---
title: "Time Bandits"
year: 2024
kind: "series"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/time-bandits-2024"
fi1m_id: "time-bandits-2024"
imdb_id: "tt1928307"
tmdb_id: 114924
wikidata_id: "Q114414740"
fi1m_score: 62
critics_score: 68
critics_reviews: 13
published: "2026-10-13T22:01:18.135958+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-13T22:02:04.918841+00:00"
region: "IL"
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."
---

# Time Bandits (2024)

Created by Taika Waititi, Iain Morris, Jemaine Clement · IFRB 12+ · Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Comedy

## Identity

Time Bandits

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/tv/time-bandits-2024
- **Type:** Series
- **Fi1m ID:** time-bandits-2024
- **IMDb ID:** tt1928307
- **TMDB ID:** 114924
- **Wikidata ID:** Q114414740
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1928307/, https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/114924, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114414740

**Fi1m score: 62** · Critics 68 from 13 reviews

*In a sentence:* Six bandits, one map, ten episodes, and only Lisa Kudrow seems to know where any of it is going

> Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s remake of Terry Gilliam’s film is gentle where the original was wild, and ten episodes is a long time to stay gentle. Lisa Kudrow’s grumbling Penelope is the reason to keep watching, and she is nearly reason enough.

## Synopsis

Bingley. Kevin Haddock (Kal-El Tuck), eleven, knows more about Stonehenge than his family cares to hear, and his sister Saffron (Kiera Thompson) has stopped listening. One night a gang of thieves falls out of his wardrobe: Penelope (Lisa Kudrow), the leader; Widgit (Roger Nsengiyumva), who reads the map; Bittelig (Rune Temte), who carries things; Alto (Tadhg Murphy), an actor; and Judy (Lo Mutuc), a self-taught psychologist. The map belongs to the Supreme Being (Taika Waititi), they have stolen it, and it shows every door between one time and another. Kevin tumbles through with them into the siege of Troy. The Supreme Being wants his map back, Pure Evil (Jemaine Clement) wants it more, and a hunter called Fianna (Rachel House) is close behind. Kevin would like to get home.

## Review

Terry Gilliam’s [*Time Bandits*](https://film.one/film/time-bandits) came out in 1981 and was grubby, frightening and rude about parents, and children loved it for exactly those reasons. The new series, created by Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris, keeps the boy, the wardrobe, the map and the gang of thieves, and files down everything with an edge. What is left is ten episodes of amiable, well-dressed wandering through history, with a lead performance better than the show around it.

Lisa Kudrow plays Penelope, who leads the bandits because, as she keeps reminding them, there was a vote. She delivers almost everything under her breath: a complaint about the quality of the loot, a reference to a former fiancé nobody asked about, a correction to a plan she proposed a minute ago. We laughed, out loud and more than once, and nearly every time it was Kudrow saying something unkind about her own gang in the tone of a woman reading a shopping list. She also gives Penelope a flicker of hurt whenever her authority is questioned, which is often, and that flicker is the only thing in the series that feels as if it cost anyone anything.

The gang is written as five jokes and played, mostly, as five people. Roger Nsengiyumva’s Widgit holds the map and reads it wrong, with the calm of a man who has never once been right. Rune Temte’s Bittelig is enormous and gentle and apologises to things he breaks. Tadhg Murphy’s Alto treats every ambush as an audition. Lo Mutuc’s Judy, the group’s psychologist, misreads everyone she meets, and Mutuc is given less to do with that than the others get with theirs. Kal-El Tuck plays Kevin as a polite, over-informed boy who would rather explain Stonehenge than escape from it, which is the right note, though the script keeps handing him the lecture.

Mike Berlucchi lights nearly all of it in bright, even daylight, so Troy and Stonehenge and the court of Mansa Musa look like the same clear afternoon, and the sets are handsome without ever being frightening. Mark Mothersbaugh’s score is bouncy and reassuring and tells us at every turn that nothing bad will happen, and nothing does. The editors, Ilya Klarich and Jonno Woodford-Robinson, leave a beat after every line for the improvised afterthought, and the afterthought is not always there.

Waititi and Clement have a house style by now: everyone underplays, someone points out that the situation is a bit silly, the villain is more irritated than evil. It served *What We Do in the Shadows* because vampires have had centuries to get bored. Here it flattens everything. Gilliam’s film ran on a child’s sense that adults were dangerous and the world was unfair, and its thieves would have sold the boy for a decent haul. Waititi’s Supreme Being is a chatty, distracted boss in a good suit. Clement’s Pure Evil is Clement doing the slow, aggrieved voice he does, surrounded by minions he cannot bear, and we enjoyed him; Jonny Brugh’s Damon, the underling who cannot finish a sentence without being corrected, is the best thing in those scenes. But nobody is ever in danger we believed, and a story about a boy chased across history by evil needs the evil to mean it.

Kiera Thompson arrives properly as Saffron, Kevin’s older sister, a few episodes in, and the series picks up when she does. She is rude, bored, unimpressed by everything the gang has to offer, and she wants her brother back more than he seems to want anything. Thompson plays her without a scrap of sentiment, and the scenes she drives have a shape the rest lack. By the fourth episode we had checked how many were left. That is not a feeling a family adventure should produce, and the reason was plain: each episode has one location, one famous person, one chase and one escape, and the map is misread at the same point every time.

The series is good-natured, it looks expensive and there is nothing in it to upset a nine-year-old. Across ten episodes it carries a 12 certificate and a great deal of walking, and it would have been a better six.

*Fi1m score 62, published 13 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics come away pleased. The reviews lean positive, with eight of thirteen recommending the series as a good-natured family adventure that keeps the spirit of the original. The praise clusters almost entirely on Lisa Kudrow, whose deadpan, grumpy Penelope is named again and again as the reason to watch; several reviews also enjoy the playful historical settings and the bumbling new gang around her.

The reservations are about pace and nerve. More than one critic finds the opening episodes slow and routine, and some say the show never recovers the anarchic energy of the film. Empire goes furthest, faulting the gang’s flat chemistry and an overcomplicated plot, while Digital Spy finds the comedy too subdued and the characters too thin. The spread is wide, from the Guardian’s near-rave to Empire’s dismissal, though the Hollywood Reporter and Paste both say it finds its feet in the later episodes.

## Straight answers

**Is Time Bandits worth watching?**

*Time Bandits* (2024) is worth watching for families who want a gentle, good-looking trip through history and for anyone who will sit through ten episodes for Lisa Kudrow, and we scored it 62. Her grumbling Penelope is the best thing in it. The series is amiable, repetitive and far too long, and we had checked how many episodes were left by the fourth.

**How long is Time Bandits, and what is it rated?**

*Time Bandits* is rated 12+ by the IFRB in Israel. It is a sci-fi & fantasy and action & adventure series.

**Where can I watch Time Bandits in Israel?**

*Time Bandits* is streaming on Apple TV in Israel. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Time Bandits, and is it suitable for children?**

*Time Bandits* (2024) carries a UK 12 certificate but is gentle throughout, with nothing in it to upset a nine-year-old. The villains are more irritated than evil, the chases are bloodless and nobody is ever in danger we believed. Children raised on Gilliam's frightening original may find it tame; the squeamish will find nothing to flinch at.

**How does Time Bandits compare to Time Bandits?**

*Time Bandits* (2024) is softer, longer and far less frightening than Terry Gilliam's 1981 film, and the film is the better of the two. Gilliam's version is dirty, nasty and rude about parents, and its thieves would have sold the boy for a decent haul; the series files down every edge. Choose the film for children who like a scare, the series for those who do not.

### Reviews we read (13)

- **The Guardian**, Lucy Mangan (90/100, inferred): Mangan finds the series a confident, hilarious, family-friendly romp that preserves the original’s spirit. She especially praises Lisa Kudrow’s muttered asides and the many playful historical details. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/jul/24/time-bandits-review-the-gloriously-fun-return-of-a-fantasy-classic)
- **The AV Club**, Meredith Hobbs Coons (B+): The critic finds the premiere funnier than the original film and praises its sharp cast and improved handling of the story. She singles out Lisa Kudrow’s deadpan Penelope and the episode’s playful historical comedy as highlights. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/time-bandits-premiere-recap-season-1-episode-1)
- **Evening Standard**, Martin Robinson (4/5): The critic finds the series a highly enjoyable, hilarious reboot that works for both children and adults. Lisa Kudrow’s comic performance as Penelope is singled out as especially funny. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/time-bandits-review-apple-tv-lisa-kudrow-taika-waititi-b1172397.html)
- **The i Paper**, Ed Power (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the remake an endearing, worthwhile caper that welcomes fans and newcomers alike. They single out its zinging script and Lisa Kudrow’s delightful performance as Penelope. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/time-bandits-review-3182942?ico=most_popular)
- **Variety**, Alison Herman (75/100, inferred): Herman finds the series a worthy, giddy tribute to the original, though light on big emotions. She singles out Lisa Kudrow’s comic performance as its greatest strength. [Read](https://variety.com/2024/tv/tv-reviews/time-bandits-review-lisa-kudrow-taika-waititi-jemaine-clement-1236082274/)
- **Radio Times**, Tilly Pearce (70/100, inferred): The headline and description present the series as a heartwarming family adventure. They single out Lisa Kudrow’s performance for praise. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/time-bandits-lisa-kudrow-apple-review/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Daniel Fienberg (65/100, inferred): The critic finds the series slow and derivative at first, but says it becomes funny, clever and enjoyable in its second half. He especially praises Saffron’s character and Kiera Thompson’s performance for giving the show fresh energy and a stronger story. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/time-bandits-review-taika-waititi-terry-gilliam-apple-1235956064/)
- **IndieWire**, Ben Travers (C+): Travers finds the series pleasant but routine, saying it lacks the boldness and imagination to fully engage either children or adults. He praises Lisa Kudrow’s performance and notes that Jemaine Clement’s later-season scripts show promise. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/time-bandits-review-lisa-kudrow-1235028938/)
- **Empire**, Dan Jolin (25/100, inferred): Jolin finds the adaptation disappointing, saying it fails to capture the original’s anarchic energy. He praises its broader historical settings but faults the gang’s low-energy chemistry and the show’s overcomplicated storytelling. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/time-bandits/)
- **Paste**, Rory Doherty (7.9/10): Doherty calls the series a very good, winning adventure-comedy that finds its stride after a bumpy opening. He especially praises Lisa Kudrow’s comic timing and her ability to carry the emotional stakes. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/apple-tv-plus/time-bandits-review)
- **Consequence**, Jonah Krueger (75/100, inferred): Krueger finds the adaptation a hilarious, lovable romp that successfully reshapes the story for contemporary television. He especially praises the bumbling, good-hearted new band of characters. [Read](https://consequence.net/2024/07/time-bandits-review-apple-tv-plus/)
- **Collider**, Tania Hussain (6/10): Hussain finds the series enjoyable but uneven, falling short of the original’s charm because of pacing, humor, and underdeveloped supporting characters. She praises Lisa Kudrow and Kal-El Tuck’s heartfelt dynamic, along with the show’s visually impressive historical adventures. [Read](https://collider.com/time-bandits-2024-review/)
- **Digital Spy**, Janet A Leigh (40/100, inferred): The review finds the series watchable but not yet compelling, with shallow characters and subdued comedy holding it back. It praises Lisa Kudrow’s more grounded, grumpy take on Penelope, while saying the show could improve by embracing bigger comic moments. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a61674458/time-bandits-review/)

## Details

- **Created by:** Taika Waititi, Iain Morris, Jemaine Clement
- **Creator:** Taika Waititi, Iain Morris, Jemaine Clement
- **Director:** Jeff Tomsic, Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Tim van Dammen, Iain Morris, Armağan Ballantyne, Yana Gorskaya, Jackie van Beek
- **Writer:** Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris, Taika Waititi, Melanie Bracewell, Tyrel Williams, Akilah Green, Sam Bain
- **Cinematography:** Mike Berlucchi
- **Editor:** Jonno Woodford-Robinson, Ilya Klarich
- **Music:** Mark Mothersbaugh
- **Production design:** Ra Vincent
- **Costume design:** Bob Buck
- **Producer:** Akilah Green
- **Cast:** Lisa Kudrow as Penelope; Kal-El Tuck as Kevin Haddock; Tadhg Murphy as Alto; Roger Nsengiyumva as Widgit; Rune Temte as Bittelig; Lo Mutuc as Judy; Rachel House as Fianna; Kiera Thompson as Saffron Haddock
- **Certificate (IFRB):** 12+
- **Release (Israel):** 23 July 2024
- **Genres:** Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Comedy
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCA9jpc4R74

## Where to watch in Israel

- Apple TV: streaming, uhd

*Checked 2026-10-13.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, SE, SG, TH, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Time Bandits* (1981), Fi1m 80: Gilliam’s original: dirtier, nastier, and the one the children will remember. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/time-bandits.md)
- *Horrible Histories* (2009): British history as sketch comedy, with more jokes per minute than this manages per episode.
- *Les Visiteurs* (1993): A medieval knight and his squire land in modern France; chaos, properly earned.
- *Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure* (1989): Two idiots collect historical figures in a phone box and nobody underplays anything.
- *What We Do in the Shadows* (2014): Waititi and Clement’s deadpan style on the material it was built for.

---
© 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/tv/time-bandits-2024