# Movies with Multiple Timelines Happening at Once
When filmmakers want to tell complex stories, they often use multiple timelines that happen simultaneously or overlap with each other. This technique creates layers of narrative that challenge viewers to piece together how different time periods connect and influence each other.
One of the most famous examples is Christopher Nolan’s “Inception.” The film layers dreams within dreams, creating parallel narratives that happen at the same time. As viewers follow Dom Cobb and his team on their heist into the subconscious, they also experience the emotional turmoil of Cobb’s past with his wife Mal. These two threads run together, showing how inner struggles can affect external realities. The genius of this approach is that both storylines matter equally and inform each other throughout the film.
Another classic example comes from Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” This film uses non-linear storytelling to present several intersecting lives in Los Angeles over the course of a single day. The stories of hitmen Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield, boxer Butch Coolidge, and other characters are presented as distinct yet interconnected narratives. These plots converge at various points, creating a puzzle for viewers to piece together. The overlapping timelines echo themes of fate and redemption throughout the film.
“The Godfather Part II” takes a different approach by juxtaposing Michael Corleone’s rise to power with flashbacks detailing Vito Corleone’s early life in Sicily and New York City. This dual narrative structure allows the film to show two time periods simultaneously, highlighting the cyclical nature of power and corruption while deepening our understanding of family legacy.
More recent films like “Arrival” use parallel timelines to explore complex concepts such as time perception and communication across species. Director Denis Villeneuve weaves together scenes from Louise Banks’ present-day interactions with her daughter alongside her experiences learning an alien language. By showing these moments from different time periods at the same time, the film creates a poignant exploration of love intertwined with loss.
Christopher Nolan also used black-and-white cinematography in “Memento” to distinguish different timelines, ensuring viewers could follow the film’s multi-layered narrative. This shows that black-and-white can serve as a powerful tool to help audiences understand when events are happening.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe also employs overlapping timelines, particularly in Phase Three. The Russo brothers continued the use of real-time between films’ releases, meaning that Phase Three films would actually happen on top of each other. “Captain America: Civil War” begins a year after “Age of Ultron,” with “Avengers: Infinity War” set two years after that. This creates a complex web of events happening simultaneously across different films.
When executed well, parallel timelines serve not just as clever storytelling devices but also enrich thematic depth by allowing characters’ journeys to resonate on multiple levels simultaneously. These narratives invite audiences into conversations about identity, morality, and existential questions that linger long after the credits roll.
Sources
https://www.oreateai.com/blog/parallel-plot-examples-in-movies/89e9eb64af715a0430d1733d7b09a7ed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Cinematic_Universe_timeline
