5. Primer (2004)
If you have a mathematics degree and are experienced in the field of engineering, then the next logical step, career wise, is to organize a well crafted movie about time travel, and its philosophical implications...right? Well, thats what Shane Carruth did with his film, Primer. Primer is an outstanding realistic look at the ethical and philosophical implications that an ability like time travel poses. The two main characters Aaron and Abe start out trying to improve an already existing technology, but accidentally discover a way to travel back in time. They hide this from their other collaborators, and begin to use the box, as they call it, to travel back, and play the stock market. Soon, questions arise about the effects of time travel on the body, as well as what happens if they mess with the timeline, illustrated by whether or not one of the characters answers their phone when their double should have answered. It sounds confusing, and it is at first, which is why you need to watch this film more than once. Like in a good book there are layers here that you must peel away to get to its core. Why It's A Gem: A stunningly realistic and well researched look at time travel in both technical, and philosophical aspects. The film eschews conventional Holywood tropes by not creating cliched melodramatic devices, and poses the terrifying questions one would have to confront if one could travel through time.