Reverse-chronology describes the act of storytelling in a backward fashion. Rather than moving the story forward from A-Z, the events of the film take place from Z-A. The opening scene shows what would traditionally be the end of the movie, and the plot moves backward toward the traditional beginning until the entire story is revealed. Movies told in reverse-chronological order are difficult to pull off as they can be confusing to the audience and hard to follow if not well-thought-out. That said, if done well, reverse-chronological films can be brilliant. They can serve an artist’s vision in a unique and inspiring way while fully captivating an audience.
While many films can be celebrated for the successful use of reverse-chronology within an otherwise forward-moving plot — such as Donnie Darko, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Identity to name a few — for this list, we have chosen to focus on films that use reverse-chronological order for the duration of the film. Here are the best movies told in reverse-chronology, ranked.
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8 Happy End
Filmove Studio Barrandov
Happy End is a 1967 dark comedy by director Oldrich Lipsky. It is an absurd yet genius take on the reverse chronological film. Despite the events of the film playing out in reverse, right down to each shot; the movie is narrated in chronological order. It tells the life story of butcher Bedrich Frydrych beginning with the man’s death, which he describes as his birth, and ending with his birth, which he describes as his death. The contrast between the narration and the events of the film results in a twisted comedy you won’t soon forget. No list of reverse-chronology films is complete without this surreal gem.
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7 Irreversible
Les Cinemas de la Zone
Irreversible is a shockingly violent French psychological horror film written and directed by Gaspar Noé and inspired by another popular reverse-chronology film Memento. It begins with the brutal beating and subsequent death of a man in a gay BDSM club. The remainder of the film plays out in reverse order as the shocking events that lead to this pivotal moment unfold. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences due to its graphic violence, and, per Vice, prompted 250 audience members to walk out of the Cannes screening, some of them even requiring medical attention.
6 Shimmer Lake
Footprint Features
Shimmer Lake is a well-written, tightly paced crime drama that plays out more like a dark comedy. The film follows the aftermath of a bank robbery and the local sheriff’s investigation in reverse. The reverse-chronological order pairs nicely with the taut script, which reveals a surprising plot twist at the end of the movie — or, perhaps more aptly, the beginning of the film.
5 (500) Days of Summer
Fox Searchlight Pictures
(500) Days of Summer uses reverse-chronology to tell a familiar story in an unfamiliar way. The film, which stars Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, follows the main character Tom (Gordon-Levitt) after a painful breakup with his girlfriend Summer. The film then follows the non-linear timeline to revisit happier times in their relationship and examine what went wrong. (500) Days of Summer is an offbeat and fun antithesis to your typical love story. In a recent Q& A with The Guardian, Deschanel recently spoke up about being labeled a villain for her role in the film, stating, “To anyone who thinks Summer is the villain, I say: think a little deeper.”
4 5*2
Fidelite Productions
5 Times 2 is very much like it sounds: five separate episodes following the same couple throughout different stages in their relationship. The film begins with a bitter divorce and ends with the same couple as they meet on vacation and fall in love. Director Francois Ozon has a gift for exploring relationships in a nontraditional way and uses reverse-chronology expertly to examine a disintegrating marriage as it reveals years of eroded trust and betrayal.
3 Peppermint Candy
East Film Company
Peppermint Candy is a lauded Korean drama that begins with the apparent suicide of the main protagonist and then moves backward to reveal the hardships he suffered throughout his life that would lead him to that fateful moment. The film skillfully uses reverse chronology to not only examine the protagonist’s mental state, but also to reflect on important events in Korean history including the Gwangju Massacre and the Asian Financial Crisis. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian ranked Peppermint Candy number 12 in his list of Classics of Modern South Korea Cinema.
2 The Sweet Hereafter
Alliance Communications Corporation
The Sweet Hereafter is a Canadian drama written by Atom Eyogan, who was inspired by the work of Harold Pinter who used reverse-chronology in one of his more famous plays Betrayal (which also inspired a feature film). The film is told completely in reverse and follows a small town community in the aftermath of a horrific bus accident that claimed the lives of the majority of the townspeople’s children. The film is at once tragic and beautiful, and explores themes such as grief, hope, and survivor’s guilt. Ian Holm and Sarah Polley boast impressive yet subdued performances in this drama that has been named one of the best movies of the 1990s.
1 Memento
Summit Entertainment
Memento is arguably the best film to use reverse-chronological order, grabbing the viewer’s attention from the beginning of the film and never letting go right up to the shocking twist-ending. The revenge film follows Leonard (Guy Pearce), a former insurance investigator with short-term memory loss on a vigilante mission to avenge the murder of his wife. The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and is a tautly paced, action-packed thrill ride.
