Sign up
Trailer

Time Bandits

1981Movie1 h 56 minPG

Family
78
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb6.9Metacritic797.1Rotten Tomatoes92%77%

An awe-inspiring, eccentric family movie about fantasy and history, with standout direction and world-building.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for romance.

Movies with

Story

…they didn’t make history, they stole it!

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.

Feels like

  • Whimsical Time Travel
  • Dark Fantasy Adventure
  • Terry Gilliam Film
  • Surreal Comedy
  • Historical Figures
  • Child's Perspective
  • Dreamlike Logic
  • Cult Classic
  • Visually Inventive

Cast

24 of 33

Crew

Directed by
Terry Gilliam
Written by
Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin
Produced by
Terry Gilliam
Music by
Trevor Jones, Mike Moran

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

July 13, 1981 · 1 h 56 min · PG

Released
July 13, 1981
Runtime
1 h 56 min
Age rating
PG
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Family, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adventure, Comedy
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom
Budget
$5 million
Box office
$42 million
Available in
56 countries

Tropes

Built with LEGO, Hoist by His Own Petard, Prisoner's Last Meal +9

  • Built with LEGO
  • Hoist by His Own Petard
  • Prisoner's Last Meal
  • Signature Headgear
  • Behind the Black
  • The Ditz
  • Deus ex Machina
  • Bowdlerise
  • Sudden Downer Ending
  • Human Traffic Jam
  • Bad Boss
  • With Friends Like These...

12 of 185 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Time Bandits?"

Questions about Time Bandits

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Time Bandits?

HBO MaxCriterionCinemax

In the United States, Time Bandits streams on HBO Max, Criterion, and Cinemax. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and MovieMe. It also streams in 12 other countries.

Is Time Bandits worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78 (IMDb 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes 92%, and Metacritic 79). Critics rate it higher (86 out of 100) than audiences (72).

Is Time Bandits okay for kids?

PGViolenceDisturbing imagery

Yes: it's rated PG in the United States for violence and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will Time Bandits make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly absurd humor (9 of 10) and dark humor (8 of 10).

Was Time Bandits a box office hit?

Budget$5 million
Box office$42 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $5 million to make and earned $42 million worldwide, 8.5 times its budget.

What tropes does Time Bandits use?

Built with LEGOHoist by His Own PetardPrisoner's Last MealSignature HeadgearBehind the BlackThe DitzDeus ex MachinaBowdleriseSudden Downer EndingHuman Traffic JamBad BossWith Friends Like These...and 173 more

TV Tropes lists 185 tropes for it, including Built with LEGO, Hoist by His Own Petard, and Prisoner's Last Meal.