The Fisher King

Name: The Fisher King
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: September 20, 1991
Duration: 137 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams

1991

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 111 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 111 Ratings

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The Fisher King

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: September 20, 1991 | R

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams

Summary: Terry Gilliam's romantic parable The Fisher King delves deep into the nature of love and loss, of guilt and redemption, of character and tragedy. (Tri-Star)

Director: Terry Gilliam

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 137 min

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Critic Reviews

Staff (Not credited)

The Fisher King has two actors at the top of their form, and a compelling, well-directed and well-produced story. Read full review

Desson Thomson

A modern epic that fuses myth with hard-edged reality, it's a one-of-a-kind, thoroughly engaging experience. Read full review

Peter Travers

Restores our belief in the power of movies to transform reality, even temporarily. So what if it's not perfect? It's magic. Read full review

Elvis Mitchell

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.

Marjorie Baumgarten

A fanciful spiral of mythology, madness, cynicism and salvation. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (not credited)

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. Read full review

Michael Sragow

The movie is a peculiarly irritating failure -- a leaden piece of uplift. Read full review

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User Reviews

PaulE

Dec 8, 2007

The Fisher King is actually one of the most beautiful and effecting movies I've ever seen. The acting is great (most notably Jeff Bridges did a fantastic work!), the story is interesting and sows the seeds for a the expressive directing and visualisation of director Terry Gilliam.

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parallaxed

Mar 18, 2011

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.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Legotwin

Jul 30, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand 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!… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

buddhalou

Feb 4, 2019

Gilliam, as a member of the Python troupe, has always been great at funny and quirky, of which this film certainly has its moments. In the Fisher King though, Gilliam shows that he can handle other emotions with equal adeptness and with more subtlety than his previous films. The first 9 min.Gilliam, as a member of the Python troupe, has always been great at funny and quirky, of which this film certainly has its moments. In the Fisher King though, Gilliam shows that he can handle other emotions with equal adeptness and with more subtlety than his previous films. The first 9 min. and 2 secs. of this film are a brilliant setup for what follows and Gilliam doesn't disappoint with the rest of the film. He still manages to get some of his trademark visuals in, but has really seemed to refine his film-making skills with this flick and continues to do so to this day (12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing, Tideland) There are some extraordinary sequences (like the waltz in Grand Central Station) that amaze me when I think about Gilliam's beginnings as the animator and token American of Python (and clapping together those freaking coconuts in The Holy Grail.) As for Williams performance, I have to say that this is one of my favorites. I've always liked him better in the roles where he gets to show some depth in his acting abilities. The comedy is subtle, and the performances have depth, particularly Jeff Bridges - one of the greats, in my opinion.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BradySmith

Jun 6, 2014

A touching, and sad, but ultimately uplifting movie, The Fisher King is definitely Terry Gilliam's most accessible film. The performances are all pretty much perfect, especially Robin Williams as a lunatic homeless man. There are some funny parts in here, but it's also a poignantA touching, and sad, but ultimately uplifting movie, The Fisher King is definitely Terry Gilliam's most accessible film. The performances are all pretty much perfect, especially Robin Williams as a lunatic homeless man. There are some funny parts in here, but it's also a poignant examination of the tragedy people face in life and how we must overcome those obstacles. It's not quite perfect. At the beginning Gilliam goes crazy with his bizarre visual fancies. It's an original style yes, but it can also be very annoying. However, this technique works greatly when it's showing us the world from Perry's distorted point of view. Overall it's well written and deeply affecting, with the added bonus of a solid emotional payoff towards the end. I think most people will enjoy it.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

DawdlingPoet

Nov 24, 2021

This is a quirky, once contemporary (it was released in 1991) telling of an old tale as explained in the film, which is where the title comes from. It does feature themes relating to morality and so some people might feel it to be a little high and mighty, looking down on people who belittleThis is a quirky, once contemporary (it was released in 1991) telling of an old tale as explained in the film, which is where the title comes from. It does feature themes relating to morality and so some people might feel it to be a little high and mighty, looking down on people who belittle those who are different, as well as the perhaps more obvious theme of the aftermath of failure. I enjoyed Robin Williams character, the rather eccentric Parry, who introduces Jack to a different way of thinking and regarding others. There is a sense of both naivety and innocence present in his character some times and at other times, the opposite applies.

The fantasy elements made it seem more dated - nowadays better special effects would likely be used but then thats a given of course. It is an analogy of sorts I suppose. The performances by Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams are quite solid and overall I found it a good watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

HealedDog

Dec 10, 2020

A cringe 2hour meme-experience. Feels like 80s-Trash although it is from the 90s. The misuse of symbolism and dialog are only two of then countless vulnerabilities of this insult to what the human race accomplished in film. Acting might be a foreign word to the producer, the cast (althoughA cringe 2hour meme-experience. Feels like 80s-Trash although it is from the 90s. The misuse of symbolism and dialog are only two of then countless vulnerabilities of this insult to what the human race accomplished in film. Acting might be a foreign word to the producer, the cast (although including Robin Williams (might have killed himself over this movie)(still the best actor/role in the movie R.I.P), either must have suffered from the screen directors terrible approach to scenery, requisite and lack of understanding of the characters in the movie or the books lack of any evidence to underline the awkwardly written characters and especially the love/sex scenes. Nothing in the movie makes any sense or has a connection to reality nor to the logic used within the movies world. The proportion of tension is simply hilarious. It takes a rocket launch at the start then crashes after 10-minute mark and never recovers from there, withdrawing in the sewers like the sidekick. I can not believe I payed 10 bucks for this ****… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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