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John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm ... see more see more... , Michael Palin , Ralph Richardson , Peter Vaughan , David Warner , David Rappaport , Kenny Baker , Jack Purvis , Malcolm Dixon , Tiny Ross , Craig Warnock , Terence Bayler , Jim Broadbent , David Daker , Frances De La Tour , Derek Deadman , Winston Dennis , Tony Jay , Peter Jonfield , Leon Lissek , Preston Lockwood , Andrew MacLachlan , Neil McCarthy , Declan Mulholland , Derrick O'Connor , Marcus Powell , Jerold Wells , John Young , Michael Edmonds , David Leland , Charles McKeown , Sheila Fearn , Myrtle Devenish , Mark Holmes , Irene Lamb , Del Baker , Martin Carroll , Edwin Finn

A young boy joins a group of renegade dwarves on an unpredictable journey through time in this humorous fantasy. Monty Python animator Terry Gilliam mostly achieves a tricky balancing act in his secon... read more read more...d feature as sole director, creating a dark, irreverent comedy disguised as a family adventure. Particularly amusing are the boy's encounters with various historical figures, including an entertainment-starved Napoleon (Ian Holm), a powerful Agamemnon (Sean Connery), and a surprisingly stuffy Robin Hood, embodied by Gilliam's Python cohort John Cleese. Episodic by nature, the film is less successful when dealing with the larger narrative, which concerns the pursuit of the dwarves and their time-traveling map by the Supreme Being. However, the combination of Gilliam's visual exuberance and the witty script (by Gilliam and Michael Palin) ensures an entertaining, if erratic, journey. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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73% liked it

46,090 ratings

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95% liked it

38 critics

PG, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Terry Gilliam

Release Date: November 6, 1981

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DVD Release Date: March 30, 1999

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Stats: 2,521 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,521)

  • FilmFanatik
    March 27, 2012
    FilmFanatik
    No Terry Gilliam film is without its flaws. His work is usually fleeting and nebulous within the confines of the narrative, which is usually whimsical in nature. Out of all of his work, I'd say that Time Bandits is his most accessible... and certainly his most successful with aud... read moreiences. It's the kind of movie you would not have just taken your kids to see, but to see it yourself too. It's true that it's a bit more adult than a normal kids movie, even from this time period, but it has elements contained therein that make it feel more magical. I like it a lot, and I'm glad that it enjoyed a successful run upon release. I also hope that Terry Gilliam gets to make more films like it in the future. He's a frustrating director for a lot of people, but his work speaks for itself.
  • fb1664868775
    October 27, 2011
    fb1664868775
    A spectacular fantasy for children and adults alike.
  • moonrivers
    May 23, 2011
    moonrivers
    Five dwarves, bored with their everyday tedium, steal a map from God Himself and take it on the lam with hopes of using the purloined item to secure the usual: riches beyond their wildest dreams. And so the madcap chase is on through space and time, a bright youngster nabbed alo... read moreng the way simply for the helluvit. Will they get the moolah? And just who is that guy chasing them in the red tights who's laughing maniacally all the time? A treat for the kiddies that won't bore you to tears.
  • fb100001493964409
    March 4, 2011
    fb100001493964409
    To be honest, there is a part of me that doesn't understand why I like this movie. Some of the effects haven't aged very well, some of the humor falls flat, historical accuracy is absolutely botched, and the ending will leave you bewildered. So how could you like it? The world th... read moreat Terry Gilliam has created is so vivid, so brilliant, that you won't believe your eyes. The story here is pretty funny, about a little boy who becomes swept up by 6 dwarves traveling across time to steal the greatest riches in history. They are pursued by the Supreme Being and the minions of Evil (literally, and this guy is so unhinged its hilarious). Some of the humor is great, and definitely things kids won't get. Like finding out Robin Hood's band of merry men are a bunch of violent psychopaths, Napoleon was goofing off during all of his battles watching puppet shows, and other situations. If after reading that sentence you said out loud, "That sounds so stupid!", this movie isn't for you. One person I know described this as a "kids film for adults that only kids can understand." I can't say a whole lot beyond that, this is one of those films you can't rationally describe, you just have to watch it and take it in.
  • phubbs1
    February 27, 2011
    phubbs1
    Haven't seen this for along time now, not since I was a kid I reckon and its aged badly really. I really found myself thinking how stupid the whole thing is and how it could of been so much better hehe the small sections with Cleese, Palin and Connery are of course the better mom... read moreents as you get that classic 'Monty Python' feeling from the look, location, costumes and the type of dialog used.
    The Robin Hood section with Cleese is brilliant simply because of Cleese, the Greece section has that 'Life of Brian' feel to it where as the small segments with Palin feel alittle 'Holy Grail' which is typical of Gilliam of course along with other films 'Jabberwocky' and 'Brazil'.

    I find the film very choppy really, some bits are quite cool with some great imagination on show where as allot of it is pretty daft and ropey looking, the whole ending against baddie David Warner is the worst part of the film. I find Gilliams work to be like this genrally in my personal opinion, some is brilliant, some is totally nonsense, but he is more of an artist I think so opinions will differ.
  • ajv2688
    January 10, 2011
    ajv2688
    I saw this movie a long time ago when I was a kid or something, and I thought it was stupid.
  • ythelastman89
    December 21, 2010
    ythelastman89
    The idea of this movie is truly interesting, but the execution is really not that good. There's too many midgets running around and it's utter madness. The best parts are the fragments of history where you get to see Agamemnon and Ogres. This also tends to be a little corny too o... read moreften, which is usually never the case with Terry Gilliam's other work. I think this movie is just too kid friendly and has too much of a dependence on it's peck actors.
  • DrBenway
    November 11, 2010
    DrBenway
    Time Bandits has all of the trademarks of what's now recognized as a Gilliam-esque film: little people, a warped sense of humor along with incredible imagination in story and design. I can only wonder what pitching a plot like this must've sounded like to producers. Luckily o... read morene of those producers was George Harrison.

    The actors are great. John Cleese's Robin Hood takes parody to a new level. Ian Holm, Ralph Richardson, Katherine Helmond, Shelley Duvall and Michael Palin fit in quite well. However, besides the little people and Kevin, the real standout for me has always been David Warner. This was, I believe, the first role I noticed him, then afterwards in Time After Time as Jack The Ripper. Warner is pure evil surrounded by minions of lesser intelligence. Who would've thought blowing up a dog could be so hilarious?


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  • ScoopOnline
    December 15, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    They didn't make history, they stole it!
  • TomBowler
    September 7, 2009
    TomBowler
    this is a brilliant film. terry gilliam proves why he's incredible. the different scenarios, all blending into one. the fact thatit's a story about a kid and yet it's dark enough to be entertaining is an achievement in itself.

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
June 5, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

When you can count the laughs in a comedy on the fingers of one hand, it isn't so funny. Full Review

Dave Kehr
June 5, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The film is resolutely, passionately antiadult, yet much of the humor has an adult sophistication and edge to it; this is one kids' movie that doesn't condescend. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Amazingly well-produced. The historic locations are jammed with character and detail. This is the only live-action movie I've seen that literally looks like pages out of Heavy Metal magazine. Full Review

Vincent Canby
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

A cheerfully irreverent lark -- part fairy tale, part science fiction and part comedy. Full Review

James Berardinelli
November 14, 2002
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Perhaps the greatest characteristic attributable to Time Bandits is its sense of invention. The movie does so many things, all of them well. Full Review

Tim Brayton
December 26, 2011
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

An intoxicating dose of children's entertainment of the rarest and weirdest and most delirious kind. Full Review

Paul Trandahl
January 2, 2011
Paul Trandahl, Common Sense Media

Fun fantasy has a bit of bite. Full Review

Nell Minow
September 23, 2010
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

Adults will get this movie, but kids won't. Full Review

James Kendrick
September 2, 2010
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk

one of the greatest of children's fantasy movies Full Review

Peter Canavese
August 29, 2010
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

A smart and imaginative fantasy with appeal for the whole family is always cause for celebration...Time Bandits rivals Roald Dahl in its surrealism and satire. [Blu-ray] Full Review

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Facts

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    • Kevin: Mom! Dad! It's evil! Don't touch it!
    • Randall: Well, this map, Kevin, used to belong to the Supreme Being.
    • Kevin: You mean you stole it?
    • Randall: No, no. Well, sort of.
    • Evil Genius: If I were creating the world I wouldn't mess about with butterflies and daffodils. I would have started with lasers, eight o'clock, Day One!
  • ...they didn't make history, they stole it!
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Time Bandits Trivia

  • Midgets, a stolen map, time travel, Sean Connery as a king and a fireman. Name the movie.  Answer »
  • In the film Time Bandits, what was stolen from the Supreme Being?  Answer »
  • What movie has a bunch of midgets and a little boy traveling through time stealing riches? This movie also stars Sean Connery and John Cleese.  Answer »
  • Name the actor who appeared in Finding Forrester, Time Bandits and the Untouchables  Answer »
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