 Based on 59 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, 88 % of the critics gave the film positive reviews, with an average rating of 7.4 / 10. The consensus reads: "The plot's a bit of a jumble, but excellent performances and mind-blowing plot twists make 12 Monkeys a kooky, effective experience." By comparison, Metacritic calculated a 74 out of 100 rating, based on 20 reviews.
