16 Movies Like 12 Monkeys That Will Blow Your Mind

12 Monkeys is reminiscent of the movie 12 Monkeys in that both involve time travel, a deadly plague, and a mission to save humanity. However, the similarities end there. While the movie is a cinematic masterpiece with a stellar cast and a non-linear approach to time travel, the series takes a different approach. It follows the journey of a time traveler from the post-apocalyptic future, with depth in characters and a cleverly written story arc. Despite being called "12 Monkeys," the series is not a rehash of the movie; it goes well beyond the story presented in the book and film. If you're looking for depth, well-rounded characters, and a good story, the 12 Monkeys series is the place to find it.

"Looper" is a movie that will take you on a wild ride, just like "12 Monkeys." Both films explore the concept of time travel, but in different ways. While "12 Monkeys" delves into a future world destroyed by disease and sends a convict back in time to gather information, "Looper" takes place in a future where assassins called "Loopers" kill targets sent from the past. The similarities between the two movies are not just limited to their time travel themes. Both films feature a stellar cast, with Bruce Willis delivering peak performances in both. In "12 Monkeys," Willis showcases his acting chops before his "Die Hard" days, while in "Looper," his role as a time-traveling assassin reminded me of his character in "12 Monkeys." Additionally, Joseph Gordon-Levitt shines in "Looper" as the main character, just as he did in "12 Monkeys.

Lost is reminiscent of 12 Monkeys in its gripping and unpredictable storyline. Both have a strong element of mystery and keep the audience on the edge of their seats, always eager to find out what happens next. While 12 Monkeys explores a future world devastated by disease and time travel, Lost takes us to a seemingly deserted tropical island where the survivors of a plane crash must work together to survive. Both movies delve into themes of survival, destiny, and time travel, creating a captivating narrative that keeps viewers hooked. The stellar cast in 12 Monkeys, including Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt, deliver fantastic performances, while Lost introduces us to talented actors like Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, and Yunjin Kim. While 12 Monkeys is a movie, Lost is a TV series, giving audiences the opportunity to immerse themselves in the characters and storyline over a longer period of time.

The I Inside is reminiscent of 12 Monkeys in its exploration of time travel and nonlinear timelines. Both movies delve into the concept of jumping through time and the consequences that arise from it. While 12 Monkeys focuses on a convict sent back in time to gather information about a devastating virus, The I Inside follows an amnesiac who finds himself leaping between 2000 and 2002. Just like 12 Monkeys, The I Inside keeps you engaged and intrigued as the protagonist's past returns to him piece by piece. However, while 12 Monkeys is hailed as a classic and features stellar performances from Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, and Madeleine Stowe, The I Inside falls short of its potential in its unsatisfying ending. Nevertheless, if you enjoyed the mind-bending aspects of 12 Monkeys and are looking for another movie that plays with time, The I Inside is worth a watch.

Crime Traveller is reminiscent of 12 Monkeys because both involve time travel as a central theme. In 12 Monkeys, a convict is sent back in time to gather information about a deadly virus, while in Crime Traveller, a detective teams up with a scientist who has created a time machine that can travel back several hours to solve mysteries. Both movies explore the concept of altering the past to change the future. However, while 12 Monkeys is a cinema movie with a runtime of 7740 seconds, Crime Traveller is a series with a shorter runtime of 3000 seconds. Additionally, 12 Monkeys is a Mystery, Sci-Fi, and Thriller movie, while Crime Traveller falls into the genres of Crime, Drama, Mystery, and Sci-Fi. Despite these differences, if you enjoyed the time travel aspect of 12 Monkeys, you should give Crime Traveller a watch for its unique blend of crime-solving and time-traveling adventures.

Flint: The Time Detective, also known as Jikû tantei Genshi-kun, takes us on a wild time-traveling adventure set in the 25th century. It shares a resemblance to the cult classic film 12 Monkeys, but with a lighter and more comedic touch. While 12 Monkeys delves into the dark and bleak world of a post-apocalyptic society, Flint: The Time Detective injects humor and family-friendly entertainment into its time-devices-infected history. Both stories revolve around time travel, but Flint: The Time Detective focuses on a group of characters, including Flint, his father, Tony, and Sara, as they journey through time to save history from being irreversibly damaged. The anime series offers a repetitive yet charming plot, where Flint and his friends must stop the evil time criminal Petra Fina from kidnapping Time Shifters, adorable creatures with unique abilities.

The Dead Zone is a series that shares some similarities with 12 Monkeys. Both explore the concept of time travel, albeit in different ways. While 12 Monkeys focuses on a convict sent back in time to gather information about a devastating virus, The Dead Zone follows Johnny, who gains the ability to see things through one touch after waking up from a coma. Both stories delve into the idea of altered timelines and the consequences of changing the past. However, The Dead Zone takes a more personal approach, as Johnny tries to navigate a world that has drastically changed during his six-year absence. The series does an excellent job of adapting Stephen King's thriller and manages to continue with engaging plots and good acting beyond the pilot episode. Although it occasionally suffers from the absence of the original author, The Dead Zone stands among the best cinematic productions based on King's works.

"Blake et Mortimer" is a delightful series that will transport you into a world of adventure, just like "12 Monkeys." While the two movies may seem different at first glance, they share a common thread: time travel. In "12 Monkeys," a convict travels back in time to unravel the mystery of a deadly virus, while "Blake et Mortimer" follows the adventures of a British scientist and his friend as they battle diabolical masterminds through time. Both movies captivate their audience with their intricate plots and keep you on the edge of your seat. However, "Blake et Mortimer" takes a lighter approach, with elements of fantasy, crime, and mystery, making it a perfect choice for those who enjoy a mix of genres.

Donnie Darko is reminiscent of 12 Monkeys because both movies delve into complex themes and challenge the viewer's perception of reality. While 12 Monkeys explores time travel and a devastating virus, Donnie Darko tackles mental illness and parallel universes. Both films feature exceptional performances from their respective casts, with Bruce Willis and Jake Gyllenhaal delivering captivating portrayals of their troubled characters. However, Donnie Darko takes a more surreal and ambiguous approach, leaving the audience with lingering questions and interpretations. With its mesmerizing and thought-provoking narrative, Donnie Darko is a must-watch for those who enjoy mind-bending films like 12 Monkeys.

Altitude, released in 2010, shares similarities with 12 Monkeys. Both movies fall under the genres of Mystery, Sci-Fi, and Thriller, and explore the theme of time travel. However, the similarities largely end there. While 12 Monkeys is a critically acclaimed film with a stellar cast and a captivating non-linear approach to time travel, Altitude takes a different route. Altitude tells the story of a rookie pilot and her friends who find themselves trapped in a deadly showdown with a supernatural force after their plane malfunctions. Despite some decent cinematography and a "Twilight Zone" feel, Altitude suffers from ridiculous inaccuracies regarding planes and dialogue. Nevertheless, the movie manages to create tension and offers a fast-paced ninety minutes for viewers seeking a thrilling experience. So, if you're a fan of movies that toy with the concept of time travel and enjoy a mix of horror and mystery, Altitude might be worth a watch.

Ashes to Ashes is reminiscent of 12 Monkeys in terms of its use of time travel as a key theme. However, while 12 Monkeys explores time travel in a dystopian future devastated by disease, Ashes to Ashes takes a different approach by sending its protagonist back to the 1980s. Both movies share a non-linear narrative structure, allowing the audience to experience the confusion and mystery associated with time travel. Another similarity between the two is their brilliant cast, with 12 Monkeys featuring the peak performances of Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, and Madeleine Stowe, and Ashes to Ashes showcasing the charismatic Philip Glenister as Gene Hunt. Despite these similarities, there are some notable differences between the two movies. Firstly, 12 Monkeys is a cinema movie, while Ashes to Ashes is a series. This distinction allows Ashes to Ashes to delve deeper into its characters and storylines over multiple episodes.

Repeaters is reminiscent of 12 Monkeys in its exploration of time travel and the consequences of being trapped in a repeating cycle. While 12 Monkeys takes a more complex and thought-provoking approach, Repeaters offers a more straightforward and action-driven narrative. Both films delve into the psychological toll of reliving the same events, but 12 Monkeys delves deeper into the themes of disease, underground societies, and the fragility of humanity. Additionally, 12 Monkeys boasts an exceptional cast, with stellar performances from Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt, whereas Repeaters falls short in terms of acting and script. Nevertheless, if you enjoyed the mind-bending nature of 12 Monkeys and its exploration of time manipulation, Repeaters offers a lighter and more fast-paced experience with a similar premise.

Flashforward, released in 2013, shares some intriguing similarities with 12 Monkeys. Both movies explore the concept of time travel, but in different ways. While 12 Monkeys delves into a post-apocalyptic world devastated by disease, Flashforward takes a different approach, with every person on Earth simultaneously blacking out and awakening with a short vision of their future. Both movies have elements of mystery, sci-fi, and thriller genres, offering a captivating and thought-provoking experience. Flashforward, although a series, captures the essence of 12 Monkeys by keeping viewers on the edge of their seats with its own unique take on time travel. So if you enjoyed the mind-bending nature of 12 Monkeys, Flashforward is a must-watch, as it offers a fresh and compelling perspective on the concept.

Steins;Gate, released in 2011, shares a striking resemblance to the main movie, 12 Monkeys. While 12 Monkeys explores a future world devastated by disease, Steins;Gate delves into the discovery of time travel by a university student and his colleagues. Both movies center around the concept of time travel, highlighting its potential consequences and the need to prevent disaster. However, Steins;Gate takes a different approach by infusing elements of humor, intense drama, and even political thriller into its storyline. It seamlessly transitions between genres, creating a unique mishmash that keeps viewers engaged on multiple levels. If you enjoyed the non-linear approach to time travel in 12 Monkeys, Steins;Gate will undoubtedly captivate you with its ability to blend various tones flawlessly.

Project Almanac is a movie that will transport you back in time, just like 12 Monkeys did in 1996. While both films explore the concept of time travel, they do so in their own unique ways. 12 Monkeys takes us to a future world devastated by disease, where a convict is sent back in time to gather information about a man-made virus. It's a mind-bending thriller with a stellar cast, including Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, and Madeleine Stowe, who deliver fantastic performances. 12 Monkeys also paved the way for future films like Memento and Inception, with its non-linear approach to time travel.
On the other hand, Project Almanac introduces us to a group of teenagers who discover secret plans for a time machine and decide to construct one themselves. As they start using the time machine, things quickly spiral out of control.

The House at the End of Time is reminiscent of 12 Monkeys because both movies explore the concept of time travel in a unique and captivating way. While 12 Monkeys takes us to a future world devastated by disease, The House at the End of Time brings us to a haunted house where terrifying encounters and a tragedy occur. Both films keep us on the edge of our seats, with unexpected twists and turns that we never saw coming. The stellar casts in both movies deliver fantastic performances, with Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt shining in 12 Monkeys, and Ruddy Rodriguez giving an excellent performance in The House at the End of Time. However, there is one key difference between the two films. While 12 Monkeys is a sci-fi thriller that focuses on a man's mission to gather information about a man-made virus, The House at the End of Time is a supernatural thriller that delves into the mystery that has tormented a mother for decades.