Time Bandits

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Time Bandits

PG

1981

1h 50m

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Young history buff Kevin (Craig Warnock) can scarcely believe it when six dwarfs emerge from his closet one night. Former employees of the Supreme Being (Ralph Richardson), they've purloined a map charting all of the holes in the fabric of time and are using it to steal treasures from different historical eras. Taking Kevin with them, they variously drop in on Napoleon (Ian Holm), Robin Hood (John Cleese) and King Agamemnon (Sean Connery) before the Supreme Being catches up with them.

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Critics Consensus

Time Bandits is a remarkable time-travel fantasy from Terry Gilliam, who utilizes fantastic set design and homemade special effects to create a vivid, original universe.

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

a funny, weird cameo-filled caper that finds value even in vice, and lets wild imagination ultimately win out over drab reality.

Aug 9, 2023

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

The film lacks what Garland, Lahr, Haley, Bolger, et al, had in abundance: humanity and charm.

Oct 22, 2018

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Tasha Robinson

The Dissolve

Time Bandits is one of Gilliam's more chaotic films, which is really saying something, but his six time-bandits fill the screen with fractious energy.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 17, 2014

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Gilliam’s films tend to be either awe-inspiring or overbearing, and this one manages to dip into both columns.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 27, 2023

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

... weird, wild, and at the edge of madness.

Jun 22, 2023

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Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

Out there in the most Gilliam sort of way, this story balances whimsy with existential depression.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 14, 2023

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jonathan A

this is a must see, 45 years old and as good as the day it came out

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/27/25

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CodyZamboni Z

Underwhelming fantasy comedy, courtesy of some of the Monty Python troupe. There are some amazing set designs and sequences, And Sean Connery seems to be having a good time, But overall, movie is emotionally distant, with way too much silliness, And an ending that left me cold..

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/25

Full Review

alan g

A hallucinogenic dream. Producers and directors must have using some very strong drugs. Not funny. Not adventurous. Poor acting. Imaginative concept but overdone and overdrawn.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

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Daniel B

Good special effects but really surreal and not as funny as I would have liked.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/30/24

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Jonathan O

Before there's Back to the Future there's Time Bandits a really outrageously hilariously fun time travel adventure from the teams of Monty Python and really fantastic special effects and set design and brilliantly outrageously writing. And bonus points for the trailer is really clever funny trailer.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/12/24

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David S

Meant something to me as a kid - now it comes back to me these days in a way where I'm compelled to watch certain scenes and dialogue - the ending is interesting?

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/01/24

Full Review

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Terry Gilliam

Director

John Cleese

Robin Hood

Sean Connery

King Agamemnon

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Pansy

Katherine Helmond

Mrs. Ogre

Ian Holm

Napoleon

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Synopsis

Young history buff Kevin (Craig Warnock) can scarcely believe it when six dwarfs emerge from his closet one night. Former employees of the Supreme Being (Ralph Richardson), they've purloined a map charting all of the holes in the fabric of time and are using it to steal treasures from different historical eras. Taking Kevin with them, they variously drop in on Napoleon (Ian Holm), Robin Hood (John Cleese) and King Agamemnon (Sean Connery) before the Supreme Being catches up with them.

Director: Terry Gilliam
Producer: Terry Gilliam
Screenwriter: Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin
Distributor: Criterion Collection, AVCO Embassy Pictures
Production Co: Handmade Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 13, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2016
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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