Jacob's Ladder

Play trailer

1:47

Jacob's Ladder

R

1990

1h 53m

Horror

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

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.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

12/01/2022

This is gibberish. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Jack F

Nov 18

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

See more

Oaklee D

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.

See more

Marissa

@marissacat182 Nov 13

This movie made me cry so hard

See more

Leo R

Nov 12

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

See more

Connor S

Nov 6

Trippy and frightening with an amazing twist ending

See more

David M.

@DavidMcKimmie Oct 27

This movie is the real deal. Tim Robbins is terrific and the supporting cast is also really good. But the star is the director- it’s easy to dismiss Adrian Lyne because of the way his movies interacted with the culture, and especially the sexual politics of their time, his movies feel frozen in time. Not so with this movie. It’s beautifully made, the visuals are amazing, and the sense of dread is palpable throughout. There are stylistic flourishes which feel like nightmares that have always lived in the back of your brain, but there is also a sense of restraint in the execution. This movie has to be seen. It strikes me that there is a lot of this movie in the DNA of the Nolan Batman movies.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Adrian Lyne

Director

Tim Robbins

Jacob Singer

Elizabeth Peña

Jezebel

Danny Aiello

Louis

Matt Craven

Michael

Pruitt Taylor Vince

Paul

Angel Heart

82%

81%

Angel Heart

Watchlist

The Guardian

25%

32%

The Guardian

Watchlist

Dead Ringers

86%

82%

Dead Ringers

Watchlist

Danika

29%

33%

Danika

Watchlist

Ghost Story

28%

46%

Ghost Story

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Know Your Critic: Dani Bethea, Pop Culture Writer and Horror Connoisseur

The Comic-Con is Coming!

Keanu & Zeta to Head Lyne’s Lana Turner Tale

Jacob's Ladder: Trailer 1

1:47

View more videos

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now