The 25 Best Body-Swap Movies, Ranked

The best body-swap movies prove this specific subgenre is surprisingly prolific. The films require their characters to grow and learn, to become better people. Body-swap movies provide a perfect opportunity, as the characters get to literally see through someone else’s eyes. The genre includes films that see two characters change places, as well as films that feature characters transformed into someone else altogether. The genre lends itself well to comedy, with the now-transformed characters finding themselves in unexpected situations. Much like time loop movies, the high-concept nature of body-swap movies has a lot of versatility.

It has also attracted the biggest stars, with the likes of Oscar winners Tom Hanks, Jodie Foster, Nicolas Cage, and Jamie Lee Curtis appearing in body-swap movies. While it is not a type of movie that is seen every day, these stories have had staying power throughout decades of movies. This has allowed the concept to be used in everything from family comedies like Freaky Friday as well as Blumhouse horror movies like Freaky. For any fans of the body-swap movie, there are a number of standout examples worth seeking out.

25 Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)

Directed By Chris Columbus

In many ways, 2002’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is something of an honorable mention when it comes to the best body-swap movies, since the body-swap elements aren’t the key focus of the film. However, it deserves recognition simply because of how well the sequence involving Harry and Ron inhabiting the bodies of Crabbe and Goyle lives up to the tropes of the body-swap subgenre (not to mention that, of all the magical goings-on in the second Harry Potter movie, these moments easily rank among the most memorable).

The body-swap sequence in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets comes courtesy of the Polyjuice potion, a magical brew that allows Harry and Ron to take the forms of Malfoy’s associates, Crabbe and Goyle. They use this opportunity to sneak into the Slytherin common room and interrogate an unsuspecting Malfoy. The whole experience ticks every box when it comes to what makes body-swap movies (especially comedies) so great, and the second Harry Potter movie handles body-swapping as a concept far better than many films that focus on it as a core premise.

24 Family Switch (2023)

Directed By McG

Many body-swap movies such as Freaky Friday are considered classic comedies in their own right, as the subgenre makes for a unique kind of hilarity. One of the latest body-swap comedy movies arrived in 2023, the McG-directed film Family Switch. While it’s not the undisputed comedic heavyweight of the aforementioned Freaky Friday, Family Switch ticks many of the same boxes with ease, and is a thoroughly enjoyable watch that puts an interesting spin on body-swap movies as a whole.

Rather than focusing on two people switching bodies, Family Switch features an entire family who find themselves having to navigate one-anothers lives without arousing suspicion. The cast is a huge part of the appeal when it comes to Family Switch, with the likes of Jennifer Garner and Ed Helm ensuring the movie delivers no shortage of laughs. While it received middling reviews from critics, fans of body-swap movies will find Family Switch a worthwhile addition to the subgenre.

23 Possessor (2020)

Directed By Brandon Cronenberg

While body-swap movies are mostly associated with comedy, there are some outstanding horror outings in the subgenre too, with one of the most recent being Brandon Cronenberg’s surreal and sci-fi-tinted film Possessor. Possessor stands out among the best body-swap films for several reasons, but a key one is that the central characters are already used to transporting their consciousness into another shell when the film begins.

Possessor focuses on an assassin in an alternate 2008 who uses the ability to control the bodies of others as a key tool in her deadly arsenal. The body-swap horror then takes a deep investigation into the impact this has on her psyche, as her constantly switching to bodies that aren’t her own finally takes its toll on her psyche. There are few body-swap movies out there quite like Possessor, and it’s especially recommended for fans of the subgenre who’re seeking a more realistic interpretation on the impact trading bodies would have on the human mind.

22 Surrogates (2009)

Directed By Jonathan Mostow

2009’s Surrogates is something of an overlooked and under-appreciated sci-fi body-swap movie, though it remains one of the more unique uses of the concept. Directed by Jonathan Mostow, Surrogates features main characters who trade bodies not with other people, but with robotic versions of themselves, allowing them to go out and live life to the fullest without worrying about dangers like disease or physical injury.

In the alternate future of Surrogates, society revolves around these surrogate shells, with few people venturing out into the world in their own biological bodies. Bruce Willis stars in the movie as Tom Greer, an FBI agent, who, like almost everyone else, lives most of his life in his durable android surrogate. However, things take a turn for the sinister when a technology is developed that will kill the person inhabiting a surrogate if the robotic body is destroyed. This makes for one of the tensest body-swap movies out there, and a unique exploration of the dangers of transplanting consciousness.

21 Detention (2011)

Directed By Joseph Kahn

Joseph Kahn’s 2011 movie Detention is a body-swap movie that deftly blends both comedy and horror. Unlike many body-swap films, Detention doesn’t focus on main characters who find themselves swapped into the body of another. Instead, the slasher-comedy features a group of students who find themselves the target of a serial killer who has returned after many years. This is where the body-swap aspect comes into play, as the deadly Cinderhella killer is active again thanks to body-swapping with her own daughter.

Detention received middling reviews from critics, and definitely isn’t the absolute best body-swap movie out there. However, it does have a lot to offer fans of the subgenre, and is something of a unique spin on the concept and how it’s been utilized in horror movies specifically. The cast deliver incredibly solid performances too, with the likes of Josh Hutcherson, Shanley Caswell, and Spencer Locke (among others) ensuring Detention is a thoroughly enjoyable watch despite not winning over the hearts of many critics.

20 Vice Versa (1988)

Directed By Brian Gilbert

The 1980s seemed to be the biggest era for body-swap comedies. At the time, the concept was relatively new for American movies, so studios were eager to capitalize on audience interest in the subgenre. This resulted in several of them having a very similar plot. In this case, Vice Versa sees a father and son switch bodies as the result of contact with a magical skull, though it was actually the fourth movie adaptation of an 1882 novel. The first three adaptations had been British.

Vice Versa came out one year after the body-swap movie Like Father, Like Son which also focused on a father and son switching places. Though Like Father, Like Son won the race to release first, Vice Versa is the better movie, finding genuine laughs with the gags as well as committed performances from the talented cast which was led by 1980s stars Fred Savage and Judge Reinhold.

19 The Hot Chick (2002)

Directed By Tom Brady

Rob Schneider stars in this early 2000s movie as a career criminal who accidentally switches bodies with a vain and mean-spirited teenage girl (Rachel McAdams in her first feature film). Although the jokes are dated and many are problematic by modern standards, it’s a decent body switch movie as the young girl learns a lesson in treating her friends, and people in general, better thanks to a pair of magical earrings that she steals.

As with most of Schneider’s movies, The Hot Chick was torn apart by critics and there are some who will find it too juvenile to get any real fun out of. It has a nostalgic early 2000s feel and some funny moments, including enjoyable early performances from Anna Faris and Rachel McAdams as well as an obligatory cameo from Schneider’s buddy, Adam Sandler.

18 The Dude In Me (2019)

Directed By Kang Hyo-jin

Fans might be missing some of the best body-swap movies that come out of other countries like the Korean action comedy The Dude in Me. Thanks to streaming services, there are a lot more opportunities for movie fans to find them. This movie follows a weak and timid high schooler who switches bodies with a powerful gangster due to an accidental fall from the roof. The swap begins before the high schooler even wakes up in the gangster’s body as the gangster emerges from the hospital first.

There is a lot of fun to be had with this shift in dynamics. The gangster suddenly has people looking at this awkward young man with renewed respect and even fear, while the young man finds himself terrified within the dangerous crime world. Along with the laughs, the movie delivers some great action sequences that will thrill audiences.

17 The Change-Up (2011)

Directed By David Dobkin

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman will finally share the screen properly as Deadpool and Wolverine in Deadpool 3, but the team-up of Reynolds and Jason Bateman should not be overlooked. Both men are incredibly versatile actors who bring their own style of comedy to the movie.

They play best friends, with Reynolds as a carefree bachelor and Bateman as a stressed family man, who switch places after urinating in a magic fountain. Unlike some body-swap movies that go for the sweet and family-friendly approach, The Change-Up leans into its R-rating with plenty of vulgar and gross-out humor. It’s much closer to a buddy comedy than it is the usual family comedy. Having two skilled comedic actors like this leading the high-concept comedy makes it so much fun and Bateman especially seems to be enjoying playing Reynolds’ typical quippy character.

16 17 Again (2009)

Directed By Burr Steers

17 Again stars Matthew Perry as a middle-aged man transformed into his teenage self after falling into a mystical whirlpool. Zac Efron plays the younger Mike O’Donnell as he attempts to recapture his youth and have fun. His teen years were cut short when he found out his girlfriend, now his wife, was pregnant in their senior year of high school. Complicating his efforts to recapture his youth is that he has his own teenage children.

Efron shows a lot of his comedic chops in the leading man role which helps make this comedy an entertaining ride. It is especially fun seeing Mike as the new kid in school attempting to be a father figure to his own teenage daughter, played by Michelle Trachtenberg. It has a throwback quality to the mix of humor and heart of ’80s comedies like this.

15 Brother Bear (2003)

Directed By Aaron Blaise And Robert Walker

A lot of body-swap movies find characters ending up in the bodies of other people. However, there is also a fun subgenre to this that focuses on characters being transported into the bodies of animals. Such is the case with the overlooked Disney movie Brother Bear. While Disney is known for their princess-themed movies, there are plenty of other interesting concepts in their animated catalog.

The movie features a forgotten Joaquin Phoenix role as the hunter-turned-bear.

Here, an Inuit hunter kills a bear maliciously and magically finds himself transported into the body of a bear where he joins forces with a young cub to figure out how to change back. The movie features a forgotten Joaquin Phoenix role as the hunter-turned-bear. While it may not reach other Disney heights, it is a beautiful and emotional story, and it even has a sequel as well.

14 Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

Directed By Jake Kasdan

After the success of the first reboot of the Jumanji franchise, it was not very surprising that a sequel was quickly made with Jumanji: The Next Level. While the first reboot brought the concept of Jumanji from a board game to an old video game console, the sequel revisits the game with an expanded look at the new universe. It features the same characters, but new combinations of body swaps.

The likes of Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan return for the sequel that finds new, fun ways for the characters to switch bodies. While the action set-pieces are wild and entertaining, the best part of the movie is seeing Johnson doing his best impression of Danny DeVito, and the classic Jumanji franchise action is on point throughout. The movie was another box office hit, setting the stage for the franchise to continue.

13 All Of Me (1984)

Directed By Carl Reiner

It takes some interesting ideas to keep the body-swap genre feeling fresh and All of Me is one of the most unusual body-swap films the genre has produced. The movie sees a dying millionaire (played by Lily Tomlin) transfer her soul into the body of a lawyer (played by Steve Martin) by mistake. They now both occupy the same body and must fight for control with hilarious results.

The physical nature of the comedy featured in the film allows Martin to shine, and he delivers one of his best performances in this supernatural farce. What’s interesting about the movie is that this isn’t a case of either of the characters learning a lesson due to cosmic forces, but one character making a mistake that needs to be corrected over the course of the story. It’s the attempts to correct that mistake that lend to some of the most interesting comedy as the woman’s soul is transferred to multiple people – and even to a pitcher of water.

12 Freaky (2020)

Directed By Christopher Landon

It was only a matter of time before the body-swap genre made its way into a horror movie. Freaky has a lot of fun with its premise of a teen girl who is the intended victim of a brutal killer only for them to switch places. Vince Vaughn gives a wonderful comedic performance playing a teen girl trapped inside the body of a serial killer while new Marvel Cinematic Universe star Kathryn Newton also has fun as the young girl turned murderer.

It is a funny and inventive approach with some outrageously gory kills. It marked another big horror movie hit for Blumhouse. The movie scored four nominations at the Critics Choice Awards. While Newton didn’t get the win for Best Actress in a Horror Movie, Vaughn did take home the award for Best Actor.

11 Freaky Friday (1976)

Directed By Gary Nelson

The original Freaky Friday from 1976 is still considered the best version by some fans. Freaky Friday has been remade 3 times to mixed results, but the original still has a lot of charm to it with the simple yet effective body-swap story. While the remake saw a fortune cookie cause them to change places, the original opts to have the mother and daughter simply wish for it, and some cutting-edge special effects take it from there.

Much like the remake, it is the chemistry between the leads that makes the movie work, including child actor Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris as her mother. The movie earned three Golden Globe nominations, including Best Actress nods for both Foster and Harris as well as a Best Original Song. The movie, unfortunately, didn’t take home the awards.

10 Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017)

Directed By Jake Kasdan

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was one of the biggest surprises when it was released and continued the fondly remembered Jumanji franchise in an unexpected and inventive way. There was plenty of fear that it wouldn’t be able to live up to the original movie with Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst, but the body swap twist and the addition of video games to the franchise gave it a fresh take.

The film features a group of teenagers transformed into video game characters, each with varying skills and appearances. Most notable was Spencer, who was transformed into the hulking Dr. Bravestone, played by Dwayne Johnson. The film provides a careful mix of comedy and action, which saw it become one of the most successful films of the year. Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart continue their excellent chemistry together, Karen Gillan shows off her comedic side, and Jack Black seems to be having a blast playing a teenage girl.

9 Freaky Friday (2003)

Directed By Mark Waters

2023 Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan star in the hit remake of Freaky Friday managing to find a lot of fun in the retelling. The movie sees the mother and daughter switch places, due to the magic of a mysterious fortune cookie. It’s a fun time that provides plenty of laughs as they attempt to live each other’s lives and gain a newfound appreciation for one another. Curtis reminds everyone that she has incredible comedic skills alongside her dramatic chops while Lindsay Lohan cemented herself as one of the rising stars in Hollywood.

The movie is so beloved that 20 years after its release a sequel is in development. The sequel will see Lindsay Lohan play a parent having the body swap experience from the other side of the equation. Curtis is also set to reprise her role.

8 Big (1988)

Directed By Penny Marshall

Big might have once been considered the greatest body swap movie ever, but some elements make it awkward to revisit today. Nevertheless, Big marks a breakout role for Tom Hanks as he plays a child transformed into a middle-aged man, with unexpected results. He quickly finds that his youthful naivety works to his advantage and begins to excel at work right away, due to his fresh and interesting ideas. In addition to this, he finds success in his personal life, with some problematic results including an implied sex scene between an adult woman and a child in an adult’s body.

However, the movie was a huge hit at the time, making over $150 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of just $18 million. The movie even scored Hanks a Best Actor Oscar nomination, rare for a comedic role. It helped to establish Hanks as a true box office draw and helped garner him attention from casting directors for even “bigger” roles.

7 13 Going On 30 (2004)

Directed By Gary Winick

The romantic comedy 13 Going on 30 is the kind of body-swap story that doesn’t have two people switching places, but rather one character ending up in a different body. In this case, it is the story of a teenage girl who wakes up as an adult. Jennifer Garner stars in the movie and makes for a charming lead, bringing a lot of youthful energy to the part. She makes a wish on her 13th birthday that finds her waking up as 30 years old.

The movie is also packed with an incredibly talented supporting cast that includes the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, and Andy Serkis. It remains beloved by many fans for its fun energy as well as the sweet rom-com story alongside the coming-of-age tale of a teenager realizing she doesn’t have to grow up too fast.

6 Your Name (2016)

Directed By Makoto Shinkai

Although many body swap films offer plenty of laughs and opportunities for their characters, the genre rarely produces legitimately great works. Body swap movies are fun and entertaining, but not always ones that movie-goers are going to recommend from a more critical standpoint. Your Name, however, elevates the genre like no other film has and offers a complex narrative that begs to be rewatched.

Two teenagers dissatisfied with their lives switch places and must work together to not only live with this newfound problem but figure out why it is happening. With an engaging story filled with surprises and twists, in addition to the gorgeous animation of this Japanese movie, Your Name tells a classic body-swap story that explores the characters with more depth than any of the live-action films of the subgenre.