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 459 Ratings

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8.8

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8.8	User Score Universal acclaim based on 459 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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Awards & Rankings

26	#26 Best Movie of 1996
8	#8 Most Discussed Movie of 1996
32	#32 Most Shared Movie of 1996

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

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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

alejandro970

Jun 2, 2019

Biohazard sci-fi drama of an futile try for change story and prevent an catastrophe that wipe humanity of earth, all with bitter results. Terry Gilliam knew the best to make Bruce Willis doing a role quite different that used.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KrissTolliday14

Sep 2, 2016

A busy film designed to make you think whilst also developing the future. Twelve Monkeys is certainly ahead of its time and the influence can be seen on mind bending films today. The usual Gilliam techniques are used on a script that potentially was designed for a very different visionA busy film designed to make you think whilst also developing the future. Twelve Monkeys is certainly ahead of its time and the influence can be seen on mind bending films today. The usual Gilliam techniques are used on a script that potentially was designed for a very different vision however it is Gilliam's uniqueness that makes this film stand out, let alone the fact that the cast members wanted to work with him whatever the cost. In most cases that was for very little. Gilliam's style combined with the solid a-list cast and performances make the potentially messy plot become overlooked. The absurdity of the narrative makes for intrigue and works with the time-jumping story telling. In hindsight it is definitely the perfect script for a director such as Gilliam. The score can feel out of place, the emotional development of the two leads relationship doesn't feel deep enough and there is a slight lull in the middle however this is a film that must be seen to see classy performances from actors at the start of long careers and a narrative that leaves questions open for you to answer yourself on either a second viewing or in discussion down the local.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CritiqueGirl

Mar 1, 2011

This was science fiction time travel at its best. I am not a fan of Brad Pitt but he portrayed a mentally ill man very well. Bruce Willis is also not one of my favorite actors but he also did a great job as a reluctant pawn of scientists. Great plot.

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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