Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mia Sara, Bruce McGill

An officer for a security agency that regulates time travel, must fend for his life against a shady politician who has a tie to his past.

Flixster Users

39% liked it

52,020 ratings

Critics

46% liked it

37 critics

R, 99 min.

Directed by: Peter Hyams

Release Date: September 16, 1994

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DVD Release Date: January 20, 1998

Stats: 1,168 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,168)


  • September 30, 2009
    'Timecop' is one of Van Damme's most popular and most profitable films, it tells the story of a lonely man whose wife had been murdered in a bizarre set of circumstances, and his new job as a cop who travels through time to prevent criminals who go into the past to make certain c...( read more)hanges that will help them financially, as well as politically.

    To be fair, I don't really see why this is his best film, I mean, in my opinion, 'Universal Soldier' is Van Damme's best. Maybe it's because this film has as much action as it has drama, maybe it's because the story was a little more coherent than his other films, maybe the supporting cast was better, maybe the script was better, maybe the film's overall tone matched what the public wanted, I have absolutely no idea but it certainly isn't his best in my opinion. Personally, I thought 'Street Fighter' was better, but maybe that's because I like the idea of it not really being taken as a serious film, more of a campy, b-movie romp around a video game. I think maybe that's the problem with this film, it takes itself far too seriously. I'm at ends with this film because I'm not really that sure what to make of this film. A lot of people, Van Damme fans, say this is his best film, and I ask them why and they often change the subject by asking a question, (ie. What do you mean?). I really cannot see why this is his best. The film was very, very profitable and it was rated quite highly by other people, but I just don't see why. If I were to sit down and watch a bunch of Van Damme movies, they would be - 'Bloodsport', 'Kickboxer', 'A.W.O.L/Lionheart', 'Double Impact, 'Universal Solider', 'Nowhere to Run', 'Street Fighter', and 'Sudden Death', and in that order as well, like a chronology, but out of all of them, I still wouldn't choose 'Timecop'.

    This film is good in two respects - 1. The storyline is quite good and it fits together quite well, despite being slightly all over the place in terms of 'who was where, and when?', but I have to remind myself that this is a 'time-travel' film and the story criss-crosses all over the place on purpose. 2. The acting is actually good, and that is definitely something which has picked up in Van Damme films as time has gone on (save 'Street Fighter'). These two factors might be the reason why people like it so much, but I don't think these two things compensate for the overall lacking in filmic qualities, but what do I know? I think 'Kickboxer' is great.
  • September 6, 2008
    One of Jean-Claude Van Damme's better films with some cool fights and half decent story about policing time travel.
  • June 28, 2008
    i like it.
  • March 2, 2008
    In my opinion, the most original of Van Damme's collection.
  • February 2, 2008
    The plot is similar to the 'Terminator' only with karate action.
  • September 8, 2009
    A decent film, which I think most people thought was bad. I enjoyed it, as the paradox of time travel and all it's assosciations intrique me.
  • August 15, 2009
    A lot of the Jean-Claude Van Damme movies are mostly based on fighting and don't have much of a plot to them, at least that's what the critics say. But "Timecop" is a major exception. Van Damme stars as a time-traveling cop who is out to stop a mad politician (Ron Silver) who is ...( read more)trying to change the past in order to further his ambitions as becoming the next president. Agent Walker (Jean-Claude Van Damme) has to try and stop the madman while also trying to turn back time and save his wife, (Mia Sara), who is pregnant.
    During the whole movie, you'll see that "Timecop" has a great plot and a compelling story. When you see certain parts of the movie such as when a man's arm gets frozen and Van Damme kicks it off, and when you see the futuristic cars and how Agent Walker does the time travel, you'll see that "Timecop" also has good special effects. The acting is also good by everybody to make this a great overall movie. If you like good action movies, I recommend getting "Timecop." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. Most critics have always cited "Timecop" as the best Van Damme movie ever. It's not my favorite of his, but it's one of them, certainly no disappointment in any way.
  • July 28, 2009
    This is one of Jean Claude Van Damme best movies he made. The film has a interesting story and some great action and fight sequences. Plus a decent job on the F/X for the film. Ron Silver was great as the main villain for the film. Overall a decent watch.
  • June 15, 2009
    Far-fetched, but I like it...
  • June 14, 2009
    not his worst by a long stretch timecop borrows alot from other films but its entertaining none the less

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Timecop, a low-rent Terminator, is the kind of movie that is best not thought about at all, for that way madness lies. full review

January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A satisfying science-fiction thriller. full review

View more Timecop reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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Timecop Trivia


  • What's the name of the 1994 movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. He plays a time traveling police man who is almost assianated?  Answer »
  • Who was in the following movies? -Bloodsport -Universal Soldier -Timecop -Kickboxer  Answer »
  • In "Timecop" (1994), a cop named Max Walker (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a member of the T.E.C., whose duty is to preserve history so that the timeline remains constant. What does "T.E.C." stand for?   Answer »
  • In 1994's 'Timecop', Max Walker (John-Claude Van Damme) kicks a bad guy into liquid nitrogen and says...   Answer »

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