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Classic Films About Swapping Lives and Trading Places

Classic Films About Swapping Lives and Trading Places

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Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

25. Switch (1991)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

24. Detention (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA)

23. Zerophilia (2005)

Source: Courtesy of Different by Design

22. Vice Versa (1988)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

21. Prelude to a Kiss (1992)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

20. The Skeleton Key (2005)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

19. The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

18. Goodbye Charlie (1964)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

17. Every Day (2018)

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures

16. 17 Again (2009)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

15. Freaky Friday (1976)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

14. It's a Boy Girl Thing (2006)

Source: Courtesy of Icon Entertainment International

13. 13 Going on 30 (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

12. Chances Are (1989)

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

11. Freaky Friday (2003)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

10. All of Me (1984)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

9. Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

8. Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

7. Freaky (2020)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

6. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

5. Face/Off (1997)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

4. Mulholland Dr. (2001)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

3. Big (1988)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

2. Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

1. Being John Malkovich (1999)

Source: Courtesy of USA Films

25. Switch (1991)
24. Detention (2011)
23. Zerophilia (2005)
22. Vice Versa (1988)
21. Prelude to a Kiss (1992)
20. The Skeleton Key (2005)
19. The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)
18. Goodbye Charlie (1964)
17. Every Day (2018)
16. 17 Again (2009)
15. Freaky Friday (1976)
14. It's a Boy Girl Thing (2006)
13. 13 Going on 30 (2004)
12. Chances Are (1989)
11. Freaky Friday (2003)
10. All of Me (1984)
9. Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
8. Heaven Can Wait (1978)
7. Freaky (2020)
6. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
5. Face/Off (1997)
4. Mulholland Dr. (2001)
3. Big (1988)
2. Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)
1. Being John Malkovich (1999)

There are a lot of film genres, from comedy to horror to action and drama, but one popular subgenre that cuts through all the others is the body swap subgenre. In body-swap films, characters switch bodies due to some unbelievable force that occurs, and they live as the other person until they can figure out how to get back to their own bodies and reverse the magic spell or curious circumstances that switched them in the first place.

These films follow the same standard formula but with a variety of characters, from moms switching with daughters, like in the classic "Freaky Friday," or fathers and sons switching, like in "Vice Versa." The general storyline is usually family members, but in the Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds film "The Change-Up," the filmmakers took it a step further with two friends switching, leading to some PG-13 innuendo with one character's wife.

There are a few body-swap films where the main character switches with an older version of themselves rather than with another person. These are popular with audiences as viewers can imagine their own lives and ask themselves who they will be when they're older. Films like the Tom Hanks classic "Big" or the Jennifer Garner hit "13 Going On 30" are great examples of this style.

The exciting thing about this subgenre is that it doesn't just lend itself to comedy; you can find these films in drama, action, and horror. Any film that allows the audience to enter a fantastical world where anything is possible and suspends belief can lend itself to the body swap subgenre. And with all that is happening in today's world, a little escape into an imaginary world can be a fun way to relax. Let's explore some of the best body-swap films ever made; maybe one of your favorites made the list. (If you love films that explore other worlds and possibilities, you should check out the 25 best sci-fi films of the 1970s.)

To determine the best body-swap movies, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of May 2024, weighting all ratings equally. Only movies with at least 1,000 reviews on IMDb were considered, and documentaries were not excluded. Director information is from IMDb.

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