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The Zero Theorem

The Zero Theorem

2013
Drama
1h 47m
A computer hacker's goal to discover the reason for human existence continually finds his work interrupted thanks to the Management; this time, they send a teenager and lusty love interest to distract him. (imdb)
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The Zero Theorem

2013
Drama
1h 47m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 39.49% from 934 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(934)
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Rated 24 Jul 2014
59
36th
In a future where the hipsters have won, one autistic man tries to Minecraft the universe. That's what I took away from this.
Rated 20 Jul 2014
9
90th
A movie that enthusiastically insists there are many reasons to live, great and small, and while the "big crunch" is inevitable, while nihilism has won, our real concern originates first with ourselves, and our habit of waiting for a sign; waiting until our layered realities and our world of overbearing technology realigns itself, not understanding that now! is the time to live, and that we are waiting in vain. Misunderstood by many, which confuses me, since it wears its heart on its sleeve.
Rated 08 Apr 2014
3
24th
Matt Damon steals the show as a curtain.
Rated 14 Feb 2016
50
55th
Terry Gilliam movies are like the sun. You don't watch them, you absorb them. Then you get burned. Then you get cancer. Then you go to the state-run hospice where they give you a number in exchange for your soul, and you're stuck filing paperwork in the belly of a cement Titan until an Olympic goddess tosses a sledgehammer into giant TV and sets humanity free. Or something like that.
Rated 22 Jul 2014
3
38th
An inversion of Brazil writ small; our unwitting protagonist, mired in the machinations of the bureaucracy, is now an all-too-willing accomplice to the technological forces that conspire to waste his life crunching numbers instead of indulging in the purportedly mindless pleasures that make life, after all, worth living. The satirical edge has been softened to something more melancholy, the bitter Pyrrhic victory of Brazil feeling here more like a last-gasp redemption.
Rated 27 Jul 2014
65
50th
Gilliam discovers 90s cyberpunk, complete with virtual sex, ridiculously graphic programming interfaces, Matrix ripoffs and cheapish CGI. Could have done more, but intriguing ideas (even if they can come off a bit like a 73-year-old director waving his cane at kids these days) and some fantastic visuals (of course). As a coda to "Brazil", it's not bad, especially in the ending, rushed though it may seem. Also, is it in Swinton's contract that she must wear false teeth in any dystopia she's in?
Rated 17 Jul 2014
70
69th
to call a gilliam movie weird is to call a banana a fruit. aside from that, it's a nice show of how the existential questions in an overly technocratic society like ours is aiming at will not change one bit. technology becomes the new religion, something on the outside to pin your hope of understanding and purpose, instead of looking inside, where your troubles originate. it's a valid message, but sadly, this movie looks unbelievably cheap, especially the visual fx. this in 2013. what the fuck?
Rated 08 Apr 2014
50
29th
A disappointment - the premise sounded so awesome. I like Waltz's acting and Thierry is, you know, nice. But Gilliam's world is pretty ugly and the whole thing excretes stupid-silly juice.
Rated 21 Dec 2014
30
33rd
I've always admired Gilliam's style and aesthetic sense, and his ability to bring concepts to the big screen that few other directors would touch. But it just didn't come together for me here. After one viewing, I have no real sense of what this was about. The only thing likely to stick with me is Karen Souza's captivating smooth jazz cover of Radiohead's Creep.
Rated 23 Oct 2014
2
1st
Gibberish. I do not respond at all to straight-up, who-gives-a-shit surrealism like this. I like my movies to have plots, points, through-lines, etc. This may or may not be because I'm old and crotchety and less prone to whimsy than I used to be, but it is true that, if I invest my time in something these days, I expect a return of some sort. And I didn't get one here.
Rated 23 Nov 2015
65
46th
I like gilliam so i still liked this. Gilliams never really been all that subtle but this is extremely broad even for him, to the point that the central theme is literally spoken aloud in no vague terms at the end. Whatever nuance is missing in the story and characters, the world they inhabit is wild, imaginative, and weirdly believable like only gilliam creates. You can't knock walz, and he definitely adds a life to his character that's not just on paper.
Rated 17 Jul 2014
65
21st
Not much of a story which was disappointing and as much as I like Christoph Waltz watching a mopey version of himself for half the movie on his own wasn't extremely engaging. The visuals are fantastic and there's glimpses of something great here and there in this surreal dystopian world Gilliam created but only glimpses. Glad I watched it but not enough to draw me back in like Brazil/12 Monkeys.
Rated 24 Aug 2014
85
83rd
Gilliam's style has matured considerably since Brazil, his last crack at skewering consumerism, organized religion, and the myopic, repetitive life of first-world adults. Waltz, anchoring the film, withholds emotionality until later on, but once the floodgates open the film becomes even more pointed. I rather wish Gilliam didn't love ambiguous, open endings so much, but what can you do?
Rated 21 Sep 2014
60
28th
I'd say it was an involved movie full of sound and fury signifying nothing--but since nihilism was the point, I guess it succeeded. So then, the question remains, is that somehow worthwhile? I'll let you guess my answer, as if it mattered to anyone of that persuasion.
Rated 27 Jul 2014
65
65th
Retreads Brazil territory in very many ways. In the first half, I was loving it. Gilliam's richness of detail is incredibly flavorful, and the many familiar motifs were endearingly nostalgic. Later, things whittle down a little, the rehash of Brazil begins to seem pale and unworthy, and the Kafkaesque existentialism loses its mystery and complexity. The semi-fantasy girl character becomes an offensive stereotype, and a dull deus-ex/wizard-of-oz stock character cameos. I liked the bitter ending.
Rated 07 Aug 2014
50
19th
I'm still giving Gilliam points for Twelve Monkeys. I should stop. Big thumbs up, ahem, for Melanie Thierry, but otherwise this was a scatterbrain effort.
Rated 15 May 2014
73
46th
Basically what you'd expect from Gilliam, though not quite as a good as his glory days. This futuristic setting, although not subtle, is fun to watch, although not good for movie-viewers prone to technophobic panic attacks. This story is rather minimal, which means there's a bit too much padding going on here and there, though at least it means we get kooky cameos from the likes of Swinton and Damon, which help expand the setting. A fun and cynical sci-fi film overall.
Rated 21 May 2014
5
43rd
Gilliams bizarre visuals of the dystopian always appeal to me. Thierry and Hedges both shine and necessarily so as there was only so much of staring at Waltz' head I could handle. Second half runs out of steam completely becoming a sludge of a watch to get through.
Rated 05 Aug 2014
71
50th
The visuals and the story both indicate Gilliam is going mad. I like it.
Rated 15 Jul 2014
65
30th
Typical Gilliam movie, but it fails to be interesting because the movie is not really about anything... just about the great search for existing which is left very vague even at the boring end... Good idea, but a bad execution and a waste of everyone's talent
Rated 05 Sep 2014
59
28th
I loved Brazil for its extreme absurdity, I loved Twelve Monkeys for its complexity. Zero Theorem is neither Brazil in its absurdity, nor Twelve Monkeys in its complexity. Just a cliche science-fiction which lacks in cinematography, screenplay and character depth. I think the best thing about the movie is the production design.
Rated 12 Aug 2014
40
15th
it is almost impossible to believe this movie is from the same mind that created brazil and 12 monkeys. gilliam is up his own butt so far that he evidently forgot to craft a decent, cohesive script, and gone for the style instead. except for the pretty looks of thierry, there's no silver lining to this mess.
Rated 21 Sep 2014
65
19th
A corporate data processor (Christoph Waltz) is assigned to prove a theorem which proves the meaninglessness of existence, while awaiting a phone call which will supposedly give him a purpose. But his obsessive search may cost him his best chance at real happiness. A somewhat murky mix of second-rate futurism and Gilliam's traditional man-against-the-system themes, it boasts some solid imagery and a generally strong cast, but Pat Rushin's script is undercooked and falls back on dated cliches.
Rated 08 Oct 2014
80
86th
It's not Brazil, and it isn't meant to be. This is about the age of ego, the rise of the self, and the death of society; the withdrawal of human activity into that mind-machine interface we call digital technology. Gilliam is exploring the internal struggle against technology, to find real experience, which in the end isn't contingent on technology or its absence at all, but is built upon relationships with others.
Rated 17 Jul 2014
50
22nd
As always an intriguing, if somewhat obscure premise from Gilliam, which slowly amounts to pretty much nothing. This might be a directors ironic comment to the films theme circling "the meaning of life", but if so only Gilliam is laughing.
Rated 16 Aug 2014
8
76th
The Zero Theorem was one of my most anticipated films of 2014 and overall I think Terry Gilliam delivers. I'm a huge fan of Brazil & 12 Monkeys, and Terry Gilliam labelled this film as the final part of his dystopian satire trilogy. No pressure then. Visually it's absolutely spectacular and stunning to watch. Christoph Waltz as ever is brilliant, as is David Thewliss & Melanie Thierry. The Zero Theorem will definitely require repeated viewings and personally I can't wait to watch it again.
Rated 28 Aug 2014
65
60th
The comparisons to Brazil are inevitable, but Gilliam's view of a technologically obsessed world unable to achieve metastability--and thus existential stability--is explored here in a manner that narrowly avoids luddism without contributing any new insights. The impressively gaudy production design, and Waltz's awkward, dejected performance, make this familiar trip through conventional Gilliamesque territory worth the price of admission, even if it's an occassionally bumpy ride.
Rated 15 Sep 2014
60
18th
weird, could have been crafted better, with at least some point. Christoph is great actor and he fits the character well, but on the other hand .. not sure of what to think
Rated 02 Jul 2015
65
62nd
The Zero Theorem is an interesting yet somewhat disappointing effort from Gilliam. His visual style is distinctive as always, with an odd 90's feel. The music is reminiscent of 12 Monkeys, jarring and tension-inducing. Acting-wise, it's not bad, though it's far from Waltz's best. Overall, it's a pseudo-crescendo, that just doesn't satisfy in the end. Nevertheless, the film explores some interesting themes and doesn't overstay its runtime.
Rated 04 Aug 2014
83
79th
The meaningless of life in all its meaningfulness... great job, Mr. Gilliam!
Rated 23 Dec 2014
70
39th
There's a lot to like about the movie, but the conflict just never fully materializes, and the film finds itself in a one-note rut on a number of occasions. The third act could have saved it, but is kind of a dud.
Rated 14 Dec 2014
80
79th
The inside of Terry Gilliam's head must be one hell of a bizarre place.
Rated 22 Dec 2014
50
35th
eng; [the zero theorem]; ein programmierer soll das rätsel der menschheit namens zero theorem lösen, dafür hilft ihm das management mit diversen ablenkungen.;
Rated 31 May 2015
67
57th
A bit of a return to roots for Gilliam and its mostly welcomed. It's no Brazil from a film making standpoint but it definitely has its roots there visually and thematically. Waltz is good as the slightly insane cruncher and for the most part the supporting cast is interesting if not developed. The story lists a bit but in the end achieves what it sets out to show us.
Rated 20 Apr 2014
39
2nd
This movie was weird, and not in a good way.
Rated 08 Feb 2015
93
70th
NOW THERE'S PIZZA THAT DELIVERS! *Drooling
Rated 23 Mar 2015
76
55th
I'm not quite sure what Terry Gilliam is against, but he's definitely against it. Definitely in the 12 monkeys / Brazil vibe of weirdo-against-dystopian-citymaze, but with a little more goofy and a little less grimdark. Not as polished as either but still a fun time if you like this sort of thing.
Rated 27 Mar 2015
0
3rd
I couldn't sit through it, I just don't understand what the director was trying to do if it was anything other than bash us over the head with "the future will suck because we're making computers easy to access for anyone and letting companies treat their employees badly"
Rated 24 Oct 2015
76
43rd
This feels like a bit of a half-formed, phoned-in effort from Gilliam. The imaginative dystopian world is there, like a modern reboot of Brazil, but the cast of kooky characters who inhabit it are not particularly believable or empathetic. Christoph Waltz plays a nervous wreck well but he just annoyed me. Melanie Thierry was really the only enjoyable part. The film had a valid point to make about the digital age we live in, but didn't work well as a drama or piece of entertainment.
Rated 01 Oct 2014
77
62nd
Wacky and wonderful.
Rated 14 Jul 2014
20
9th
This is a mess.
Rated 14 Feb 2016
85
44th
Visually Fantastic ... the primary negative for me is that the message, though obvious, was not very well constructed. I get a layer of depression from Gilliam movies that keeps me from really ever enjoying many of them. I appreciate them from a cinematic point of view ... but I mostly watch movies to get lost or entertained and this movie scored low on those aspects for me.
Rated 10 Feb 2015
73
73rd
Inconsistent and mental as it is, there is a lot of fun to be had here. "The Zero Theorem" is willfully anti-social and is comfortably Gilliam's best film for nearly 20 years.
Rated 26 Jul 2014
71
61st
Simple. Odd. Enjoyable.
Rated 27 Jan 2018
4
55th
Following the end of optimism (dreams) that Brazil left us, this one continues the tracks to absolute nihilism. Extremely ugly and cheap film saved mostly by the obvious talent on display.
Rated 03 Aug 2014
59
55th
Why did he have to go and do these silly/cheap caricature characters of wallpaperman Damon and eastern-europe-rural-settlement-theater-leading-lady Swinton? The whole movie is a long and repetitive explanation of one idea expressed in first 20 mins. I kinda liked it more than I should have, but that's for one good simple reason.
Rated 23 Mar 2015
71
49th
I was hoping to get a 21st century version of "Brazil" but all I got instead was a film made by a cranky old man about how the Millennial generation are awful.
Rated 18 Sep 2014
75
53rd
I actually liked it a bit more than Brazil, and I know that's strange. It might have been my mood when I watched Brazil, but that was so long ago I don't remember. But I love the visuals on display here, and I actually cared a little bit about the main character. The weirdness was appealing, and I generally had a good time watching this man stuck in a world overrun by technology and a job that looks like Minecraft. It's not real deep, but it's good enough to be worth thinking about.
Rated 11 Aug 2014
42
39th
The film's characters and vision of the future really started to bring me into the story. Unfortunately the story was weak, it kept me looking for more right into the credits.
Rated 18 Mar 2017
75
79th
Fuck the world, and fuck the meanings.
Rated 18 Oct 2015
70
31st
Well at least I didn't have to give this movie a zero and I have a theorem why... because the film kept me entertained for the most part. I really liked Terry Gilliam's futuristic world that seemed eerily familiar to the movie Brazil but I liked this a little more. I loved how the cities were really dank and grungy but also had crazy pops of color due to the weird advertising that would sometimes follow you around. I loved the singing pizza boxes (and the delivery people weren't bad too)...
Rated 03 Feb 2015
68
24th
I am usually a fan of the work of Terry Gilliam but this is not one of his best films. Christoph Waltz is excellent in the lead role in the film. The film drags at times and it seems like the director has covered this type of ground in other better films. There are some interesting moments and scenes but overall this film is slightly disappointing.
Rated 10 Sep 2016
50
31st
Weird. I should saw it again.
Rated 13 Aug 2014
50
21st
The true emblem of a dystopian future: Smart Cars everywhere!
Rated 20 Apr 2014
1
11th
Not really sure what I just watched. Only things I remember as decent are appearances by Damon and Stormare. Theme song kinda sums everything. Creep(y), weird(0).
Rated 04 Jun 2015
60
26th
Interesting to look at, even if it's a bit on the busy side at times, the film nevertheless fails to engender the kind of empathy needed for its main character. Instead, he remains distant, always swallowed up by his visually arresting surroundings. While this certainly comports with the theme of the film, it makes its 107 minutes less engaging than they should be.
Rated 29 Jul 2014
47
37th
The rich and neon colorful world lacked with a proper story this time. There was so many good ideas but they did not sum together in the end. Cyberpunk munk searching the nirvana with a stereotypical call girl. Matt was kind of God and his son, obviously, Jesus in a bath tub. Minecraft computer world was kind of nice.
Rated 12 Sep 2014
60
26th
automaticcinematic.wordpress.com/2014/09/06/nothing-is-for-nothing/
Rated 20 Mar 2015
70
45th
This is definitely not Brazil. And I'm not sure of what it is or where it leads us. But this movie leads there in a dazzling explosion.
Rated 04 Mar 2017
70
53rd
2016/04/08
Rated 17 Jul 2014
66
30th
a typical Gilliam feature, but lacks originality and depth
Rated 20 Jul 2014
65
23rd
very disappointed by the writing
Rated 23 Apr 2014
56
14th
It feels like a mess of a few poorly developed and executed ideas. Or I just didn't get it...
Rated 14 Oct 2015
30
15th
I thought I was gonna like this, but honestly, I couldn't even pay attention to this movie 90% of the time. Maybe I'll have to watch it again sometime... but I'm not very keen on it.
Rated 01 Dec 2014
81
74th
While still a solid piece of film-making worthy of Gilliam's resume, there's something that comes off as a little unfinished. Gilliam tended to be a master of crafting immersive epics that spiral out of control and while this film follows the general trend, it feels too short, too over-edited, somehow unsatisfying. Still, the themes and visuals illustrate how Gilliam continues to be a first-rate satirist. It's a shame that as a complete work, it seems all setup and a rushed punchline.
Rated 17 Jun 2015
0
10th
Not recommended.
Rated 02 Jul 2015
60
43rd
I love the visuals and production design and all that, but I also feel like I've seen it before, and reminds me of Gilliam's own Brazil. I also liked the philosophical things it had to say about meaning within life, but again, it didn't feel wholly original. The story's not entirely coherent in general. It does have pretty good performances from Waltz, and the rest of the cast. I applaud Gilliam's efforts, but, ultimately, it didn't add up to more than the sum of its parts.
Rated 11 Oct 2014
58
7th
Gilliam goes back to the well, so to speak, with another existential crisis in an overcrowded and garish dystopia. Maybe it's because this was made in the CGI era but the visual design, which was so damnably impressive in Gilliam's earlier films, is just overwhelming and sometimes quite ugly. The ideas also aren't as interesting this time around (the satire on technology, in particular, is tiresome), and it's a narrative mess.
Rated 11 Aug 2014
40
34th
There is no need to make movies about the meaninglessness - at least not as a main topic. Nice Waltz though.
Rated 27 Sep 2014
63
48th
The characters are fun and the aesthetic of the film is extremely interesting, but I don't think this holds up against Brazil or Twelve Monkeys at all. It's a bit of a shame. I enjoyed the movie while I was watching it, but had nothing to really say about it after.
Rated 26 Aug 2015
75
71st
Not flawless by any means, but pretty goddamn entertaining and equally interesting. As expected, the sets are a sight to behold (although it could've done with just a little less CGI), and although the story feels a bit unfocused, it has a lot of interesting ideas going on. The atmosphere is bizarre but strangely soothing. A great movie to simmer in your head.
Rated 10 Nov 2017
75
69th
gilliam, brazil'in çıkış noktasının bir kumsalda denize karşı oturup hafif melodiler dinlemek olduğunu söylüyordu. burada ise bu merkeze geliyor, bir anlamda brazil'in temelini oluşturan fikirlere daha yakın zamanlı ve daha basit bir yorum getiriyor, ancak daha farklı bir damardan. bu cümleleri kuran bir filmi ortalama bir bilim kurgu gibi görüp anlatı seyreğini boşaltmak hata, ama göründüğü kadarıyla filmin aldığı tepki de tam olarak bu. sonuçta kim kumsalda?
Rated 18 Apr 2014
40
9th
Basın Gösterimi - Cinemajestic: ...
Rated 19 May 2016
2
21st
A strange film, I think even by Gilliam's standards. Its heart is in a right and endearing place, and Waltz is good, but in practice I find it somewhat sluggishly plotted and photographically ugly.
Rated 25 Jul 2018
40
16th
I have no use for it.
Rated 16 Aug 2018
6
60th
How weird. Terry Gilliam being Terry Gilliam. People try to read into it, but I think it's just a very simple movie with a very simple plot, all straightforward. What you see is what you get, for the better and for the worst. I liked it... I think?
Rated 28 Dec 2018
40
10th
Dirty and dark visual style; tedious story, useless characters.
Rated 10 Jan 2019
65
29th
A hacker has to solve an impossible task to proof that there's no reason for human existence while battling his own existential crisis. It starts of very interesting, but unfortunately gets very repetitive with Waltz just moping around with very little character- or plot development going on. Gilliam does still knows how to create an peculiar world.
Rated 16 Feb 2020
60
20th
Top badass moment? Well it’s more of a warning really; don’t fall asleep while watching this. I did and its weirdness messed with my mind; fortunately my councillor says I should make a full recovery, eventually. This film will make you wonder why an entire movie is based on the search for an answer to a question that we already know, (it's 42). It’s also a wry observation on corporate management and the omnipresent evil of marketing. No cats (or monkeys), chainsaws or decapitations.
Rated 05 Dec 2021
59
32nd
Interesting plot, great world but just way too slow
Rated 04 Aug 2022
55
42nd
No idea what was happening, and the edits were too rapid & tweaky to stand for long. It was very disorienting, and this is coming from someone who loved both the films 12 Monkeys and Spun.

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