12 Monkeys

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12 Monkeys

R,

1995,

2h 11m,

Mystery & Thriller/

Sci-Fi

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Watchlist

Watchlist

88%

76 Reviews

Tomatometer

87%

250,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

76 Reviews

87%

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).

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)

Oct 12, 2018

4/5

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

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

May 27, 2011

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.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

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

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Grant Hermanns

Screen Rant

Feb 12, 2026

10/10

Even more supportive of the script's twisty nature is the mesmerizing direction from Gilliam. Utilizing the same hyperstylized art design he had on Brazil, the Oscar nominee brought a haunting feel to the apocalyptic future.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

Jan 14, 2026

[12 Monkeys] will it not make you feel better about pretty much anything. But it’s a feast for thought.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Jan 1, 2026

It’s our own "Cassandra Complex" about what’s transpired in the past three decades that makes re-watching it now even more disquieting, unnerving and thoroughly engrossing.

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Finn P

Apr 1, 2019

One for the best movies ever.

Hermione S

Mar 18, 2019

Terry Gilliam is a strange director, but strange doesn't always lead to success. It is performed well and has an intriguing concept. But it ultimately suffers from uneven pacing, messy world building, and an execution of the story that is too chaotic to handle. Not a memorable movie at all.

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Anakin L

Mar 15, 2019

Exceptional film that is near great. While a lot time travel films are a real stretch, "12 Monkeys" has a degree of plausibility (!) that makes it more compelling than the run of the mill back to the past feature. While I won't go in to any of the plot elements to avoid spoiling the film, Gilliam does a great job of creating a present and future that are so at odd that one could see why the the protagonist, James Cole (played brilliantly by Willis), would think he's crazy. Stowe gives a terrific turn as a skeptical psychiatrist who slowly and horrifically realizes that 'crazy' Willis maybe isn't. Pitt rounds out the the leads as the totally believable nut job yet magnetic Jeffrey Goines. The ending is a twist that is just stunning. Gilliam's future sets and props are rather derivative of those from "Brazil", yet his featuring of numerous Philadelphia locales to provide a sense of the present is extremely well done. Masterful film that is well worth seeing.

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Abraham W

Mar 9, 2019

Just a great movie with time travel elements.

Poe G

Mar 9, 2019

Although this material meshes better his style compared to his other films I've seen, I feel like Gilliam just isn't for me.

Luke S

Feb 25, 2019

A superb intrigue and well written/executed movie. The actors are shining in this one. But thats the kind of movie you can only really see once when you know the plot. But it's totally worth it. A must see.

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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

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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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