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The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

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The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

PG

Released Mar 10, 1989

2h 6m

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

90%

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60 Reviews

82%

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25,000+ Ratings

During the "Age of Reason" of the late 18th century, the Turkish army lays siege to a European city where a theater production about the extraordinary heroics of famed German aristocrat Baron Münchhausen is underway. A man steps forward to object that the performance is full of inaccuracies, claiming that he is the real Baron Münchhausen (John Neville). When the Turkish army approaches with gunfire, the baron undertakes his latest adventure with his promise to defend the city.

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Critics Consensus

Bursting with Terry Gilliam's typically imaginative flourishes, this story of a possibly deranged Baron recounting his storied life is a flamboyant and witty visual treat.

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Budd Wilkins

Slant Magazine

An artist of uncommon visual eccentricity and conceptual audacity, Terry Gilliam is among cinema’s most dedicated fantasists.

Jan 9, 2023

Full Review

Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

The sheer volume and invention of Gilliam's visual largess sets him apart, and his wit operates for the most part at a dangerously sophisticated level.

Nov 15, 2013

Full Review

Carrie Rickey

Philadelphia Inquirer

One of the most voluptuously beautiful films ever imagined, Munchausen naturally assumes that surrealism is preferable, that through make-believe we find the way to true beliefs.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 15, 2013

Full Review

Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen remains a marvelous visual treat that has aged really well.

Oct 3, 2024

Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

Against the odds, Gilliam succeeded in creating a positively gargantuan epic teeming with invention and wit.

Sep 26, 2023

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Sacrifices were made at virtually every turn, meaning that The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, for all its grandeur and beauty and imagination, is a severely compromised work … and it shows.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 27, 2023

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Brandon W

An visual feast with a soundtrack that compells me to watch through the end credits. I first saw this imaginative movie in theaters as a child and it has been my hands down favourite movie ever since, despite me having a more science fiction bend to my preferences. The Baron's refusal to not do what is right just because it is not practical propels him and his new friend on an adventure that will take him through the world, and off of it. His eagerness to embrace the extraordinary powers this brilliant story, and I look forward to my niece and then my nephew being old enough to enjoy it with me.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/25

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Jacob B

Any time that I get to spend witnessing what comes out of the mind of Terry Gilliam is time well spent! This may not be as technically and emotionally mature as his masterpiece “The Fisher King”, but “Baron” has more awe, imagination, kindness and humor than almost any film claiming to be fantasy or escapism today.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/25

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Chris T

Wonderful movie! Examines the themes of aging, mortality, the power of belief and imagination and how having a purpose invigorates one's life. Fun, funny, but dark in the right places.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/25

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Tyler Y

Terry Gilliam is one of those incredibly distinctive directors that does things his way every time. And sometimes, in certain genres, it works, and sometimes, it feels awkward. But this is about as perfectly as it can work.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/10/25

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Ronnie M

I loved this movie as a child and even more so as an adult. The acting, directing, and sets are all over the top great.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/07/24

Full Review

Kyle C

I was really pleasantly surprised by how fun and wacky this movie is! It’s got sort of an improv-esque, “yes, and” plot that makes no sense at all but somehow all comes together perfectly. It’s a bit of Monty Python and a LOT of Terry Gilliam. It’s kid-friendly but also has some hilarious, raunchy adult humor. The sets are beautiful and creative, the cast is bursting with talent (Robin Williams as the King of the Moon! What!!), and the dialogue is just fucking funny. That being said, I’m so glad I was familiar with Terry Gilliam’s work so I knew what to expect, because man, this movie is WEIRD.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/16/24

Full Review

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Terry Gilliam

Director

John Neville

Baron Munchausen

Eric Idle

Desmond

Sarah Polley

Sally Salt

Oliver Reed

Vulcan

Charles McKeown

Rupert

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: Official Clip - Sea Monster Attack

2:13

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: Official Clip - The Execution

2:06

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: Official Clip - Victory!

2:13

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: Official Clip - The Sky Waltz

2:06

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: Official Clip - The Cannonball Ride

2:12

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: Official Clip - Launch of the Underwear Balloon

2:12

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: Official Clip - Taking the Sultan's Treasure

2:12

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: Official Clip - Berthold Runs to Austria

2:03

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Synopsis

During the "Age of Reason" of the late 18th century, the Turkish army lays siege to a European city where a theater production about the extraordinary heroics of famed German aristocrat Baron Münchhausen is underway. A man steps forward to object that the performance is full of inaccuracies, claiming that he is the real Baron Münchhausen (John Neville). When the Turkish army approaches with gunfire, the baron undertakes his latest adventure with his promise to defend the city.

Director: Terry Gilliam
Producer: Thomas Schühly
Distributor: Criterion Collection, Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Allied Filmmakers, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 10, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.6M
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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