12 Monkeys

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12 Monkeys

R

1995

2h 11m

Mystery & Thriller

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Traveling back in time isn't simple, as James Cole (Bruce Willis) learns the hard way. Imprisoned in the 2030s, James is recruited for a mission that will send him back to the 1990s. Once there, he's supposed to gather information about a nascent plague that's about to exterminate the vast majority of the world's population. But, aside from the manic Jeffrey (Brad Pitt), he gets little in the way of cooperation, not least from medical gatekeepers like Dr. Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe).

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Critics Consensus

The plot's a bit of a jumble, but excellent performances and mind-blowing plot twists make 12 Monkeys a kooky, effective experience.

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

10/12/2018

4/5

This dystopian time-travelling sci-fi is a reminder that the director can make films that are visually inventive, intellectually engaging and downright exciting.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

05/27/2011

While all of Gilliam's movies are worth seeing, there's a fair amount of his designer grimness here mixed in with the cabaret comedy.

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Variety Staff

Variety

03/26/2009

Neither as visually compelling as Brazil nor as emotionally gripping as The Fisher King.

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Elisa Guimarães

Collider

02/01/2024

B+

The fine line between the reasonable and the absurd is at the center of this flawed but gripping story about apocalypses and time-travel.

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D.M. Palmer

Vague Visages

11/08/2023

Their aesthetic production is taken at face value, their delusion is validated by the collective imagination...

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Michael Atkinson

Spin

12/27/2022

The movie contemplates the circularities of time, apocalypse culture, and movies themselves... That shouldn't seem like some kind of pop miracle, but it does.

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Jerrod G

2d

Quite surprised to once again see the critics consensus be right although for me the movie was very mid.

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Brian F.

@FedUpDVDCollector Dec 9

Really enjoyed the 3 lead performances. Loopy time travel movie that will leave you guessing.

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Norm L

Oct 31

Whilst it vibrates with looney tunes slapstick delivery, it maintains a quasi science fiction level which combine to stimulate and satisfyingly entertain. I love it even though Brad Putts most enlivened offering was his scabby bare ass.

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Joshua

Oct 24

I really love this movie. Its a good question if youre sane. What is real. But its a spin. Bruce Willis is bomb. Brad Pitt is amazing. Its always been a great concept to me. If that makes sense. Enjoy!

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Dwayne B

Oct 7

This is my 2nd favorite movie of all time (next to Casablanca). It's the kind of movie where you catch something new everytime you watch it. And I've seen it at least 2 dozen times. Terry Gilliam is a fantastic director and this is his masterpiece.

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Lars N

@movie_douche Sep 23

Meticulously constructed, the movie is such an engaging mystery that I'm still not sure what it's trying to say, and that's fine.

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Terry Gilliam

Director

Bruce Willis

James Cole

Madeleine Stowe

Kathryn Railly

Brad Pitt

Jeffrey Goines

Christopher Plummer

Dr. Leland Goines

Jon Seda

Jose

Twelve Monkeys: Official Clip - Explaining to the Doctors

1:59

Twelve Monkeys: Official Clip - The Great Escape

3:00

Twelve Monkeys: Official Clip - World War I

2:38

Twelve Monkeys: Official Clip - Eating a Spider

3:00

Twelve Monkeys: Official Clip - Jeffrey Reveals His Plan

1:57

Twelve Monkeys: Official Clip - The Scientists' Offer

1:49

Twelve Monkeys: Official Clip - Zoo Animals Run Free

1:38

Twelve Monkeys: Official Clip - Institutionalized With Jeffrey

2:37

Twelve Monkeys: Official Clip - Plague of Madness

1:57

Twelve Monkeys: Official Clip - Cole Meets Kathryn

2:00

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Synopsis

Traveling back in time isn't simple, as James Cole (Bruce Willis) learns the hard way. Imprisoned in the 2030s, James is recruited for a mission that will send him back to the 1990s. Once there, he's supposed to gather information about a nascent plague that's about to exterminate the vast majority of the world's population. But, aside from the manic Jeffrey (Brad Pitt), he gets little in the way of cooperation, not least from medical gatekeepers like Dr. Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe).

Director: Terry Gilliam
Producer: Charles Roven
Screenwriter: Chris Marker, David Webb Peoples, Janet Peoples
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Atlas Entertainment
Rating: R (Violence|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 26, 1995, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $57.1M
Runtime: 2h 11m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS-ES, DTS, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)

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