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A time loop is a plot device in fiction where characters re-experience a span of time that is repeated, sometimes with the hope of breaking out of the cycle. Learn about the origin, usage and variations of time loops in literature, film, anime and video games.
A time loop is a situation in which a period of time is repeated, sometimes several times, in books and films. Learn more about the meaning, pronunciation and translations of time loop from Cambridge Dictionary.
- “Cause and Effect,” Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992) Remembering that this episode aired nearly a year before the movie Groundhog Day came out, I think it’s fair to give this hour the credit for kicking off an entire sub-sub-genre of time loop movies and TV episodes.
- Russian Doll (2019— ) The best time loop narratives tend to go beyond the sci-fi wonkery of the premise to make the case that we’re very often our own worst enemies, and that we’re ultimately to blame for the ruts we find ourselves in.
- The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) Yasutaka Tsutsui’s 1965 novel of the same name is often cited as an early (and popular) use of a time loop narrative, and it’s been adapted multiple times in Japan.
- Happy Death Day (2017) A surprisingly smart slasher (in spite of the silly title), Happy Death Day introduces mean girl Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) who wakes up in the dorm room of her nerdy classmate after a very drunken night of partying.
- What Is The Time Loop Trope?
- Why Does This Trope Work?
- What Are Some Examples of This Trope?
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When a character re-experiences a span of time they are stuck in a time loop. Typically, there is an event or a condition met that will reset the loop, such as a character death. Characters may react differently to their circumstances but, in most media, they end up focusing on figuring out a way to end this endless cycle.
It’s a formula many people know well: characters wake up and realize they are experiencing the same exact day as they did yesterday. With a set of general rules and expectations, it can be fun for writers and consumers of media to place different characters in a time loop. It can be applied to many different genres as well, such as horror, comedy, ...
Replay By Ken Grimwood
In this novel, a man wakes up after his death to find himself back in the body of his 18 year old self. (Also check out The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, which has a similar plot).
Pretty in Punxsutawney By Laurie Boyle Crompton
High school senior, Andie, gets stuck reliving her first day of school. Convinced that finding true love will break the loop, Andie attempts joining different cliques at the school.
The Seven 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle By Stuart Turton
Aiden Bishop must identify the killer of Evelyn Hardcastle in order to stop her from dying in each, repeated day. However: Aiden wakes up in a different body everyday.
Learn what a time loop is and how it works in various media, such as books, movies, and TV shows. Discover some books that feature this trope, from Replay to The Seven 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.
- 'Edge of Tomorrow' (2014) Director: Doug Liman. When the Earth is invaded by a race of aliens known as the Mimics, Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) develops the ability to re-awaken at the start of his day whenever he is killed.
- '12:01pm' (1990) Director: Jonathan Heap. Most people stuck in a time loop at least get the privilege of an entire day to experience. Poor old Myron Castleman (Kurtwood Smith), though, only gets 59 minutes.
- 'Source Code' (2011) Director: Duncan Jones. U.S. Army Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) awakens on a train with no understanding of how he got there, being spoken to by a woman he doesn’t know (Michelle Monaghan), and, upon looking in the mirror, seeing a face he doesn’t recognize.
- 'Palm Springs' (2020) Director: Max Barbakow. Palm Springs brings viewers a time loop set throughout a wedding (taking place, funnily enough, in Palm Springs, California), where hedonistic guest Nyles (Andy Samberg) is living his life to the fullest.
May 6, 2022 · Explore the best time-loop stories in film and TV, from classics like Groundhog Day to recent hits like Palm Springs and Russian Doll. Discover how characters deal with the same day repeating over and over, and what they learn about themselves and the world.
Feb 2, 2021 · From 'Groundhog Day' to 'Palm Springs,' the narrative trope of the time loop has inspired countless great stories. We picked 18 favorites.
