Overview
A fantastical journey awaits as a troupe navigates the boundaries of reality and imagination.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- darkly whimsical
- dreamlike
- melancholic
- immersive fantasy night
- visual spectacle viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the film indulgent but praised its return to Terry Gilliam's intoxicating, darkly beautiful imaginative style and strong performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Imaginarium is commanded by Doctor Parnassus's mind and turns each visitor's desires into a personalized fantastic journey.
Parnassus repeatedly bargains with Mr. Nick, ultimately competing to seduce five souls in order to protect Valentina.
The sideshow troupe presents the Imaginarium through a mobile circus attraction and a magical mirror.
Tony's presence and changing appearance make identity, deception, and performance central to the troupe's encounters.
Films like The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and why
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
surreal fantasy worlds, baroque visual invention, and darkly whimsical bargains with supernatural forces
Mirrormask
dreamlike fantasy, eccentric theatricality, and a mysterious portal into psychologically shaped worlds
The Brothers Grimm
macabre fairy-tale atmosphere, imaginative production design, and morally charged supernatural encounters
Pan's Labyrinth
dark fantasy adventure built around seductive otherworldly realms and an unsettling bargain
Movie Details
- Director
- Terry Gilliam
- Release Date
- 2009-10-01
- Runtime
- 123 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (2962)
Cast
- Christopher Plummer
- Lily Cole
- Heath Ledger
- Andrew Garfield
- Verne Troyer
- Tom Waits
- Johnny Depp
- Jude Law
- Colin Farrell
- Fraser Aitcheson
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus about?
- A traveling fantasy troupe enters a mind-made wonderland to outwit the Devil and save a daughter from an ancient bargain.
- What is The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus as mild.
- What did critics think of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus?
- Critics generally found the film indulgent but praised its return to Terry Gilliam's intoxicating, darkly beautiful imaginative style and strong performances.
- Which films are like The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus?
- Films with a similar feel include The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Mirrormask, The Brothers Grimm, and Pan's Labyrinth.
- How long is The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus?
- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus runs 123 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus?
- In United States, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
