Richard Curtis’s 2013 romantic drama About Time, starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams, will arrive on Netflix on 1 September. The article argues that its lasting appeal lies less in its time-travel premise or romance than in its reflective message about appreciating everyday life, family and the present moment.

Gleeson plays Tim Lake, whose family’s male members can revisit the past, while McAdams plays Mary, the woman he tries to win back after accidentally undoing their first meeting. With Bill Nighy as Tim’s father, the film uses time travel to explore missed opportunities, ageing parents and loss; it was released nearly 13 years ago and was written and directed by Curtis, also known for Love Actually and Notting Hill.