The Fisher King
Metascore
61 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
view
per page
  1. Variety
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    90
    The Fisher King has two actors at the top of their form, and a compelling, well-directed and well-produced story.
  2. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    90
    A modern epic that fuses myth with hard-edged reality, it's a one-of-a-kind, thoroughly engaging experience.
  3. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    80
    Restores our belief in the power of movies to transform reality, even temporarily. So what if it's not perfect? It's magic.
  4. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Elvis Mitchell
    80
    What emerges, in the end, are a clever premise that has been allowed to go awry and several performances that are lively and unpredictable enough to transcend the confusion. Mr. Bridges, always a fine intuitive actor, has never displayed a greater range.
    All this critic's reviews
  5. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    80
    If you treasure Gilliam at his best and take his ideas seriously, you'll probably be infuriated as well as delighted.
  6. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    67
    A fanciful spiral of mythology, madness, cynicism and salvation.
  7. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    50
    A disorganized, rambling and eccentric movie that contains some moments of truth, some moments of humor, and many moments of digression.
  8. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Staff (not credited)
    50
    The script never resolves the different levels on which it tries to operate, and also throws in too many loose ends which never get cleared up.
  9. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    10
    The movie is a peculiarly irritating failure -- a leaden piece of uplift.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Legotwin
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. A great movie! Terry Giliam does a very good job at the directing. The acting is at it's finest and tells a really great story. The scene were Perry's Wife dies is heart-breaking and leaves you in shock and awe. I really recommend this movie to anyone who loves movies!… Full Review »
  2. parallaxed
    10
    A true Gilliam film. Wonderful to watch. Among the best surreal comedy drama flicks of the 90s. A thoroughly emotional, wild tour of the darkest and funniest sides of existential spectra.… Full Review »
  3. JayH
    7
    An unusual story, very well handled. It does go off the deep end a little to much, but it still works. The acting is excellent - Robin Williams, Amanda Plummer and Jeff Bridges are great, Mercedes Ruehl is amazing.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »