Of the three, I've only seen Primer. I must now kick myself
   because I attempt to watch EVERY time travel movie I can, thanks
   to a life-long appreciate of Doctor Who, and having had to live
   between the 15 year gap inbetween classic and new series.

   [I filled my brain up with SO MANY AWFUL Time Travel stories,
   but it was my fix, the methadone to my heroine addiction]

   Yet a few were very good. Primer was one of them.

   In a single word, what did these have in common based upon what
   you've said and my own viewing of Primer? Psychosis