--- title: "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" year: 2009 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus" fi1m_id: "the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus" imdb_id: "tt1054606" tmdb_id: 8054 wikidata_id: "Q578344" fi1m_score: 65 critics_score: 62 critics_reviews: 22 published: "2026-10-01T21:05:01.931252+00:00" updated: "2026-10-01T21:05:02.340498+00:00" region: "KR" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) Directed by Terry Gilliam · 2h 03m · Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery ## Identity The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus - **IMDb ID:** tt1054606 - **TMDB ID:** 8054 - **Wikidata ID:** Q578344 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1054606/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/8054, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q578344 **Fi1m score: 65** · Critics 62 from 22 reviews *In a sentence:* Tom Waits makes the Devil seem like the sensible person to sit beside > Terry Gilliam’s fantasy has enough invention and warmth to make its muddle frustrating. Christopher Plummer and Tom Waits give it a human scale, but the crowded storytelling keeps getting in their way. ## Synopsis Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), Valentina (Lily Cole) and Tony (Heath Ledger) are among the characters in this fantasy adventure directed by Terry Gilliam. Andrew Garfield plays Anton, Verne Troyer plays Percy, and Tom Waits plays the Devil. Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell also feature in the cast. Terry Gilliam writes the screenplay with Charles McKeown. Combining adventure, fantasy and mystery, *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus* has a running time of 123 minutes and carries a 12A certificate. ## Review Terry Gilliam’s *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus* is worth considering if extravagant fantasy matters more than a well-shaped story. There is pleasure in its appetite for strange images, and an affection for its characters that keeps the muddle from becoming merely tiresome. But the screenplay by Terry Gilliam and Charles McKeown keeps demanding fresh attention before the previous idea has had time to matter. We can enjoy individual passages without feeling much urgency about the next one. Christopher Plummer gives Doctor Parnassus a grandeur that looks difficult to maintain, and his weariness is more affecting than the film’s busier attempts to enchant. We were moved by him: the effort beneath that grand manner makes his disappointment feel ordinary and recognisable. Tom Waits, playing the Devil, is amusing without seeming remotely reassuring, and his ease is welcome in a film that can feel strained. Their interplay gives us something simple to attend to, two actors who know how much can be done without hurrying. Heath Ledger’s Tony is engaging enough to make us wish the writing around him were less restless. Lily Cole gives Valentina a directness that helps when the film threatens to become wholly absorbed in its own cleverness. Andrew Garfield works hard to give Anton similar weight, but the character remains thinly conceived. The performances often persuade us to stay with a scene that the script itself has not made especially compelling; too much of the film’s emotional work is left to the cast. Cinematographer Nicola Pecorini gives the fantasy images a richness that rewards looking around the frame, even when the story has loosened its hold. Production designers David Warren and Anastasia Masaro supply more visual invention than the screenplay can comfortably accommodate. The density is enjoyable at first, with enough competing detail to make the eye keep searching. Yet we kept wanting longer to look, rather than another change of visual direction, and the accumulation eventually becomes tiring. Mick Audsley’s editing cannot quite make the film’s changes of direction feel necessary, though individual passages have energy. Too often, we find ourselves catching up when we ought to be becoming more involved. The music by Jeff Danna and Mychael Danna suits the extravagance, but adds to the feeling that the film rarely knows when it has given us enough. A little less insistence would help the quieter performances, which already have a fair amount to contend with. Fantasy can tolerate loose ends, but it still needs a clear reason to carry us from one scene to the next. Terry Gilliam asks for more patience than these 123 minutes consistently repay, although the affection in the performances makes the indulgence understandable. Admirers of crowded, unruly fantasy will find things to enjoy; those hoping the cast will make the story easy to follow should lower their expectations. Watch it for Christopher Plummer and Tom Waits, and be prepared to do some of the sorting out. *Fi1m score 65, published 1 October 2026.* ## What the critics say The reviews lean favourable on The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, though enthusiasm is far from uniform. Praise centres on Terry Gilliam’s elaborate fantasy worlds and visual invention, qualities that even several detractors acknowledge. Tom Waits and Christopher Plummer attract repeated praise, particularly for their interplay, while some critics also single out Andrew Garfield. Several reviews find the handling of Heath Ledger’s role resourceful and affecting despite the film’s unevenness. The main disagreement is over how much the imagery compensates for the storytelling. Admirers find the unruly fantasy compelling or moving; detractors describe a confused, sluggish film whose whimsy wears thin. The spread is wide: /Film praises the coherence of its visual world with unusual enthusiasm, while The Hollywood Reporter finds the effects incoherent. The Guardian admires Gilliam’s visual creativity but argues that the drama struggles to hold attention. Even favourable reviews often concede that the story needs firmer shaping. ## Straight answers **Is The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus worth watching?** *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus* is worth considering for admirers of extravagant fantasy, and we score it 65 out of 100. Christopher Plummer and Tom Waits give the crowded spectacle warmth and humour, but the restless storytelling becomes tiring. We recommend it to those happy to enjoy performances and strange images without a consistently compelling story. **How long is The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and what is it rated?** *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus* runs 2h 03m. It is an adventure and fantasy film. **Where can I watch The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in South Korea?** *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus* is not on any streaming or rental service in South Korea at the moment. It is available in 16 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily. **How violent or frightening is The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and is it suitable for children?** *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus* carries a UK 12A certificate, so it is not automatically suitable for younger children; under-12s need an accompanying adult at the cinema. The certificate alone does not establish how violent or frightening individual scenes are, so we would advise parental judgement rather than assume that a fantasy adventure means gentle family viewing. **How does The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus compare to Pan's Labyrinth?** *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus* offers crowded, unruly fantasy, while [*Pan's Labyrinth*](https://film.one/film/pans-labyrinth) is darker and the dangers beneath its elaborate imagery remain clearer. We recommend *Pan's Labyrinth* more strongly for its more coherent combination of fairy tale and historical setting, though not for children. *Parnassus* is worth considering for its warmer performances, provided its muddled storytelling is not a deal-breaker. **What should I watch after The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus?** After *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus*, try [*Pan's Labyrinth*](https://film.one/film/pans-labyrinth) (2006, Fi1m 87): For darker fantasy whose dangers remain painfully clear beneath the elaborate imagery. Then [*The Red Shoes*](https://film.one/film/the-red-shoes) (1948, Fi1m 92): Another consuming devotion to performance, with firmer storytelling and less forgiving consequences; and [*The City of Lost Children*](https://film.one/film/the-city-of-lost-children) (1995, Fi1m 78): For elaborate fantasy settings that make even the quieter passages feel strange. ### Reviews we read (22) - **The AV Club**, Tasha Robinson (B+): Robinson finds the film ambitious and energetic, with a tragic majesty that carries it past its flaws. She singles out Tom Waits’s performance and Gilliam’s gorgeous cinematography, while criticizing the undisciplined execution and sloppy storyline. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus-1798207665) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (80/100, inferred): Turan finds the film one of Terry Gilliam’s most original and accessible works, recommending it to viewers seeking extravagant fantasy. He especially praises the imaginative visuals and the entertaining interplay between Tom Waits and Christopher Plummer. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-25-la-et-parnassus25-2009dec25-story.html) - **Slant Magazine**, Fernando F. Croce (3/4): Croce finds the film unwieldy but deeply felt, and ultimately moving. He especially praises its near-sublime imagery and Christopher Plummer’s portrait of artistic endurance. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus/) - **Empire**, Olly Richards (70/100, inferred): Richards finds the film scrappy but ultimately compelling, with flashes of Gilliam returning to form. He especially praises Gilliam’s resourceful reworking of the story after Ledger’s death and the performances of Lily Cole and Andrew Garfield. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/imaginarium-doctor-parnassus-review/) - **Variety**, Todd McCarthy (70/100, inferred): McCarthy finds the film a pretty good recovery from its troubled production, with strong curiosity value and commercial appeal. He praises its visual effects and lively action, while criticizing overbearing pratfalls and the weakly conceived Anton. [Read](https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus-1200474709/) - **Screen Daily**, Allan Hunter (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as Allan Hunter’s review, but the paywall prevents access to his verdict. No specific praise or complaint is visible in the supplied text. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus/5001694.article) - **The New York Times**, A. O. Scott (64/100, inferred): The page is identified as a review of the film, but its text was inaccessible. I can’t verify the critic’s verdict or what the review singles out. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/25/movies/25imaginarium.html) - **Evening Standard** (3/5): The critic finds the film visually thrilling but ultimately confused and poorly shaped. They praise the performances of Ledger’s three replacements, which they say help make the film a fitting tribute to him. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/doctor-parnassus-isterry-gilliams-flying-circus-7417078.html) - **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (50/100, inferred): Lane finds the film’s phantasmagoria both enchanting and chaotic, with its imaginative freedom eventually losing steam. He praises the brazen anachronism and visual invention, while questioning whether CGI serves Gilliam’s gifts. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/12/21/free-and-uneasy) - **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (2/5): Jones finds Gilliam’s fantasy confusing and plodding. He criticizes its recycled themes and visuals from earlier Gilliam films. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-30qf3f/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus/) - **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (2/5): Calhoun gives the film two out of five stars, indicating a negative verdict. The available page text offers no specific praise or complaint, only identifying its travelling-theatre premise. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-imaginarium-of-dr-parnassus-festival-review-1) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (35/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the film imaginative but dramatically slack, and says its whimsy ultimately lets his attention wander. He praises Gilliam’s visual creativity and striking images, while criticizing the story’s chaotic lack of traction. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/15/imaginarium-dr-parnassus-review) - **IndieWire**, Eric Kohn (30/100, inferred): Kohn calls the film a disjointed misfire, though he sees Gilliam’s distinctive talents shining through. He singles out the late visual-design sequence with Colin Farrell as the film’s most inventive and wondrous passage. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-low-on-luster-gilliams-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus-winds-up-a-sideshow-246109/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Ray Bennett (30/100, inferred): Bennett says Gilliam’s film falls short of his best fantasies and is unlikely to become a lasting favorite. He praises the imagery and the performances of Christopher Plummer and Tom Waits, while finding the visual effects incoherent. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/imaginarium-doctor-parnassus-film-review-93211/) - **/Film**, Brendon Connelly (100/100, inferred): The critic calls it the best film of the year so far and predicts it will win over both Gilliam fans and newcomers. He particularly praises its richly designed visual world and the coherence of its cinematography, colors, and textures. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/505268/movie-review-the-imaginarium-of-dr-parnassus/) - **Digital Spy**, Simon Reynolds (85/100, inferred): The critic calls it a memorable, vibrant adventure and one of Gilliam’s most alive films in years. He praises the imaginative visual sequences and says the actors taking over Ledger’s role make the transition relatively seamless. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a179828/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus/) - **HeyUGuys**, Jon Lyus (85/100, inferred): The critic gives the film an enthusiastic verdict, calling its challenging journey well worth taking. They especially praise Gilliam’s vivid imagination and the cast’s performances, singling out Tom Waits as Mr. Nick. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/dvd-review-the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus/) - **Den of Geek**, John Moore (4/5): Moore finds the film an immensely enjoyable, visually dazzling feast, though its unevenness and an unconvincing central performance weaken the finale. He especially praises Andrew Garfield’s subtle, immersive performance. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus-review/) - **NME**, Owen Nicholls (80/100, inferred): The critic recommends the film despite its chaotic, sometimes incoherent story. They praise Gilliam’s surreal imagination and the cast and crew’s commitment to it. [Read](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/like-lily-coles-face-dr-panassus-shouldnt-work-but-it-does-44144) - **Eye for Film**, Jennie Kermode (75/100, inferred): Kermode finds Gilliam’s imaginative, darkly comic story successful and its adaptation of Ledger’s death affecting. She particularly praises the elaborate fantasy worlds and the film’s portrayal of the modern world as equally remarkable. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) - **Collider**, Monika Bartyzel (65/100, inferred): Bartyzel finds the film an imaginative but uneven work likely to appeal mainly to Gilliam enthusiasts. She praises its striking visual worlds, while lamenting how quickly they disappear. [Read](https://collider.com/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus-review-tiff-09/) - **Paste**, Josh Jackson (40/100, inferred): Jackson finds the film imaginative and compelling at first, but says its final act becomes confusing and disappointing. He praises Gilliam’s visual splendor and notes that Plummer and Waits steal the show. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus-review) ## Details - **Director:** Terry Gilliam - **Director:** Terry Gilliam - **Screenplay:** Terry Gilliam, Charles McKeown - **Cinematography:** Nicola Pecorini - **Editor:** Mick Audsley - **Music:** Mychael Danna, Jeff Danna - **Production design:** Anastasia Masaro, David Warren - **Costume design:** Monique Prudhomme - **Producer:** Terry Gilliam, Amy Gilliam, Samuel Hadida - **Cast:** Christopher Plummer as Doctor Parnassus; Lily Cole as Valentina; Heath Ledger as Tony; Andrew Garfield as Anton; Verne Troyer as Percy; Tom Waits as Devil; Johnny Depp as Imaginarium Tony 1; Jude Law as Imaginarium Tony 2 - **Runtime:** 2h 03m - **First release (Canada):** 1 October 2009 - **Genres:** Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery - **Budget:** $30 million - **Box office:** $64 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqe85ffv9-w ## Where to watch in South Korea Not streaming, renting or buying in South Korea at the last check. Also available in: BE, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, DK, ES, FI, FR, IT, MX, NO, PA, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Academy Awards 2010: Best Costume Design (nominated); Best Production Design (nominated) ## If you liked this - *Pan's Labyrinth* (2006), Fi1m 87: For darker fantasy whose dangers remain painfully clear beneath the elaborate imagery. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/pans-labyrinth.md) - *The Red Shoes* (1948), Fi1m 92: Another consuming devotion to performance, with firmer storytelling and less forgiving consequences. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-red-shoes.md) - *The City of Lost Children* (1995), Fi1m 78: For elaborate fantasy settings that make even the quieter passages feel strange. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-city-of-lost-children.md) - *The Fall* (2006): For extravagant imagined worlds held together by a more affecting human connection. - *Wings of Desire* (1987), Fi1m 88: A gentler supernatural film, patient enough to let its people become familiar. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/wings-of-desire.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus