The film is set in a dystopian future where most of humanity has been wiped out by a deadly virus released in 1996. The survivors live underground, and the Earth’s surface is now uninhabitable. In this bleak world, James Cole (Bruce Willis) is a prisoner who is offered a chance at redemption if he agrees to travel back in time to gather information about the virus and its origins.
Sent back to 1996, Cole’s mission is to locate the source of the virus and help scientists develop a cure. However, due to a mishap during the time travel process, Cole is sent to 1990 instead. Confused and disoriented, Cole is institutionalized in a mental hospital, where he meets psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe).
While in the hospital, Cole encounters Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt), a charismatic and eccentric patient who leads an environmental activist group called the Army of the Twelve Monkeys. Cole becomes convinced that the Army of the Twelve Monkeys is connected to the release of the virus, and he tries to gather information from Goines and Railly to prevent the outbreak.
As Cole struggles to unravel the mystery of the virus and his own past, he grapples with questions of fate, reality, and sanity. He experiences vivid and disturbing visions of both the past and the future, blurring the lines between what is real and what is imagined.
As the film unfolds, Cole’s quest takes him on a journey through time and across different realities, leading to a shocking and unexpected conclusion that challenges the audience’s perceptions of truth and causality.
“Twelve Monkeys” is celebrated for its intricate plot, thought-provoking themes, and compelling performances, particularly from Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt. The film’s nonlinear narrative and mind-bending twists have made it a cult classic in the science fiction genre, earning critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.