The Butterfly Effect is part of the Chaos Theory that suggests that small, almost imperceptible changes in one part of a complex system can produce huge, unexpected results elsewhere. Jeff Goldblum’s character in Jurassic Park has iconically described it as a flap of a butterfly’s wings in the Amazonian jungle causing rain instead of sunshine in Central Park. It gets more complicated from there.

Numerous movies have explored the topic of the Butterfly Effect, where a single choice can alter the protagonist’s timeline. It seems that their characters are not familiar with the number one rule of any self-respecting time traveler — don’t change any detail in the past, no matter how small or seemingly trivial, or face the drastic consequences in the future. Instead, they keep ‘correcting’ their past choices in the hope of getting a better outcome. It’s like they’ve never seen Back to the Future.

RELATED: 5 Horror Movies That Involve Time Travel

One of the first movies to masterfully employ the Butterfly Effect-style plotline was the1981 (though released only in 1987 due to political censorship) Polish-language film Blind Chance, directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski. It explored three vastly different timelines created by a man catching or missing his train. The film covering tough topics like politics and religion set the bar high and prompted a wave of time-twisting, mind-bending features. These movies are excellent examples of the Butterfly Effect in action and a must-watch for any alternate reality-loving fan.

Frequency (2000)

Dennis Quaid as Frank in Frequency

Gregory Hoblit’s sci-fi thriller follows John Sullivan (Jim Caviezel), a homicide detective who finds a way to communicate with his firefighter father, Frank (Dennis Quaid), 30 years in the past over a HAM radio. John warns Frank about his impending death in a warehouse fire, therefore saving him but setting in motion a chain of events that leads to his mother’s murder. The father and son then join forces to find the killer and change the past/future once again.

The film is a rare case where time meddling results in an improved timeline rather than a metaphorical train wreck, common for the similarly-themed movies — a casually-dropped tip about an early investment in Yahoo! would do that. Frequency takes the Butterfly Effect and wraps it into a fast-paced and engaging thriller, well worthy of the attention of any sci-fi and action-loving fan.

Mr. Nobody (2009)

Jared Leto in a straitjacket in the Butterfly Effect-style Mr. Nobody

This sci-fi drama starring Jared Leto, Diane Kruger, Sarah Polley, and Rhys Ifans is a dazzling, thought-provoking, and philosophical piece that gained a cult status over the years. The splintering story follows Nemo Nobody (Leto), the last mortal on Earth left after the human race achieved quasi-immortality. Due to an anomaly occurring during his conception, Nemo can recall all the possible futures created by his life-altering choices — starting with a fundamental decision of whether to stay with his father or mother after their divorce — making the journalist interviewing him at the age of 118 struggle to determine the ‘real’ timeline.

Right from the start, the film introduces the concept of the Butterfly Effect, beautifully showcased by a floating leaf that causes Nemo’s parents to meet. It picks up from there, building into a wonderful cacophony of alternate realities and depicting a man at a constant crossroad. Mr. Nobody’s non-linear, mind-bending narrative, gorgeous cinematography, deep characters, and exceptional soundtrack all rightfully make it one of the most iconic yet underappreciated movies diving into the countless ‘what if’ scenarios and outcomes.

Run Lola Run (1998)

Lola and Manni in a Butterfly Effect-style Run Lola Run

Fast-paced, action-packed, and visually stunning, Run Lola Run became a cult classic, beloved by both its original German and international audience. Written and directed by Tom Tykwer, the movie follows Lola (Franka Potente), who has twenty minutes to reach her boyfriend, Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu), who messed up and now needs to get 100,000 Deutsche Mark or his boss will kill him. In three subsequent scenarios, Lola makes choices that alter the outcome and impact the fates of several side characters in the process.

Run Lola Run is an exhilarating ride, backed by a heart-pumping soundtrack, extraordinary cinematography, and electric chemistry between the main characters. Masterfully playing with the mix of the Butterfly Effect — true to its tagline “Every second of every day you make a choice that can change your life” — and Groundhog Day, the film is just as much a thought-provoking crime drama as it is a nail-biting action.

Donnie Darko (2001)

Donnie and Frank the Rabbit in the cinema in the Butterfly Effect-like Donnie Darko

The director Richard Kelly will be forever remembered for creating the most puzzling, dark, and bizarre cinematic experience that is Donnie Darko — a movie that reached cult status by deliberately messing with people’s heads and leaving them deeply impacted but utterly confused. The story follows Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal), a moody teenager who is saved by a mysterious figure in a creepy bunny costume that calls him out of the room just moments before a jet engine crashes into it. After that, the rabbit, also known as Frank, tells Donnie the world will end in 28 days and convinces him to commit a series of crimes, which have unpredictable consequences for the people around him.

Donnie Darko feverishly throws together Butterfly Effect, Chaos Theory, time travel, paradoxes, quantum physics, and dream-like near-madness, creating an unparalleled experience. With the stellar, spot-on cast featuring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, and Jena Malone and an unexpectedly twisted circular narrative, the movie remains one of the oddest and most intriguing features that leave the audience forever wondering what it all really meant.

The Butterfly Effect (2004)

Evan in sci-fi drama Butterfly Effect

It only makes sense to include this film among the others. Co-directed and co-written by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber, famous for the Final Destination series, this sci-fi drama follows a college student, Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher), who discovers he inherited the ability to time travel and decides to change the traumatic events that affected him and his friends in the past. Of course, nothing is simple, and his actions have dire and unfortunate consequences on the present.

Unlike Frequency or Back to the Future, The Butterfly Effect is a cautionary tale that suggests that the best thing a time traveler can do — unless they want to keep spreading pain and misery — is nothing. While the film’s original ending was much darker (featuring a pre-natal suicide), the movie famously ends on a bittersweet note, with Evan sacrificing his chance for true love to save the ones he cares about.

While The Butterfly Effect has been criticized for the inaccurate representation of the theory — Evan accurately calculating the odds for the best outcome technically goes against the chaos and unpredictability at the principle’s core — it remains an exciting, mind-twisting, and beautiful experience and a must-watch for any sci-fi fan with a soft spot for time-traveling romance.

MORE: 5 90s Horror Movie Twists That Stand The Test Of Time