7 Wacky Time Travel Movies To Watch Before (Or After) ‘Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die’

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die’s unique mix of emotionally heavy characters and goofy riff on the time-travel concept has an unlikely cousin in Safety Not Guaranteed. The feature-length debut of Colin Trevorrow, shortly before he blew up as the director of Jurassic World (2015), Safety Not Guaranteed follows a disillusioned journalist and his two interns as they seek an interview with a man who has seemingly constructed his own time machine. 

While the film is far more grounded than the other entries on this list, its human complexity and deadpan sense of humor make for a great contrast to the inherently weirder elements of any sci-fi script or story. A great indie mumblecore take on the time-travel conceit, audiences who are drawn to the more human elements of the sci-fi stories will find plenty to love in this one—even if the audiences after spectacle are probably better suited for something like Doctor Who (2005)

One of the most famous time-travel movies ever made, the goofy hilarity of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure has helped it stand the test of time. The film follows the titular duo, a pair of dim-witted aspiring rock stars who find out that a utopian future depends on their ability to graduate high school together. Fitting neatly into the weirder side of the '80s teen film craze alongside movies like Weird Science (1985), Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure's secret weapon is a complete willingness to mess with the conventions of the genre and have fun with time-displaced historical icons. 

If you’re looking for a dramatic time-travel story, this might not be the pick for you. However, if Napoleon riding down a water slide or Attila the Hun set loose in a shopping mall seems even remotely silly, then you need to check out this film—along with its two sequels, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991) and Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020).

Probably the best comparison point to Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die in terms of pure tone and style, Twelve Monkeys is one of Terry Gilliam’s most thematically rich films and a weird time-travel movie that never lets the sci-fi undercut the drama. When a time-traveler comes back to the present to stop a catastrophe, he is declared mentally unwell and confined to a mental hospital. 

Filled with the same social satire that Gilliam brought to other movies like Brazil (1985), Twelve Monkeys benefits from completely committed (and deeply kooky) performances from Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. It’s also got a sense of ambition and cynicism that is matched by Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, with a haunting ending that remains one of the most memorable dark turns in any of Gilliam’s films.

Initially released as a mini-series but functioning better as a film, Time-Traveling Bong is a lightweight bit of time-hopping fluff that has enough dark and slapstick comedy to appeal to anyone who finds the time-traveling Sam Rockwell in Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die fun. Focusing on a pair of stoner cousins who discover a means of time-travel through the titular glass piece, their bond is tested by their adventures through different historical periods. 

Starring Broad City (2014)'s Ilana Glazer and Hacks (2021) creator Paul W. Downs, the film has a sense of humor that's far closer to the Comedy Central classic rather than the latter HBO dramedy. Still, the film's goofiest turns and unlikely punchlines make for an enjoyable experience, especially if you're someone who appreciated the stoner comedy in something like Pineapple Express (2008).

Very much a comedy of its time, Hot Tub Time Machine benefits from a charming cast that elevates its relatively one-note premise. Very much akin to comedies like The Hangover (2009) and Role Models (2008), Hot Tub Time Machine has a lot of fun with the sophomoric comedy beats that both a high school movie from the ‘80s and the immature adult comedy of the 2000s both excelled in. 

The thing that really gives the movie a thematic connection to Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is the bittersweet heart of the story, which largely focuses on regret and the way it can shape a life. There’s a surprisingly emotional core to the film that makes it well worth watching, even if these types of comedy aren’t usually a go-to pick.

A strange film that has gradually become a cult classic, Flight of the Navigator is a fascinating look at the impact of time travel from a younger perspective. The film follows David, a boy who wakes up to discover that he's traveled eight years into the present. The movie's sci-fi elements, clearly meant to be a match for something like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) are strange and endearing, and there is an undercurrent of worldbuilding that matches the odder elements of Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die's climax. While the confusing plot and earnest tone might not make it the most entertaining film for mature audiences, this is a great early time travel movie to share with younger viewers who might be interested in the concept.

One of the best time-travel movies ever and a charming fantasy adventure in its own right, Time Bandits is a strange, silly, and bittersweet take on the time-travel concept. Exploring the fantasy and sci-fi genres with the same sense of reverence that he brought to Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), Time Bandits has a sense of humor that quickly alternates between whimsical and dark. 

Its use of time travel and its surprisingly emotional core make it a fitting peer to something like Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, while the dark kids fantasy energy makes it a great peer for the likes of Labyrinth (1986) or The Dark Crystal (1982). If you loved the tone and tenor of Sam Rockwell's time travel adventure, then you need to make sure you see this family-friendly but universally hilarious take on the premise.