12 Monkeys

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12 Monkeys

R

1995

2h 11m

Mystery & Thriller

Sci-Fi

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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)

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

Rated: 4/5

Oct 12, 2018

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

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.

May 27, 2011

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Variety Staff

Variety

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

Mar 26, 2009

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Elisa Guimarães

Collider

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

Rated: B+

Feb 1, 2024

Full Review

D.M. Palmer

Vague Visages

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

Nov 8, 2023

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Michael Atkinson

Spin

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.

Dec 27, 2022

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Dwayne B

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/07/25

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Lars N

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/25

Full Review

Glen H

While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, Gilliam works his magic. As far as the cast: Stowe is incredible in her role, Willis is also great, and Pitt is at his cooky best. It's just a beautifully constructed puzzle that is ultimately rewarding if you give Gilliam's style a chance.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

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21 - Priyan B

An overrated sci-fi thriller. Rating: 6.2/10

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 2 hours and 11 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Violence and Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $57,100,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

Full Review

Ella D

Maybe this style of predestined paradox type movie showing the same montages over and over throughout a move counted as art way back when .... when this movie came out... but this doesn't hold up IMO. Meh movie... and performances seemed like charicatures. Dark and left me feeling ew. I'm def not the audience for this even thought I love Bruce Willis.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/07/25

Full Review

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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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