Twelve Monkeys

Name: Twelve Monkeys
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller
Released: January 5, 1996
Duration: 129 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe

1996

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 480 Ratings

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8.8

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8.8	User Score Universal acclaim based on 480 Ratings

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12 Monkeys

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: January 5, 1996 | R

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)

Director: Terry Gilliam

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 129 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Marc Savlov

Gilliam keeps the audience guessing, and in doing so creates a startlingly effective rumination on the nature of sanity and madness cloaked in the shroud of a sci-fi thriller. Read full review

100

Peter Travers

Gilliam, along with the gifted cinematographer Roger Pratt and production designer Jeffrey Beecroft, fashions a disturbing and dazzling lost world. Read full review

Rick Groen

For all his daring, the brazen creator maintains control - there's aesthetic order in the disorder, and calculated reason in the madness. Seldom has it felt so good to seem so lost. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

That Terry Gilliam managed to make Twelve Monkeys into a clever, complex, and poignant success is as astonishing as it is satisfying. Read full review

Peter Stack

A grandiose cinematic invention, cleverly turning the present-day urban American world on its ear. Read full review

Desson Thomson

In a movie in which time travel is used to rectify the past, it's too bad scriptwriters David and Janet Peoples didn't go through the time/space tunnel to work on that first draft again. Read full review

Emanuel Levy

Gilliam's work is long on sensibility, short on sense. Read full review

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User Reviews

DaveN.

Aug 26, 2005

"12 Monkeys" is a modern classic, inspired loosely by Chris Marker's "La Jetee," but taking the concepts therein to a new level. This is Gilliam's second-best movie, after "Brazil," but it's still head and shoulders above 90% of the stuff out there. A thought-provoking "12 Monkeys" is a modern classic, inspired loosely by Chris Marker's "La Jetee," but taking the concepts therein to a new level. This is Gilliam's second-best movie, after "Brazil," but it's still head and shoulders above 90% of the stuff out there. A thought-provoking script, fine acting, wonderful visuals ... "12 Monkeys" has it all.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Ouendaner

Aug 5, 2013

Magnificent work, who initially argued that we can not change the future. Frightening ...
Magnífica obra, que desde un principio nos plantea que no es posible cambiar el futuro. Atemorizante...

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

OneWhoKnows

Aug 25, 2010

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!!!

14 of 16 users found this helpful142

eva3si0n

Jun 12, 2021

12 Monkeys is a great movie of the 1990s. One of Bred Pitts best roles. Great pseudo thriller. The plot really fascinates and has a double end. Good acting and unusual post-apocalypse. I advise everyone to view.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

HighPriestesa

May 18, 2014

I love this movie so much and I can't even explain why.

Like, there's so much going on but it's not a mess, it's all in its place.

All in all, something refreshing.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

EarlVonCount

Apr 5, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really enjoyed this film, like the naive me usualy does, even although it's sad that 5 billion people die at the ending. This review must be longer there you go 150 characters.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MaxP.

Jul 10, 2007

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 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 6 users found this helpful

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27	#27 Best Movie of 1996
8	#8 Most Discussed Movie of 1996
32	#32 Most Shared Movie of 1996