Jacob's Ladder

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1:47

Jacob's Ladder

R

1990

1h 53m

Horror

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

69 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After returning home from the Vietnam War, veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) struggles to maintain his sanity. Plagued by hallucinations and flashbacks, Singer rapidly falls apart as the world and people around him morph and twist into disturbing images. His girlfriend, Jezzie (Elizabeth Peña), and ex-wife, Sarah (Patricia Kalember), try to help, but to little avail. Even Singer's chiropractor friend, Louis (Danny Aiello), fails to reach him as he descends into madness.

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Critics Consensus

Even with its disorienting leaps of logic and structure, Jacob's Ladder is an engrossing, nerve-shattering experience.

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John Hartl

Seattle Times

08/23/2014

4/4

For hours and days after you've seen it, you'll still be putting it together in your head. While all of it is gripping, it doesn't come together until the final scene, which is jolting, transcendent, unexpected yet inevitable.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

08/23/2014

3/4

As long as the movie refuses to commit itself, it is a truly creepy, nerve-jangling experience.

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Peter Rainer

Los Angeles Times

08/23/2014

In the best puzzle movies, the pieces fit -- eventually. But if you try to piece together Jacob's Ladder, all you get for your trouble is more pieces.

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

09/22/2023

4/5

Manages to deliver nightmarish imagery, psychological torment, and a gripping relationship drama all wrapped up in a frightening and mysterious package.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

12/01/2022

This is gibberish. [Full review in Spanish]

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Graeme Tuckett

The Post NZ

10/25/2021

It is just one of those films that will get under your skin and stay with you. In 31 years, it hasn't aged a day.

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Juice M

@Juicemane Dec 16

One of the best movies I’ve ever seen, had me thinking back about the whole movie after the end and I realized how well they’ve shot the movie.

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Corey S

@corecom Dec 5

This movie had me glued to the screen. I looked like a shrimp in my chair while watching this. While there were some absurd moments, and it has it's share of goofs, I was just too invested in the story to be put off by them.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Nov 18

I don't remember it being that scary, but I should probably watch it again to be sure.

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Oaklee D

@ODie63 Nov 17

A mind bending film, with a terrific ending I went into this one not knowing anything about it and oh boy was I not expecting what I saw. I feel like Ari Aster took some inspiration from this film when he made "Beau Is Afraid". A great movie.

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Marissa

@marissacat182 Nov 13

This movie made me cry so hard

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Leo R

Nov 12

Amazingly strange movie of combat soldier struggles between life and death on operating room table.

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Adrian Lyne

Director

Tim Robbins

Jacob Singer

Elizabeth Peña

Jezebel

Danny Aiello

Louis

Matt Craven

Michael

Pruitt Taylor Vince

Paul

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Jacob's Ladder: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After returning home from the Vietnam War, veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) struggles to maintain his sanity. Plagued by hallucinations and flashbacks, Singer rapidly falls apart as the world and people around him morph and twist into disturbing images. His girlfriend, Jezzie (Elizabeth Peña), and ex-wife, Sarah (Patricia Kalember), try to help, but to little avail. Even Singer's chiropractor friend, Louis (Danny Aiello), fails to reach him as he descends into madness.

Director: Adrian Lyne
Producer: Alan Marshall
Screenwriter: Bruce Joel Rubin
Distributor: Image Entertainment Inc., TriStar Pictures
Production Co: Carolco Pictures Inc.
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.4K
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR

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