Remake Of Brad Pitt’s Sci-Fi Movie Is One Of The Best Time Travel Shows

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A little-known science fiction film starring Brad Pitt – which actually earned him an Oscar nomination – recently got a television sequel. While the show didn’t become a huge hit with general audiences, it’s widely considered one of the greatest time travel series ever made. Over its four seasons, it earned an 88% approval rating from critics and delivered a satisfying, complete storyline.

Shows like Dark and Travelers on Netflix have offered some of the most interesting and intelligent takes on time travel. Fans of the genre might also know 12 Monkeys from Syfy, which was inspired by Terry Gilliam’s 1995 film of the same name. What sets the show apart from many movie-to-TV adaptations is that it doesn’t feel like it’s simply stretching the original film’s story; it stands on its own.

Despite not being widely known, this show stands out as a truly memorable and rewarding time travel experience. Over its four seasons, it skillfully builds upon the ideas from the original movie, using its length to explore those concepts in depth. It’s particularly impressive in how it handles complex themes like time loops and the meaning of existence.

12 Monkeys Is One Of The Best Sci-Fi TV-To-Movie Remakes

Terry Gilliam’s 1995 film has become a beloved cult classic, so the show faced enormous pressure to live up to it. When plans for the show were announced as a continuation of the movie, many people were understandably skeptical, fearing it would needlessly capitalize on a well-loved original.

Unlike many reboots, 12 Monkeys justified its existence by both respecting the original movie and expanding upon it into a complex, four-season story.

The movie presents a story where fate seems unavoidable, and the 12 Monkeys series builds on this idea, eventually becoming a struggle between free will and destiny. What makes the series stand out is its clever plotting – details established early on come together in a satisfying way during the fourth and final season.

The show cleverly avoids the usual problems with time travel when characters encounter their younger and older selves. The acting, particularly from Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt, is outstanding – many consider Pitt’s performance to be the best of his career. It’s a significant improvement over their work in the original film.

The actors are just as impressive, bringing a fresh and exciting take to well-known characters. Emily Hampshire especially shines as Jennifer Goines, delivering a funny and heartfelt performance that truly anchors the show.

While 12 Monkeys occasionally has pacing issues throughout its four seasons, its overall quality is remarkably strong. It’s become one of the most well-developed and rewarding time travel series ever made.

The 12 Monkeys Movie Was Also A Remake Of A Non-English Featurette

Though Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys feels incredibly unique, it was inspired by a 1962 French short film called La Jetée. This earlier film, lasting less than 30 minutes, told its story using a series of still images. Unlike 12 Monkeys, it wasn’t about a pandemic; instead, it focused on the lives of people surviving after a nuclear war, living beneath the ground.

The book this movie is based on is much more cold and pessimistic than Terry Gilliam’s famously wild and energetic adaptation.

The story of 12 Monkeys has changed with each new adaptation, yet always remains connected to its original source. It’s almost like a game of Telephone, where the story gets slightly altered with each retelling. The initial idea came from the 1962 film La Jetée, but the movie and subsequent TV series added more and more complexity to the core concept.

If you’re a science fiction fan, especially if you like stories with complicated time travel, you should watch the 12 Monkeys movies and TV show in the order they happen in the timeline. While the show takes longer to watch than the original Brad Pitt movie and the short film that inspired it, it’s a rewarding experience that you won’t be disappointed by.

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2026-04-30 22:58