Time Bandits

Play trailer

Time Bandits

PG

1981

1h 50m

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Young history buff Kevin (Craig Warnock) can scarcely believe it when six dwarfs emerge from his closet one night. Former employees of the Supreme Being (Ralph Richardson), they've purloined a map charting all 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 (Ian Holm), Robin Hood (John Cleese) and King Agamemnon (Sean Connery) before the Supreme Being catches up with them.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Time Bandits is a remarkable time-travel fantasy from Terry Gilliam, who utilizes fantastic set design and homemade special effects to create a vivid, original universe.

Read Critics Reviews

Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

08/09/2023

a funny, weird cameo-filled caper that finds value even in vice, and lets wild imagination ultimately win out over drab reality.

Go to Full Review

Bob Thomas

Associated Press

10/22/2018

The film lacks what Garland, Lahr, Haley, Bolger, et al, had in abundance: humanity and charm.

Go to Full Review

Tasha Robinson

The Dissolve

12/17/2014

3.5/5

Time Bandits is one of Gilliam's more chaotic films, which is really saying something, but his six time-bandits fill the screen with fractious energy.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

06/27/2023

2.5/4

Gilliam’s films tend to be either awe-inspiring or overbearing, and this one manages to dip into both columns.

Go to Full Review

Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

06/22/2023

... weird, wild, and at the edge of madness.

Go to Full Review

Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

04/14/2023

3.5/4

Out there in the most Gilliam sort of way, this story balances whimsy with existential depression.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Ben W

@Username618 Apr 25

Again, this sort of French, meaning textural rather than obvious, open ended ending? Nah.

See more

Vincent S

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies Feb 24

I loved seeing this in a theater as a 13-year-old kid and watching it now, the imagination and creativity still stand tall. Though a little overlong, there are moments here that are pure magic and very funny moments too. The creativity here is outstanding.

See more

Zachary Jacob S

@RT29975639 Jan 30

While certainly a classic, and having interesting elements. Time Bandits is a shallow mess with little to nothing to offer in the category of consistency and character development.

See more

Renee C

@ReneeMC Jan 4

I've always liked this movie.

See more

jonathan A

@RT93055276 Sep 27

this is a must see, 45 years old and as good as the day it came out

See more

CodyZamboni Z

@CodyZamboni 02/09/2025

Underwhelming fantasy comedy, courtesy of some of the Monty Python troupe. There are some amazing set designs and sequences, And Sean Connery seems to be having a good time, But overall, movie is emotionally distant, with way too much silliness, And an ending that left me cold..

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Terry Gilliam

Director

John Cleese

Robin Hood

Sean Connery

King Agamemnon

Shelley Duvall

Pansy

Katherine Helmond

Mrs. Ogre

Ian Holm

Napoleon

Xanadu

33%

58%

Xanadu

Watchlist

The People That Time Forgot

63%

26%

The People That Time Forgot

Watchlist

Masters of the Universe

21%

41%

Masters of the Universe

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Masters of the Universe

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

90%

82%

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Watchlist

Legend

33%

73%

Legend

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New 4K UHD Movies in June 2023: Upcoming 4K Releases on Blu-ray

Apple Original Series Currently in Production or Development

Character Face-Off: The Best Version of 15 Mega Popular Movie and TV Characters

View more photos

Synopsis

Young history buff Kevin (Craig Warnock) can scarcely believe it when six dwarfs emerge from his closet one night. Former employees of the Supreme Being (Ralph Richardson), they've purloined a map charting all 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 (Ian Holm), Robin Hood (John Cleese) and King Agamemnon (Sean Connery) before the Supreme Being catches up with them.

Director: Terry Gilliam
Producer: Terry Gilliam
Screenwriter: Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin
Distributor: Criterion Collection, AVCO Embassy Pictures
Production Co: Handmade Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 13, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2016
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)