The Island of Dr. Moreau

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The Island of Dr. Moreau

PG-13

1996

1h 35m

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

23%

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35 Reviews

20%

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25,000+ Ratings

An English U.N. negotiator (David Thewlis) becomes stranded in the tropics with a mad scientist (Marlon Brando) who makes half-human beasts.

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Critics Consensus

Timid and unfocused in its storytelling, The Island Of Dr. Moreau is more lackluster misfire than morbid curiosity.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

06/14/2022

John Frankenheimer is credited as director, but given the scrambled, multiple agendas at play here, he seems to function more like a bemused traffic cop.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

02/27/2018

Brando's performance is enormous fun, but it's not just a joke. He's hilarious and gently mesmerizing at once, and director John Frankenheimer savvily adjusts the tone of his movie to fit Brando's daft brilliance.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

08/16/2016

Roughly akin to watching a slow-motion train wreck in which the flames spread into the brush and become an out-of-control wildfire. What the hell happened?

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Sean Burns

WBUR’s Arts & Culture

05/22/2025

There are a few good gonzo moments if you like watching miserable oddballs try to capsize a movie — Brando does a whole scene with an ice bucket on his head — but the headliners have far less screen time than you’d hope.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

08/30/2022

1.5/4

Not even the most devoted Frankenheimer enthusiast will find a coherent outcome, no matter how layered it may be with admirable degrees of pure oddity and (arguably intentional) hokum.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

09/14/2020

4/10

Thanks to special creature and makeup effects by Stan Winston, the various deformed fiends take center stage, showcasing diverting designs and a decent production value.

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Jeepers C

@RT12312147 May 24

I always loved this movie. It was a scary one to watch. I was always on the edge, because of the experiments with rhe animals. When will the animals rebel? I don't agree with the lackluster reviews.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 12

Success in 1 hour and 35 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $27,700,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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D P

@RT45936356 04/04/2025

Worse than the first one. I don't know how they convinced the great Marlon Brando to do this film. He must have needed the money.

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Mark F

@RT37250310 03/24/2025

The most outrageous spectacle you'll ever witness. I jest, it's bonkers but one of those so bad it's good movies.

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Jelisije J

@jjosifovic 01/23/2025

One of the worst films that you will ever see and to be honest I rather watch a documentary to how this film was made instead of rewatching this film again.

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Monty F

@RT42379131 12/11/2024

I liked it. For those who thought it was a hot mess, should an island full of experimental part man part beast run by a couple of insaniacs be any less. It had a straight forward story and didn’t need to be anymore than that. I saw the documentary about it first and thought I’d watch to see how bad it was. I ended up enjoying it.

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John Frankenheimer

Director

Marlon Brando

Dr. Moreau

Val Kilmer

Montgomery

David Thewlis

Edward Douglas

Fairuza Balk

Aissa

Ron Perlman

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Synopsis

An English U.N. negotiator (David Thewlis) becomes stranded in the tropics with a mad scientist (Marlon Brando) who makes half-human beasts.

Director: John Frankenheimer
Producer: Edward R. Pressman
Screenwriter: Richard Stanley, Ron Hutchinson
Production Co: New Line Cinema
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 28, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $27.7M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround