6 Years Later, Hulu's Unforgettable Time-Travel Sci-Fi Is the Perfect Summer Movie

Published Sep 1, 2026, 5:10 AM EDT Abby Jackam is a contributer for Collider and ShowSnob, a media journalist for Trill Mag, and an aspiring novelist. She graduated Washington State University Vancouver in 2025 with a Bachelor's degree in Humanities. Whenever she can, Abby is writing. From research papers to book reviews, Abby's passion lies in storytelling and literary pursuits. Summer is drawing to a close, and once more, the seasonal shift is occurring. Soon, the long summer days will be replaced by a colder autumn chill. Pumpkin-spiced lattes and sweaters will be back in fashion, and the summer fun will have to wait until next year. But summer's not over yet. There's still time to get one last hit of the season before fall comes along. Palm Springs is the answer. The sci-fi romcom is the perfect movie to end the summer with, serving as a great transition between the two seasons. The sunny California setting and wild side quests capture the energy of summer while bringing up the topic of change. Full of time loop adventures, dangerous car chases, and a surprising emotional undertone, Palm Springs is a riotous good time. Starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti, Palm Springs is a chaotically enjoyable mix of time travel and romance that feels unlike anything else in its subgenre. 'Palm Springs' Turns Time Travel into an Existential Romcom Image via Hulu Sarah (Cristin Milioti) wakes up on November 9th on the day of her sister's wedding, depressed and unfulfilled. She's disconnected from her family, struggling with borderline alcoholism, and holding onto a terrible secret. That evening at the reception, she meets Nyles (Andy Samberg), a wedding crasher without care. The two sneak off into the desert but when Nyles is attacked by a strange hunter (J.K. Simmons), Sarah follows Nyles into a cave. When Sara wakes up the next morning, she realizes it's still November 9th — and she is stuck in a time loop with Nyles. Nyles reveals that he's been trapped in the time loop for a long time, and no matter what he does, there's no way to break the cycle. The film behaves as many time loop stories do, with a sequence of the trapped characters engaging in consequence-free adventures, only to wake up on the same day time and time again. In a fashion reminiscent of Groundhog Day, the two characters test the limits of their situation and take advantage of the endless cycle. Sarah and Nyles spend the movie breaking into empty homes, getting into wild fights at bars, and growing closer to each other. Nyles, having been alone in the time loop, is overjoyed to have someone to share it with, but Sarah quickly grows nihilistic about her situation. What's the point of living if each day is the same? How can Sarah find purpose when she's trapped reliving the same day over and over again? When secrets are unearthed, Sarah and Nyles realize they can't exist in the time loop forever, even if it means risking everything to escape. Stuck in Time? 'Palm Springs' Shows You Might Need to Make a Change Stories with time loops play with the concept of time in a way that makes audiences reconsider it. What would it truly be like to relive the same day countless times, unable to break free from the cycle? Often, the characters stuck in time recount how they've lived their lives thus far. Phil (Bill Murray) in Groundhog Day realized he spent too much time being close-minded and unfeeling, deciding to make a new effort in his life. Russian Doll saw Nadia (Natasha Lyonne) coming to terms with her troubled childhood and her complicated relationship with her mother. Time loops allow characters to reflect on their habits and encourage them to make changes they otherwise might not have initiated. What these time loop stories demonstrate is the importance of change. The passage of time cannot be stopped, and in many ways, that is a good thing. Palm Springs focuses on the characters' fear of change and growth. Nyles is afraid to move on while Sarah doesn't want to face up to her actions. They are stuck in a literal time loop but also in their harmful mindsets that holds them back from evolving. It's only when Sarah and Nyles decide to make a change in themselves that they find hope to escape the loop. The end of summer is a transitional period for many people. For some, autumn is welcomed, while others have a harder time letting go of the sunnier months. Change can be hard, especially when the status-quo feels comfortable and familiar. Palm Springs encapsulates the complicated feelings about change in such a smart way. At first glance, the film seems like a 'feel good' summer flick, but there is a deeper message waiting to be addressed. The film's conversations on time, change, and stepping outside comfortable habits make it a fun and thought-provoking movie that fits right in with the end of summer. Paired with Cristin Milioti's stellar performance and Andy Samberg's comedic flair, Palm Springs will have viewers laughing and leave them pondering what change means to them. Release Date July 10, 2020 Runtime 90 minutes Director Max Barbakow