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IMDbPro

The Fisher King

  • 19911991
  • RR
  • 2h 17m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
85K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,470
692
Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges in The Fisher King (1991)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer1:00
2 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDramaFantasy
A former radio DJ, suicidally despondent because of a terrible mistake he made, finds redemption in helping a deranged homeless man who was an unwitting victim of that mistake.A former radio DJ, suicidally despondent because of a terrible mistake he made, finds redemption in helping a deranged homeless man who was an unwitting victim of that mistake.A former radio DJ, suicidally despondent because of a terrible mistake he made, finds redemption in helping a deranged homeless man who was an unwitting victim of that mistake.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
85K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,470
692
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Terry Gilliam
    • Writer
      • Richard LaGravenese
    • Stars
      • Jeff Bridges
      • Robin Williams
      • Adam Bryant
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Terry Gilliam
    • Writer
      • Richard LaGravenese
    • Stars
      • Jeff Bridges
      • Robin Williams
      • Adam Bryant
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 226User reviews
    • 96Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 14 wins & 39 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Fisher King
    Trailer 1:00
    The Fisher King
    'The Fisher King' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:00
    'The Fisher King' | Anniversary Mashup

    Photos142

    Robin Williams and Chris Howell in The Fisher King (1991)
    Jeff Bridges in The Fisher King (1991)
    Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges in The Fisher King (1991)
    Jeff Bridges and Terry Gilliam in The Fisher King (1991)
    Robin Williams and Terry Gilliam in The Fisher King (1991)
    Terry Gilliam in The Fisher King (1991)
    Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Jack Palance, and Mercedes Ruehl at an event for City Slickers (1991)
    Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges in The Fisher King (1991)
    Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges in The Fisher King (1991)
    Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges in The Fisher King (1991)
    Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, and Jeff Bridges in Awakenings (1990)
    Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges in The Fisher King (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeff Bridges
    Jeff Bridges
    • Jack
    Robin Williams
    Robin Williams
    • Parry
    Adam Bryant
    • Radio Engineer
    Paul Lombardi
    • Radio Engineer
    David Hyde Pierce
    David Hyde Pierce
    • Lou Rosen
    • (as David Pierce)
    Ted Ross
    Ted Ross
    • Limo Bum
    Lara Harris
    Lara Harris
    • Sondra
    Warren Olney
    • TV Anchorman
    Frazer Smith
    • News Reporter
    Mercedes Ruehl
    Mercedes Ruehl
    • Anne
    Kathy Najimy
    Kathy Najimy
    • Crazed Video Customer
    Harry Shearer
    Harry Shearer
    • Sitcom Actor Ben Starr
    Melinda Culea
    Melinda Culea
    • Sitcom Wife
    James Remini
    • Bum at Hotel
    Mark Bowden
    • Doorman
    John Ottavino
    • Father at Hotel
    Brian Michaels
    • Little Boy
    Jayce Bartok
    Jayce Bartok
    • First Punk
    • Director
      • Terry Gilliam
    • Writer
      • Richard LaGravenese
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For the "waltzing commuter" scene in Grand Central station, the main hall of the terminal was shut down for the shoot from 8pm until the first commuter trains arrived at 5:30 am the next morning. Lighting effects outside of the large terminal windows made it seem to be 5:00 in the evening the entire night, and over 400 extras waltzed around the mirror-ball topped Information Booth again and again throughout the night. Now, on New Year's, an orchestra plays there and people waltz for real.
    • Goofs
      After the double-date dinner when Ann and Jack are walking back to her apartment above the video store, you can see a storefront whose marquee says the address is on Ann Street. The Video Spot T-shirts proclaims the store to be on Duane Street.
    • Quotes

      Parry: Did you ever hear the story of the Fisher King?

      Jack Lucas: No.

      Parry: It begins with the King as a boy, having to spend the night alone in the forest to prove his courage so he can become King. Now while he's spending the night alone he's visited by a sacred vision. Out of the fire appears the Holy Grail, symbol of God's divine grace. And a voice said to the boy, "You shall be keeper of the Grail so that it may heal the hearts of men." But the boy was blinded by greater visions of a life filled with power and glory and beauty. And in this state of radical amazement he felt for a brief moment not like a boy, but invincible, like God, so he reached into the fire to take the Grail, and the Grail vanished, leaving him with his hand in the fire to be terribly wounded. Now as this boy grew older, his wound grew deeper. Until one day, life for him lost its reason. He had no faith in any man, not even himself. He couldn't love or feel loved. He was sick with experience. He began to die. One day a fool wandered into the castle and found the King alone. And being a fool, he was simple minded, he didn't see a King. He only saw a man alone and in pain. And he asked the King, "What ails you friend?" The King replied, "I'm thirsty. I need some water to cool my throat". So the fool took a cup from beside his bed, filled it with water and handed it to the King. As the King began to drink, he realized his wound was healed. He looked in his hands and there was the Holy Grail, that which he sought all of his life. And he turned to the fool and said with amazement, "How can you find that which my brightest and bravest could not?" And the fool replied, "I don't know. I only knew that you were thirsty."

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Dogfight/Late for Dinner/Rambling Rose/Blood & Concrete (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      How About You?
      Written by Ralph Freed & Burton Lane

      Produced by Ray Cooper and George Fenton

      Whistled & Sung by Harry Nilsson

    User reviews226

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    This movie should be on everyone's "must-see" list
    A touching yet humorous tale, THE FISHER KING brings together amongst the best performances given by Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges, as well as Terry Gilliam's finest directorial effort. Solid supporting performances by Amanda Plummer and Mercedes Ruehl round out a great film that ranks among my personal favorites.

    Bridges portrays an arrogant radio shock-jock, who's big mouth and flippant comments send a disturbed listener on a murderous rampage, thus ending his career. Enter Ruehl as his new enabler girlfriend, waiting patiently for him to drag himself up from the dregs, hoping to catch a ride to the top. Just when Bridges seems to have hit rock bottom, he encounters Williams, a crazed vagrant who thinks he is a knight in shining armor.

    What ensues is a tale of remorse, redemption and rebirth which is made all the more magical by Gilliam's magnificent vision. Most notable is a scene which takes place in Grand Central Station where the hustle and bustle of the busy commuters dissolves into a spectacular waltz as Williams follows Plummer, the woman of his dreams. Gilliam's style makes Williams delusions come alive as the character makes the slow journey from trauma-induced insanity to stark, yet hopeful, reality.

    Every character in this film undergoes a metamorphosis, each learning from the others along the transformation. It is a beautiful film to watch, and an achievement to all involved that subject matter of such depth can come across with such humor and with such beauty.
    helpful•201
    25
    • LJMTitle
    • Jul 23, 2004

    FAQ6

    • What is 'The Fisher King' about?
    • Is 'The Fisher King' based on a book?
    • What did Jack Lucas say to the caller?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 27, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Король-Рибалка
    • Filming locations
      • Manhattan Bridge, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • TriStar Pictures
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $24,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $41,895,491
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $311,662
      • Sep 22, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $41,895,491
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 17 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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