Reverse a video (play backwards, boomerang)
Playing a video backwards, or creating a boomerang effect that goes forward then back, takes just one command. Heads up: ffmpeg has to load the whole video into memory to reverse it, so save this for short clips.
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The lower the number, the better the image and the bigger the file.
How to use it
- Install ffmpeg if you haven't already.
- Open a terminal in the folder containing your file.
- Copy the generated command, adjust the file names if needed, then run it.
- Open the resulting file to check the result.
For long videos
Split the video into parts a few seconds long, reverse each one, then join the parts back together in reverse order. It's tedious: for videos longer than a minute, video editing software is a better fit.
Cut a video without re-encoding
Boomerang effect for social media
A boomerang of about two seconds on a loop works well in Stories. Use a short clip of a repetitive movement (a jump, a splash, a laugh) and export it as MP4.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the command crash or freeze my computer?
The reverse filter keeps all the frames in memory. A 30-second 1080p video takes up several gigabytes. Split the video into short clips (10 to 20 seconds) before reversing it, or lower its resolution first.
What happens to the audio?
In the first mode, the audio is reversed too with the areverse filter, which produces that characteristic "backwards" effect. In the other modes, it's removed: a boomerang with repeating audio is rarely what you want.
How does the boomerang work?
The video is duplicated, one copy is reversed, and the two are joined end to end, so the length is doubled. For a 3-second boomerang from 1.5 seconds of video, cut the clip first.
Can I reverse a GIF?
Yes, with the no-sound mode, by naming the output file with a .gif extension. For better quality, convert the GIF to MP4 first, reverse it, then recreate a GIF.