The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

2009

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Critics Consensus

Terry Gilliam remains as indulgent as ever, but The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus represents a return to the intoxicatingly imaginative, darkly beautiful power of his earlier work, with fine performances to match all the visual spectacle.

64%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 197

60%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 295,732
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Movie Info

"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" is a fantastical morality tale, set in the present-day. It tells the story of Dr. Parnassus and his 'Imaginarium', a traveling show where members of the audience get opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. Blessed with the extraordinary gift of guiding the imaginations of others, Doctor Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret. An inveterate gambler, thousands of years ago he made a bet with the devil, Mr. Nick, in which he won immortality. Centuries later, on meeting his one true love, Dr. Parnassus made another deal with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his daughter reached her 16th birthday, she would become the property of Mr Nick.

Cast

Heath Ledger
as Tony
Christopher Plummer
as Doctor Parnassus
Verne Troyer
as Percy
Johnny Depp
as Imaginarium Tony #1
Jude Law
as Imaginarium Tony #2
Colin Farrell
as Imaginarium Tony #3
Tom Waits
as Mr. Nick
Andrew Garfield
as Anton
Lily Cole
as Valentina
Richard Riddell
as Martin
Katie Lyons
as Martin's Girlfriend
Richard Shanks
as Friend of Martin
Bruce Crawford
as Face-Changed Martin
Johnny Harris
as Policeman
Lorraine Cheshire
as Mum
Mark Benton
as Dad
Lewis Gott
as Diego
Sian Scott
as Linda
Simon Day
as Uncle Bob
Moya Brady
as Aunty Flo
Charles McKeown
as Fairgrounds Inspector
Mackenzie Gray
as First Monk
Yurij Kis
as Second Monk
Ian Wallace
as Third Monk
Amanda Walker
as Shopper
Joann Condon
as Shopper
Carolyn Pickles
as Shopper
Paloma Faith
as Sally
Montserrat Lombard
as Sally's Friend
Craig Fraser
as Debonair Gent
Amy Marston
as Classy Shopper #1
Gwendoline Christie
as Classy Shopper #2
Lucy Russell
as Classy Shopper #3
Maggie Steed
as LV Woman
Ben Cartwright
as Policeman #1
Gavin Rolph
as Policeman #2
Bobbi Bysouth
as LV Woman's reflection
Vitaliy Kravchenko
as Piotr
Ray Cooper
as Vladimir
Emil Hostina
as Serge
Igor Ingelsman
as Gregor
Sarah Groundwater
as Sales Girl
Dean Moen
as Smiling Policeman
Fraser Aitcheson
as Dancing Policeman
Michael Bean
as Dancing Policeman
Jase-Anthony Griffith
as Dancing Policeman
Scott A. McGillivray
as Dancing Policeman
Scott McGillivray
as Dancing Policeman
John Stewart
as Dancing Policeman
Chris Cochrane
as Dancing Policeman
Pearce Visser
as Dancing Policeman
Patrick Bahrich
as Dancing Policeman
Georgina Hegedos
as Baboushka
Cassandra Sawtell
as Olga
Carrie Genzel
as Female Journalist
Mark Oliver
as Male Journalist
Peter Stormare
as The President
Donna Lysell
as President's wife
Michael Eklund
as Tony's Assistant
Rahul Singh
as Security Guard
Ryan Grantham
as Little Anton
D. Harlan Cutshall
as Charity Guest 1
Deni Delory
as Charity Guest 2
Lisa Bunting
as Charity Guest 3
Peter New
as Paramedic 1
Michael Jonsson
as Paramedic 2
Emma Karwandy
as Valentina's Daughter
Quinn Lord
as Young Boy
Morris Bart & Kimberly C. Anderson
as Young Boy's Father
Erika Conway
as Young Boy's Mother
Wendy Carson
as Nun #1
Christine McMahon
as Nun #2
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News & Interviews for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Critics Consensus: Sherlock Holmes Is Worth Investigating
Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
See Doctor Parnassus and chat to Terry Gilliam
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Critic Reviews for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

All Critics (197) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (126) | Rotten (71)

  • But it is difficult to be awed by Gilliam's imagination when it is so consistently unyoked to story and seems more about the director's own creative satisfaction than bequeathing his audience some reward for their time.

    January 23, 2020 | Full Review…

    Felicia Feaster

    Charleston City Paper
    Top Critic

  • A cinematic stage that can only be described as a pantheon of visual delights, let your imagination run wild and enter The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

    November 8, 2019 | Full Review…

    Debbie Lynn Elias

    Behind The Lens
    Top Critic

  • The contrast between the stark, bleak cities and the amazingly colorful, crazy acid-trip fantasy sequences was a visual treat. It definitely LOOKS fantastic. The problem is in the substance.

    March 9, 2019 | Full Review…

    Amie Simon

    Three Imaginary Girls
    Top Critic

  • Yet while I wish I could say that Parnassus' Imaginarium would be the twist where Gilliam's whimsy goes mainstream, this film will most likely remain a visual wonderland for Gilliam enthusiasts.

    April 10, 2018 | Full Review…

    Monika Bartyzel

    Collider
    Top Critic

  • Terry Gilliam... dives back into his diabolical imagination for this carny sideshow of a Faust tale in the blurry boundary between the material world and the dream world.

    March 2, 2018 | Full Review…

    Sean Axmaker

    Stream on Demand
    Top Critic

  • The film is flawed, but you don't expect narrative drive or coherence; you go for the director's flights of fantasy. Possessed of an imagination that throws off more sparks than a fizzing, spinning Catherine Wheel, Gilliam is a fabulous fabulist.

    August 2, 2012 | Full Review…

    Jason Best

    Movie Talk
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (197)

Audience Reviews for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

  • Oct 24, 2017
    Terry Gilliam returns to the world building he has been relishing in since the 80s, you could feel a sense of genuine love from the filmmaker. My central issue is the story is a little messy and it undoes the conclusion of the film, a little more explanation couldn't have hurt the film. I have a feeling the film had to sustain a huge overhaul that was due to the death of Heath Ledger, it would have been nice to experience the true film and also another visit to the joker role. The film has a true visionary at the helm and I think further viewings will increase my opinion, like most of his films. I like true original stories and having this unique little film in the world isn't the worst thing. 23-10-2017.
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
  • Aug 19, 2016
    Weird, but nevertheless imaginative and fascinating
    Serge E Super Reviewer
  • Aug 02, 2014
    evocative of baron munchausen. all good if you like that sort of thing.
    Sanity Assassin ! Super Reviewer
  • Aug 30, 2013
    It took me time to watch this movie, for the first two times I almost found it boring already after 30 minutes, but it was worth to give a try for the 3rd time. Great Perfomance by Heath Ledger.
    NaWie M Super Reviewer
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