Time Bandits

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Time Bandits

PG

1981

1h 50m

Fantasy

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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.

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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.

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

Aug 9, 2023

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

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Oct 22, 2018

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

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Tasha Robinson

The Dissolve

Dec 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.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jun 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.

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Jun 22, 2023

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

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Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

Apr 14, 2023

3.5/4

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

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A J

@Joney Sep 8, 2026

This was a really tough watch, it Is absolutely awful!

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Evan M

@Evangate Sep 2, 2026

Time Bandits is what happens when a bunch of tiny, medieval fucking lunatics steal a map of time and decide the best possible use for it is robbing history. Terry Gilliam throws you into a glorious fever dream packed with giants, castles, Napoleon, Robin Hood, Greek mythology, and characters who seem to have escaped from a pub after closing time. It’s weird, wildly imaginative, genuinely funny, and has that wonderfully homemade "fuck it, let’s see what happens" energy that modern blockbusters could use a lot more of. Proof that time travel is best handled by incompetent little bastards with a map.

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Paul S

@PManRager Aug 29, 2026

This is one of the wackiest, most imaginative movies I have ever watched. Seeming to fit into every genre of film, this movie feels like a fever dream you never want to wake up from. The story was fun and vibrant, and there were so many memorable scenes and hilarious moments that make this movie a masterpiece. I definitely recommend it for adventure, fantasy, sci-fi, and comedy fans!

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Randi V

@lostinthemosss Aug 22, 2026

I just love movies like this. I wish there were more.

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John K

@WQCMI Aug 6, 2026

Very mixed, I wouldn't recommend it. I love Sean Connery's character, but the story was too straight to the point. It feels like it was written as Monty Python's Meaning of Time Travel.

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Ben W

@Username618 Apr 25, 2026

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

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Terry Gilliam

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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)

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