, Colter occupies the body of a teacher on his morning commute; onboard the very same train that’s due to explode. Now it’s up to Colter to figure out who the bomber is and where the bomb is located. Tick tock.
This movie is dripping in tension and really puts the thrill in the word thriller.
Edge Of Tomorrow
Edge Of Tomorrow is another time-loop movie, this time taking the idea of a big, expansive battlefield and forcing a soldier into reliving this epic battle over and over again.
At the center of all this is Major William Cage, who finds himself dropped into what appears to be a suicide mission. Aliens have declared war on Earth and hit the planet with an unrelenting assault.
Killed within minutes, Cage slowly starts to memorize the attack patterns and eventually teams up with fellow survivors, determined to try and stop this endless cycle before it’s too late.
Edge Of Tomorrow thrives on its big action set pieces, and this movie is a real sci-fi spectacle.
Minority Report
If you’re looking for something with a similar sci-fi vibe, Minority Report is well worth a watch. Set in the year 2054, Minority Report revolves around a special police unit called “Precrime” who jump back through time to arrest criminals before they break the law.
The result of this is a utopian world where crime is non-existent. All seems well until Anderson (our protagonist) is predicted to commit a murder in the next 36 hours.
With Anderson unaware of who his victim is, he sets out to try and uncover what’s happening and prove himself innocent. Expect plenty of action set pieces, crazy twists and a brilliant third act that ties everything together.
Twelve Monkeys
Alongside the excellent quality of its small screen cousin, the original big screen movie of Twelve Monkeys is just as endearing.
This sci-fi movie plays on the idea of rewriting history and revolves around a man sent back through time to stop a viral outbreak from dooming humanity.
It’s a simple idea in truth and one that works well to produce a decent 90’s thriller you’re unlikely to forget in a hurry. Bruce Willis puts on a great performance too and the movie lends itself to some decent twists and turns along the way.
Triangle
Triangle is a clever film. It’s a movie that takes a simple mystery and folds it into an origami-shaped brain-twisting puzzle. The story works on several levels, and definitely benefits from repeat watches too.
The story revolves around Jess, a young girl who heads off on a yacht with a group of friends. The whole time though she feels like something is wrong, crescendoing into a storm that forces them to seek shelter and refuge on a passing ocean liner. Only, Jess begins to feel a sense of Deja vu, like she’s been on this ship before.
With someone seemingly hunting them down, it’s up to Jess and the others to figure out what’s happening before it’s too late.
Cleverly written, full of some great reveals and incredibly tense, Triangle is certainly a time loop movie you should check out.
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a quintessential sci-fi thriller and one that still holds up to this day. Straight from the mind of Ridley Scott, this gorgeous picture presents a dystopian 2019 vision of Los Angeles, complete with towering skyscrapers and synthetic humanoids.
At the center of this is grizzled former Blade Runner, Rick Deckard. He’s called out of retirement when four rogue replicants steal a spaceship and illegally enter Earth to find their creator, Dr Eldon Tyrell.
This essentially sees Deckard tasked with tracking down and “retiring” these dangerous androids.
Blade Runner is an amazing film, one that dives into deep, philosophical questions while boasting a solid story to back it up.
Predestination
Predestination is another time loop movie that manages to keep you guessing right up until the very end. In fact, Predestination is pretty clever with its twists, keeping its cards close to its chest until the film’s conclusion.
The plot centers on a temporal agent who is sent on an intricate series of time-travel journeys designed to ensue the continuation of his own career for all eternity. Now onto his final assignment, this agent is tasked with pursuing the one criminal that’s eluded him through time.
To give much more away would be disservice to this excellent movie. If you’re looking for a good time-bending hit, this one is definitely worth a watch.
The Terminator
1984’s The Terminator is an absolute sci-fi classic. It’s also one of the few rare movies where the sequel is as good – if not better – than the original.
The Terminator depicts a dystopian 2029 future where machines have conquered the entire world. Within this post-apocalyptic vision, an indestructible cyborg-assassin known simply as Terminator is dispatched to kill humankind’s most important woman – Sarah Connor.
As he jumps back through time, so too does Kyle Reese, a brave soldier from the human Resistance Army who tries to stop this cybernetic killer. But how do you stop an unstoppable machine?
Well written, brilliantly paced and featuring some memorable moments, The Terminator is a must-watch.
So there we have it, our 10 Movie picks to keep you busy after watching Looper.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!