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Twelve Monkeys
Twelve Monkeys Image
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Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 54 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe
  • Summary: Between sanity and madness, fantasy and reality, the past and the future, comes an adventure beyond imagination from Terry Gilliam, the acclaimed director of "The Fisher King." Penal colony prisoner James Cole (Willis) must travel back in time from the year 2035 to find the cause of a virus that killed five billion people in 1997. (Universal)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    100
    Gilliam, along with the gifted cinematographer Roger Pratt and production designer Jeffrey Beecroft, fashions a disturbing and dazzling lost world.
  2. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    100
    Bruce Willis is bruisingly good as the hero and Brad Pitt is suitably zany as the activist who dogs his trail.
  3. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    60
    Brad Pitt has fun with his secondary part as a pontificating lunatic, but I wish I'd enjoyed the rest of the cast more.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. OneWhoKnows
    10
    Since I see most reviews are spot on here, I will simply say "ditto". ALSO, another in a long line of my favorite movies that require you to THINK! (A lost concept in movie making). IT IS BRILLIANT!!!… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. RoyT.
    5
    An impressing achievement of filmmaking for Mr Gilliam, as well as very cool acting by Brad Pitt. there are some people who will find this clever "complex" and just totally a good film all around. i am definately not one of them. i found it confusing, sadly boring - and yes - a bit too long. i ended up feeling dizzy with a headache at the end. Despite this, there are some aspects of the film i felt intrigued by, such as in the beginning with Bruce walking around in the suit, or Pitt dressed in the tux in the fancy mansion watching Bruces character run off - it was cool to with the scientist scenes talking to bruce. as the film progresses, i felt it lacked entertainment for my taste. i am completely mixed opinioned on this movie. The Mental Hospital scenes were cool, but Mr Pitts last few scenes dragged in ultra dialogy nonsense that just gave me a headache. Sorry Mr Gilliam, your a good director, but 12 monkeys isn't my cup of tea.… Expand
    • 0 of 1 users said yes
  3. MaxP.
    2
    This film was both too confusing and broing and as for the ending, its a joke, pathetic. if you are going to find out who the killer is then make it a big character not some ginger haired idiot.....A failure for Gilliam, on a kinder note the only reason i give this a 2 is for Brad Pitts unbelievable acting, his best peice to date, too bad the movie was rubbish!… Expand
    • 0 of 3 users said yes

See all 24 User Reviews

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