Time Bandits
Seen it?1981 | 116 min | Family, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adventure, Comedy
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (90% on Rotten Tomatoes), it made about 8 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh, sci-fi fans and fantasy fans. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Provocative satire that goes after everyone, mind-bending.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 56 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG: slapstick violence and peril. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Young history buff Kevin can scarcely believe it when six dwarfs emerge from his closet one night. Former employees of the Supreme Being, 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, Robin Hood and King Agamemnon before the Supreme Being catches up with them.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.6 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$42 million worldwide on a $5 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 271K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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The Hobbit
Weeknight WatchAnother family film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Pooh's Heffalump Movie Sunday Safe BetAnother family film, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Terry Gilliam
- Craig WarnockKevin
- David RappaportRandall
- Kenny BakerFidgit
- Mike EdmondsOg
- Malcolm DixonStrutter
- Tiny RossVermin
- Jack PurvisWally
- Ian HolmNapoleon
- John CleeseRobin Hood
- Sean ConneryKing Agamemnon / Fireman