In the year 2035, convict James Cole reluctantly volunteers to be sent back in time to discover the origin of a deadly virus that wiped out nearly all of the earth's population and forced the survivors into underground communities. But when Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990 instead of 1996, he's arrested and locked up in a mental hospital. There he meets psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Railly, and patient Jeffrey Goines, the son of a famous virus expert, who may hold the key to the mysterious rogue group, the Army of the 12 Monkeys, thought to be responsible for unleashing the killer disease.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 10 wins & 25 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
There's always overripe method to his madness, but in the new 12 Monkeys Mr. Gilliam's methods are uncommonly wrenching and strong.
– Janet Maslin,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
fresh:
Dark and somber like Blade Runner, this sci-fi is a spectacular mess, a convoluted film with too many ideas for its own good, blending (among other things) the virus thriller with the post-apocalyptic genre.
– Emanuel Levy,
Variety,
12 Aug 2005
fresh:
Gilliam gives the material a lunatic poetry of his own, but remains impervious to the requirements of narrative pacing.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
24 Jun 2006
rotten:
Neither as visually compelling as Brazil nor as emotionally gripping as The Fisher King.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
26 Mar 2009
fresh:
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.