The Fisher King

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2:15

The Fisher King

R

1991

2h 17m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

67 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

After shock jock Jack Lucas (Jeff Bridges) inadvertently provokes a caller into murdering a group of innocent people in a Manhattan bar, he grows depressed and turns to booze. As he's about to hit rock bottom, Lucas meets a homeless man named Parry (Robin Williams), whose wife was killed by the caller Lucas pushed to the brink. Mentally scarred by his loss, Parry spends his days searching for the Holy Grail. Lucas, feeling culpable for the poor man's plight, pledges to help him in his quest.

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Critics Consensus

An odd but affecting mixture of drama, comedy and fantasy, The Fisher King manages to balance moving performances from Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges with director Terry Gilliam's typically askew universe.

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Steve Murray

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sep 23

A lot of this works, but at 138 minutes, the flick comes on like a bully ordering your inner child to come out and play.

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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

12/07/2022

It's a tenderly optimistic yet unsentimental tall tale, a Hollywood film in the best sense of the term.

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

06/15/2017

4/5

The search for the Holy Grail reaches peak insanity in this wild, redemptive ride through two men's interconnected lives.

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Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

Dec 18

5/5

A gloriously enchanting adult fairy tale with five performances worthy of nominations for the Academy Award, not to mention the film itself and director Terry Gilliam.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

07/27/2023

Not everyone in the world will be susceptible enough to fall under its surreal magic, but I've seen it three times, and each time I like it even more. [Full review in Spanish]

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

06/19/2023

3.5/4

weaves a uniquely intriguing web, balancing emotional realism with highly stylized artifice in a way that Gilliam has been largely unable to reproduce since

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Landon J

@Minxsykitty 4d

Holds a certain type of grimy magic. Holds a certain type of strong emotionality, but I'm not sure in which direction. Pretty heartwarming in ways too. I liked it but was left with the impression that I missed something. Kinda like the cross between a chicken wing and "Big Fish"

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Farah R

@Farah 6d

I didn’t like it. The story was weird and the characters were annoying despite the stellar performances. It’s also way too long. I love Robin Williams but this movie was not good.

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Ellie S.

@ellieyeti Mar 23

Trippy, unique, real mental illness awareness, amazing people interactions. Great NYC portrait. Frames are awesome visuals. Supporting actress academy award much deserved. Great chemistry of Briggs and Williams.

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Meri S.

@mschroeder Mar 8

DNF. Too weird and annoying.

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James F.

@groovygreen Oct 29

Among the Best NYC movies ever made. Gives me everything I want in a movie and an ending that tickles the soul.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 07/13/2025

Funny in 2 hours and 12 minutes. The 1992 Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress (Mercedes Ruehl).

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Terry Gilliam

Director

Robin Williams

Henry Sagan, 'Parry'

Jeff Bridges

Jack Lucas

Amanda Plummer

Lydia

Mercedes Ruehl

Anne Napolitano

Michael Jeter

Homeless cabaret singer

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Synopsis

After shock jock Jack Lucas (Jeff Bridges) inadvertently provokes a caller into murdering a group of innocent people in a Manhattan bar, he grows depressed and turns to booze. As he's about to hit rock bottom, Lucas meets a homeless man named Parry (Robin Williams), whose wife was killed by the caller Lucas pushed to the brink. Mentally scarred by his loss, Parry spends his days searching for the Holy Grail. Lucas, feeling culpable for the poor man's plight, pledges to help him in his quest.

Director: Terry Gilliam
Producer: Debra Hill, Lynda Obst
Screenwriter: Richard LaGravenese
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 17, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $39.4M
Runtime: 2h 17m
Sound Mix: Surround