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 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 409 Ratings

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8.8

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8.8	User Score Universal acclaim based on 409 Ratings

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12 Monkeys

Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: January 5, 1996

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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Awards & Rankings

24	#24 Best Movie of 1996
7	#7 Most Discussed Movie of 1996
33	#33 Most Shared Movie of 1996

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Austin Chronicle - 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

Rolling Stone - 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

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) - 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

TV Guide Magazine - 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

San Francisco Chronicle - Peter Stack

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

Washington Post - 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

Variety - 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!!!

13 of 15 users found this helpful132

REDWOU

Nov 22, 2014

Twelve Monkeys was a great movie. Brad Pitt was so great as a psycho, you'd think that's what he is in real life. The movie seemed pretty realistic too. The whole disease scenario spreading worldwide.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Bshop

Aug 16, 2014

Good thought-provoking movie that continues to be relevant even after all these years.
Story is outstanding, Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt amp it up a level. Every other character is forgettable though. I especially love the crazy Brad Pitt scenes. The ending still leaves me questioning whatGood thought-provoking movie that continues to be relevant even after all these years.
Story is outstanding, Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt amp it up a level. Every other character is forgettable though. I especially love the crazy Brad Pitt scenes. The ending still leaves me questioning what exactly happened, although after a few explanations on IMDB, you can figure out the plot. Reminded me of Memento (style of video) and Fight Club (twisting plot)
In summary, rent or watch on Netflix before you buy. I would buy it if you like Sci-Fi and time travel movies. This is Bruce Willis' better time travel movie (Looper being the lesser of the two).… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

chads.

Aug 12, 2007

The best time travel movie i have ever seen. very interesting, well acted, and an overall entertaining and good movie. Pick it up.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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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