12 Monkeys

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12 Monkeys

R

1995

2h 11m

Mystery & Thriller

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

88%

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75 Reviews

88%

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).

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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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Connor

Sep 16, 2026

Quintessential Terry Gilliam classic! Kind of poignant to what we are dealing with today (COVID).

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edentolley89 L

Sep 15, 2026

Great movie. Lots of twists. Incredible acting. Lots of thought put into the details.

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Gareth V

@geewah Oct 15, 2026

One of the strangest and most distinctive sci-fi films of its decade. It’s untidy and sometimes baffling, but Willis, Pitt and Stowe are all superb, the imagery is unforgettable and the ending lands.

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Ryan S

@ryansmith Sep 13, 2026

This movie took me 3 weeks to watch all the way through. The only reason I finally completed it was because once I start a movie I have to finish it otherwise it’ll annoy me. Please do not waste your time and do not bother watching it.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 4, 2026

12 Monkeys = A *4 and 1/2* star movie!

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Josh G

@Parsifal83 Jul 31, 2026

One of the most satisfying time-travel films ever made, with a brilliantly constructed final act that brings its intricate premise full circle. Terry Gilliam's eccentric visual style occasionally calls more attention to itself than necessary, but the film's intelligence and emotional payoff make it a standout work of science fiction.

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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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