Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peņa, Danny Aiello

A Vietnam veteran suffers from the belated impact of government sanctioned LSD experiments.

Flixster Users

85% liked it

38,332 ratings

Critics

72% liked it

46 critics

R, 116 min.

Directed by: Adrian Lyne

Release Date: November 2, 1990

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DVD Release Date: August 21, 2001

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Stats: 2,648 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,648)


  • September 18, 2009
    Creepy psychological horror with a great cast and great acting.
  • April 16, 2009
    Jacob's Ladder is a film that has been harmed by countless retreads over the years. Each of them has often failed to live up to this wonderful psychedelic thriller. It concentrates on a man haunted by his experiences in Vietnam. As he tries to live his life he is plagued by sinis...( read more)ter visions. The build up of these visions is fantastic. From the early glimpse of a tail, to the fully blown descent into hell. Robbins carries the film with fragile strength, ready to break at any moment. Pena, as his girlfriend, is unfortunately not as easy to relate to. She fails to understand what Robbins is going through and this leaves her shallow and despised by the viewer. As the mystery unravels it becomes obvious as to the truth behind the mystery, but this does not affect the viewing pleasure. In a way it enhances it. The hellish visions are the most impressive aspect. Each one is creepy and unsettling but is grounded in the real world. Making their appearance even more excruciating.It's a film about acceptance and letting go, but also about conquering our own demons, both literal and metaphorical.
  • March 31, 2009
    didn't finish
  • February 15, 2009
    Ambitious horror/fantasy. Could've used a different director.
  • February 3, 2009
    A Vietnam War veteran (Tim Robbins) starts seeing demonic faces and hallucinating, while at the same time some of his old army buddies are turning up dead. He becomes paranoid that the Washington brass are hiding a secret revolving around the day he was wounded as his squad was ...( read more)slaughtered in the field. Psychological drama is worthwhile due to some intense hallucination sequences, but the film would have benefitted from more misdirection in the early reels to make the big revelation fell like a climax instead of an anticlimax.
  • November 9, 2009
    You have to see this twice to really understand it. Upon leaving the theater, you feel disoriented from seeing it.
  • October 21, 2009
    It definitely has its good moments, but needlessly confusing, and the ending completely negates the whole film. The performances are good, especially Elizabeth Pena, but the film has too much pretentiousness to it.
  • October 18, 2009
    i really want to see this movie because it was inspired the silent hill developers to make it this style
  • October 12, 2009
    I have just seen it.
    OMG.
    O M G !!!!
  • September 30, 2009
    Another Vietnam story related to veterans.

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This movie was not a pleasant experience, but it was exhilarating in the sense that I was able to observe filmmakers working at the edge of their abilities and inspirations. full review

View more Jacob's Ladder reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • Hellshocked
    September 27, 2007
    That is as big a spoiler as you could make. It doesn't just ruin the ending, but the entire film for anyone who hasn't seen it. Good going, mate.
  • acidwolf
    September 16, 2007
    Way to ruin the movie for everyone, jerks.
  • nicdoe
    March 14, 2007
    this is my favorite movie of all times, hands down. the message in the movie is so intense. its not about the drugs they were given, or the war, its about ones personal journey through death. the ending is beautiful, if you get it.

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Jacob's Ladder Trivia


  • What is the name of the little boy who leads Tim Robbins up the steps in the movie "Jacobs Ladder"?  Answer »
  • Tim Robbins plays Jacob Singer, a Veitnam vet who suffers from a past that haunts him an threatens to unravel his entire world in what movie directed by Adrien Lynn?  Answer »
  • What happened to Jacob's son in Jacobs Ladder ?  Answer »
  • Who portrayed Jacob Singer in Jacob's Ladder ?  Answer »

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