The 12 Greatest Time Travel TV Shows Ever Made

The 12 Greatest Time Travel TV Shows Ever Made

Time travel has captivated audiences for decades, offering endless possibilities to explore history, fix mistakes, or witness the future.

Television has embraced this concept brilliantly, creating shows that blend science fiction with emotional storytelling, thrilling adventures, and mind-bending paradoxes.

From classic British sci-fi to modern streaming hits, these series have redefined what time travel can mean on the small screen.

Here are 12 shows that have mastered the art of traveling through time while keeping viewers hooked episode after episode.

1. 12 Monkeys (2015–2018)

Based on the acclaimed film, this series transforms a simple premise into something far more complex and rewarding.

A man from a plague-ravaged future travels backward to prevent the catastrophe, but every action creates ripples that complicate his mission.

The show excels at weaving intricate timelines that challenge viewers to keep up.

Characters loop through decades, meeting younger and older versions of themselves, creating emotional moments that hit surprisingly hard.

The writing respects audience intelligence without becoming inaccessible.

By its finale, 12 Monkeys delivers one of television’s most satisfying conclusions.

Every mystery gets answered, every thread ties together, proving that careful planning pays off in time-travel storytelling.

2. Dark (2017–2020)

Germany’s Dark arrived as a revelation, proving that non-English television could compete with any prestige drama.

Set in a small town where children keep disappearing, the series gradually reveals connections spanning multiple generations and timelines.

What starts as a missing-person mystery evolves into an examination of fate versus free will.

Families discover their lives are entangled across decades in ways both tragic and inevitable.

The show demands attention but rewards it generously.

Dark’s visual style matches its narrative complexity—shadowy forests, abandoned bunkers, and rain-soaked streets create constant unease.

This isn’t comfort viewing; it’s a puzzle box that challenges everything you think you understand about cause and effect.

3. 11.22.63 (2016)

Stephen King’s novel becomes a gripping limited series starring James Franco as a teacher who discovers a time portal to 1960.

His mission seems straightforward: stop Lee Harvey Oswald from assassinating President Kennedy.

Reality proves far messier.

The past, as King writes, pushes back against being changed.

Every attempt to alter history meets resistance, creating suspense beyond the central assassination plot.

The series also explores 1960s America beautifully, capturing both its charm and its darkness.

At eight episodes, 11.22.63 never overstays its welcome.

The pacing feels perfect, building tension steadily toward a conclusion that questions whether changing the past is ever truly wise, even with the best intentions.

4. Loki (2021–present)

Marvel’s trickster god gets his own series, and it’s wonderfully weird.

After escaping with the Tesseract, Loki lands in the Time Variance Authority, a bureaucratic organization that monitors timeline branches and prevents multiversal chaos.

The show balances humor with surprisingly deep character work.

Loki confronts alternate versions of himself, forcing genuine growth from a character who spent years as a villain.

The chemistry between cast members elevates every scene beyond standard superhero fare.

Visually, Loki embraces retro-futuristic design that feels fresh and distinctive.

The series expands Marvel’s universe in exciting directions while remaining accessible to viewers who just want a clever, entertaining time-travel adventure with heart.

5. Doctor Who (1963–1989; 2005–present)

Since 1963, the Doctor has been whisking companions across space and time in a blue police box that’s bigger on the inside.

This British icon has regenerated through multiple actors, each bringing fresh energy while maintaining the show’s core of wonder and compassion.

What makes Doctor Who extraordinary is its fearless imagination.

One episode might tackle Shakespearean drama, the next explores alien planets or dystopian futures.

The series balances humor with heartbreak, creating stories that resonate across generations.

With over fifty years of adventures, Doctor Who remains the benchmark for time-travel television.

Its influence stretches across pop culture, inspiring countless imitators but never being truly replicated.

6. Outlander (2014–present)

Claire Randall, a World War II nurse, touches ancient stones in Scotland and finds herself transported to 1743.

What follows is epic romance mixed with historical drama, as she navigates Highland clan politics while torn between two different centuries.

Outlander distinguishes itself through lush production values and complex characters.

The time-travel element serves the story rather than dominating it, allowing deep exploration of love, loyalty, and survival across wildly different eras.

The series doesn’t shy from darkness—war, violence, and trauma feature prominently.

Yet it balances harsh realities with genuine passion and adventure, creating addictive television that has sustained eight seasons and counting with devoted fans worldwide.

7. Life on Mars (2006–2007)

Detective Sam Tyler gets hit by a car in 2006 Manchester and wakes up in 1973.

Is he in a coma, hallucinating, or genuinely transported backward?

The show never rushes to answer, letting ambiguity fuel both mystery and character development.

What makes Life on Mars brilliant is its exploration of how policing and society have changed.

Modern sensibilities clash with 1970s attitudes, creating both comedy and discomfort.

The period details feel authentic without becoming caricature.

The British original runs just sixteen episodes, ending on a note that sparked endless debate.

It’s a masterclass in knowing when to stop, leaving viewers satisfied yet still pondering what they witnessed long after the credits roll.

8. Future Man (2017–2020)

A janitor who excels at a video game discovers it was actually a recruitment tool—time travelers need his help to save humanity.

This comedy from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg gleefully mocks every time-travel cliché while somehow telling a coherent story.

Josh Hutcherson leads a cast that commits fully to the absurdity.

Episodes bounce between timelines with reckless abandon, parodying everything from Terminator to Back to the Future.

Yet beneath the jokes lies surprisingly thoughtful sci-fi concepts.

Future Man never takes itself seriously, which becomes its greatest strength.

When shows attempt comedy and time travel, they often fail at both.

This series nails the balance, delivering laughs while respecting the intelligence of genre fans.

9. Timeless (2016–2018)

A historian, a soldier, and an engineer chase criminals through American history, trying to prevent them from altering key events.

Each episode visits a different era, from the Lincoln assassination to the Alamo, blending education with entertainment.

Timeless wears its love for history proudly.

The show introduces viewers to lesser-known figures and events while exploring how small changes ripple through time.

The core trio develops genuine chemistry, making their personal stakes as compelling as their missions.

Though canceled twice, fan campaigns brought it back for a proper finale.

That dedication speaks to how Timeless connected with audiences seeking smart, optimistic adventure television that celebrates history rather than cynically exploiting it for cheap thrills.

10. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (2016–2022)

Misfits and B-list superheroes team up to protect history from temporal threats.

What begins as a standard Arrowverse spinoff quickly finds its identity by embracing chaos, camp, and self-aware humor that other superhero shows avoid.

Legends refuses to take itself seriously.

The team fights a demon in the 1960s, befriends historical figures, and constantly breaks time-travel rules with gleeful abandon.

This tonal shift saved the show, transforming it into something unique and unpredictable.

Over seven seasons, the cast rotated frequently, yet the show maintained its spirit.

Legends proved that superhero television doesn’t need grim darkness to succeed—sometimes joy, weirdness, and heart matter more than perfect logic or continuity.

11. Travelers (2016–2018)

In a dying future, humanity’s last hope involves sending consciousness backward into the bodies of people about to die.

These travelers assume new lives while working to prevent the disasters that ruined their timeline.

Travelers grounds its sci-fi premise in emotional reality.

Characters struggle with inhabiting bodies that aren’t theirs, navigating relationships with people they’ve never actually met, and following orders from an AI director centuries ahead.

The Canadian production keeps budgets modest but storytelling ambitious.

Rather than flashy effects, the show invests in character development and moral complexity.

When it ended after three seasons, it did so on its own terms with dignity intact.

12. Steins;Gate (2011)

A self-proclaimed mad scientist and his friends accidentally create a device that sends text messages to the past.

This anime starts slowly, building character relationships before unleashing emotional devastation as time-travel consequences spiral catastrophically.

Steins;Gate takes time travel seriously, incorporating real theoretical physics while exploring how changing small details creates massive ripples.

The protagonist watches friends disappear from existence, forcing impossible choices about whose happiness matters most.

What begins as quirky comedy transforms into tragedy and redemption.

The series earned cult status for respecting viewer intelligence and emotional investment.

Even viewers unfamiliar with anime find themselves captivated by storytelling that transcends cultural boundaries through universal themes.