Time travel has captivated audiences on television for decades, sparking imagination and offering thrilling narratives. From the eerie explorations of the past in The Twilight Zone to the futuristic leaps of Star Trek, the concept of traversing through time has provided fertile ground for some of TV’s most inventive series. One standout example is the beloved 1989–1993 NBC hit, Quantum Leap, where Dr. Sam Beckett journeyed to different eras to correct historical mishaps. Now, Quantum Leap has returned in 2022 with a fresh protagonist, Dr. Ben Song (Raymond Lee), continuing the time-bending legacy with new weekly escapades, with eight episodes of season 1 currently available on Peacock and new episodes resuming on NBC from January 2nd.
The resurgence of [Quantum Leap] and the arrival of new time-travel series like The Peripheral and Paper Girls highlight the enduring appeal of time travel shows. This list, ranked by Tomatometer scores, celebrates the best time travel television has to offer. It features iconic shows such as Doctor Who, with its iconic TARDIS, the mystery-laden island of Lost, and the romantic journeys across centuries in Outlander. We also see the action-packed Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, the mind-bending loops of 12 Monkeys, the animated adventures of Doc Brown in Back to the Future, and even the short-lived series Timecop.
Recent years have further enriched the landscape of Time Travel Shows On Tv. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow focused on safeguarding the timeline, while NBC’s La Brea transported contemporary families to 10,000 B.C. Russian Doll offered a unique twist, evolving from a Groundhog Day-style loop to journeys back to 1982 via the subway. Fan favorites like Timeless and Manifest, alongside underrated gems like Journeyman and Day Break, also deserve recognition in the realm of time travel television.
Continue reading to explore the complete list of time travel TV shows, ranked by their Tomatometer scores. Shows without Tomatometer scores are listed alphabetically for your convenience. And don’t forget to share your own favorite time travel TV shows in the comments below!
Top-Rated Time Travel TV Shows According to Tomatometer
Here are some of the highest-rated time travel shows on TV, offering a variety of genres and approaches to time-bending narratives.
#1: Life on Mars (2006)
Tomatometer: 100%, Audience Score: 98%
Life on Mars tops our list as a critically acclaimed time travel TV show. This series follows Detective Sam Tyler who, after a car accident in 2006, mysteriously wakes up in 1973. He must navigate the drastically different world of 1970s policing while trying to understand his time displacement. The show blends crime drama with sci-fi elements, earning perfect scores from critics.
#2: Russian Doll
Tomatometer: 97%, Audience Score: 76%
Starring Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll is a darkly comedic time loop series. Nadia, the protagonist, finds herself reliving her 36th birthday party night after night, each time ending in her death. As she tries to break the loop, she uncovers deeper existential questions and personal truths. Its unique blend of humor and philosophical themes makes it a standout time travel show.
#3: Dark
Tomatometer: 95%, Audience Score: 94%
Dark, a German-language series, is a complex and compelling time travel mystery. Set in a small town, the disappearance of two children unravels a web of secrets spanning multiple generations and timelines. The show is praised for its intricate plot, atmospheric tone, and exploration of free will versus destiny within the context of time travel.
#4: The Outer Limits (1963)
Tomatometer: 92%, Audience Score: 92%
A classic science fiction anthology series, The Outer Limits (original series) often dabbled in time travel themes alongside other sci-fi concepts. Known for its thought-provoking narratives and eerie atmosphere, each episode presented standalone stories that explored the boundaries of science, morality, and the unknown, sometimes featuring characters grappling with temporal anomalies.
#5: Timeless
Tomatometer: 91%, Audience Score: 67%
Timeless is an action-packed time travel TV series where a historian, a soldier, and a scientist team up to chase a time-traveling criminal through history. Their mission is to protect key historical events from being altered. The show offers exciting adventures across different eras, blending historical fiction with sci-fi thrills.
#6: Doctor Who (Modern)
Tomatometer: 90%, Audience Score: 64%
The modern iteration of Doctor Who continues the legacy of the iconic Time Lord traveling through time and space in the TARDIS. With each new Doctor, the series reinvents itself while maintaining its core appeal: imaginative storytelling, thrilling adventures, and a hopeful message about humanity’s potential. It remains a cornerstone of time travel shows on television.
#7: Outlander
Tomatometer: 90%, Audience Score: 85%
Outlander combines historical drama, romance, and time travel. Claire Randall, a WWII nurse, is transported back to 18th-century Scotland. She becomes entangled in romance and conflict as she navigates a vastly different era. The show is celebrated for its strong characters, historical detail, and the emotional impact of its time-crossed love story.
#8: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
Tomatometer: 89%, Audience Score: 68%
In DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, a team of superheroes travels through time to fix aberrations in the timeline. This action-comedy series is part of the Arrowverse and offers a lighter, more comedic take on time travel, filled with superheroics and historical escapades.
#9: Star Trek: Picard
Tomatometer: 89%, Audience Score: 57%
While Star Trek: Picard is set in the future, it involves time travel elements and explores the consequences of past events on the present. Jean-Luc Picard confronts new threats and mysteries, some of which involve temporal distortions and alternate timelines, adding a layer of time travel intrigue to the Star Trek universe.
#10: 12 Monkeys
Tomatometer: 88%, Audience Score: 78%
Inspired by the film, the 12 Monkeys TV series expands on the time loop premise. Cole is sent from a dystopian future to the past to prevent a deadly plague. The show is praised for its complex narrative, character development, and engaging exploration of time travel paradoxes and apocalyptic themes.
More Time Travel TV Shows To Explore
Beyond the top-rated shows, there’s a wealth of other time travel series that deserve a watch. These shows, listed alphabetically, offer diverse takes on time travel:
- 11.22.63
- Continuum
- Daybreak
- Dirk Gently
- Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
- Doctor Who (Classic)
- Future Man
- Journeyman
- La Brea
- Loki
- Lost
- Manifest
- Paper Girls
- Primeval
- Quantum Leap (Original)
- Quantum Leap (2022)
- Star Trek
- Star Trek: Discovery
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
- The Peripheral
- The Time Traveler’s Wife
- Timecop
- Time Trax
- The Twilight Zone (1959)
- The Twilight Zone (1985)
- The Twilight Zone (2002)
- The Twilight Zone (2019)
- The Umbrella Academy
Time travel shows on TV continue to fascinate and entertain, offering endless possibilities for storytelling. Whether you prefer sci-fi adventures, historical dramas, or mind-bending mysteries, there’s a time travel series for every taste. Dive into these shows and embark on a journey through time from the comfort of your couch!
