Poised to premiere on March 11, 2022, Shawn Levy's comedic sci-fi adventure film The Adam Project is at once a time travel movie, a coming-0f-age tale, and family adventure movies all rolled into one. The story follows Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds), a time-traveling pilot who goes back in time to meet the child version of himself (Walker Scobelll) and work with his father (Mark Ruffalo) to save Earth from an imminent threat.
The Adam Project joins a strong collection of PG-13-rated sci-fi comedies that capture childhood imagination, deal with either a time-traveling element, a profound father-son bond, or characters coming of age after meeting versions of themselves along the temporal timeline.
Gemini Man (2019)
Stream On Hulu, Paramount+ & Epix
Despite the middling reviews spurred on by the lofty expectations of an Ang Lee/Will Smith collaboration, Gemini Man is an FX-driven marvel that has grown stronger in retrospect. At its core, the PG-13 sci-fi adventure also features the main character encountering a younger version of himself, with the two lethal hitmen fighting each other rather than working in unison.
The notion of identity, aging, regeneration, the efficacy and morality of cloning, youthful vigor versus wisdom and experience, and more are all subtly explored under the guise of an explosive big-budget spectacle. Most of these themes are found in The Adam Project as well.
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
Stream On TNT, TBS, & TruTV
While the plot details couldn't be further apart, the fact is, Hot Tub Time Machine is a genuinely funny sci-fi time travel comedy in which the protagonists commingle with their teenage selves in the 1980s. Ironically, the characters have to go back in time to come of age in the present, as a prevalent theme in The Adam Project.
More of a nostalgic celebration of the halcyon days of '80s teen comedies than a space-traveling adventure, the basic premise and underlying Grandfather Paradox of affecting future timelines by tinkering with past timelines couldn't be more germane in both films.
Explorers (1985)
Stream On Starz
Few films have been able to capture the childlike wonderment of the cosmos like Joe Dante's Explorers, a heartfelt tale of two preteen best friends in a perfectly-cast coming-of-age space-traveling adventure. The story follows Ben (Ethan Hawke), an alien-obsessed 1950s sci-fi movie lover, and Wolfgang (River Phoenix), a brilliant scientist who can map his dreams into a computer, who builds a spacecraft and sojourn on a secret mission through the galaxy.
Like The Adam Project, Explorers is an affectionate nod to family-friendly sci-fi adventures that rely on the starry-eyed imagination of its young leads, doing a splendid job of putting viewers in the awe-inspired perspective of its two wildly charming young stars.
Midnight Special (2016)
Stream On Hoopla
In terms of the dark bluish visual tableau, father-son bonding themes, and epic sense of mystifying sci-fi adventure, Midnight Special is a must-see movie for fans of The Adam Project. The PG-13 sci-fi adventure follows Alton (Jaeden Martell), a young boy with mysterious supernatural powers who goes on the run from a perilous cult and government forces seeking to usurp Alton's powers.
Thanks to his protective father Roy (Michael Shannon), Alton manages to keep and deploy his special powers as the father and son remain on the lam from the authorities. With stunning visual FX and profound emotional impact, Midnight Special lives up to its namesake.
Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
Stream On IMDb TV
Although it was a notorious box office bomb, Jon Favreau's Zathura: A Space Adventure is a lot of fun to behold, especially for fans of family-friendly comedic science fiction. More germane yet, the movie also features The Astronaut (Dax Shepard), a space traveler who is revealed to be the future version of the young protagonist, Walter (Josh Hutcherson).
As a standalone spinoff of Jumanji that could be set in the same universe, Zathura pairs Walter and his brother Danny (Jonah Bobo) on a sprawling intergalactic sojourn after their house is thrust into outer space by their magical boardgame. With loads of laughs, visceral action, and a heartfelt bond between the brothers, Zathura is a PG sci-fi comedy done right.
The Last Starfighter (1984)
Rent On Apple TV
The Last Starfighter is a perfect companion piece to watch alongside The Adam Project. The former is a PG-rated sci-fi action-adventure that tracks Alex Rogan (Lance Guest), a high schooler who, upon beating the Starfighter arcade game in town, is suddenly whisked into outer space where he must show off his gaming skills in a real battle for the galaxy.
Even more immersive and engaging than Ready Player One, the film palpably conveys the sense of childhood amazement as Alex overcomes his fears, conquers his enemies, and ultimately comes of age.
Flight Of The Navigator (1986)
Stream On Disney+
Paired with The Adam Project and The Last Starfighter, Disney's underrated live-action film Flight of the Navigator would make for an ideal triple bill. The latter follows David (Joey Cramer), a 12-year-old who travels eight years into the future on a sentient alien spaceship that has a strange sense of humor.
Aside from the G-rated sensibilities, identifiable coming-of-age story, and dazzling visuals, the way in which the movie plays with the sense of time and space (David is missing for just four hours of his life but it translates to eight years on Earth) is bound to capture the imagination of the entire family without comprising its underlying adventure.
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Stream On HBO Max
More of a time-traveling coming-of-age comedy than a tale of space-traversing heroism, who can omit Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure from the fray? Remember, throughout the three films in the series, Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) meet various versions of themselves on the temporal loop, all but busting the stoner duo's brains each time it happens.
Oddly enough, by making a sequel 30 years later in Bill & Ted Face the Music, viewers can feel a sense of their own nostalgic time travel going back so far into the past to reunite with such beloved cult characters. The movie is surprisingly emotional for this reason and makes one want to return to the original.
E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982)
Stream On AMC+
No family-friendly science fiction film has been able to depict the inspired, unbounded imagination of childhood like Steven Spielberg's sublime coming-of-age movie E.T. Indeed, the hugely uplifting piece of movie magic reaches for the stars and remains grounded at once, providing a deeply satisfying tale of family, friendship, love, and making personal sacrifices for the greater good.
The wildly popular family film also pays homage to the expansive wonderment of outer space, painting extraterrestrials as adorable beings with the capacity to relate to human emotions rather than a vicious threat to humanity. A classic on every conceivable front, The Adam Project and countless others owe a debt of gratitude to E.T. and all its splendor.
Back To The Future (1985)
Rent On Vudu
Arguably the best time travel movie ever made, Back to the Future is a landmark pop cultural touchstone by every conceivable metric. Given its theme, being far ahead of its time has proven to be the movie's best quality, only growing stronger over the passing decades as countless imitations pale in comparison.
Marty McFly and Doc Brown's kinship essentially functions as a loving father and son dynamic in the entire franchise, where the danger of interfering with the temporality of their lives proves to be the main conflict (including meeting future and past versions of themself). It's this central conflict that draws huge situational comedy laughs while also blowing the audience away with futuristic technology that continues to hold up today.