Twelve Monkeys

Name: Twelve Monkeys
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery
Released: 1995-12-29
Cast: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer, David Morse

1995 | 129 min | Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

People are still talking about it, it earned strong reviews (88% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences rate it highly (7.6 out of 10). 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 likes to be kept guessing and sci-fi fans. If you loved Terminator 2: Judgment Day, start here.
The mood: Tense, mind-bending.
The pace: Fast-moving, at 2 hr 9 min.
What might put you off: Rated R: expect drug use.

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 the son of a famous virus expert who may hold the key to the Army of the 12 Monkeys; thought to be responsible for unleashing the killer disease.

How it earned its rating

CriticsStrong
88% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesStrong
7.6 out of 10
AwardsStrong
Won 1 Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. Also nominated for 2 Oscars. Plus 1 other award.
Box office & staying powerStrong
$169 million worldwide on a $29 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 640K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

Cast & crew

Directed by Terry Gilliam

Bruce WillisJames Cole
Madeleine StoweDr. Kathryn Railly
Brad PittJeffrey Goines
Christopher PlummerDr. Goines
David MorseDr. Peters
Jon SedaJose
Christopher MeloniLt. Halperin
Joey PerilloDetective Franki
LisaGay HamiltonTeddy
Matt RossBee