12:01
Tags: comedy, murder, romantic, prank

Plot synopsis:
Barry Thomas is bored with his job and moons over high-profile scientist Lisa Fredericks, who is working on an particle accelerator that accelerates faster than the speed of light that is about to be shut down over the risks regarding it.
On the way home, Barry sees Lisa fatally shot and takes it very hard. While at home at midnight, he receives a strong electrical shock. The next morning the events of the previous day are repeating themselves and Barry is the only one who realizes that the world is stuck in a time loop. During several repetitions, Barry figures out how to save Lisa and get closer to her. His actions also get him fired and arrested for knowing too much about events. Barry and Lisa eventually learn that her boss, Dr. Thadius Moxley, has been conducting illegal and unethical experiments with the faster-than-light particle accelerator in the hopes of harvesting its extreme cheap energy with the intention of earning a lot of money with it. These experiments caused the time loop. In fact, it was Lisa's partial knowledge of Dr. Moxley’s illegal activities that resulted in her murder by his henchmen. After getting involved with an undercover government agent, they must stop her boss from starting his experiment at the end of a loop or the world will be trapped forever repeating the same day.
Expanding on the original's premise of a one-hour time loop, this version saw the main character reliving the same 24-hour period, which would restart at one minute past midnight (rather than midday as in the other versions). It also contains a pseudo-happy ending, as the protagonist ultimately finds a way to correct the time loop over the course of the film’s 92-minute running time.

Review: In the same vein as Groundhog Day but with a much more interesting plot, 12:01 is the story of someone caught in a time bounce who must live the same day over and over and each day see the woman he secretly adores killed before his eyes.
Helen Slater is also wonderful as the love interest killed each day.The movie moves quickly through the days and provides all sorts of interesting little moments as Barry Thomas tries to stop the bounce while saving his girl.A beautiful story acted out by excellent acting and directing.
"12:01" may have been a low-budget TVM and may have its flaws but the concept of the day after day scenario is just as good.The sad thing is that I actually logged on tonight to order both "12:01" and Groundhog Day but I can't find a UK supplier of "12:01" and it would be such a shame if it were never seen again..
The really bad news is it keeps coming back.Barry starts out as a likable, well-intentioned goofball marking time in a dead-end job.
A lot of people can empathize when he writes on his calendar: "Get new job or die!" Jonathan Silverman does a good job as Barry, making him sympathetic (maybe a little pathetic, as well) and vulnerable, but his unique circumstances eventually bring out a steely determination born of sheer frustration.Unlike "Groundhog Day," there's a lucid explanation for why this is happening to Barry and the film revolves around how he tries to "get off the hamster wheel," as he puts it.
Too bad it's easier said than done.Helen Slater basically reprises the role she played six years earlier in "The Secret of My Success." Attractive, driven, young prodigy, brilliant beyond her years, emotionally cold in the beginning, worshiped from afar by a kind, wisecracking young man who eventually wins her heart and turns her into a giggling schoolgirl.The plotting is intricate and it's fun to watch how each cycle changes even without Barry's direct intervention.
Unlike most TV-movies available on tape or laserdisc, it's nearly impossible to remember where the commercial breaks were.Still, if there were one flaw, it would be that Barry should have waited through one more cycle before breaking out.
Getting out when he did left one of the good guys irrevocably dead.It's interesting to see how many of this cast went on to NBC comedies.
Silverman went on to star in two seasons of "The Single Guy." Paxton Whitehead and Robin Bartlett had recurring roles in "Mad About You." And Helen Slater had a guest role as a pyromaniac on "Caroline In the City," finally playing a role other than harmless ingenue.One possible in-joke.
Unforgettable Unknown Little Gem. The HR clerk Barry Thomas (Jonathan Silverman) works in the office of a power plant with his best friend Howard Richter (Jeremy Piven) and has a crush on the scientist Lisa Fredericks (Helen Slater).
On the lunch time, he has a contact with Lisa at the restaurant and by the end of the day, Barry and Howard witness Lisa being assassinated by hitmen in a van.
On the next morning, he wakes-up late and when he see Lisa, he realizes that the day is repeating.
Released in the same year of the blockbuster "Groundhog Day", the cute "12:01" is more engaging with nice characters and situations.
The only copy I had was on the VHS that I had recorded off the air (with commercials (:(( on FOX-TV in 1993 and watched over and over and over, not unlike Barry's day repeating.
In the lead role, Jonathan Silverman excels as the discouraged office worker who witnesses his only real love being murdered in broad daylight, then being given the chance to undo it, while being thwarted at every turn.As a fan of all time-warp stories, I count this as my favorite.
...out of all the good reviews from people that liked this film, a crummy review was displaying on the main page.This movie stuck with me, and every time I watch it I enjoy it all the more.
As with Groundhog Day, I enjoy watching this movie over and over.
But they are two different movies, altogether.I must say (without spoiling) that the scene in the office where Jonathan Silverman tells Slater how he feels about her is one of the most touching, romantic, well-played scenes I have ever seen.I thought the underplayed comedy was great and perfect for Silverman's abilities, and as for Slater and her performance, all I can say is: YUMMY!.
Don't let the premise fool you into thinking this is a rehash of Bill Murray's movie - this is a GREAT little story unto itself.
It's closer to Office Space & Back to the Future than to Groundhog Day.With a well-constructed plot & engaging characters, you can ignore the obvious writing & cinematography constraints of working on a TV budget.
On the day that he FINALLY works up enough nerve to talk to the office cutie that he's had a crush on for longer than his mother can stand, she gets killed.
Excellent film - better than groundhog day and other similar time loop stories.
Whereas films like The Butterfly Effect and Groundhog Day are very watchable, it seems much easier to identify with the more realistic characters in 1201.
Barry Thomas isn't having a good day!.
For a slow-paced, and mild-mannered man named Barry Thomas, Tuesday morning was just another day with the same old people, being unpleasant and disgusting.
The day has started over...and a time bounce has interfered the world.This film was such a wonderful effort from FOX back in 1993, and I only pity the network for producing less-than worthy decisions more so today.
Jeremy Piven is a frolicked fun co-star who puts his comedic timing to good use as the side-kick friend with a desk full of pranks.
I compare it to that film because a similar storyline with each day repeating itself.
The main difference in this story is that it's a crime story in addition to the romance, and it doesn't have the likable lead characters the much more famous Groundhog Day had.
The movie also could have used a little better humor.Despite all these negatives there is something appealing about the film.
The dead end clerical life of lovable loser Barry Thomas (Jonathan Silverman) literally goes for a loop when an atomic mishap at work traps him in a time bubble.
Like other TV movies of its time, this one hedges its bets with the kitchen sink approach of hinging the resolution to both misfortunes on an industrial espionage mystery.
Helen Slater as the love interest is appealing if slightly bland and confused, and much too trusting of "I'm a time traveller, baby" advances.
Watch Groundhog Day over instead..
The best time loop movie till now..
This is my my second movie I saw where the day keeps repeating.
In that one, it was worse; in that movie the same HOUR kept repeating as opposed to the same DAY repeating, not to mention that that flick was NON-comedy.
On a side note, I saw Groundhog Day after this movie.
Groundhog Day is different enough from this movie so you can watch both and not feel like you're having the day repeat.
Barry (Jonathan Silverman) gets caught in a time bounce through an experiment that goes wrong at the company he works for.
He becomes the only one that has the power to change the fate of others around him.Along the same lines as Groundhog Day. This movie was actually released before Groundhog Day from what I read.
Jonathan Silverman and Helen Slater are great together.
This movie is hard to get a hold off, I found a VHS copy at a video store for sale and snapped it up as its not for sale on DVD yet.If you like sci-fi and time travel type movies, this is for you.Happy Watching..
This movie takes old storylines and puts a different twist on it.A man working at a laboratory haplessly falls in love (from a distance) with one of the female scientists working on a top secret government project.
Sounds just like a typical love story right:  wrong, this is where the twist happens.This top secret government project basically involves a machine that enables one to travel through time.
Being given multiple chances since the day never advances, he learns the reasons behind all that has happened.A good movie using the age old plot of time travel and the problems that can happen when a time rift occurs..
Many years ago I watched this film and it is absolutely true - to this day I have never forgotten it.
I forgot the title for a while and asked my brother one day a few years ago if he remembered the film- he did and I have always tried to find it!
I work at a video store and I decided to check out this movie cause it was late and I was bored one night and I am glad I did..
an interesting plot and it's a short movie so it doesn't ever get boring..Johnathan Silverman was good in this movie..
It is like a Back to the Future meets Groundhog Day and better than both movies...
Basically an average worker who leads an average life(John Silverman) gets drunk one night cause a girl he is in love with is killed, he comes home and at 12:01 am he gets zapped and when he wakes up he notices that the day is repeating over and over again and he is the only one that realizes it.
Everyone else goes about as if it never happens, and they are caught in a time loop which only Barry knows about, what happens next??
Not a bad movie for simple late-nite entertainment...but don't expect any depth from this one.12:01 and Groundhog Day both posit a hapless fellow caught in an enternally recurring day.
Whereas 12:01 tries to explain the "time bounce" in terms of some pseudo-physical mumbo-jumbo (utterly laughable to anyone who knows anything about the subject), Groundhog Day dispenses with all such explanations, and basically focuses on the effects of the anomaly on the main character.The quasi-physics lecture is so much nonsense.
Groundhog Day is the most optimistic of movies--it tells us that humans are malleable, perfectible, if they're only given enough time, if they're just made to face their own faults, recognize that they depend on others.
THIS is the REAL movie about the "groundhog day".
Better than "Groundhog Day" in all times.
Like "Groundhog Day", but much better, because the actors do not know what's going on.
Try to imagine a combination of Back to the Future and Groundhog Day, and you've got 12:01This was a decent scifi flick, and I found it highly enjoyable.
Jonathan Silverman and Helen Slater were both well cast, and if you rent this, you will not be disappointed.*** out of ****.
Only vaguely like Groundhog Day..
Don't watch this movie and expect ANYTHING like Ground Hog Day. 12:01 is an action movie, a mystery, and a romance.
There is a very DIFFERENT message in 12:01 than in Groundhog Day. It is a movie about love, pain, loss and misplaced trust.
This is what Groundhog Day should have been: a good movie.
Just as sadly, Bill Murray will outsell Martin Landau.While there are some minor faults, overall this is a good, solid, entertaining movie with a brain..
Jonathan Silverman (best known for "Week-end at Bernie's") is always appealing and quirky, and this film is essentially a romantic comedy masquerading under a sci-fi plot device.Forget about the plot device.
Despite the sci-fi clichés, Silverman makes the romantic angle genuinely touching to watch, notwithstanding the fact that the heroine, played by Helen Slater, remains something of a cipher.In sum, if you're looking for a breezy sci-fi comedy that you can watch with a girl, this is good bet.
I saw this movie before "Groundhog Day" and felt it had something worth fighting for, unlike the bigger budget movie.
Groundhog Day was much more than a mere comedy, tackling interesting questions such as what a person could do if they had all the time in the world, and showing how something that could be completely overlooked may be rich with possibilities.
12:01 does not reach beyond what it is, a third-rate made for TV movie with a time loop as a gimmik.
It was a chore to watch through, and I couldn't wait for it to be over.Finally, even setting aside the plot and point of the film, it is just not funny.
And they are performed by uninspired actors that don't have a hair of talent between them.Do yourself a favor and just watch Groundhog Day again..
Having watched both Groundhog Day and 12:01, I feel that this film had made a valid reason for the time bounce.
Whereas with the more popular Groundhog day no reason was given.
Similar to but better than Groundhog Day because:* cheaper (!) * this came out first * less schmaltz (and the love angle seems more believable) * some attempt is made to explain the time loop * Barry's behaviour seems more believable somehowPlease try and see this film if you haven't already..
Barry Thomas is having one very bad day!.
I saw this movie at least 20 times and still I love it.
Much better than Groundhog's Day, which tho funny bordered on the obnoxious at times, probably because of Bill Murray.
It is Groundhog Day with different faces and plot.
It is Groundhog Day with different faces and plot.
The same "time repeats itself" concept applies here and the only difference is this is a love story where the lady is shot and the lead must relive this everyday or do something about it.
The same "time repeats itself" concept applies here and the only difference is this is a love story where the lady is shot and the lead must relive this everyday or do something about it.
There are many reviews telling you everything that is good (or bad) about this movie.
Although I like very much Groundhog Day movie, they are 2 completely different movies.
The sense of deja-vu one gets from watching it however is not necessarily from the same day repeating plot device but from the invariable comparisons to Groundhog Day.In my always humble opinion Groundhog Day was one of the best films of the nineties.
12:01 doesn't quite successfully hit upon that theme and so for much of the film it simply goes through the motions.12:01 stars Helen Slater and Jonathan Silverman.
Same Old, Same Old. An interesting concept copied (and much better done) by "Groundhog Day."  It revolves around one man, Jonathan Silverman, who is caught in a time bounce and must continue to relive the same day over and over.
I've just watched it and it wasn't at all bad for a TV movie.
So please can people stop writing the synopsis of the movie over and over, that is already done, we don't need to read it re-worded umpteen different times over and over.This film is good, a little dated, but solid plot and reasonable acting (for the most part) make up for it.
12:01 is breezy and easy to take, if a little too much like GROUNDHOG DAY..
Before Groundhog's Day....
I remember seeing this on TV when it first came out, and it was before I'd heard of Groundhog's Day.
To this day, I remember it as one of the best TV movies I've ever seen, if not THE best.
Jonathan Silverman did a pretty good job as a leading man in this role.
Fun "Time Loop" Film.
I love time travel/ time loop stories, so it stands to reason that I would probably enjoy this film based solely on its plot.
Jonathan Silverman is wonderfully believable in the lead role and Helen Slater has always impressed me with her ability to immerse herself in different types of characters.
Usually in one of these repeat-the-day movies, the main character grows by the end of the film.
Even by the end of the film, the only two things the main character was interested in were getting the girl and ending the time loop.
If the writers just would've reset the day one last time, they could've fixed the things that went wrong (including one actual DEATH) on the last run-through instead of selfishly pushing through.
I watched it on a German channel a few yrs ago and could not remember the name exactly...i have always searched for "12 o'clock" or "00:00".I was wondering if some one can tell me if this is the film that i think it is...I only remember the business man looking at the woman as she is buying red roses and then she gets shot by someone in a moving car???
I hope this is the film because i thought it was quite good and i would like to watch it again!!PLEASEHELP THANKS!!.
The one and only coincidence lies in the idea, that the main character is caught in a time-loop and has to live through one special day over and over again, while everyone else around doesn't.
Our hero Barry Thomas (great: Jonathan Silverman) we learn, is a minor employee at a High Tech Laboratory and he's having a really bad, bad day.
His misfortunes are fun to watch first, but turn to tragic at the days end, when Lisa Fredericks (Helen Slater), a female scientist, he fell for, is murdered by Unknowns – for no apparent reason, it seems.
Apart from fine performances by Helen Slater and Martin Landau, there are a number of comedy side-characters such as those played by Robin Bartlett and Jeremy Piven, that add so much to films appeal.
One more time-loop could have built up even more suspense and in doing so, the script-writer might have saved the life of one of the films more lovable characters.