Since the dawn of television, the concept of time travel has held a powerful allure, whisking audiences away on thrilling adventures through history, future possibilities, and alternate realities. From the groundbreaking explorations in The Twilight Zone to the complex paradoxes of contemporary series, Time Travel Tv Shows have consistently pushed creative boundaries and captivated viewers. The fascination began as early as 1958 with The Twilight Zone‘s initial pilot episode, “The Time Element,” under Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, which daringly journeyed back to Pearl Harbor in 1941. Not long after, Star Trek in 1967 sent the USS Enterprise hurtling into 1960s Earth in the episode “Tomorrow Is Yesterday,” cementing time travel’s place in the sci-fi TV landscape. Many series have since built their entire premises around this compelling concept, with the 1989–1993 NBC hit Quantum Leap standing out as a prime example. Each week, Dr. Sam Beckett would “leap” into a different era to correct historical wrongs, making for engaging and often poignant television. The legacy of Quantum Leap continues with a 2022 reboot, featuring a new protagonist, Dr. Ben Song (Raymond Lee), which premiered in September 2022. As the new Quantum Leap, along with recent entries like The Peripheral and Paper Girls from 2022, keeps the time travel flame burning, let’s delve into a curated list of time-travel television shows, ranked by their Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, offering a guide for both seasoned time travel enthusiasts and newcomers eager to explore the genre.
Top-Rated Time Travel TV Shows: Critics’ Picks
This list showcases the best time travel TV shows as judged by critics, using the Tomatometer score from Rotten Tomatoes as a primary ranking metric. These series have not only explored time travel in inventive ways but have also garnered critical acclaim for their storytelling, performances, and overall impact.
#1. Life on Mars (2006) – Tomatometer: 100%
Image alt text: John Simm as Detective Sam Tyler in Life on Mars TV series, ranked number one time travel show.
Topping the list with a perfect 100% Tomatometer score is Life on Mars. This British series (adapted in the US as well, though the original UK version is referenced here due to its ranking) blends crime drama with time travel mystery. Detective Sam Tyler, after a car accident in 2006, inexplicably wakes up in 1973. The show masterfully balances the intrigue of whether Sam is truly time-traveling, mentally ill, or in a coma dream, with compelling police procedural stories set in the 1970s.
#2. Russian Doll – Tomatometer: 97%
Image alt text: Natasha Lyonne in Russian Doll, a critically acclaimed time loop TV show.
Russian Doll scores a near-perfect 97% with its unique take on time loops. Natasha Lyonne stars as Nadia Vulvokov, a New York game developer who finds herself reliving her 36th birthday party, dying repeatedly and resetting to the beginning of the night. As Nadia tries to break free from this loop, the series evolves into a deeply philosophical and darkly comedic exploration of trauma, mortality, and connection.
#3. Dark – Tomatometer: 95%
Image alt text: Still image from Dark TV series, a German time travel mystery show.
The German series Dark earns a 95% Tomatometer score with its intricate and mind-bending narrative. Set in the fictional town of Winden, Dark begins with the disappearance of two children, unraveling a complex web of secrets that span generations and involve time travel. The series is praised for its atmospheric tone, compelling characters, and its ambitious, multi-layered plot that explores the philosophical implications of time and destiny.
#4. The Outer Limits (1963) – Tomatometer: 92%
Image alt text: The Outer Limits 1963 poster, classic sci-fi anthology with time travel episodes.
The original The Outer Limits from 1963, scoring 92%, is a classic science fiction anthology series, predating even Star Trek. While not solely focused on time travel, several episodes explored the theme, often with a darker, more suspenseful tone than The Twilight Zone. Its high Tomatometer reflects its lasting impact on science fiction television and its thought-provoking narratives.
#5. The Twilight Zone (Original Series) – Tomatometer: 92%
Image alt text: Rod Serling in The Twilight Zone, iconic host of the original time travel anthology series.
Sharing the 92% score is the original The Twilight Zone. Hosted and largely written by Rod Serling, this anthology series is a landmark of television. Known for its twist endings and explorations of human nature through the lens of science fiction and fantasy, The Twilight Zone frequently delved into time travel scenarios, often as a vehicle to explore moral and societal anxieties of the Cold War era.
#6. Timeless – Tomatometer: 91%
Image alt text: Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter, and Malcolm Barrett in Timeless, a fan-favorite time travel adventure series.
Timeless, with a 91% Tomatometer, is a more recent entry that quickly became a fan favorite despite its premature cancellation and subsequent revival for a concluding movie. The series follows a team that travels through time to prevent a mysterious organization from altering American history. Praised for its engaging historical settings and the chemistry of its cast, Timeless offers a more action-adventure oriented approach to time travel.
#7. Future Man – Tomatometer: 91%
Image alt text: Josh Hutcherson in Future Man, a comedic time travel series.
Also scoring 91% is Future Man, a comedy series that uses time travel for humorous and often absurd situations. Josh Hutcherson stars as Josh Futturman, a janitor recruited by characters from a video game to travel back in time and prevent the apocalypse. Future Man blends sci-fi action with raunchy comedy, making it a distinctive entry in the time travel genre.
#8. Doctor Who (Modern Series) – Tomatometer: 90%
Image alt text: Jodie Whittaker as Doctor Who, the latest iteration of the iconic time-traveling Time Lord.
The modern iteration of Doctor Who secures a 90% Tomatometer score, continuing the legacy of this iconic British science fiction series. Since its revival in 2005, Doctor Who has introduced new generations to the time-traveling adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord who explores the universe in the TARDIS, a time machine disguised as a police box. The series is beloved for its imaginative stories, quirky characters, and its ability to reinvent itself with each new Doctor.
#9. Outlander – Tomatometer: 90%
Image alt text: Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan in Outlander, a romantic time travel drama series.
Outlander, also at 90%, blends historical drama, romance, and time travel. Based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon, the series begins with Claire Randall, a World War II nurse who is mysteriously transported from 1945 back to 1743 Scotland. Outlander is celebrated for its lush visuals, strong performances, and its engaging mix of historical fiction and time travel fantasy.
#10. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow – Tomatometer: 89%
Image alt text: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow cast, a superhero team protecting the timeline in a time travel TV series.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, with an 89% score, is a superhero series within the Arrowverse that fully embraces the time travel concept. A team of misfit heroes travels through time to prevent various threats to the timeline. Known for its lighter tone and willingness to embrace absurdity, Legends of Tomorrow offers a fun, action-packed take on time travel.
More Time-Bending TV Series Worth Watching
Beyond the top-rated shows, many other time travel TV series have contributed to the genre, offering diverse approaches and engaging storylines. These shows, listed alphabetically, may not have Tomatometer scores or may have lower scores, but are still noteworthy for fans of time travel narratives.
- 11.22.63
- 12 Monkeys
- Back to the Future (Animated Series)
- Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures (Animated Series)
- Continuum
- Day Break
- Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
- Dirk Gently (BBC)
- Doctor Who (Classic Series)
- Journeyman
- La Brea
- Lost
- Manifest
- Paper Girls
- Primeval
- Quantum Leap (Original Series)
- Quantum Leap (2022)
- Star Trek (Original Series)
- Star Trek: Discovery
- Star Trek: Picard
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
- The Outer Limits (Revival)
- The Peripheral
- The Time Traveler’s Wife
- Timecop
- Time Trax
- The Twilight Zone (1980s Revival)
- The Twilight Zone (2002 Revival)
- The Twilight Zone (2019 Revival)
- The Umbrella Academy
Conclusion: The Enduring Appeal of Time Travel TV Shows
Time travel as a narrative device in television continues to provide endless possibilities for storytelling. It allows for explorations of history, alternate realities, and the very nature of time and causality. From the high-concept sci-fi to grounded dramas and comedic takes, time travel TV shows offer something for every viewer. Whether you’re drawn to the critically acclaimed series at the top of this list or curious to explore the broader spectrum of time-bending adventures, there’s a journey through time waiting for you on television. Dive into these series and discover your own favorite time travel destinations across the vast landscape of TV history.
Check out Season 1 (episodes 1-8) of the new Quantum Leap (2022), now streaming on Peacock. New episodes return to NBC on January 2, 2023.
